Go for the Masters but be sure to apply for a Graduate Assistant Position with one of the lead professors at your University.
This will sky rocket your career and allow for a mentoring session after your undergraduate degree. Although many are lucky to have this in their work life, very few positions is a mentor guaranteed. Most of the time these Professors are in Education for a reason and have excellent contacts in Industry. With the Economy as it is now, getting a full ride to Graduate School while having a built in Mentor, and doing research in a field you enjoy is a win win. Also look to the advantage to starting right away, some of your course work may be waived and adds to the ROI of time invested now vs later.
This was a no brainer for me in the same position
Richard Bodey Web Development | Networking | Security | Admin http://www.wkntech.com/ RickBodey@WKnTech.com
The Short Answer:
Why are Pirates coming up before you in Google? The answer is SEO, and the google algorithm. There needs to be an authoritative ranking and review system (citation) going into google not just an algorithm based on site design and linking (which is exploited). Until this takes place you need to invest in SEO optimized sites that will sell your books. These pirate sites are on and off page optimized to beat you on your own keyword. Finally maybe look to advertising and how these pirates are making money, if any (The Pirate Bay).
The Long Answer:
But more importantly I see this as a larger ongoing issue as we move into the future. Something that can not be addressed in a simple forum but it is worth looking at and needs to continue to be an open discussion as we move forward. The answer must involve government, ease of use, and providing new value to the customer.
The problem comes with the conflicting communistic view of information/knowledge (ownership in common) and how do people who create or further information get compensated or encouraged to produce such essential works in our society. We have hit what is called a disruptive technology. The technology to replicate and distribute information and full books has outpaced the conventional distribution chains. Let's look at what "sustained" the record/music industry. While the RIAA looks to demonize the mp3 player the IPod and ITunes have sustained the record industry even if the revenue is redistributed in a new way. Without a viable legal alternative in a convenient way, no one would pay for music at the levels we see today. How does this relate to your problem? We see the Kindle and DRM as the answer to your problem. Although much like the Rio was the leader in the MP3 player the Kindle may not be the ultimate solution but it will become the standard in some reincarnation. The Kindle and the online BookStore model will become your only answer as a superior technology with DRM and respect for copyrights must prevail. We also must look into government subsides such as CD-Rs are taxed in countries such as Canada hoping to offset the distribution of intellectual property. Instead of rejecting and fighting this new disruption to the industry you must learn to adapt grow and move a disruptive technology to a sustaining technology.
No one is going to want to read text on a computer screen or a laptop when they could read it on a full sized kindle for $10.
You need to look at how much revenue you are making per book and cut out the middle men. Direct E Book publishing to the kindle. Think to yourself, could this book be published and I could be compensated fairly if we removed all of the physical constraints and printing.
It seems as though the pirates are better at technology then the "good guys"/capitalists:)
Slashdot Mirror
Go for the Masters but be sure to apply for a Graduate Assistant Position with one of the lead professors at your University.
This will sky rocket your career and allow for a mentoring session after your undergraduate degree. Although many are lucky to have this in their work life, very few positions is a mentor guaranteed. Most of the time these Professors are in Education for a reason and have excellent contacts in Industry. With the Economy as it is now, getting a full ride to Graduate School while having a built in Mentor, and doing research in a field you enjoy is a win win. Also look to the advantage to starting right away, some of your course work may be waived and adds to the ROI of time invested now vs later.
This was a no brainer for me in the same position
Richard Bodey
Web Development | Networking | Security | Admin
http://www.wkntech.com/
RickBodey@WKnTech.com
The Short Answer: Why are Pirates coming up before you in Google? The answer is SEO, and the google algorithm. There needs to be an authoritative ranking and review system (citation) going into google not just an algorithm based on site design and linking (which is exploited). Until this takes place you need to invest in SEO optimized sites that will sell your books. These pirate sites are on and off page optimized to beat you on your own keyword. Finally maybe look to advertising and how these pirates are making money, if any (The Pirate Bay). The Long Answer: But more importantly I see this as a larger ongoing issue as we move into the future. Something that can not be addressed in a simple forum but it is worth looking at and needs to continue to be an open discussion as we move forward. The answer must involve government, ease of use, and providing new value to the customer. The problem comes with the conflicting communistic view of information/knowledge (ownership in common) and how do people who create or further information get compensated or encouraged to produce such essential works in our society. We have hit what is called a disruptive technology. The technology to replicate and distribute information and full books has outpaced the conventional distribution chains. Let's look at what "sustained" the record/music industry. While the RIAA looks to demonize the mp3 player the IPod and ITunes have sustained the record industry even if the revenue is redistributed in a new way. Without a viable legal alternative in a convenient way, no one would pay for music at the levels we see today. How does this relate to your problem? We see the Kindle and DRM as the answer to your problem. Although much like the Rio was the leader in the MP3 player the Kindle may not be the ultimate solution but it will become the standard in some reincarnation. The Kindle and the online BookStore model will become your only answer as a superior technology with DRM and respect for copyrights must prevail. We also must look into government subsides such as CD-Rs are taxed in countries such as Canada hoping to offset the distribution of intellectual property. Instead of rejecting and fighting this new disruption to the industry you must learn to adapt grow and move a disruptive technology to a sustaining technology. No one is going to want to read text on a computer screen or a laptop when they could read it on a full sized kindle for $10. You need to look at how much revenue you are making per book and cut out the middle men. Direct E Book publishing to the kindle. Think to yourself, could this book be published and I could be compensated fairly if we removed all of the physical constraints and printing. It seems as though the pirates are better at technology then the "good guys"/capitalists :)