buriedunderbooks asked: Hey! I love your blog. I'm trying to pick a good grad school. I saw your list of schools and their programs. Do you happen to know what the rankings are? Also, I read somewhere that if you wanted to be a curator, for example, you should get a masters in something like museum studies but a second masters as well in some kind of history. Then you have to go for a PhD. What do you think? I'm in the process of planning out a good path. Thanks!!

I’m sorry this has taken so long to reply to. I honestly didn’t get any alerts to new messages in my inbox.

That said, firstly, I don’t think you should look at rankings for Museum Studies programs. I think you should perhaps talk to people in different programs (if you can) and choose based on program, and location.

I also don’t think it’s accurate you need a Master’s in Museum studies to become a Curator. It’s probably just fine to go straight for a PhD in your field (History, Science, Anthropology, Art History, etc) and then choose internships or a program that gives a basis in Museums. Or get a Masters and work your way later to a PhD. I’m sure I’ll be corrected, but in a opening Curatorial position (an assistant, say), a Curator probably doesn’t need a PhD.