Which degree would serve me better?

[glenrunciter]

Hi, this is my first post on this website. 

Long story short, turned down a number of acceptances from the New School, Columbia, SVA, etc because they didn't give me enough aid, and I'm trying to choose between an MALS degree from Dartmouth and an MALA from St John's in Santa Fe.

I'll be applying to places like UC Berkeley, Irvine, SC, UT Austin, Columbia, etc. for a degree in English/Rhetoric with a focus on critical theory next year, and I wondered if anyone had any opinions on which one would serve me better - the MALS degree (which is more expensive and also not that focused on English) or the MALA one (which is pretty rigorously devoted to lit/philosophy). I know that Dartmouth is more prestigious and whatever, but St John's seems more interesting. 

Edited July 24, 2014 by glenrunciter

[mikers86]

I'm curious as to why you decided to go the MALS/MALA route instead of MA if you're considering applying to English/Rhet programs next year (I'm assuming PhD programs). In terms of which would better serve you, it's hard to say. Prestige matters a great deal, though it's not impossible to overcome during the admission's process. Just glancing over what each program requires, St. John's looks more "interesting" in that you cover a wide range of subject matter, but it's essentially just an expansion of their undergraduate curriculum (which in nature appears very medieval - the Evaluations for undergrads sound terrifying). I haven't heard much about them aside from some quick Googling. This program would probably give you more breadth than depth in any particular area - helpful for say the GRE English Subject Test. Dartmouth likely carries more weight because of it's  name, but I haven't heard much in terms of their MALS. The course offerings seem more conventional which might better prepare you for a later degree in English/Rhet. Which concentration at Dartmouth were you considering? If I was making this decision, I'd probably go for Dartmouth. But you have to consider which program, in your opinion, will be more rigorous, help you determine what you specifically want to study beyond the MALA/MALS, and produce a strong writing sample for submitting to adcomms.

 

Best of luck, and hopefully others will have more insight!

[rising_star]

It really depends on what you're trying to strengthen about your application. If you need breadth, then go with St. John's. But, if you need prestige or to make up for a less than stellar undergrad GPA, then Dartmouth might be better. But, don't go into debt for either program!

[glenrunciter]

Thank you both! My undergraduate GPA was 3.91, I just didn't think of applying to any PhD programs because I was sure I wouldn't get in. Got accepted to a number of pretty good masters' programs but couldn't afford to go there. So I was just thinking of building a strong resume and portfolio along with a decent Masters' GPA at St John's, instead of taking out massive loans for Dartmouth.