DUguy333

Hey guys, I'm a Master's Student in Urban Studies at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, BC. I graduated last year with a BA in Geography at a US university and over the course of the past year have decided to pursue my doctorate eventually in Sociology. My question to you all is, do I need to have an MA in Sociology as well? Would my MA in Urban Studies suffice as qualifiable for a Ph.D.? Also, I know in some disciplines, they prefer to see you've had work experience between your BA/MA and Ph.D. before applying. Does this generally hold true for Sociology? Thank you for any help!

Thanks for the comments everyone. I don't have a partner currently so I would be flying solo which is something I'm hesitant to do with raising children. However, child care costs aren't an issue for me so I believe it would be manageable. Having said that, I've settled on the idea that its prudent to wait until I've finished with my Ph.D to father. As difficult as suppressing my "biological clock" may be, I have to not just think of not just my own wishes, but the conditions that would best suit having a child. Thanks again for the input all!

Hey all, I'm headed into a Master's program this fall and have simultaneously reached the juncture in my life where I'm considering having a child (either through surrogacy or adoption because I'm gay). I know there's no rush and am just currently throwing the idea around in my head but I was curious to receive some input as to whether or not its feasible to do? That is, is it manageable taking care of newborn while completing a Master's degree or is this the work for indefatigable individuals? Thanks.

Hey guys, is anyone attending/going to attend SFU in Vancouver this fall?

I'm going to Simon Fraser University in Vancouver fora Master's of Arts in Urban Studies with a fellowship and research assistantship. Good luck all!

Merit doesn't always cut it at top programs. Perhaps your SOP or LOR weren't superlative and research may be underscrored as a criteria for the committee. Don't take it personally and be happy you're in at least somehwere.

Nearly every one of my advisors said this would be a particularly rough year to apply to graduate school due to the recession fears. Some even encouraged me to wait a year. Apparently, when the economy tanks, many people think going back to school is ideal...

X university has promised me an answer by the end of this week for the past 4 weeks now...I've stopped emailing them needless to say

Ah, my apologies. I was accusing you of being one of them :wink: I think those sorts of folks either have ridiculous standards for themselves or are looking for an affirmation of their brilliance (allegorically depicted by an exam none other).

..um, I scored 1050 and am in with funding at a decent university. I would hardly consider your scores failing.

Quarter systems are on break this week so don't worry. As far as entitling emails, make it something brief that relates to the topic matter regarding material of the latter.

Well we'll find out. I've emailed a professor stating my enthusiasm about the program and ability to attend sans funding if need be. I did mentioned that I'd received other offers with funding to amplify my eagerness...hope it didn't sound desperate :shock:

If I may build on this question. What if you're waitlisted and you inform them you'd attend if accepted even without funding. Is it errogant to say that as well?

I only applied to the ivy leagues at first as well....then, at the last minute, I realized that I wasn't an omnipotent, unique individual that put me at the top echelon of academia and applied to some practical schools and call me crazy, but I just may end up receiving an equitable educations sans the reputation. Big deal...

Hey all, I emailed UBC in Vancouver to find out the status of my application and was informed that acceptances had gone out and my application is "on hold" until they make their final decisions. Does this mean I'm on a waitlist of some sort?

To be frank, I'm having difficulties mustering sympathy for some one who's been accepted to Northwestern. Congratulations on that, no need to worry about the others!!

I was officially rejected from UNC-Chapel Hill today via email. It was entirely expect though as a professor had expressed the extreme unlikelihood of my admission about a month or so ago....coommmeeee oonnn UBC!

I spent disgusting amounts of time at Barnes and Noble...I highly recommend it

I noticed on the results search that some of the MIT Ph.D. student have been accepted. Would you guys mind sharing the details? I assume the Master's applicants have to wait until the third week of March as the webpage indicates...I think I'll bald at an early age because of this process...

I woudn't take things personally if I were you. There a few programs that I've had close contact with the faculty over these past few months, however, I realize that I'm one of the hundreds applying for a few spots and they're conversing with many similar and, in all likelyhood, more qualified candidates. Therefore, I realize if I receive a generic rejection from the program its simply because dozens others will receive the same letter, not suited to each individual.

Waitlists are difficult to decipher... I just emailed one of my programs and they responded with "We hope to send you an update before the end of March" I assume if I was accepted she would have informed me, I guess this means I've been waitlisted too now?? So I feel your pain.

Nina, you don't think there's a degree of subjectiveness in the deliberation process? I think we prefer to believe that equity is the rule of thumb but everyone knows unique backgrounds, connections, and other "ins" certainly help your application shine. Not to say that there's biases or even prejudices, I just believe that in fields such as one of mine (Geography) where there's a good deal of intimacy between professors and graduate students, certain traits are sought in an application.

I hear from my first schools next week so I've found myself analyzing the process more than ever before. I imagine a hypothetical scenario where a handful of professors and such sit in a room and pour over the applications, comparing and contrasting while subsequently sorting from greatest potential to least. This list is only predicated on all the components of our applications and ultimately decided by their proclivities for what they look for individually within the personal statement or letters of recommendation. Finally, they deliberate and compromise their decisions and, of course, pick me as their top choice and elect me for the highest honor fellowship...and then my daydream ends and am struck with the stark reality that its March and I've heard nothing yet...

I know this question wasn't directed at me but my ultimate goal is academia and some fields require an MA before continuing onto a Ph.D. program.

I'll be the predictable one and say that it varies from program to program, school to school, etc. However, that aside, I think its fun to toy around with the notion of which entity of your application bears the most weight. I think for universities with a stronger emphasis on research among faculty then I believe the need to demonstrate your research capabilities should be superlative. For smaller, more intimate universities that are emphatic on teaching and community, background information and diversity will come in to play. These are simply suppositions but like I said, its fun to entertain the idea of how they decide, especially when waiting on 6 schools for 3 months :shock: