hazelnut.latte

In trying to decide which PhD admission offer to accept, I am online reading all the time. One of the major concerns of course is employability once the degree is over specially in the academia. I'm not really interested in commercial work, I really want to either be in an academic setting (universities think tanks etc.) or the UN or government etc. What keeps popping up is that as great as interdisciplinary programs are in terms of the depth and breadth of knowledge they offer, most universities still higher people from single disciplines (i.e. sociology, philosophy etc.) and most interdisciplinary PhD holders like the two I have been accepted to Communication and Culture and Social and Political Thought are left out in the cold with little chance at getting an academic job. I really appreciate it if someone could shed some light on this.

I guess in terms of ground work for your research it really depends on your project and your supervisors. One of my plus points for ComCult is my current lead supervisor is also there and he is a tremendous help. My experience with courses has always been they don't provide the in depth knowledge you need to write your thesis. That comes from your own readings. I agree with you, I definitely think it will take me longer than 4 years to finish in either program. SPT's theoretical breadth really pulls me too, I wish they never accepted me and I only had one option and didn't have to make a decision.

Thank you for that. It really helps specially when you are trying to decide between 3 different programs. Could you shed more light into that? More concrete examples in terms of future job opportunities and what they can do for students in that respect if you can please?

Can you take courses from across the university in SPT? because I noticed they have a list of courses that are offered. I have to admit, theoretically the SPT courses seem much more appealing to me but since my research falls into political communication (Habermas etc) more than culture, and some of the courses (and many of the professors) I like are actually common in both programs, I'm somewhat leaning more towards ComCult. Having said that I did notice on their website that should you need or want to take courses outside what they offer you could do so with director's approval, which I guess wouldn't be difficult to obtain. besides the 2 extra half courses at SPT force us to finish the course work in 3 semester as opposed to 2 and the program takes longer that way. on another note, I noticed the 3 mandatory courses at ComCult include research methods, I have already taken that course for my Masters (not in ComCult though), I wonder if you can get a credit for it? By the way how can anyone write a masters thesis without having taken research methods first?? Having said all of that I am still not sold 100% on ComCult. When Ann McLennan spoke to me she said they're trying ot get everyone out the door in 4 years, but I remember when I went for the info session Diane (the GPA) said they had very few students that could finish up in 4 years and usually students have to go into their 5th year. Do you happen to know how long SPT typically takes? 4 or 5 years? or how realistic ComCult'sclaim of 4 years really is? I'm glad we are exploring this. My deadline to accept ComCult is March 6th and SPT March 16th. So I have to make a decision quickly.

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Hmmmm that was my sense too. and having gone to U of T in my undergrad purely for the prestige, I know for a fact that it is not worth it and besides U of T's so called prestige doesn't really open many doors unlike schools like Harvard and Yale and other with which U of T is competing. Unless OISE is a different story?

Well I'm in the exact same boat, I got into ComCult early Feb and into SPT last week and to make matters more complicating have a feeling I will also get an offer from Social Justice Education at OISE. I think between SPt and ComCult I would go with ComCult, because it is shorter 1 full course less (3 in comcult vs. 4 in SPT) and also it's less purely theoretical. It is just a feeling though, what do you guys think? I think for employability later, ComCult would be more practical. SPT is a great place to be in but it's more theoretical and so we might have a more difficult time selecting. As I said these are just my general sense from the two programs and from speaking to both directors several times and also from the list of courses offered and professors. But I'm really interested to see how you two are making your decisions?

I didn't apply to the SCCP, I applied to the social justice education and adult education programs. I forgot to say about $4K is deducted from the above funding for tuition.

Forgot to say $4k in tuition is deducted from your funding.

I have applied to their PhD programs. I think the $15,00 is for Masters students. It is highly difficult to get good jobs relevant to your field with a PhD. I heard in passing that OISE is well known, and I really like their social justice education program. But York is offering me around $25-$26K ($21K entry package + $5-$6K scholarships) and I am also doing my masters there so they're very accommodating plus their benefit package is amazing. At the end of the day I am not going to go to OISE just because of a name. If you and I know it's just a name so does everyone else n the industry. Having said that, I have a very short window to either accept my York Offers or OISE (if I get into OISE). OISE is taking their sweet time with replies though. So I thought I'd do some research and see what's going on. I got admitted into two excellent programs so far: Social and Political Thought at York and Communication and Culture also at York.

That's what I am trying to say, OISE doesn't specify their funding package online. York PhD's get a minimum of $21,000 but in reality it's more like $25-$26K. Besides York Benefits are amazing!!! If anyone know what OISE offers please share.

On another note... Does anyone know why OISE is so popular? I was advised to apply to it and I did but now that I have acceptance letters from elsewhere and in case I get into OISE I have to make a decision, I'm wondering why is OISE really so hot? What is it they provide that others can't? I looked at their benefits package (the only thing I could get my hands on because their funding scheme is so complicated with very little info) and compared to what I get at York it is an insulting JOKE! Anyone have any thoughts?

I applied to the Social Justice Education Program and the Leadership, Adult and Higher Education. I don't think there are going to be any interviews for those programs though.

I don't really know how competitive OISE really is. Does anyone know why OISE is so popular? I was advised to apply to it and I did but now that I have acceptance letters from elsewhere and in case I get into OISE I have to make a decision, I'm wondering why is OISE really so hot? What is it they provide that others can't? I looked at their benefits package (the only thing I could get my hands on because their funding scheme is so complicated with very little info) and compared to what I get at York it is an insulting JOKE! Anyone have any thoughts?

I applied to OISE and waiting for replies sometimes in March.

I think you can submit the application just so you wont miss the deadline and then keep looking for a faculty member to support you. Keep in touch with them, specially the program administrators they should be able to help. As for Alberta recession, looks that way. A mild recession is in forecast for Alberta with many oil companies laying people off and closing down projects. You never know what it will be like in a few years though.

I just got news from Social & Political Thought at York. I'm in Now if only OISE could be so quick...fewwwww

Anyone applied to Social & Political Thought at York? Have you heard back?

I got an email from OISE yesterday saying they have notified the admission committee of my dilemma. I guess I'll just wait and see!!! Waiting is killing me.

I did exactly that the day I got my first acceptance letter too. OISE came back really sympathetically saying they understand but I wont be hearing anything until March. And by March, God only knows when! Still hoping.

thanks for letting us know. My problem is I only have till March 6th to reply to York's offer or it will be rescinded and I don't think OISE admissions would have come by then. Don't know what to do!!!

I got an PhD offer from York over a week ago, and they want a response by March 6th!! I just hope I hear back from OISE before then. They reply too too late!

Anyone applying to OISE this year? I've applied for a PhD and waiting it out to hear from them. When do they usually reply?

Anyone applying to OISE? I've applied to 3 different PhD programs at OISE and haven't heard back from them. I'm already accepted to Communication & Culture at York and they need an answer before March 6th! Wondering when OISE typically gets back to candidates?