sweetcheese

Wanted to throw in a different opinion. A few years ago, I opted for an unfunded MA, even though I had a funded PhD elsewhere at a very reputable institution. The PhD offer, however, was absolutely the wrong choice for me. So why did I take out loans for an MA? Because I really, truly believed that it would put me into the kind of PhD program I wanted to be in. And it did. I reapplied to programs that next year, and am now at an Ivy, but more importantly, a very good fit. Had I not taken the unfunded MA, I'm entirely positive I wouldn't be where I am. Granted, I'll get back to you when I'm on the job market and can tell you if I've really screwed myself over. And had I not gotten into any programs this year, I would certainly have begun thinking about other career options. But I think if it's very well thought through and for the right reasons, the unfunded MA is certainly not ideal (and I'll admit-a huge financial stress), but can put you on the path to what is not 'just' a funded PhD, but a very good one. So as many others have said, it really depends on what you're hoping to get from it. And a final word: as you are, I was very tied to the MA program that I had gotten into. I ended up making the decision not only because I thought it could get me somewhere great at the end, but I also didn't ever want to think of 'what if' had I chosen to do something else. Despite the debt I'm sitting in, I'd make the exact same decision again, especially knowing how much a couple of months in that program would change my future. (My partner, who I met in the program, may or may not have a bit to do with that, but that's another story.)

I'd like to counter this a bit, because pudewen, though bringing up many of the major fears of doing a UK PhD, also generalized a lot. First, saying that a UK PhD has no knowledge base past their dissertation is horribly wrong; the system is set up differently, and students in that system cover those things long before they enter a PhD. At least from what I've seen, UK masters programs are incredibly intensive, covering all of that before the student even reaches a PhD. That doesn't even consider the kind of work they do during their undergraduate years, which seems to have a bit of a different focus. You could say that's too short of a time, but there are also people that think the way the US system is set up isn't perfect, either. Both have their benefits, but focusing on the negative doesn't do anyone any good here. Further, many UK PhDs seem to be offering teaching; it may not be required, but it is now an option so that students can be competitive in a different job market. Though it may be slightly uncommon for students with a UK PhD to get an American job, I think it needs to be recognized that it is possible, and that the people that do are entirely qualified. I think, as a previous poster mentioned, there is something to be said for the kind of independence that a UK PhD forces you to have; a kind of independence that a committee may see as the person's ability to come up with things on their own without having their hand held. If a committee is looking at an American candidate that doesn't seem independent at all and will need guidance through every step of the first five years of their job, and a British candidate that has fresh ideas on how to teach a course and the independence to do these things on their own, well... I'm not going to say who they'll pick, but I know who I would. That's also a generalization, but I think we need to consider how the other side views this process. What I mean by all of this is that I hope each and every one of us chooses a path that we want, not one that is standard or makes the most sense. Our original poster doesn't seem to share the desire many have to obtain a job in the US market, so perhaps Cambridge is better. I think we also need to consider what we're all looking for from this experience, and let the job be the goal, but not the absolute first reason for pursuing PhDs. Choosing a program that is the best fit and will provide you with the resources you need to do that kind of work you're passionate about it should be the focus, not necessarily how a program is perceived over the other. If we lose sight of that, I don't think it matters what the name of the institution is or how it ranks; I don't think anyone will succeed if things are picked solely on how others perceive them. This all being said, I chose a British program over funded PhDs in America because I thought the experience I would gain there and the opportunities that I realized I would have were more what I was looking for out of the experience; if you choose the right program for you, I think you can create the kind of career you want.

Hi there playingivory, First, I'm a Michigan undergrad who just went through the application process... I'm a medievalist, but I'm sure we've had a class together at some point! So hello again maybe! Second, I went through the process for musicology, but did apply to one history-related program. I spent the past two years making contacts in the field at conferences, meeting professors that I might want to work with, etc... I would say that this process helped me, but far more on a personal level than anything. There were institutions that I felt more comfortable applying to knowing my POI, but when it came down to university decisions, I don't think that played into where I was accepted or rejected. When I interviewed at schools or spoke with faculty (I applied to a UK school, and obviously couldn't visit on my own dime), it was clear that I was accepted based on my merits, and not solely on POI's interest in working with me. I'm certainly not saying that it was a waste of time meeting people and spending money on going to conferences, but in the end, it never gave me a "one-up" in the application process. What it did give me, however, was a personal sense of who I wanted to work with and the types of programs those types of people were teaching in. To address the status of the professor, I applied to programs where the POI was going to be in the final stages of their career, and programs where they were in the first. I got rejected from the two programs where my POI was very young. Perhaps that's by chance(those programs weren't taking someone with my interests, my application wasn't strong enough, etc...), but I do think it has to do a bit with what the previous posters mentioned: it's a bit rare for assistant professors to take on PhD students. Hope that helps a bit, and feel free to PM me...Go blue!

I literally just got mine... And I guess it's decision time. No to Yale.

FYI for those waiting on Yale: I called today, as I've heard from all of my other schools and would like to know where I stand. They haven't sent everything out yet, and they've not yet come to all decisions. I spoke with the woman in the grad school admissions office, and it sounds as if we should hear completely this week. I'm not expecting anything positive, but I don't think they've made all final decisions. Hope this helps, guys!

I'd also like to join in the congratulations! What a wonderful response, you should be absolutely ecstatic!!!!

Don't they typically send out notifications later than other schools? At least that's what the trend has looked like in the past few years.

Hey clarinetcola, I'm currently an undergraduate in the Michigan musicology department. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions about the program here. I will say that I've been incredibly happy with my education, including the theory courses I've taken. The University is terrific, the school of music remarkably good, and the community incredibly welcoming. Ann Arbor also has a large number of world class performances, at least one per week. The best part is that student tickets are cheap; for example, Thursday we had The King's Singers in town, and today there was a production of Handel's Radamisto with The English Concert. I'm not sure you could get that anywhere else, unless you're living in a big city. Hope this helps! Again, feel free to PM me. That goes for anyone else considering Michigan, as well; this is an amazing place, and I'd be happy to answer any questions you have!

Do we know for sure, though, that Chicago has sent out everything? I'm assuming they have, but I'm just wondering if anyone has heard anything negative from them.

Just a heads up for all: I got rejected from Princeton this morning, so it looks like they're making final decisions. Thirty minutes before, however, I got an acceptance to King's College London. I suppose you win some and you lose some, and its better to happen within a small time period? Makes the cutting hurt of rejection a little less!

Hi all, I'm new here, but have been following the results board for a while. Congrats to everyone that's heard anything so far! Do we know that there were multiple Chicago acceptances yesterday?