Caffeine Junkie

Just as the topic title states, I am wanting an opinion one or both of these philosphy programs. I am trying to decide where to complete my M.A., and then move on to a PhD. Which one might hold more weight on a job and/or PhD application? Which one may have the better faculty? Your feedback is appreciated .

Upon giving the bios on the UC Irvine page a look last fall I noticed that most of the current candidates had M.A.'s, unless they happen to have a B.A. from a T20.

rising_star, Thank you, I do appreciate your feedback. Unfortunately, things have changed in the last 72 hours. My my what a ride graduate school apps are...

Considering uncertainty for those who feel necessary to apply and hopefully attend graduate school, I think it is a bit curious how each school is left to their own devices concerning dates. Specifically, dates for acceptancing offers, and dates for determine one's funding are not always parallel to their security in taking up or rejecting these offers. Recently, I learned that one of my two offers will not be possible and therefore put me down to one. The aforementioned lone offer I have left is undesirable for me at the moment for a couple reasons: 1) I am merely nominated for funding, but am required to either accept to reject in two days. Further, the school is out of state, and I have a family to think about before committing to any one situation. 2) I am unsure that I wish to continue in the discipline of the accepting program, and I think my chances to be better in the major that I sort of unoffically minored in and have gained acceptance for in the other program but am unable to attend. This past Sunday I began another application for a local state school, which I completed thrity dollars and two days later- that being yesterday. The program I applied to is reputed as a feeder into PhD programs for my subject of interest, and it is right accross the street from where I work, which is about 19 miles from my home. Their application deadline is in 9 days, yet many on here have stated that they have already recieved decisions within a few weeks of their submission. The institution in question is the Philososphy M.A. program at California State University Los Angeles. Additionally, it seems as though funding is considered for those already in the program and in good standing, not so much for newcomers, which is a load of pressure off of me in the present time. Moreover, I exceed their minor equivalency standard of 32 quarter units with 40.5 or 27 semester units of Philosophy. However, since I am unsure of the outcome I am wondering if I CAN accept the offer on the table while I wait for CSULA's decision, or if doing so would be considered unethical, or if such could be found out by either party-thus, hurting my prospects?

BTW, I participated

Hey, how'd you convert your post into a poll (sha-bang!)? That is cool, I wish to do the same for mine!

@Jung Thank you so much for takng the time to answer my post. If it is not any trouble, may I ask if pressed into doing one of these unfunded, assuming my GPA and dissertation are very good, can serve as a means to an end, an funded end at the PhD level? Is there anything other than debt and risk (e.g. stigma) that render an unfunded M.A. in these fields a bad idea; if so can it be reversed? Once again, many thanks for the first reply!

As one who squeezed four study books, a tutor, and a Powerscore course into their budget, I must say that the resource which turned out to be the most helpful was ironically the cheapest and most accessible- MAGOOSH. The only downside is that their collection of questions for each subject are a bit limited, so it may be wise to practice individual subjects sparingly yet run practice tests more frequently; you know, so that one does not begin to memorize the questions. However, assuming one is practicing a few hours a day and as many days a week then I would say there is at least a month or two worth of questions to go through before repeating them. Maximal effort onto you all!

Don't feel bad because yesterday I was so overwhelmed with all this and my flip flop of a work/sleep schedule that I thought yesterday was wednesday and missed an assignement date. I think we seniors and/or graduates that are pursuing these applications can become a bit warped in our perception of time. However, it must be said that options are always a good thing. Make it good! Trembling and jittering as usual, the (Caffeine ) Junkie

A greeting to all; my user name says it all at this point as I am climbing this academic latter, working a job I hate, and attempting to raise a young family. By the way, please forgive my writing as I am exhausted and will continue to be for the next three days. I have in front of me an offer of admission with a nomination for GA funding (never heard of that) for a Master's program in Sociology. I have until 19-April (not 15-April) to accept the offer, but funding decisions will not be known for a "few weeks". This is a two year/36 unit program A couple days ago I received an offer from a UK university to accept a spot in their Philosophy program. Since the course of study will be online with an option to attend one or more seminars, there will be no funding and the M.A. will be considered a taught degree which may signal me as no less/more than a TA prospect for any future PhD programs; I am good with that, I think. I have until 5-June to accept this offer. This is a one year/36 unit program. Prestige is definitely on the side of the latter rather than the former, and while an Assistanship would be nice I am apprehensive about committing to the former only to find out that I will neither be able to make rent nor fall back to any of my other options until next application season. In an attempt to insert some logic into this decision, I have opted to use the PhD as the backdrop to measure against; that to say, I am basing my prospects in terms of my own talents, apptitude, and each potential academic environment (where do I fit in most) in assessing which discipline I am more likely to survive. Consequently, I know which I am better suited for, but my family comes first and I need to be sure that I am making the right choice risk! As of now, we are in a meager though not dire econmic situation and I am cynical that my B.A. is going to change this any time soon (FYI, I am taking the CBEST in July). However, we are not at all materialistic and my spouse almost demands that I go all the way to PhD, i.e. on-campus housing will be fine even if for a few years. Sorry so long, but I really do need some advice that is external to our little circle. Which direction- if any- should I lean toward? Many thanks, and best regards Caffeine Junkie