dunkeater

I was arguing that often seminars alone > seminars + thesis. I don't deny the potential value of a thesis, but the amount of work required to do a thesis can take away from the time you have to write a concise writing sample. If your thesis and writing sample are different projects, as they often are, they can detract from each other. A thesis will definitely provide valuable research and writing experience. But I want to push back against the idea that non-thesis options are inferior. The right path for each student varies too much on individual situations for such broad claims to be true.

I second Establishment's argument. I'm currently at a terminal MA program, and most students here choose not to do a thesis. Not because a thesis is too hard, but rather because of the importance of taking a range of courses (particularly graduate seminars). Graduate seminars provide much better opportunities for a concise, effective writing sample. Thesis papers are often done separately from the writing sample because they're too long and broad. Our program has had great placement so far this year, and successful placements have been unaffected by who chose to do a thesis.