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urbanchic

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Posts posted by urbanchic

  1. I'm guessing that means bad news for me. Did you hear via mail or email??

    I'm also waiting for UNC-CH MA. Have you heard anything from them about when or how we here back? Or about MA funding? When did you submit your application?

  2. I've noticed that this board is a bit Anti-Master's/Pro-PhD, so the answers you get in this thread are a bit biased.

    I'm all for getting a master's before a PhD if the person thinks it will help them be more prepared for the doctorate.

    1. It doesn't have to be expensive. Try a state school. Work up and save money. Many employers will pay for your degree. Some schools do fund Master's students. Look for one. If you have to get some loans, it's only for 2 years max (hopefully.) You can work and start paying them off before you start your PhD. Peace corps?

    2. Getting a job. Actually, having a Master's over a BA/BS can help you get a job...and get paid MORE. For the jobs I want, having a Master's would be a great asset and they even say graduate students get paid more. In fact, I applied to one job a few months ago that was open to both undergrads and grad students, but they turned me down because they told me they only want grad students now.

    3. Almost everyone has a bachelor's now. Having a grad degree will help. Saying a Master's will not help is like saying a PhD will not help. The article fails to mention how having a PhD does not automatically equal high pay or employment either.

    4. Experience. Getting a Master's and taking some time off will give you great experience and academic training to prepare for the PhD. It shows that you have the ability to complete graduate level work and conduct research. I'm sure you'll go into the application process with a lot more confidence too. Although I've applied to a few PhD programs, I feel more comfortable starting a Master's program this Fall. Getting my master's will help me clarify what I really want to study before I make a long-term commitment to start the PhD. I can also get plenty of work and life experience that will help make the PhD experience more meaningful. In fact, I even met with some schools and they questioned why I wanted to go straight to the PhD. They highly recommended I get a Master's first.

    5. A waste of time? How is getting an education (Master's) a waste of time? It's what you make it. I never understood this rush of wanting to hurry and get the PhD over with. Why not just enjoy life as it is? You'll still be 40 whether you get your PhD at 26 or 28. If you're in a hurry to get the PhD process over with, you make it seem like a horrible experience. Why try to get one in the first place?

    If you have thorough research experience, have successfully taken many graduate level courses as an undergrad, and know exactly what you want to research then going straight to PhD may be good for you. If you want more academic training and assurance that getting a PhD is for you, then getting a Master's may be the better option.

    Overall, I really don't understand the discouragement towards getting a Master's and don't think it's necessary to knock those that want to get a Master's before a PhD.

    Having a Master's does help. tongue.gif

    off soap box. lol

  3. Quite right. Master's programs report much later than PhD programs. MA programs can report into May. The master's degree program that I applied to five years ago reported to me in June (for the following spring admission). Master's program decisions are often made after PhD programs. Admissions offices like to get the PhD letters cleared through before focusing upon Master's admission, which they have more direct control over.

    Several master's degree programs also have rolling admission. So, there's less need to panic if you don't get a response in March.

    But we have to make a decision by April 15.

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