charl1e

Hi there, trying to make a decision which MA program to go to, knowing that I plan to apply to top PhD programs the next year. Right now I am trying to decide between my undergrad institution and a different school. Differences in rank between the two schools is pretty minimal, but at the newer school I have a better funding offer (and its an external fellowship that will make it easier for me to get similar ones later), and more opportunities to take methods courses. Basically, I am going to want to use 3 references from my undergrad institution no matter what because if applications are due in December, I want to ask my recommenders in October (at least). And also I want to ask people who've known me for a while. That really doesn't leave enough time to get to know a faculty member at a new institution well enough to feel comfortable getting their LOR, or at least I don't want to count on this. So, that being said, should I stay at my undergrad institution for the MA just so that there is continuity with my letters (so they come from my current institution)? Would it look really bad to have no letters from an MA that I had just started months before apps were due, or is that relatively normal? I really do want to go to this different school, but keeping my plan in mind, I don't want to create issues for my PhD cycle. Advice appreciated - thanks.

Thanks folks for the input so far I have a friend doing an MA there. She said there's not a single person she knows in her MA program that has an RA position. Also, the lack of people doing what I'm interested in would probably make me a less-than-ideal applicant for most positions unless the one guy (literally, only one guy) needs someone. I think most of the RA positions go to PhD students, who are already starved for funding.

Hi, I've never posted here before but I read these forums often. I've been really struggling over something, and I'm wondering if folks here will have any insight. I really appreciate your time and thoughts! Basically, next year I will be doing a Master's at a Canadian university, after which I plan to apply to top PhD programs in the US (my top choices are University of Michigan and Princeton). Right now, I face the choice between two MA programs, and I'm not sure which will better prepare me to get accepted into top PhD Programs. I have been or will be shortly accepted into the top three universities in Canada, all with funding. I've basically decided against one of them because the program is too long, so now I face a choice between "University A" and "University B." They are both fairly prestigious, as far as Canadian universities go. University A is my undergrad institution. It has a smaller department, but in terms of my subfield interests, it has the best faculty for it. I already have strong relationships with several professors (two in my field, many outside of it), whom I really enjoy working with. At this program you are assigned an MA supervisor who you meet with throughout the year (which I would prefer) and there is a thesis component. On the downside, I've already taken the graduate courses in my subfield interests, there isn't very thorough methods training, and it might be distracting for me to be in my home city where I have so much going on and am a known name on campus. I haven't technically been accepted yet, but I know that I will be and I also know roughly what funding I will get - a few thousand less than University B (though cost of living is also lower), and internally administered (combo of scholarship + TAship) rather than government fellowship (because they lost my grant application). University B has a larger department, slightly more prestige overall, but fewer people who share my subfield interests. You don't complete a proper thesis or have an MA supervisor. The coursework looks a lot more stimulating and would be new to me - some of it relevant to my subfield depending on what they offer. In particular, they have very thorough methods training that I could benefit a lot from. University B rarely funds students (has a reputation for being a "cash grab" MA program), but they have offered me a government fellowship which will cover all of my tuition and most of my living expenses. RAships and TAships are very difficult to come by and unlikely for me to get. I think the above sorta synthesizes the good with the bad, but another good thing is that I would probably find it easier to focus on school if I got away from my current city (though then there are the downsides of moving and having to uproot, build new relationships, etc). Basically I'm pretty torn here. Part of the question, to me, is also about whether external funding (as a fellowship) carries more prestige than internal funding (as a TAship), and whether that is enough of a factor that it should matter to my decision. Also, knowing that I have such a great working relationship with my honours supervisors at University A, whether I should give that up to be just a number at University B. Overall, I realize this is a good dilemma to have. But I'd really appreciate input because I have no idea what to do and need to tell University B my decision very soon.