Socioeconnut

I’m currently up against a wall after receiving my last PhD rejection and have an admit to the Columbia MA. My poi there is very supportive and willing to work with me towards getting my first MA thesis published, but I’m struggling to decide if I should invest the money towards the ivy name or pass it up and apply to the MS in QSSS at CUNY. There is no guarantee I will get into the masters program at CUNY and worst case scenario, I pass up Columbia and don’t get into the CUNY MS. In the event that I did get into the CUNY masters, does anyone know if they have a good placement record into PhD programs? Is the difference between Columbia and CUNY one that adcomms give weight to? Anyone have experience with either program or similar situation? 

Just wanted to chime in here and post some resources. There are several places where academics with institutional affiliation share resources with independent researchers. I don't want to post the links on a public forum, but please feel free to pm me and I'll connect you. Researchers also upload a lot of material on ResearchGate and Academia.edu. Here is UCSB's list of open access sources: https://www.library.ucsb.edu/scholarly-communication/open-access-repositories. eScholarship is particularly good.

Also posting some *maybe* helpful links for folks trying to publish who don't have supervisors to guide them. It is hard to publish while unaffiliated, but not unheard of perhaps.
* For researching the review process and turnaround time for various journals: http://www.socjobrumors.com/journals.php; http://turnaround.wikidot.com/; https://scirev.org/
* Impact factors are really hard to judge. I tend to look at where my favourite up-and-coming researchers are publishing, make a list of common journals, and then rate them from highest to lowest impact factor using http://www.scimagojr.com/journalrank.php.
 

As a former student who attended the program a few years ago, the short answer is "probably not."
If you're interested in getting into a PhD program in sociology, an MA degree can allow you to build connections and conduct more research so you can build a stronger academic profile. However, you would be better off going to a program that provides more financial aid, preferably a full ride. The Columbia MA program generally does not offer any financial aid to those admitted. A few students get some financial assistance, but still not nearly enough to cover the cost of tuition+living expenses of about $75,000.
Of course, in academia rankings do matter, so you may feel tempted to attend the MA program at a prestigious university over, say, Florida State University. The problem is that for the vast majority of the students that attend the Columbia MA sociology program, the amount of money they pay does not come even close to the returns obtained from graduating. Most students either end up in top 30-50 sociology PhD programs (which they could have gotten into with a fully funded, even if lower ranked, MA program), or they drop out of the field entirely and get a job that did not require them to spend so much money on an MA degree. If prestige of the MA program is a big concern to you, you should take a look at the Chicago MAPSS program, which offers more money (up to full tuition) and also places students better after they graduate.
Yes, there are a handful of students from the Columbia MA program who go on to get offers from Top 20 sociology PhD programs. But you should know that these students are a very small minority. It would be a bad idea to presume you would be one of the exceptions. This is especially the case if you don't already have a strong academic profile. If you think the Ivy League name is going to override your low GRE scores and get you into Wisconsin or Stanford PhD, think again. It's not going to happen.
What are some issues with the Columbia MA program? They include (but are not limited to): 1. The faculty (the tenure-track/tenured ones) does not want to waste time with the MA students. There are exceptions, obviously, but for the most part they want to focus on their own research and advise their PhD students. So at the end of the 1-year program, many MA students can't even get a strong letter of recommendation from even one faculty from the program. 2. Lack of time. One year isn't enough time to come up with a research proposal, carry out the research, and write up an MA thesis. Most people end up with MA theses that aren't particularly well written. (Note that many full funded MA sociology programs are two years, not one, so it gives you more time to write a stronger, polished thesis.) 3. The program - including the MA coordinator - does not care about what happens to you. It's important to keep this in perspective: programs like this doesn't exist for the purpose of placing students into top PhD programs or landing them great nonacademic jobs. Instead, it exists to collect your tuition money. In return, it is willing to give you access to resources which you can take potentially take advantage of. That is the hard truth, and you certainly should not expect any hand-holding or detailed directions about how to maximize your returns if you were to attend the program.
All in all, the MA sociology program at Columbia is likely not worth it. I cannot generalize this to everyone (especially if you come from a wealthy family and the cost is no issue at all), and there is no doubt that for some people, the program will be well worth it. But I will say that if you do choose to attend, you should go into it fully aware that there is a very good chance you will eventually come to regret it.

@proctorvt thank you so much for your incredibly thoughtful and heartfelt message.
I’m in my early 30’s and already put aside a career in finance when I got pregnant with my first back in 2014 since I was working on my MA concurrently and saw it as a sign to pursue grad school full time. I was fortunate enough to get a fellowship that covered full scholarship and stipend (which went entirely to help with childcare - babysitters are $20/hr in nyc area and daycare is around $3500/mo.) but it was incredibly hard to do both full time at home with a newborn and grad school. I had my second last year and managed to juggle another newborn with a toddler, a doctoral course (while I deferred the MA offer on maternity leave ), PhD applications, and working remotely on a European study. I figured with all this wind behind the sails, I finally had a fighting chance. With another little one coming in July (we are done after this lol) I don’t have the fight left in me to torture myself and my partner and kids to keep clawing for a space somewhere I’m clearly not wanted.
Without institutional support to get IRB and funding, I have 0 chance of pursuing any more original research. I can try to boost my gre score (162 Q and 158 V) but as another year passes, my entire portfolio will age too while my peers continue to grow and plump up their credentials. Is it conceivable? Depends who you ask. Is it possible? Anything is. Is it probable? We all know there is overwhelming evidence pointing to no. Even going back to finance at this point is fruitless bc the few years out of the game have set me back professionally to a point where the comp won’t even cover the cost of childcare for the insane amount of hours I’d have to put in at the office (yay gender pay gap!). I’m out of ideas. I don’t know where to go from here. 
Btw I’m including personal details bc 1) it clearly doesn’t make a difference anymore and 2) I have not come across many students who are primary caretakers for anyone but themselves. So many have to or choose to put off/sacrifice the personal side of their lives, whether it’s their relationships or families, to pursue this field and others simply have the road “paved in gold,” as you said. I guess I thought from an ideological standpoint, the ONE place that would be supportive of a working mother would be a Sociology dept but alas, nope nope nope. 

This post moved me, and I am frustrated by the obstacles that we, in a structural sense, allow parenthood to create. I also deeply admire your grit, courage, and perseverance. I am currently involved in motherhood penalty-related research, and WOW does your situation hit home, especially "I guess I thought from an ideological standpoint, the ONE place that would be supportive of a working mother would be a Sociology dept but alas, nope nope nope."
I obviously don't have influence in the outcomes of this app cycle for you, but I do have tremendous respect, admiration, and frustration for your situation.

@proctorvt thank you so much for your incredibly thoughtful and heartfelt message.
I’m in my early 30’s and already put aside a career in finance when I got pregnant with my first back in 2014 since I was working on my MA concurrently and saw it as a sign to pursue grad school full time. I was fortunate enough to get a fellowship that covered full scholarship and stipend (which went entirely to help with childcare - babysitters are $20/hr in nyc area and daycare is around $3500/mo.) but it was incredibly hard to do both full time at home with a newborn and grad school. I had my second last year and managed to juggle another newborn with a toddler, a doctoral course (while I deferred the MA offer on maternity leave ), PhD applications, and working remotely on a European study. I figured with all this wind behind the sails, I finally had a fighting chance. With another little one coming in July (we are done after this lol) I don’t have the fight left in me to torture myself and my partner and kids to keep clawing for a space somewhere I’m clearly not wanted.
Without institutional support to get IRB and funding, I have 0 chance of pursuing any more original research. I can try to boost my gre score (162 Q and 158 V) but as another year passes, my entire portfolio will age too while my peers continue to grow and plump up their credentials. Is it conceivable? Depends who you ask. Is it possible? Anything is. Is it probable? We all know there is overwhelming evidence pointing to no. Even going back to finance at this point is fruitless bc the few years out of the game have set me back professionally to a point where the comp won’t even cover the cost of childcare for the insane amount of hours I’d have to put in at the office (yay gender pay gap!). I’m out of ideas. I don’t know where to go from here. 
Btw I’m including personal details bc 1) it clearly doesn’t make a difference anymore and 2) I have not come across many students who are primary caretakers for anyone but themselves. So many have to or choose to put off/sacrifice the personal side of their lives, whether it’s their relationships or families, to pursue this field and others simply have the road “paved in gold,” as you said. I guess I thought from an ideological standpoint, the ONE place that would be supportive of a working mother would be a Sociology dept but alas, nope nope nope. 

Thank you @qeta , that means a lot, especially since you had a similar experience and made it through to great programs. I wish you so much future success and hope you stop by every now and again with updates so we can root for you in your upcoming endeavors  
I think I'm most disappointed by the fact that there was no personal interaction. My professor/POI, the dgs, no one reached out. I seriously thought even with a rejection I would get more than a generic letter from admissions. 

@proctorvt thank you so much for your incredibly thoughtful and heartfelt message.
I’m in my early 30’s and already put aside a career in finance when I got pregnant with my first back in 2014 since I was working on my MA concurrently and saw it as a sign to pursue grad school full time. I was fortunate enough to get a fellowship that covered full scholarship and stipend (which went entirely to help with childcare - babysitters are $20/hr in nyc area and daycare is around $3500/mo.) but it was incredibly hard to do both full time at home with a newborn and grad school. I had my second last year and managed to juggle another newborn with a toddler, a doctoral course (while I deferred the MA offer on maternity leave ), PhD applications, and working remotely on a European study. I figured with all this wind behind the sails, I finally had a fighting chance. With another little one coming in July (we are done after this lol) I don’t have the fight left in me to torture myself and my partner and kids to keep clawing for a space somewhere I’m clearly not wanted.
Without institutional support to get IRB and funding, I have 0 chance of pursuing any more original research. I can try to boost my gre score (162 Q and 158 V) but as another year passes, my entire portfolio will age too while my peers continue to grow and plump up their credentials. Is it conceivable? Depends who you ask. Is it possible? Anything is. Is it probable? We all know there is overwhelming evidence pointing to no. Even going back to finance at this point is fruitless bc the few years out of the game have set me back professionally to a point where the comp won’t even cover the cost of childcare for the insane amount of hours I’d have to put in at the office (yay gender pay gap!). I’m out of ideas. I don’t know where to go from here. 
Btw I’m including personal details bc 1) it clearly doesn’t make a difference anymore and 2) I have not come across many students who are primary caretakers for anyone but themselves. So many have to or choose to put off/sacrifice the personal side of their lives, whether it’s their relationships or families, to pursue this field and others simply have the road “paved in gold,” as you said. I guess I thought from an ideological standpoint, the ONE place that would be supportive of a working mother would be a Sociology dept but alas, nope nope nope. 

Dear @qualsoc2018 I seriously admire your incredible positivity and resolve and wish you and @2733amh both success in everything you pursue. 

@proctorvt thank you so much for your incredibly thoughtful and heartfelt message.
I’m in my early 30’s and already put aside a career in finance when I got pregnant with my first back in 2014 since I was working on my MA concurrently and saw it as a sign to pursue grad school full time. I was fortunate enough to get a fellowship that covered full scholarship and stipend (which went entirely to help with childcare - babysitters are $20/hr in nyc area and daycare is around $3500/mo.) but it was incredibly hard to do both full time at home with a newborn and grad school. I had my second last year and managed to juggle another newborn with a toddler, a doctoral course (while I deferred the MA offer on maternity leave ), PhD applications, and working remotely on a European study. I figured with all this wind behind the sails, I finally had a fighting chance. With another little one coming in July (we are done after this lol) I don’t have the fight left in me to torture myself and my partner and kids to keep clawing for a space somewhere I’m clearly not wanted.
Without institutional support to get IRB and funding, I have 0 chance of pursuing any more original research. I can try to boost my gre score (162 Q and 158 V) but as another year passes, my entire portfolio will age too while my peers continue to grow and plump up their credentials. Is it conceivable? Depends who you ask. Is it possible? Anything is. Is it probable? We all know there is overwhelming evidence pointing to no. Even going back to finance at this point is fruitless bc the few years out of the game have set me back professionally to a point where the comp won’t even cover the cost of childcare for the insane amount of hours I’d have to put in at the office (yay gender pay gap!). I’m out of ideas. I don’t know where to go from here. 
Btw I’m including personal details bc 1) it clearly doesn’t make a difference anymore and 2) I have not come across many students who are primary caretakers for anyone but themselves. So many have to or choose to put off/sacrifice the personal side of their lives, whether it’s their relationships or families, to pursue this field and others simply have the road “paved in gold,” as you said. I guess I thought from an ideological standpoint, the ONE place that would be supportive of a working mother would be a Sociology dept but alas, nope nope nope. 

Count me into the 0 acceptances club too, but like I said in an earlier post, I'm basically at peace with the whole thing because now I have the opportunity to pursue other things I'm passionate about that I wouldn't have been able to do in a PhD program due to time constraints 

I don't want to out myself, but I'm kind of affiliated with Columbia. I'm currently enrolled in a master's program at another schools and have taken PhD level classes. I feel your pain. I'm still hoping we'll get into at least one program! There are some universities with childcare centre.

@proctorvt I have felt like I've been in this with you-- still rooting for you. I just got in to NYU! Apparently they didn't send the emails all at once. The email said they "anticipate" the cohort will be 9 students, so I would imagine they have/will accept more than 9 if they expect that will be their yield. 

I can claim it. I just received in email from the chair of the graduate committee saying I've been recommended for admission. Official letter hasn't come yet.

I’m with you in spirit @2733amh, my husband came home with an entire valentine’s cheesecake last night bc “pregnant women don’t eat flowers” ? 

I’m with you in spirit @2733amh, my husband came home with an entire valentine’s cheesecake last night bc “pregnant women don’t eat flowers” ? 

I’m with you in spirit @2733amh, my husband came home with an entire valentine’s cheesecake last night bc “pregnant women don’t eat flowers” ? 

also checked portal and found a rejection from Northwestern...had applied to the JD/PhD program and it was my top choice. I can still be accepted to the JD program independently but not very hopeful for that. good news is that valentines candy is 50% off at CVS today, I got cookie dough halo tops from my "not boyfriend" for valentines day, and grey's anatomy is on tonight so I've set myself up for a real fantastic night of gaining 13 pounds

Just got an email from UIowa moving me off the waitlist into ACCEPTENCE with five year funding. I'm so happy. I feel like I can finally breathe knowing I will for sure be going into a program in the Fall. Five schools left to hear back from! 

Haha, I haven't posted on the results page yet. My stats are less-than-stellar, but like @Socioeconnut I took advantage of living in the Bay Area by taking classes at UCB and my two writing samples were good.

This really did brighten the morning, congratulations!!!

In at Brown! What a lovely early Valentine's Day gift.

first response and it's a beautiful bouquet of generic rejection, love you more Harvard! 

This is somewhat off topic, but not entirely... as someone who spent nearly a decade climbing that ladder I can tell you that my most useful periods were those when I wasn't in a grad program, at all. It's risky to spend too much time unaffiliated with a department, but if you use your time wisely, this can really set you apart from other applicants. 
Why? Because grad school (both MA and PhD) happens at a break-neck pace. Often, you're simply trying to keep your head above water. This is great for your long-term development and professionalization, but it often prevents you from reading broadly and systematically. In hindsight, the years I spent reading dusty books in coffee shops are what sets me apart from others who have only an undergraduate or MA degree. This time off can also provide space to publish and/or present at conferences, which are both exceedingly difficult to do when you're crushed with coursework.
Of course, there are downsides to this strategy. Being out of academia can be terribly alienating (And it was) and getting jobs to support yourself in the interim can be soul- and body-crushing (And they were). But I wouldn't trade that experience for the world. Never give up.

Don't do that to yourself! I've spent the better part of a decade on the grad school grind. I went from a near-undergrad-flunky to being competitive for Ivy PhDs. I've been in some really dark spots, so I know the struggle better than almost anyone, but never give up. Start climbing. (And wait until admissions season is over before your start torturing yourself)