artemisia

I am not sure why you would be given this advice, as the Courtauld is known for producing many scholars and leaders in the art world. I suggest checking the bios of current students at schools where you want to apply for a PhD. I believe there are Courtauld MA grads at Yale, Columbia, Berkeley, IFA, and many other top programs right now. That is not to say that Tufts wouldn't prepare you for graduate study, but it does suggest that a combination of academic skills developed at the Courtauld and their name recognition has helped place students at these programs. Of course, the Courtauld's special option system means that you have to be more sure about your area of focus than in a traditional MA program.

I don't have advice on IFA PhD vs. Williams MA because it sounds like the choice is clear--if you get off the waitlist, go to the IFA! But Williams is a great and respected program in the field if not. Turning down the IFA if you get off the waitlist and then reapplying seems fraught...if you didn't take their offer the first time, why would they offer it again? With decision deadlines approaching, It might be worth emailing the IFA and trying to figure out if the waitlist is likely to have movement or not. Maybe even look on the old results pages on here to see if people got accepted from the waitlist. With regards to your concern about doing the MA with your PhD cohort, IFA is definitely an aberration in the field and I am shocked they have you start as a third year if you have an MA. At any other top program you would maybe be a semester ahead. That being said, there are surely a number of PhD students who would be starting with their MAs (especially from Williams or the Courtauld), so you would have that cohort of other outside MAs within the wider cohort of third-years. All of this is IMO, but I hope it helps!

Has anyone not heard from Columbia at all?

Honestly, the biggest problem you will face applying to PhD programs is finding a place that wants to fund a student who is doing a degree basically for fun. Besides that, a medieval studies MA won't hurt your chances if you are able to write your dissertation on French medieval visual culture. If not, an art history MA program where you can hone that focus is more advantageous.

I think it depends on the school but for most of mine the portal on which you submitted the app is also where you receive the decision (no making a new portal, etc). With apps like these you can check the status of submitted, under review, completed, etc. Obviously varies from school to school, this is just my experience.

If this helps anyone: I was accepted to a school that hasn't sent out official notices and my status was changed to 'complete.' It is a school that uses the applyweb portal. Edited to add: for a school I was rejected from it also says 'complete' but that school I did received an official decision.

Some stipend info can be found searching here: http://www.phdstipends.com/

did the Penn admit have an interview?

Bard Feb. 15! No idea anything else.

Nope, I received my invitation 2 weeks ago and interviewed in the past week. But again, for PhD not MA. the interview invitation said PhD decisions will be made by Feb. 15.

Mine was for PhD so probably slightly different, but: I was interviewed by a panel of 5-6 people, they mainly asked about my interest in the program, my MA dissertation I submitted as a writing sample, and my plans for future research. It lasted about 40 mins.

Have any Bard applicants had their interview? I think there are a few of us based on results page...

Agreed with this list, adding Penn.

I would email him directly to introduce yourself, express your interest in his work, and ask if he is still accepting students. I did this with all on my POIs and learned that one is retiring and one is on sabbatical next year, so it can be very helpful.

IMO, it really just depends on how prepared you think you are. Some programs require an MA before applying to the PhD program, some highly rec it, some don't state a preference. The pros of a terminal MA are that it allows you to hone your focus and have graduate-level writing as your writing sample. Perhaps also having stronger letters of rec than you have right now. The con is obviously cost. Also, if you're taking a year in between you should have something tangible to show for it. If your SOP states you want to be a curator, you would ideally have a museum job.