defcaffeinated

Happy to!

Messaged you both

Hey! This isn't an asking for info thread as I know there are quite a few out there from over the years (although if anyone has info or advice it'd be very welcome). I was wondering if anyone is considering MAPSS for the 2021-22 year? Would be cool to chat!

Same re: 1/2 funding - I would pay a lot less at a european program (my LSE offer jumps to mind) but wondering whether it's worth it to ask for more funding at MAPSS and try to see if I can afford it, as I think it would be better for my PhD applications particularly having never studied in the US before...

I'm from the UK and have applied to masters programmes in both the UK & US but I've only heard back from 1 so far (UK, partial funding) so a bit of a different situation. I would say another thing to consider re cost beside outright tuition fees, is how easily you can find work whilst you're a student (if you want to have this as an option), as that can massively offset living and potentially accommodation costs depending on how much you work. I think as an international student in the UK you can work off campus in pretty much any non freelance job (up to 20h p/w), whereas there are very specific rules in the US about international student employment. That being said, I'd say you may be more likely to find paid (whether through actual money or tutition remission) RA work in the US in general - although not sure about Cambridge and UChicago specifically - and this kind of work is more useful if looking to do a PhD in the US after (I gather UK PhD adcomms care less about research experience on the whole for various reasons). I realise I didn't talk about the programmes or the institutions specifically at all (not an anthropologist) but I hope that is helpful.

Hope you don't mind me asking but which schools run MA doctoral gateway progs with full-tuition?

That's amazing - so happy for you!!!

Wow! Well from all you've said, clearly you're an exceptional candidate . Just out of curiosity, are there many opportunities to get involved with research at LSE in your experience?

That makes a lot of sense thank you! Thankfully I have savings from working this year and can pick up a part time job (I'm working full time and studying full time right now, so just a part time job next year would be a lot easier haha). Just hope I get in! Kind of freaked myself out by looking at admissions stats from last yr - 192 apps, 66 offers which is nice but if it's doubled/tripled this yr...

Thanks for this - I've heard great things about the History of Political Thought course at QMUL specifically (from people who went there)! I am applying this year. I'm waiting to hear from MAPSS and LSE but just thinking about what happens if I don't get in or can't afford them. I've heard that problem with one-year programmes before but I think depending on how the first semester goes it might be okay, I'd probably want one of my letters to be from my undergrad thesis supervisor, one from someone I'm currently doing research with and one from a masters prof. Thanks for all your advice and congrats on your results this cycle!! Seriously just amazing! I've applied to LSE and should be hearing back soon, so fingers crossed I get in as it looks like applicant numbers for some courses have doubled. It is pretty expensive, but thankfully I can live at home if I stay in London (even though I don't want to and it's not a great working environment) but I am pretty sure even just tuition is more than the maximum masters loan you can get. I'm kind of in the stage of planning for not getting in, or getting in and not being able to afford it. Do you think going to a less well known or smaller school and potentially having access to more research opportunities could make up for the lack of name brand recognition?

Hi all, I'm currently looking into one year MA programmes in Theory (or general politics, maybe philosophy progs that are good for theory). I'm open to programmes in different countries (though I feel like a lot of US programmes are 2 years and/or closed for fall apps) but am primarily looking in the UK. I've had a look at KCL, LSE and York, but as I would like to apply for PhDs in the US, maybe Canada after finishing my masters, I was wondering if people know if any schools or programmes are more well respected than others in the UK (bar the obvious, LSE, Oxbridge). Thanks in advance, and if anyone is in a similar position feel free to msg me!

Hi, thanks for the advice - really helpful and I've started looking more into it, I just think I'm not very qualified for a lot of the positions that are open atm in the UK (all seem to require more experience than I have and/or a more advanced degree!). And yeah, I've definitely heard similar warnings about the market so having that experience would be helpful for a fallback. Thanks again!

Thanks for starting this thread! As a theory applicant I'm a bit at a loss for what I can do to strengthen my application, bar work on my SOP (which, admittedly I know could've been a lot better). Working in govt/policy/a think tank would be cool but not sure how realistic that is for me, and also not sure how much that helps theory applicants as much as it does applicants to other subfields. My current job does expose me to some research but it's not political. However, it's a great job and I think the work we do is really worthwhile, so I'm just trying to figure out what I can do that is non job related to strengthen my application for next year. Are there any other theory people on here?

I've seen decisions sent out in mid march on previous threads. I do wonder how many people they refer - seems like quite a lot of people a year post that their applications have been referred.

I think I've had this since I applied? Unless I'm not noticing something... It has def at least had something about certifile all along for me. I'm an international student so not sure if that makes a difference