Masut Artan

Let me add few things about this MAPSS program. I just applied to this program for no good reason other than being rejected to every phd program i have applied. So i tried to find out 1yr MA program from top university that can give me an opportunity to write a thesis , because i did not write thesis in my previous grad program at a public university. I chose Uchicago program over UCLA just because of generosity in funding at Uchicago. UCLa MA social science awards few fellowships or financial aid (they call it self-funding program). coming to the Program, they have one bad “perspectives course” which is mandatory for all students, and it is designed to discourage students as most of them can’t manage to get more than B. Not because the course is challenging but because it is designed that way—infact its assignments is just 2-3page reflection paper or critique paper, but they just grade it that way, may be a policy! MAPSS students are weird and are not outgoing or social in nature, they envy each other and compete, and they don’t behave as mature people. most people avoid to take METHODS courses but if u decide to take them, it is hell. Time is short, and instead of teaching math and statistics as the traditional way, they start challenging you from first day: so would you learn something new or would you meet with the deadlines and workout homeworks! Professors don’t care, they assume as though everyone is from Math or engineering background! TA are just machines, they don’t help and they dont offer any assistance, they are just like robots in virtual offices hours and instead of answering your concerns they just argue with you and send you to check the syllabus and read the books! Regardless of MAPSS program as social science field, you will be autonomous to take course at any department ( i took 70% of my course from Harris public policy school) and i took phd courses with political science students. That means the program will not restrict you to take set of courses. I felt very important as everyone else in the political science phd program and in the public policy department. I selected courses that i like. Only Linear Models Class challenged me as hell, not because i was poor in math (infact i was from engineering background) but because i was working alone —no friends no group work no body to share notes or feelings with me. I didn’t get any good person to work with. And it is very difficult to work alone!