Melchior
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Posts posted by Melchior
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I am working on my SOP for PhD programs in music history. I was reading an article written by a professor at a school I'll be applying to, and he uses this incredibly clever little phrase that fits perfectly into my SOP (sorry that I am being so vague!). Anyway, if I give him credit for the phrase in my SOP, is it ok to use it? I hope that my question isn't too vague to be answered! Thanks
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Thanks so much! I will write if I have a question, but, for now, I think I am fine, as I have another friend in the program who has been answering my questions.
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When I got my admission letter from Cambridge, I had just gotten back from a rehearsal and saw this excellent email waiting in my inbox from my soon-to-be supervisor!
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How's everything going for everyone? I'm excited to start my grad program in a few months. What's everyone up to this summer?
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I'm doing some pre-application visits in the coming weeks. I've made appointments to meet with a professor at a few of the schools I'm interested in who I share research interests with... Just wondering if anyone has any experience meeting with profs before applying and, if so, if you have any insight as to the kinds of questions to expect. I'll be sure to have a handful of questions ready for them, too.
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Not attending there but I did live just outside Cambridge for 6 years and wanted to say that you'll love it (if you haven't been already)! Cambridge has a wonderful, comforting feeling about it, plus you're only 3 hours drive from Dover, so it's really easy to get overseas.
Thanks! I am really excited
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Hi guys,
Just wondering who else is heading to the UK for graduate studies in the autumn.
I'll be at Cambridge for musicology.
Anyone else?
-E
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Melchior - I don't "go to a good school." I am a professional musicologist who works as a full time, salaried researcher (with benefits) at a good school. There's a difference.
And you expect me to know this from an online forum, how? Everyone else in here is a student.
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Yes, you are correct - it's good "before doing a PhD." That is why I said they "don't usually do much for you UNLESS you're trying to get into a Ph.D. program." So it seems that we actually agree. If you're looking to enter the job market outside of the academy, a 1 year MA or MPhil in the humanities will help some, but mainly will serve to make you a more attractive PhD candidate. A more technical program, such as Music Education, Music Performance, Music Therapy, etc, other other more technical degree in the humanities is more professionally attractive AND can also help you get into a PhD program - if that is your goal.
Just to clarify, an MA is not the same thing as an MPhil. They are two completely different degrees and should not be compared to each other.
The all-mighty Wikipedia can tell us the differences: http://en.wikipedia....ster%27s_degree
vs. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MPhil
(I know that the DGS at Yale did an MPhil (and a DPhil) at Oxford, as did a new prof at Cornell (just the MSt, I think, and then a PhD in California), as did one of the music history profs at Columbia, and I'm sure there are a ton of others of whom I'm not aware).
Also, I didn't say it's "unattractive," I just said, it doesn't look "great." Not "great" if you are comparing your CV to someone who has a REALLY great CV, and who has committed to a longer MA program which afforded them further academic and professional development. I think the person who posted the question about the "fast track" was given an option between finishing the MA in one year or two. I would suggest doing it in two, if possible, to allow for more personal growth. There's only so much growing one can do in a year.
But, on the real... a lot of top institutions (Ivies, Ivy +, McGill, the British institutions) see a 1 year degree as just what I said, "finishing school." I've even heard music professors at Yale, MIT, Southampton, and other institutions use that phrase or similar ones. Especially since most 1 year masters programs are not funded, they understand that the students who enroll in them do so because they can either a) afford to do so, or
don't mind another $40,000 in student loans.I don't know much about doing an MA program, but it seems to me that because a fair number of PhD students at my university come in with an MA from somewhere else, doing an MA isn't the worst thing in the world. You keep on contradicting yourself which is why I'm getting confused. On the one hand, you say that doing an MA will help your application for a PhD program. But on the "real," you say that profs just see it as finishing school and really isn't that great. There are also a lot of other reasons why someone might choose to enroll in an MA program (certainly in an MPhil program) than the two you gave. Personally, I chose to apply to only MPhil and MMus programs in the UK this year for the following reasons:
a) there is a very specific project I wanted to do and there are a few people at a few universities in the UK who would be perfect advisers. I couldn't even do the project in the US.
b ) I wanted to do more coursework because I wanted to learn more about my discipline.
c) I wanted the experience of writing a dissertation before having to write a doctoral dissertation.
d) I wanted to spend some time in the UK where my family lives.
e) I wanted to have the opportunity to take advantage of the resources at one of the best universities in the world (Oxford or Cambridge).
f) I wanted to be able to really take advantage of being in school somewhere near enough to Germany so that I can do research on my MPhil project there relatively easily.
g) I wanted to have a bit of time (in a shorter academic program and just having time off to do other research) before going into a PhD program.
So, there are a lot of reasons why someone might choose to do a one or two-year program instead of doing a PhD.
Sadly, the institution where I work (one of the world's top 10) has a popular 1 year master program and I know people who have gone through it and been disappointed. Several of them have hoped that upon completion, the would be offered a PhD fellowship at the *same* institution, only to be denied admissions.
You also keep on saying, "the institution where I work (one of the world's top 10)," which is not really a basis for passing judgement on how other people choose to pursue their education. All it means it that you go to a good school. I go to one of the world's top 10 universities, too, but all that means is that I know some things about my school, but I don't know that much -- I'm not on faculty or a dean or something.
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Most one-year masters programs in the humanities are cash cows for Universities; they fund the Ph.D. student fellowships and provide cookies and soda for the Southeast Asian Transgender Film Club's bimonthly movie screenings, etc.
They don't look great on paper and don't usually do much for you unless you're trying to get into a Ph.D. program and you need another year of "finishing school" in order to try to make yourself more attractive.
Don't get a one year masters degree unless it's a technical program like a MA in teaching. At least by the end of that program you'll have some sort of certification that allows you to receive training for a specific type of profession, rather than just doing another year of college...
I have had professors and grad student friends who have done an MPhil in the UK or an MA at a US school before doing a PhD. It is not unattractive on a CV. Please don't make blanket statements about other people's choices about how to pursue their education.
- music and musichistorygeek
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I asked Brown about the timeline since it seems that in past years, everybody knew their decision (positive or not) in February. The music dept. director responded that they have sent their decisions to the dean of grad. studies, but they're not allowed to contact applicants until the dean gives the thumbs up, and that should be any day now.
I can't decide if this means that yeah, they really haven't contacted anybody yet, or they HAVE contacted successful applicants in an "unofficial" way but they can't tell me that.
For what it's worth, to keep your sanity, I'd say just don't worry about it until you hear something official instead of speculating. I've been trying to tell myself that the past few days about a fellowship I'm waiting to hear about... I've applied for it a grand total of four times
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Nice! Who are you interested in working with?
There are a few people there in my field -- Massimo Ossi, Kristina Muxfeldt, and Daniel Melamed. It seems like a terrific department and is definitely high on my list.
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I go to IU-- a prof told me that this year they got ~ 70 applications total (for both the MA and PhD program). I know that the admcom will occasionally admit PhD applicants to the MA if they feel that the applicants have potential but may need more background knowledge before specializing in the doctorate...
Cool. Thanks so much. I am really interested in IU and I'll most likely apply next year mid-MPhil ...
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Does anyone, by any chance at all, know about how many apps IU typically gets yearly for their musicology PhD?
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My brother got off the wait-list for UChicago PhD a few years back.
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Checked my spam folder last night & had an email from UIUC. My application is "impressive" & they will be making me an offer of admission--but they're advising me to apply for as much outside funding as possible, as they can't confirm any financial stuff right now. So we'll see what happens!
Congratulations!!
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Well done Melchior! Just out of interest, which department are you in at Cambridge for the MPhil? I applied for an MPhil in Education, and haven't heard back yet. Are you in the US?
Thanks and congratulations!!!
Thanks! I was accepted for the MPhil in Music. I am really looking forward to it... Yes, I'm in the US! Don't worry if you haven't heard back yet. It takes them a really long time to process documents... I heard back in early December after applying in October. I am still waiting to hear from my first and second colleges regarding placement... The wait feels endless!
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Congratulations! Cambridge is great.
Thanks! I'm really happy about it! Now I need to figure out the finances
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hi guys! i'm going to cambridge for an mphil next year... i got my decision via the online admissions portal and also received a letter in the mail.
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Haha - thanks. That makes me feel better.
I also wonder if the fact that I wasn't selected had anything to do w/ my field of study. It seems like Fulbright would be less inclined to give funding to a Medieval Studies degree over a more current, "modern" topic like medicine or science or something that could have a direct effect on the modern world. What's your field?Yeah, I think that the trouble with my project was that it wasn't British-centric in the least. I'm studying music... but not British music. I don't know what they're looking for, really. It's ok though. What are your back-up options? I have a few other fellowship applications pending, so I'm hoping that one of those pans out. I think I could still swing the MPhil fees, but it'll be rough...
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Just found this topic and have been interested in skimming through - a form of masochism, I suppose, since I already got my rejection letter. Nice to have the waiting over with, though. Still, there's nothing worse than seeing that email and suddenly getting completely nervous and excited, thinking, "This is it!" Plus, I couldn't stop myself from having that gut-reaction of imagining myself moving to the next round. Ah well. I'd applied for master's funding w/ the joint Fulbright York or Leeds scholarships for Medieval Studies. Anyone else heard back positively from the UK? I think I remember that being one of the countries w/ the highest number of applicants...or am I mistaken?
Hey there, Nope I think there were only 2 of us in this thread applying for the UK, and neither of us got through. Don't feel bad (I'm trying not to, also)! The UK gets like, 500 apps or something for only 14 grants...
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I ended up not applying to PhD's this year, will apply next year. I instead just applied for the MPhil in Music at Cambridge, and the MMus in Music at Southampton, Holloway, and King's London. I decided to go for Cambridge next year... now just trying to find a way to pay for it!!
Good luck to all! -
No cigar for UK...
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Well done!! I wish my campus adviser wasn't sticking to the rules and could just release me from the misery of the unknown...
SOP Question
in Statement of Purpose, Personal History, Diversity
Posted
Thanks for the reply! That was actually what I was concerned about -- Maybe I should find an alternative way of saying it in the SOP's for the other schools.