I am in the MAPSS program now. I agree with pretty much everything rollison said. You get to take pretty much any course you want in the social sciences division.
As far as applying to PhD programs while you are in MAPSS, you can apply on your own, obviously, but the MAPSS program can't really write you a letter of rec since they don't know you yet. If you have developed a good relationship with a prof during fall quarter, then you could ask him or her on your own. Chicago's fall quarter starts on Sept. 27th, tho, so there is not a lot of time to develop relationships before apps are due. Also, one of the biggest parts of MAPSS is your MA Thesis, and many students want to complete that and then use it for their writing sample and statement of purpose.
I am trying to decide whether to apply to PhD programs for next year now. I don't want to spend too much time on apps because that would take away from my MAPSS courses which I am paying a lot of money for. I think I have decided to just apply to 2-3 PhD programs for next year. If I get in, cool, if not, I should probably work for a little bit to pay down some loans anyhow.
I am blogging about my year in MAPSS here--gradschooladvice.blogspot.com
