susangab

Although I was accepted into some Communication PhD programs, I ended up accepting a late offer in a different--if related--field. -Sue

This isn't a student's personal blog, but it compiles Communication-related events in the NYC area and may be useful to some people: http://collectivecommunicationscampus.wordpress.com/ -Sue

There are two PhD programs at University of Iowa, associated with different departments: Communication Studies and Mass Communication. Students have been known to apply to the "wrong" department there by mistake! For what it's worth, I think Iowa's program is generally considered significantly better than the one at UMass, and their graduates do better on the job market. I am, though, partial to the Five College area; I did my undergraduate degree at one of the schools there. -Sue

You're still not being specific enough! PhD in Mass Communication or Communication Studies? It actually matters; the latter is the one with the high reputation. -Sue

Are you going for a PhD at U of Iowa, Dusty? Which department? -Sue

Not sure what you'd consider a "top program," but USC has this handy-dandy sheet publishing almost all the information about enrolling PhD students you're asking about: http://annenberg.usc.edu/images/PDFs/pr ... rofile.pdf Beyond that, well, networking is just as important in the academy as it is anywhere else in the professional world. -Sue

Perhaps we will. I'll keep an ear open for someone with your interests! Well, it's somewhat dependent upon how much money the aid with housing represents, but unless it's *free* housing or something, it stinks. Even if housing aid cuts your rent in half, it still stinks. I got a bigger offer from a school where the cost of living is half what it is in NYC. Annenberg offers full funding to all of its PhDs for five years. Stipend this year is $30,000 with the usual tuition/fees remission and health insurance. -Sue

Yeah, what I thought. Well, in that case, from what I've heard, the job prospects for someone of your interests are abominably lousy, worse even than in the academy as a whole. I would never advise somebody not to follow their bliss, if that's what you truly want, but be sure you're going into it with your eyes wide open. I, like you, have multiple offers I need to mull over. But I will definitely go out to visit USC at the end of March. (Yes, they have a recruitment week. You should have gotten an email.) I'm ambivalent about LA, but we'll see. Be aware that Columbia's financial aid stinks, and NYC is more expensive than LA. -Sue

Oh Lord, poli-sci theory? I can see why you're concerned. Are you rational choice? If not, just don't do it. I've heard a lot of talk about the theorists getting systematically drummed out of departments all over the U.S. by the quantitatively focused factions. It's happening at NYU, where I did my MA, and that's just downtown from Columbia. If you're a qualitative researcher, and it seems like you might be, poli-sci is definitely not a field you want to be in if the job market is a concern. Communication with a concentration in Media Studies, I guess you could say. I did my MA degree in "Media, Culture, and Communication," but I have a limited, hodgepodge background in many fields. -Sue

What are your interests? UPenn Annenberg is better for political and interpersonal communication. USC Annenberg is better for media studies--and they just recruited Henry Jenkins(!)--so their profile can be expected to rise further in that area. (And by rise I mean like if gravity pulled up instead of down.) I only applied to the latter due to major issues of fit and am pleased as punch with the result. -Sue

For those waiting on Annenberg (west): USC has started making fellowship offers to Communication applicants. Someone also posted it on the survey: http://www.thegradcafe.com/survey/ This doesn't surprise me. I was speculating to myself that they would probably start notifying applicants sometime this week--and sure enough. Good luck everyone! -Sue

No. My reasons for not reapplying are multi-faceted, but one of the most important had to do with a long-term lack of fit between the faculty and my interests. I do not know how MCC PhDs do on the job market; you can call and ask them if you're interested. Try getting a hold of the Graduate Advisor. I would not be very optimistic at this point if I were you. Last year, I met applicants the department wished to court who were invited to the Radars & Fences conference (http://blogs.nyu.edu/blogs/md1445/rf/). Well, it's on again, and I'd lay odds that they're inviting prospectives in the area this year also. -Sue

Yes. All things being equal, that's exactly right. Of course, there are plenty of Communication departments out there, and they will probably view an MCC PhD as a degree in Communication. There are also some Media Studies departments out there that are looking specifically for Media Studies PhDs. But I can tell you I've already gotten bumped from an adjuncting job after the Dean had offered me two classes because the departmental-level faculty did not know what "Media, Culture, and Communication" is--and mistrusted it. -Sue

I did my MA at NYU's Department of Media, Culture, and Communication. I think admission to the MA is relatively open, but the PhD program is extremely selective. I heard it on the grapevine that they got 170 applications this year. What I know of the PhD admissions process at MCC: The department makes an initial round of offers, but they rarely get their top picks. They also have a waitlist (you'll be informed if you're on it), and they make additional offers as their top picks drop out of consideration. I do not know when or how they reject applicants. EDIT: I'd like to add, to anyone considering NYU, that I highly recommend the department. Although I did not reapply, my reasons had nothing to do with the program's quality or collegiality. As for me, I (and some of my MA cohort) am still waiting to hear from USC Annenberg. Fortunately, I've already received an extremely generous, five-year fully-funded offer from another PhD program with good reputation, so I'm not dying of worry. Anymore, that is. Best of luck to everyone else on the forum! -Sue