cath2024

For those of you applying to NYU's music business master's program, what do you think that program will give you that getting a job in the industry won't? That is, why go the grad school route instead of getting a job in the industry? Have you already had a job in the industry? I only ask because I've worked in the music industry for about 6 years, and I don't understand what students want to get out of the program. No one I've ever known working in the music industry has had music business masters degree. (I don't know about undergrad degrees either, although probably some did.) I'm genuinely curious.

None. Your writing samples are by far the most important part of your application.

Tons of great advice here: http://creative-writing-mfa-handbook.blogspot.com/

teaganc--bringin' the truth!

Columbia is notorious for terrible (nonexistent) funding for masters students, despite their gigantic endowment. :x And their tuition is insane. I'd try again next year for funded programs.

Did you call or email? If no: call or email. If yes: what did they say?

You are totally NOT crazy. It's very easy for other people to suggest spending money on something when it's not their money,but I don't think it's a good idea to wipe out all your savings--in this economy especially. If school C's grads are getting the types of jobs you want, and you liked the school during your visit/made good connections with people, then it sounds like you are very fortunate! I hate that whole attitude about schools being 'beneath' anyone. You're the best judge of the criteria that are important to you; it sounds like you made a solid decision.

That's great news! Congrats! I hope I hear something similar soon!

They'll count because they are the same classes in the same building with the same professors and the same work. I'm in the program. Masters students are not at all separated from the PhD students at the Grad Center. There's nothing illegitimate about being in the Lib Studies program. If you get good grades in the classes it'll also show you can do the work and might mitigate some of the damage done by your last semester's grades.

re: your P.S. and P.P.S questions, I think you should ask him. Those are all reasonable questions. As for your problem, I would try to get into CUNY Grad Center's MA in Liberal studies program, which would allow you to take the same courses as the PhD students and then apply to the PhD again next year. Ask the advisor about doing this. (The app deadline was April 15, perhaps they would make an exception.) Your credits would obviously count toward the PhD, and you could enter the PhD program next year as a first year and be eligible for funding. Hope that works!

Thanks guys! This school was one of my top choices, and the funding is pretty good. (Better than most places for the MFA.) I definitely wish they would have waitlisted me in the beginning. The department accepts a pretty small number of students, and usually has an alternate for each of their acceptances. So it could be that that an originally accepted student with a profile similar to mine and their alternate both declined. But yeah, they should have a deeper waitlist next year. Now I need to decline the school that I definitely won't attend (most of my decision deadlines are 5/1), and pester the other two schools for funding information AGAIN. But now I know that no matter what they say, I have a program that I like and can afford to go in the fall!! I'm also going to try to get out to the school next week and visit the department. Wow, it'll be so great once this decision is made. Hopefully then I'll be able to focus on writing my thesis.

I just got a call from the first school to reject me. Oops. Now they want to offer me admission!! I was really excited about this school and bummed when they rejected me. Now they want a decision in the next 5 days! Meanwhile, I'm still waiting on funding decisions from my pre-reversal top 2 schools. Ahhhh!!!!

Waiting on funding decisions. I think I'm about to turn down my other free ride offer, because the more I learn about the program, the more I think it is not the place for me. It's difficult, though, because as it stands I have no idea if I'll get the funding to go to my 1st or 2nd choice. (I'd be thrilled to be able to go to either.) It seems like there's a possibility of some funding at my 3rd choice, but the director of the program has been very unclear about how much and what it would involve (TA, grant, adjunct work?) There's a lot of beating around the bush there. So, of 4 programs that I have left: 1st--am appealing for more funding, do not think I will get enough to be able to go 2nd--funding decisions should come in a few weeks :x (This is the one I'm really waiting on/hoping for) 3rd--maybe some type of funding available--I'd have to be more explicit about definitely wanting to go, but needing x amount of money from the school. Most likely would be partial funding, but less expensive than 1st or 2nd choice. 4th--tuition remission, will likely decline shortly. There a lot of things still up in the air. I'm getting tired of having to keep checking in about funding and never getting clear answers. So that's my sob story.

The waiting is over!

http://tinyurl.com/czr2zw

Yay! Hope is alive in the thegradcafe.

I'd do the interview, but make sure to ask how long they expect to take to make a decision and remind them that you would like to be in a position to make a decision quickly. I don't think this is out of line given the late date they contacted you. They probably realize this anyway as they've screwed up somewhere along the line (probably by overestimating the number of students that would accept their admission offer). Basically, I think if you could let school A know within the next week that you wanted to be released from your commitment, well, it's not great, but it's not super evil, either. But the longer it takes, the worse the position you are putting the school and the other (potentially rejected by then) applicants. If you wouldn't have this decision sorted out by the end of next week, I say forget "TOP school." They should have been more on top of this process. Teaganc should weigh in on this with the no-reason-given-decision making skillz.

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The waiting is not over. With whom may I lodge a complaint? :?

Good luck to everyone today. I got off a waitlist that I didn't know I was on (assumed rejection) yesterday afternnoon. Here's hoping for more of that around here today (and this week).

Let frankdux do it. This is his baby.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/piracy Whoa. Only grad school pirates. Not REAL pirates. To be clear. OK, now, back on track: where is my financial aiddddd??? I'm so tiiired of waiiiitingggg.

Pirates are welcome to join in the handwringing. We are equal opportunity neurotics.

Waiting For Thedough.