Chicago - MAPSS

[nderin04]

Thoughts? Funding offers?

Thanks!

[polisci07]

Rejected for political science PhD, but given full tuition scholarship for MAPSS

[nderin04]

That's awesome! I didn't know they offered full scholarships... that gives me hope -- I know I'm in, just haven't received the letter w/ offer yet. I had applied for Soc PhD... I knew it was a stretch, I think my GRE and GPA were ok and recs were ok, but I have been out of school for a few years and needed a better writing sample.

I guess I better work my butt off if I decide to go there...

Do you know if you're taking it? Or going to the visit days?

[polisci07]

Eh I dunno, I've been admitted to other PhD programs. I may go for one of the visit days, but not all 3. I wouldn't have even considered the program if it had offered say like half scholarship, but the full scholarship intrigues me. I did ok with my PhD apps, I applied to about nine programs, 3 in top 10, 6 in about top 30 or so. The bottom 6 all accepted me and offered me their top funding offer, and one of my top 3 accepted me with no funding. This gets me thinking, maybe if I did MAPSS and improved my app just a tad I would get into my top programs. I'll have to ponder it all.

I had an great GPA from strong undergrad school, high gre scores, and a solid writing sample. I think my LOR's were the weakest part of my app. I'm a bit of a quiet person, so Ive never been good at developing great personal relationships with my professors.

[rising_star]

polisci07, it might be better to accept one of the PhD program offers, get to know professors, and then transfer to a better PhD program. Or you might find that your "bottom" schools are actually better for what you want to study than the top-tier schools. You never know.

In Chicago, you'd have to come up with living expenses and that's not all that cheap. Would you work an outside job or take out loans for the entire amount? It's a lot to think about.

[nderin04]

I guess I didn't mean my GPA and GRE were "ok" -- I think they were pretty good and decently competitive (I'm sure my undergrad institution is obvious from my username, ha). My recs were weak b/c one was from a current employer rather than a prof (I've been here 3 years since graduating and from what I was told, it seemed like I needed one from them) and one was from a prof at a lesser college where I took a class last fall as a refresher, last was prob a good one from an undergrad prof.

Either way, I suppose I got in. I'm waiting to hear back from a few other places re: phd progs but I felt the same way -- is it better to go and beef up my app for the chance to get in better schools next year? The timeline just seems tight with having to start applying for schools only having known some of these professors for a few months and needing recs from them.

[adaptations]

Are all Poli Sci Ph.D. applicants to Chicago automatically considered for the MAPSS if they are rejected from the Ph.D. program?

That's it. Thanks,

[JordanJames]

The department often refers applicants to MAPSS or the Masters in IR. Then those committees decide whether to accept students into their programs. I don't know if they refer all applicants to MAPSS or IR.

[Quarex]

This is at this point about third-hand information, but it stuck in my mind as something worth passing on.

Another forum I frequent to talk about these issues once saw a guy ask about Chicago's MAPSS program, and whether it was a good "stepping stone" so to speak to eventually getting into the Ph.D. program there.

Someone called to inquire about the rate of progression from the MAPPS to the Ph.D., and was informed that, to the graduate director's knowledge, no-one had ever progressed between the two programs.

Certainly an ominous note, though it could still be apocryphal. Worst case scenario, of course, you take your awesome new degree and apply somewhere else in two years anyway, and likely have a considerably better chance of admission.

[rising_star]

I just merged this thread with a previous thread on MAPSS, to make it easier for you to see what folks have said about it in the past.

[silencio1982]

This is at this point about third-hand information, but it stuck in my mind as something worth passing on.

Another forum I frequent to talk about these issues once saw a guy ask about Chicago's MAPSS program, and whether it was a good "stepping stone" so to speak to eventually getting into the Ph.D. program there.

Someone called to inquire about the rate of progression from the MAPPS to the Ph.D., and was informed that, to the graduate director's knowledge, no-one had ever progressed between the two programs.

Certainly an ominous note, though it could still be apocryphal. Worst case scenario, of course, you take your awesome new degree and apply somewhere else in two years anyway, and likely have a considerably better chance of admission.

ha, interesting and simultaneously depressing. my gut says that that can't possibly be true, but who knows... at any rate, it still seems like MAPSS would help one to get in elsewhere/fix deficiencies in one's application.... i hope :|

[silencio1982]

PS. on the MAPSS website it says: "MAPSS graduates have received and presently pursue doctorates in all of the University of Chicago's social science departments and committees"

take it for what it is worth i guess.

[rollinson]

PS. on the MAPSS website it says: "MAPSS graduates have received and presently pursue doctorates in all of the University of Chicago's social science departments and committees"

take it for what it is worth i guess.

Induibitdly true. In fact, as a MAPSS graduate, I have two close friends pursuing PHDs at the University of Chicago currently, although neither are in Political Science. I also know of one person who has gone into the law program and the MSW program at that school, as well as admits to other programs at other universities as well. Perhaps the Pol Sci department is different, but a MAPSS degree can be quite useful--likely helped me get into two programs. When I went for my campus days the numbers they gave us were: that out of 32 students they helped from the previous co-hort, something like 28 or 29 had received offers somewhere. Not sure how they defined helped (since that definition might have excluded some former students), but it impressed me enough to give it a try.

Edited to add: I thought there was a tickle in my brain. Upon consulting the current students list for Pol Sci I see someone who was in MAPSS with me...so it is in fact possible to go from MAPSS to the UChicago Pol Sci program, as well as other programs in general.

[Quarex]

I am actually thrilled to hear first-hand proof that my source was unreliable, even though it clearly makes me look kind of dumb. Thanks for clarifying, Rollinson; you undoubtedly made lots of us whose Ph.D. applications might only end up with consolation M.A. acceptances happy!

[rollinson]

I am actually thrilled to hear first-hand proof that my source was unreliable, even though it clearly makes me look kind of dumb. Thanks for clarifying, Rollinson; you undoubtedly made lots of us whose Ph.D. applications might only end up with consolation M.A. acceptances happy!

No problem. I'm here to help.

[Peter]

The other option if you're considering an MA, though, is to just pick the inexpensive state school near you. As I've mentioned before, I was not admitted to PHD programs my first go-around, but I was offered an acceptance at Chicago's IR MA as well as NYU's American Lit (MA---long story on this one---I had/have many interests). Anyway, no funding offers were made, and I opted to not bury myself in loans. I enjoyed the admitted students weekend at Chicago, but to be honest, I got the feeling that the MA was meant to be a fundraiser for the PhD program. And, while the campus was beautiful, the professors were a bit too pretentious. I remember one came up to me and said, "_____State, eh? You're the first person I've EVER MET that graduated from that school!" Geez. Thanks but no thanks.

So, I used the MA at an absolutely unknown school to show I could do the polisci stuff, made some application tweaks, retook the GRE, and this year I've been fortunate with acceptances. SO, I guess it comes down to a bit of a gamble. If I had received my MA at Chicago PERHAPS I would have gotten into a better PhD program, true. But as it stands I'm still in at a #25 program and I had my tuition covered for my MA (I also went to a no-name state school for my BA, because a full ride (tuition, dorms, computer, you name it) was offered). BUT, you can guarantee (unless you're very wealthy) that Chicago will drain an enormous amount of money out of you. And the question is, are you willing to enter a PhD with that kind of debt when you never know if you'll need additional loans to make ends meet at the PhD level. And the reality is professors won't make that much... so taking out loans as a POLS student is NOT the same thing as for med/law school....

I absolutely do not question the prestige of UChicago, though. Nor do I question the weight of their name. This is just my story...

[sundaymonday]

ACK. Just got my acceptance package in the mail for MAPSS. I thought I had been rejected entirely. They're offering me 1/3 funding. Am I crazy for going to Hopkins with a full ride, and not taking this offer if what was said previously in this thread is true, and that I'd mostly likely get into their PhD program after a year? I'd be 30K in debt, and even if I was accepted into the UChicago PhD program, I suppose there's no guarantee of funding there either.

[zephyr]

go to hopkins. its a very good department. and if you're not 100% satisfied after 2 years, just take your MA from there and transfer to another program to do your dissertation. there is no way you should turn down a fully-funded PhD from hopkins for 1/3 scholarship to chicago's MA program.

[nurye27]

OK. Got accepted at MAPSS with some financial support as well.

As many others, I was curious how "selective" this program truly is. So, I asked the staff there how many students usually get admitted and how many actually accept the offer. The answer that I got was that there is an average of 160-170 students each year and 50% of admitted students actually enroll. Also, a total of 876 applications were reviewed this year. Just by these numbers, the program does not seem to be very selective, but I would like to hear your opinion as I am seriously considering accepting the offer.

So, how "good" do you think is this program? Also, to those who actually studied there, could you share your experience as well as personal opinion with us? What were the pros and cons of the program? Were you satisfied with it? Did it actually help you with your career? Thanks guys!

[anonqwe]

After getting 4 rejections and while lingering on two WLs, I just got accepted to MAPSS too (near-full funding for tuition, but wincing at the idea of loans to fund food/housing etc.) and I have many of the same questions, so I'll bump this thread up and in the hopes that someone with MAPSS experience replies.

[rollinson]

nurye27 said:

OK. Got accepted at MAPSS with some financial support as well.

As many others, I was curious how "selective" this program truly is. So, I asked the staff there how many students usually get admitted and how many actually accept the offer. The answer that I got was that there is an average of 160-170 students each year and 50% of admitted students actually enroll. Also, a total of 876 applications were reviewed this year. Just by these numbers, the program does not seem to be very selective, but I would like to hear your opinion as I am seriously considering accepting the offer.

So, how "good" do you think is this program? Also, to those who actually studied there, could you share your experience as well as personal opinion with us? What were the pros and cons of the program? Were you satisfied with it? Did it actually help you with your career? Thanks guys!

I graduated from the program a couple of years ago.

Some thoughts:

1. As for selectivity, I'm not sure how it breaks down, but one thing you should consider is that the MAPSS program comprises all the social sciences: Anthropology, History (which isn't a SS, but whatever), Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology (and I think that's it). So, let's say they get 150-200 applications per those fields, accept around 20-50 students per field. That's not super selective, but it's not mincemeat either. Also, that will depend on field. Political Science had probably 12-15 students in it, but Anthro had I think double. Not sure how that affects your reasoning on the matter, but it might be something to consider. What I guess you might be trying to get at is how will this program affect you in graduate admissions in the future. Well, part of that is of course up to you--if you go and totally fuck up, then maybe not so well. But, if you play your cards right it can certainly help. I ended up being admitted to three PHD programs this try around, one with full funding. I know of MAPSS students who are now at various (HD, History, Pol Sci, Law) programs at the university now. I know of students who are at other universitites both prestigious (Princeton, Columbia, WashU) and I'm sure there are others who are at smaller unis or colleges as well. I think I mentioned this upriver: when I went for orientation, they said that of the students they were helping to apply to PHD programs (the department will write you a letter, penned by your preceptor and I think signed by the head of the department, although I'm not sure about that last part) pretty much all of them got into PHD programs and most with full funding. I would take that with a slight pinch of salt since they may have narrowed the list of applicants with their definition of "help" and the number cited (I think it was 29 of 32 who got full funding) was obviously lower than the total program (although, not all students enter the program looking to go on to a PHD and some change their minds while earning their Masters--indeed, when they had an info session about reapplying and a rather large number of students from my class showed up the director remarked "I thought we would have scared off more than this" or something to that effect). I'd say go for the visit (they'll compensate you and it should be somewhat nice in April in Chicago), take a look, and press them on placement records. Don't be put off by the gruff exterior of John McAloon: press him if you feel like you need something answered.

2. The Pros: You get to study at one of the great universities in the nation and have access to some fantastic professors. You get a year to basically work out what you want to study, which will help you hone a better Statement of Purpose (provided this was something you needed to do anyways). [The director told us that many of the people who wounds up in MAPSS were people who were thrown on the "smart kids who don't really know what they want to study" pile from the general application list in, say, Anthro.] If you play your cards right and/or get lucky you can get a rather big name to be one of your readers for your master's paper and with that a letter of recommendation. Having Nathan Tarcov or Robert Pape or someone like that writing you a letter generally doesn't hurt. You get to live in Chicago for at least a year; Chicago is really cool (although Hyde Park is kinda lame).

3. The Cons: Even if you have received a full scholarship, you need to pay for your living expenses and take out loans to do so. And if you haven't received that full scholarship, those costs only go up. It's a significant financial burden to accrue. There is probably some truth to the claim that MAPSS and MAPH (the humanities version) are there to stoke the coffers of the University (although I think it's more of a symbiosis since you can also get something out of it). You are not at the top of the graduate hiearchy: the PHD students are. If a class is overbooked, for instance, one way they may cut down the numbers is to take only PHD students (I had this happen with a class, although I didn't really care about the class, so no biggie). It's a one year program so it can feel very rushed--in a blink of an eye you'll be working on your master's paper proposal and trying to find an advisor (tip: try and think of that stuff beforehand and try and network as early as possible by going to visit profs you might want to work with and asking them questions).

I would go, ask questions of the students, ask questions of the preceptors and the director, get a nice free meal with the current students, and then decide. It is a costly adventure, but it can pay off in the end if what you really want is to go to a PHD program. Of course, as I've mentioned, in part you'll get out of it what you put into it.

[nurye27]

Thanks a lot, rollinson! Lots of good information!

I think you pointed out a very important aspect: discrimination between MAs and PhDs. That's what I'm the most concerned about right now. If I am paying out of my own pocket, then I also want to receive the proper treatment. Are many MAPSS students disgruntled because they don't or are they generally satisfied with the treatment they get?

[jennyk]

Hey would anyone be willing to share the GRE and GPA numbers they applied with. I'm trying to get some idea of my chances. Thanks!

[natofone]

MAPSS is not a stepping stone into Chicago's PhD. I don't believe that any of the MAPSS kids got into the PhD program. The CIR program has a much better relationship, but nobody from my cohort ended up going there for the PhD.

[samjones]

On 12/8/2009 at 10:26 PM, natofone said:

I don't believe that any of the MAPSS kids got into the PhD program.

According to a student (who posted two or three replies up in this thread under the name "rollinson"), this is inaccruate.