Chicago - MAPSS

[natofone]

No, I'm not saying that students don't place well. They do. Everyone from my cohort that applied got into a top 25 program (except me - hence applying again). I'm saying that they don't get into Chicago's PhD in political science program. Almost everyone showed up to the first day of MAPSS/CIR thinking that it is a stepping stone into Chicago's PhD program. This wasn't the case.

[natofone]

You still have to apply and get in. Quite literally the best students in my CIR cohort (with 4.0 GPAs and honors designations on their theses) were denied admission or only admitted with zero funding. Nobody from my cohort (45+ people) got in with money.

That being said, these people did get into much better programs than Chicago.

Edited December 10, 2009 by natofone

[samjones]

I heard MAPSS actively discourages students from applying to PhDs whilst in the program. I dunno. MAPSS would be my second MA and I already know what I want to work in. Would I still have a good chance of getting into PhDs if I apply the same fall I'm in the MAPSS program?

i got the impression that students were discouraged from applying to PhDs whilst in the program because those students (probably) wouldn't have made much of an impression/developed much of a relationship with the UofChicago profs for it to matter that they are in the MAPSS program. if you wait until after you've gone through the program, the relationships you developed would be stronger and better sources for solid recommendations. said another way, the longer you give yourself to develop solid relationships with key profs of UofChicago through the MAPSS program, the fuller your recommendations may be considering they will know you for longer than two months, which is about how long they would know you if you applied in the same year you begin the MAPSS program. you'd also have all your grades available for the application as opposed to MAYBE having your first semesters published early enough for the december/january deadlines that most PhD programs have (in the US).

[currentmapssstudent]

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

[Zahar Berkut]

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

I don't want to press you on something personal, but I couldn't help but notice from your blog: "What I wouldn't give to go back in time to April 29th, 2009. All I had to do was mail in the MAPSS card and say I wouldn't be attending."

Is there anything you would want applicants to Chicago's 1 year MA's like MAPSS to know?

[thesmallr]

I went through MAPSS, and there are some caveats to keep in mind:

1. The quarter system at UC is brisk. If you do not possess the kind of personality that makes the room shine when you walk in, or gregarious enough to force the room to shine, rethink attending MAPSS. You'll have a very small window in which to make an impression with professors, and that is the primary consideration for getting one's money's worth out of the MAPSS program.

2. When I attended, students had to scramble to find thesis advisors. MAPSS students are not always the most welcomed by some professors so if you have someone specifically you'd like to work with, better attempt to develop a relationship with him/her BEFORE you arrive on campus (or even accept the program).

3. Stellar academic backgrounds seem to help open doors but then again, do such backgrounds need a boost from MAPSS? Fair to middlin' apps (relative to the accepted cohort) will struggle unless, as I said at No. 1, you have the knack for impressing professors... quickly.

4. Tuition assistance or otherwise, all applicants must SERIOUSLY consider the costs incurred. This isn't a cheap program by any stretch of the imagination.

5. MAPSS is best suited to help those who have a very definite direction, that direction (or interest in that direction) can be found within the UC faculty, possess the ability to quickly win over a UC professor, but are coming out of a weaker undergraduate institution and really need a CV boost for a PhD program. Even then, seriously consider the costs that will be incurred, versus one's long-term prospects in the academic job market for social sciences, which isn't great at the moment.

6. Yes, if one is planning to apply to PhD programs after MAPSS, plan on waiting out the year after MAPSS, because no one will help you pull together your grad school app until after you have finished the program.

All that said, MAPSS does provide access to a number of great professors and courses that otherwise would be inaccessible.

[SocioEd]

There is a thread in sociology too:

 

[Emdave]

Tangent: What do you think the dress code is for visiting days? Obviously don't wear a club outfit or sweatpants, but I've heard of visiting days that were primarily jeans and others that were barely shy of sportcoats.

 

I don't want to be too over/under dressed, but I also don't want to get fully gussied up in an uncomfortable outfit because I'll be walking around all day.