NYU vs. Oxford for Masters in Middle Eastern Studies

[alizeh55]

Ive secured an internship at the United Nations in NYC but the dates overlap with the fall semester. NYU has said they'll give me course credit for the internship, whereas Oxford says apply next year with no guarantee of admissions.

What is a better program in the long run? I'm interested in applying for PhD's in America after I've completed the masters. Is oxford as prominent for US PhD's?

Thanks!

Edited March 1, 2019 by middleeasternfeminist1911

[OHSP]

On 3/1/2019 at 4:40 PM, middleeasternfeminist1911 said:

Ive secured an internship at the United Nations in NYC but the dates overlap with the fall semester. NYU has said they'll give me course credit for the internship, whereas Oxford says apply next year with no guarantee of admissions.

What is a better program in the long run? I'm interested in applying for PhD's in America after I've completed the masters. Is oxford as prominent for US PhD's?

Thanks!

NYU's MA is well respected, and has excellent placement rates into US PhD programs--the phd program is also amongst the best in Middle Eastern and Near Eastern studies and has very good placement outcomes. I recall you posting that you felt confident about NYU, I think partly because they don't require the GRE (not requiring the GRE does not make a program easier to get into, it just means that the faculty voted not to require the GRE because the GRE is a money-making rort). The program's highly selective and competitive. Oxford is not as "prestigious" within the US but it's really going to depend on how you do in the MA. I sense that you're making some assumptions about NYU not being "as prestigious" or something--but the Middle Eastern studies department is a big deal. An MA in the US will help you to apply for PhDs with a stronger sense of these things. 

[alizeh55]

Thank you! I have decided to go with NYU's masters between the two choices of Oxford and NYU. 

I am waiting to hear back from Columbia MESAAS. Between Columbia and NYU, which would you say is a stronger school for Middle Eastern Studies? I know Columbia is the home of eminent academics like Edward Said... but NYU is also amazing. 

[OHSP]

Go to whichever is going to land you in less debt. 

[psstein]

On 4/23/2019 at 10:01 AM, middleeasternfeminist1911 said:

Thank you! I have decided to go with NYU's masters between the two choices of Oxford and NYU. 

I am waiting to hear back from Columbia MESAAS. Between Columbia and NYU, which would you say is a stronger school for Middle Eastern Studies? I know Columbia is the home of eminent academics like Edward Said... but NYU is also amazing. 

The prevailing view of the Columbia MAs is that they're cash cows, with all the attending concerns (lack of real preparation/faculty attention, price tag, etc.).

The NYU MAs vary in reputation, but they've a decent reputation for not being cash cows.