Apply now or apply next year?

[anonthropology]

Hello. This is my first post here, because I've recently started freaking out about whether I should continue to apply this year for Fall 2011 or wait until next year.

I'm a second year masters student (in cultural anthro). I'm writing a thesis and making reasonably good progress on research, but have only about 20 pages written. My plan is to defend and graduate in the spring.

I want to continue to a phd program (but most likely not at my current institution due to funding and a change of research interest). I've researched programs I want to apply to (a whopping 12 of them), have 2 sure recommenders who I am confident will write good letters, and am narrowing down the third, and have a proposed plan of study for the phd. BUT I'm starting to worry that if I apply this year, it will take away time from working on my masters, and producing a solid masters thesis (by this spring!).

On the other hand, I don't really want to wait another year before continuing on with the phd...

Any thoughts? Should I apply now, or wait until my masters is finished?

[adaptations]

Having applied while in a master's program, I know how you feel. The application process definitely takes time away from everything else, but it can also be good motivation. I used the early sections of my thesis as my writing sample, which meant I had a draft of most of my thesis finished by mid November, so I was actually ahead of schedule. At the time I was also an RA, applying to programs, and working on my thesis. It is a lot of work, but it certainly can be done.

[anonthropology]

Thanks for the motivation. Good to hear it can be done!

Having applied while in a master's program, I know how you feel. The application process definitely takes time away from everything else, but it can also be good motivation. I used the early sections of my thesis as my writing sample, which meant I had a draft of most of my thesis finished by mid November, so I was actually ahead of schedule. At the time I was also an RA, applying to programs, and working on my thesis. It is a lot of work, but it certainly can be done.

[Polanthro]

I also applied to PhDs in the second year of my MA program ... I was not successful that time around but it was doable and I hate to admit it but I actually did learn a lot about the process even though I did not make it in. My only recommendation to you is to keep in mind that 12 schools is a lot and although you can replicate materials from school to school, I found it to be surprisingly time consuming (and costly!) even applying to just 6 schools and using many of the same ideas/materials, etc. Basically, just make sure you don't leave things till the last minute. Otherwise, just try to stay positive and remember that if this all does work out, there's a great payoff at the end of the road!

[anonthropology]

Thanks for your encouragement. I've decided to whittle down the list (at 9 so far, but I've sent out a round of emails to potential advisers and their responses or lack thereof may reduce that further) and go ahead with it. I hope I get in somewhere, but I'm nervous because I have many highly qualified friends who have had terrible times with admissions this past year.