Ya Khasrati Posted March 4, 2011 Posted March 4, 2011 If things don't work out this year (I hope they will!), have you considered the language departments at Georgetown and University of Texas? Kattar khayrkum guys. I hope everything works out too. I looked into Georgetown earlier and was informed by a prof there that they don't have a classicist on staff. As for Texas, well, I like liberal states. I can't imagine living in the south or in the middle of nowhere. That's very close-minded of me but I am being honest with myself. I am looking forward to learning French this summer! Thanks for the constructive advice Samarqand. All schools should inform of their decisions by March 15th, correct? Again, congrats and good luck to all.
MDarwish Posted March 4, 2011 Posted March 4, 2011 As for Texas, well, I like liberal states. I can't imagine living in the south or in the middle of nowhere. That's very close-minded of me but I am being honest with myself. I've never been able to visit Austin, but I hear that while it's surrounded by Texas on all sides, it's not really part of Texas
samarkand Posted March 5, 2011 Posted March 5, 2011 I just received an email from NYU that I have been accepted into their Near Eastern Studies program. I am absolutely delighted and flattered... just when I thought I would not get in anywhere. No funding though--not that I was expecting any. How do I decide where? Congratulations! Great news! Both are good programs. I think the hardest part of the application process is really deciding where to go in the end, if you are one of the lucky ones that gets accepted to multiple schools.
wannabee Posted March 5, 2011 Posted March 5, 2011 I can't imagine living in the south or in the middle of nowhere. That's very close-minded of me but I am being honest with myself. I've written you a private message. Austin, Texas is nothing like the place you are imagining it to be. It is vibrant and alive and overall leans left. Even the rest of Texas is changing. I grew up in Houston and am definitely to the left. It is just a matter of years until the entire state swings its political allegiance, because we are now the second state (along with California) where minorities are going to be the majority, which is just fine with me.
berlino Posted March 7, 2011 Posted March 7, 2011 Is there any indication of when/how Georgetown's Arab Studies MA program will notify? I've heard from several other MA programs, and am just waiting on Georgetown. Thanks!
katemiddleton Posted March 7, 2011 Posted March 7, 2011 I'm waiting on them as well; they usually send out by friday, second week of march by email, but this year they may be a week late. I hope not!
urzeichen Posted March 7, 2011 Posted March 7, 2011 I just got accepted to NYU's Near Eastern Studies Masters with full funding for the two years. I didn't apply anywhere else this year...and this was a fluke. I am kind of concerned about the prestige of the program...say compared to Columbia/U.Chicago.... Would this improve my chances of getting accepted to a very prestigious PhD program (which I was stupid to not even apply to this year).... Thoughts/Suggestions?
samarkand Posted March 7, 2011 Posted March 7, 2011 it's not all about prestige when it comes to phd programs. you'll want to look more at fit and methodology. of course if you have an MA it will improve your chances, but not significantly. an MA denotes having gone through specific courses/languages, etc, but if one can prove that he/she achieved the same level knowledge but through a different medium, it will be viewed similarly. most phd programs outwardly "prefer" applicants with MAs, only because it shows a certain maturity and criticalness in the student. but if you are able to prove that you have that without an MA, then that's swell too. as for the linkage between MA institution prestige and phd admissions - i'm sure it will factor in that you graduated from nyu, but that's only one factor looked at among other more important ones - such as fit, statement, writing sample, undergrad institution, gre, cv, grades, etc. in my case, i don't have an MA, nor did I get anywhere near the best gre scores, but i was accepted into nearly every institution where I fit very well with potential advisors. so i've come to believe that it truly is about your intended specialization and the ability of your advisor to guide you in that specialization. graduating from nyu with a masters is great, but how will that mold you? what will your interests be for phd study? and how does that reflect itself in the interests of your potential advisors? those are the more imp questions, IMO.
cooperstreet Posted March 7, 2011 Posted March 7, 2011 ans.diffident, NYU's MA program in Near Eastern Studies is one of the best in the country. It was started and designed by Timothy Mitchell. It's also a lot broader than Georgetown's program--NYU offers Hebrew, Farsi, Turkish, etc... Its also closely affiliated with NYU's Middle Eastern Studies Ph.d. program, which as far as I and many others are concerned, is the best in the country if you want to study Modern Middle East History (esp. Egypt). Of course, if you only want to do Arab Studies, Georgetown may be a better fit, and I think UChicago would be better if you were interested in the pre-modern ME. Regarding the Ph.d., Yes, getting an MA would improve your chances--but depending how much depends on where you are right now. How are your language skills? I'm going to NYU's program mainly to enhance my language and area studies knowledge, then apply to Ph.d. programs. (Those parts of my PHD app are lacking). I'm guessing you have a very good application, considering that you got full funding to NYU, which is rare (was it a FLAS?)
Bukharan Posted March 7, 2011 Posted March 7, 2011 so i've come to believe that it truly is about your intended specialization and the ability of your advisor to guide you in that specialization. graduating from nyu with a masters is great, but how will that mold you? what will your interests be for phd study? and how does that reflect itself in the interests of your potential advisors? those are the more imp questions, IMO. Amen. I came to the exact same conclusion. It is awesome if one has perfect GRE, GPA and a decent writing sample (actually... due to the number of applicants these days, it became kind of a given) but what really gets you in or out is a fit with the programme and the faculty. Oh, and full funding!!! for Masters!!! at NYU!!! is very impressive! Ans.diffident, you should be ecstatic right now!
samarkand Posted March 7, 2011 Posted March 7, 2011 received an email this morning, saying "NELC Reception for Newly Admitted Students" in the subject line. i was half awake and thought it was mistakenly sent by michigan. turns out to be from harvard inviting me to lunch and orientation on april 1st! so i'm admitted? they probably thought the letter had reached me by now. oh God i hope i get funding!
katemiddleton Posted March 7, 2011 Posted March 7, 2011 got into Georgetown MAAS fully funded! I'm so happy it hurts!
bee2011 Posted March 7, 2011 Posted March 7, 2011 got into Georgetown MAAS fully funded! I'm so happy it hurts! congratulations. Did they specify if it was a FLAS or other form of scholarship, and does it include stipend?
cooperstreet Posted March 7, 2011 Posted March 7, 2011 What are everyone's post MA in middle east studies career plans?
MDarwish Posted March 7, 2011 Posted March 7, 2011 Just got accepted to Georgetown with full tuition for the first year! Looks like some others got a stipend on top of that, but mine didn't specify if it was FLAS or not. Congratulations to everyone else!
katemiddleton Posted March 7, 2011 Posted March 7, 2011 thank you for the good wishes! It is not FLAS, it is a university-wide scholarship, and no, no stipend. But you can't have everything, and I'm so grateful for the funding! congratulations. Did they specify if it was a FLAS or other form of scholarship, and does it include stipend?
katemiddleton Posted March 7, 2011 Posted March 7, 2011 Darwish, congrats! are you going to the visitor weekend?
Bukharan Posted March 7, 2011 Posted March 7, 2011 received an email this morning, saying "NELC Reception for Newly Admitted Students" in the subject line. i was half awake and thought it was mistakenly sent by michigan. turns out to be from harvard inviting me to lunch and orientation on april 1st! so i'm admitted? they probably thought the letter had reached me by now. oh God i hope i get funding! Samarkand, if it is what it is, HUGE congratulations! Although if that it is what it is, I am not in since I didn't get a magic e-mail! What's your top choice?
Malumat Posted March 7, 2011 Posted March 7, 2011 An MA is a useful stepping stone toward a very competitive PhD program for sure. It allows you to continue language study, broaden your horizons while honing your specific research interests, and form relationships with Professors who can write letters attesting to your potential as an advanced graduate student. I am in the U Chicago NELC PhD program now and most students come in with an MA. NYU is great place to do this I'm sure, and congrats on getting funding. I just got accepted to NYU's Near Eastern Studies Masters with full funding for the two years. I didn't apply anywhere else this year...and this was a fluke. I am kind of concerned about the prestige of the program...say compared to Columbia/U.Chicago.... Would this improve my chances of getting accepted to a very prestigious PhD program (which I was stupid to not even apply to this year).... Thoughts/Suggestions?
berlino Posted March 7, 2011 Posted March 7, 2011 I was accepted to Georgetown MAAS, but waitlisted for merit aid--a bit of a downer, since it's going to be impossible without aid.
crom11217 Posted March 7, 2011 Posted March 7, 2011 I got an email saying I was accepted to MAAS at Georgetown, but it didn't say anything about funding at all... how did you guys find out about your funding? I was accepted to Georgetown MAAS, but waitlisted for merit aid--a bit of a downer, since it's going to be impossible without aid.
bee2011 Posted March 7, 2011 Posted March 7, 2011 I got an email saying I was accepted to MAAS at Georgetown, but it didn't say anything about funding at all... how did you guys find out about your funding? The information about funding was included in the acceptance email. They said they have not awarded FLAS yet.
crom11217 Posted March 7, 2011 Posted March 7, 2011 I see... mine didn't have any mention of it. Maybe because it was from the dept and not from the Graduate School? They said this after congratulating me on my acceptance: "The graduate school will review our decision and issue you a formal acceptance letter in the next week or so." Maybe I will find out then? The information about funding was included in the acceptance email. They said they have not awarded FLAS yet.
bee2011 Posted March 7, 2011 Posted March 7, 2011 I see... mine didn't have any mention of it. Maybe because it was from the dept and not from the Graduate School? They said this after congratulating me on my acceptance: "The graduate school will review our decision and issue you a formal acceptance letter in the next week or so." Maybe I will find out then? I don't think the grad school has contacted anyone yet. At least the email I received was also from the program and included the line you quoted.The email also informed of scholarship, but no particulars. These things can probably change as people decline offers. Plus, they haven't awarded FLAS yet. Best of luck!
crom11217 Posted March 7, 2011 Posted March 7, 2011 Haha ok, thanks for letting me know - sounds like I wasn't picked out for funding, at least at this stage. A strategic omission of funding info on their part, let's call it that. We'll see what happens. I don't think the grad school has contacted anyone yet. At least the email I received was also from the program and included the line you quoted.The email also informed of scholarship, but no particulars. These things can probably change as people decline offers. Plus, they haven't awarded FLAS yet. Best of luck!
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