Applying to PhD programs when you already have your MA?

[wintergirl]

I'm in a Masters program now and applying to PhD programs in the fall (in English and American Studies). I wondered if any of you had experience/knowledge of PhD programs' view of applicants who already have a Masters. Is it a plus? A negative? Neutral?

My MA will be in American Studies (Lit) and my BA was in English.

[anonacademic]

I'm in a Masters program now and applying to PhD programs in the fall (in English and American Studies). I wondered if any of you had experience/knowledge of PhD programs' view of applicants who already have a Masters. Is it a plus? A negative? Neutral?

My MA will be in American Studies (Lit) and my BA was in English.

I know it'll give you a lot of threads to look through, but try a search - we've discussed this ad nauseum.

The general consensus (since we're not actually adcom members) is: sometimes. Some schools don't desire those coming with MA degrees, others prefer it.

Something to keep in mind is that schools will also vary on whether they will transfer any of your MA credits towards your PhD or not.

But, it doesn't seem to be a determining factor all in all. Schools often hold those with MA degrees to a higher standard than BA degrees, and with good reason, but it's a little late to evaluate your application on that basis!

I'm applying with an MA, and I choose to see it as an advantage. I know what I want out of graduate school, and I can articulate that. Whether this helps get me in remains to be seen, of course.

[augustquail]

Yes--the consensus does seem to be that some schools will see your MA as a benefit, some will not. I'm applying with an MA as well. Personally, I don't really understand how having an MA can be a disadvantage, or why schools would see that as a negative thing, considering the fact that many programs will make you retake at least most of your MA credits. I think that the argument for programs that tend to select students with a BA is that they want to train you in their own particular way, but again, if you're going to essentially do MA coursework all over again, then how does that argument hold? Clearly I'm a little biased...

I prefer to see having an MA as a benefit; at the most basic level, having an MA demonstrates that you can do graduate work. And the completion of a thesis demonstrates that you can get through that incredibly difficult and isolating process of writing a long, independent project. Most programs want to ensure that their candidates will complete the program, and not get lost in their dissertation years (apparently this happens to a ton of people!), and it seems to me that evidence of past success is one of the best ways to do this.

I'm hoping that adcoms will feel the same way...hahah

[TC3]

I've found that while some programs may be ambivalent about applicants who already hold MAs, not many programs categorically prefer applicants with BAs. I know that Penn State and Illinois @ Urbana-Champaign would make this list, and a couple of years ago it seemed that Wisconsin was the same, though not so much anymore. I could be quite mistaken, of course.

I'd say that an MA is a strong component to an application as long as the applicant has the accomplishments that an ad.com. would expect of someone who has gone through two years of graduate-level study. If it seems that the applicant just hung out for two years and took some classes, the MA might hurt the application, but if there are some accomplishments (e.g. awards, conference presentations, publications, teaching experience), the MA speaks to the applicant's ability to turn graduate study into a professional and long-lasting endeavor.

[lolopixie]

I think it also depends on what you have done with your MA. Most of the schools I applied to preferred candidates to have an MA, indicating that if you only had a BA then you need not apply straight to the Ph.D. and just apply into the MA program. Although there were some schools that did not indicate this information.

I also see my MA as an advantage. I have a MUCH higher GPA in my graduate program, I was published, and attended several conferences. These are all things that were pushed for out of my MA program - none of the above was even mentioned to me in the BA program. I think the MA made my personal situation more desirable than if I would have applied with just a BA - but this is only personal input...clearly, I cannot speak for all schools or all applicant's backgrounds. And I'm sure there are some people out there with just a BA that could knock my socks off.

[TC3]

I'm looking at everyone's tags and wow...WashU was a popular choice this year.

[wintergirl]

Thanks to everyone for the thoughtful responses to my question. Since I'm not even applying to the fall (and there's nothing I'd change about my status now), I was just hoping to get an anticipatory feel for any discrimination against MA students. Like all of you, will keep my fingers crossed that the right program for me will NOT see it as a negative -- for all the reasons you stated.

Good luck to all of you in your own applications! : )