Gossip Re U Chicago

[Gdom87]

Jesus Christ. I finally just cracked and called MAPH. This is what I have discovered: My application indeed was referred to MAPH. They were unable to tell me the decision at this time but said the Ph.D. only refers applications that they believe have a good chance of getting accepted to the Master's. MAPH does try to personalize all acceptance e-mails. If you were accepted to the program, a faculty member who read your application should be in touch with you through e-mail by the end of this week at the latest. Letters were also mailed last week sometime. <br>Looks like absolutely all Ph.D. decisions (including wait-listing if there was one) have been made, and if you have not heard, you were most definitely referred to MAPH.

Good to hear, but now I still have no real idea of what the MAPH is. I mean, I get it. It's a Masters in Humanities, but what does that entail? My work is in English, so if I get to design my own program, wouldn't it just end up looking like an English masters program? but I just wouldn't technically have an English masters? As far as what I want to study, my interests are pretty specific, so I don't really fall into a category of a potential graduate student who is still making a transition... Someone?

[lyonessrampant]

You basically design your own program. All of my courses (except one) were specifically about early modern and late Medieval content. You can be interdisciplinary if you want or you can focus on a subfield or take classes in a few subfields of English. It's really your decision. You take 3 courses a quarter, though your thesis counts for a course in the last quarter. Feel free to PM me if you have questions.

[cicada123]

It sounds like a good program. I would not mind having that freedom.

You basically design your own program. All of my courses (except one) were specifically about early modern and late Medieval content. You can be interdisciplinary if you want or you can focus on a subfield or take classes in a few subfields of English. It's really your decision. You take 3 courses a quarter, though your thesis counts for a course in the last quarter. Feel free to PM me if you have questions.

[Simpleton]

I've debated weighing in on this discussion for a while now, ultimately deciding against it due to a sense that I might just complicate an already tortuous thought process for those of you considering MAPH. The more I consider it though, the more I feel an obligation to speak up. I'm currently a Phd student at Chicago, and from what I have observed and imbibed from the habitues of MAPH, as well as my general knowledge about the state of graduate study in the humanities in these dark days of neo-liberal evisceration, I would not suggest doing the MAPH Masters. Firstly, the MAPH people are assigned too much work, 3 classes a quarter as opposed to the two required of Phd students, and consistently seem flustered and worn down. Secondly, there are too many students in the cohort so they tend to get lost in the crowd and find it difficult to ratchet the attention of faculty. At a place like Chicago, not only is the department small in terms of the number of faculty, but the 10-15 stars who everyone wants to work with are already worn thin by the needs of Phd students. One year is not enough time to build a strong mentor relationship with faculty, and it is these kinds of relationships that need to be built if they are going to advocate for you in a manner that will get you into top Phd programs. In fact, I could go on and on about why the MAPH is neither worth the money nor the energy. If your goal is to pursue a Phd in English and you have been rejected this year, my suggestion would be to save your 40-60 grand, rent a cabin in the woods, and completely revamp your application. Work fiendishly on your writing sample and your sop, retake the gre if you need to, and READ, READ, and READ more...

[lyonessrampant]

I don't disagree with Simpleton. For me, MAPH worked out okay, though you'll see by my signature that I didn't get into the top 10ish programs. I did get a lot of personal attention, and all my letter writers (who have been very supportive and read my app materials to help) were from UC, BUT I went out of my way to get this attention. I was in their offices, applied for permission to take their upper-level classes, and went to multiple workshops. I made the program into something that was good for me, but given the economy, I'm not sure I would do it again, though I would deeply regret not having the contacts and support I have and will continue to have even while I do my Ph.D. at another program. As you can see by my signature, it didn't get me into a top 10ish program, though both UC and Duke said later that my application was very competitive and close. Anyway, I wouldn't go without some funding at least, and if you have a funded or more generously funded MA offer elsewhere, I'd take that. MAPH is a lot of work, though I didn't really struggle with the workload, even working a part-time job (though from home and flexible with my schedule) about 20 hours a week. A lot of people in my cohort, though, did seem perpetually harangued, and some just don't take it seriously and party a lot because someone else is footing the bill. The cohort is huge, and you have to really fight to get attention, though I never experience being treated like a second-class citizen. That may be because I'm pretty sharp-tongued, assertive, and generally "win" verbal arguments because I've been doing competitive debate for years. . .so if you're shy or not assertive, I DEFINITELY wouldn't recommend this program.

[ryanweb]

Oh, Chicago... if only I were already working a really cushy job there in the Windy City and could just take a break from work to do the MAPH. I mean, you could just let me sit in on the classes, quietly taking notes in a corner. I promise I won't disturb anyone...

Well, good thing I have better options than $60,000 of more debt!