Anyone have idea how competitive the higher ranked MA programs are?

[Darth.Vegan]

I am particularly interested in Columbia and MAPPS (at U Chicago), also what about lower ranked programs like The New School and Boston College?

No GRE scores yet (this is my biggest worry, and while I am hoping for a PhD. program I am hoping I will have some good options like a Columbia MA if I can't quite get into the PhD. programs. Applying to 15 (12 PhD, 3 terminal MA)

University of Hawai’i at Manoa

2010-Current, Senior Standing, GPA 3.94

B.A. Currently In Progress, Class of 2012

Major: Sociology GPA 3.87

Minor: Political Science GPA 4.0

Distinctions:

Honors Program

Alpha Kappa Delta

Deans List (Spring 2010, Fall 2010, Spring 2011, Fall 2011)

Awards:

Department of Sociology Merit Scholarship (Fall 2011, Spring 2012)

ASUH Academic Achievement Scholarship (Fall 2011)

Grants:

UROP Research Grant 2011

Portland Community College

2006-2009 GPA 3.2

Major: Sociology GPA 3.5

Distinctions:

President’s List

Dean’s List

Current Research:

Working as a research assistant and on an honors thesis

No presentations outside of honors forums yet, but I am speaking on a panel at the Pacific Sociological Association meeting in March.

[ThisSlumgullionIsSoVapid]

If you do killer on your GRE and have well defined research interests I think you would be a pretty good contender for top 10 PhD programs.

[ThisSlumgullionIsSoVapid]

Oh, and what section are you speaking in at the PSA? I'm presenting at an undergrad round table too

[Darth.Vegan]

If you do killer on your GRE and have well defined research interests I think you would be a pretty good contender for top 10 PhD programs.

I never took the SAT's which means I have no real basis for how I will do. I am also super rusty on the math. Also lets be honest we almost never see those GRE words in sociological literature. Many of them I have never even seen before, haha. I am sure I will do ok ( I plan on taking 2 classes), but I think anywhere near a 1400 ( the average at many top programs) is a long shot.

Oh, and what section are you speaking in at the PSA? I'm presenting at an undergrad round table too

I am speaking on the panel on student/faculty mentor relationships. I am excited, plus even though I am not presenting my own research I think it will look good on my CV and create some good networking opportunities.

So anyone have idea what a competitive GRE score for a top ranked terminal MA program would be? Obviously lower than PhD programs but how much lower?

Edited January 8, 2012 by xdarthveganx

[julesevar]

I always considered The New School an excellent choice, but check into how much it costs. It really appears to be a place for p.w.m. (people with money). Lots of money to go there... Now up to$1800 a credit hour... I would go there If I won the lottery or had a sugar momma or daddy willing to pay for it....

[danielcharles87]

I'm currently finishign up my MA at The New School in Sociology, hoping to get into a solid PhD program for the Fall. I've really enjoyed my time at New School - I had no Soc background before and it really made me sure of what I wanted to do and that I wanted to keep going with the PhD. There are some great teachers (Iddo Tavory, Terry Williams, Jeff Goldfarb) that are great for sociology of culture, ehtnography, and sociology of religion. There's also a huge emphasis on theory and political sociology. All in all, I'd recommend it and it's definitely a solid program, even if it's not ranked as highly.

It's expensive as hell though and being so liberal, they have very little endowment and don't offer a ton of money to MA or PhD students. I got 25% funding and was grateful for that.

[Darth.Vegan]

I'm currently finishign up my MA at The New School in Sociology, hoping to get into a solid PhD program for the Fall. I've really enjoyed my time at New School - I had no Soc background before and it really made me sure of what I wanted to do and that I wanted to keep going with the PhD. There are some great teachers (Iddo Tavory, Terry Williams, Jeff Goldfarb) that are great for sociology of culture, ehtnography, and sociology of religion. There's also a huge emphasis on theory and political sociology. All in all, I'd recommend it and it's definitely a solid program, even if it's not ranked as highly.

It's expensive as hell though and being so liberal, they have very little endowment and don't offer a ton of money to MA or PhD students. I got 25% funding and was grateful for that.

Would you mind giving me an idea of what your stats and experience were when you applied?

I can do an MA without a solid funding offer, but would need good funding for my PhD. I would probably go for the MA and then try again in the next available cycle for a well regarded PhD. program with funding.

[danielcharles87]

Would you mind giving me an idea of what your stats and experience were when you applied?

I can do an MA without a solid funding offer, but would need good funding for my PhD. I would probably go for the MA and then try again in the next available cycle for a well regarded PhD. program with funding.

That's basically what I did. I tried for PhD programs but didn't get into three. I was actually glad I did the PhD because it gave me the ability to really evaluate if it's the road I wanted to go down. I'm not planning on continuing past this MA without full funding - I've got enough loans haha.

In terms of where I was when I got in, I had a 3.65 at Marist College, a solid but nothing-too-special liberal arts school. I studied Advertising and Spanish and had experience presenting two papers in two separate communications conferences. My Statement of Purpose, looking back at it, was absolutely terrible haha and my recommendations weren't all from professors. But hey, hindsight is 20/20 I guess. Hope this helps.