MA and PhD application

[ropeclimber]

I will be starting a one-year MA in history this fall, and I'm planning to start a PhD application at the same time. I know some people advise against doing these two simultaneously, but I wonder if there are positive experiences? Also, with regards to the writing sample - is it better to send my BA thesis (that used primary sources), or use a new paper from the MA course?

[CageFree]

I recommend waiting, personally, esp. if you want to use your current profs. as recommenders and want to use your MA thesis. But you can apply using your undergrad paper if it's very strong, since it's finished.

Edited August 26, 2012 by CageFree

[futurePhD]

What is the real advantage in waiting? As long as it does not negatively impact your work in the MA program, I would say go ahead and try this cycle and see what happens. If you make the effort to really get to know some of your MA Professors early this semester, you can probably get some good recommendations by November.

Worst-case scenario you end up getting no offers and you can try again next year with (presumably) stronger credentials. PhD admissions are such a crap-shoot, and your chances with certain programs can vary year-to-year based on variables you have no control over. Why wouldn't you want to maximize your probability of getting in somewhere?

[New England Nat]

I would think it's a long shot that any professor would write a recommendation before your class with them has finished. They can't write in the letter anything about your academic performance, or your writing on longer papers. Basically all they could say is "Joe is a nice student who is enthusastic."

That isn't to say you have to wait, but all your recommendations would come from your undergrad.

That's not horrible. I had a 2 year masters, used two professors from my masters department and my undergraduate thesis adviser because he was a very big name.

[runaway]

ropeclimber, I'm in your boat (1 yr MA) and I'm going to apply this fall for PhDs. I have some plan B's in mind, but I don't want to wait a year to start a PhD program if it's not necessary. I'm planning to use my references from undergrad, and I have my thesis and a couple conference papers as possible writing samples.

Like futurePhD said, worst case scenario is going through another application cycle. I figure if that happens, I'll be better for the experience of doing it once, anyway, and my CV will be that much stronger.

[kyjin]

You won't necessarily get recommendations from your MA profs since you'll only have worked with them for a few months by the time apps are due, and not sure how many new writing samples you'll have to add by then. I guess the biggest deterrent is that you won't have that extra year of accolades for your CV. I'm starting the second year of my MA and applying for PhDs this fall, and in the last year I've had a ton of experience added to my CV (TAship, RAship, and primary instructor for a course), more research done, a scholarship, and just more experience in my field. I have a better feeling for what I want from my PhD than I did a year ago. That experience is really worth it, and I think my PhD apps will be better for it.

But like others have said, it's worth a shot anyway. If you don't mind throwing down some money for apps, give it a whirl! Worst case scenario, you don't get any offers and you'll have to reapply next year, with your added experience from your MA now under your belt. Good luck!