Funded PhD (Tier 3) versus Unfunded MA (Top 10)

[gensexhopeful]

The age-old question about funding...

 

Fully-funded PhD w/ stipend in school ranked 59 by US News in my discipline. Department features faculty who specialize in my areas of interest. Department can fund travel for my research project abroad.

 

Or

 

Unfunded MA programs at either Columbia or NY, ranked top 10. I would obviosuly accumulate debt, and do not know about how I would pursue international research. Nor do I know where MA grads are placed afterwards as far as PhD programs and ultimately jobs..

 

 

I welcome your thoughts and feedback!!!

[zabius]

The fully-funded PhD is the clear winner here. Check the job placement record of the department there. Do graduates of the program go on to find careers similar to the one that you want for yourself? If so, then this sounds like the school for you... it's a good fit academically, is offering you funding, and would prepare you for the job that you want. Rank isn't everything.

 

I was raised in NYC and currently live there. It is a very, very expensive place to live, and I simply cannot recommend anyone enter an unfunded program here. The cost of the program itself (tuition and fees) plus the astronomical cost of living in NYC (rent, food, Metrocards, other expenses) will put you in a massive pile of debt... even if you live in the cheapest outer-borough studio you can find and eat instant ramen for every meal. Unless you think that you'll land an incredibly high-paying job after graduation, the unfunded master's at Columbia just isn't worth it. The same is true for any other school in NYC. Other areas of NY (e.g. upstate) are cheaper, but still... even tuition and fees alone will put you in a lot of debt, regardless of where the school is located.

 

If the PhD program has a spotty job placement record, then you might actually want to consider reapplying next year. :-/ But given the current state of academic funding, chances are that admissions will be hyper-competitive next year and that funded offers will be much rarer (more thoughts about that here: ). So, I'd be inclined to recommend the funded PhD anyway, unless the job placement record is just absolutely abysmal there.

Edited April 2, 2013 by zabius

[iExcelAtMicrosoftPuns]

I stopped reading at US News rankings (Not really- just hyperbole for rhetorical effect).

Take the funded PhD, why pay Columbia to tell you how special you are when the PhD program wants to pay you for the privilege.

Unless the placement is terrible or the weather is miserable take the offer.

[juilletmercredi]

What is your discipline?  What are your job prospects from the PhD program vs. the MA?  The PhD program would be the clear winner, because it is funded and your ultimate goal.  But do graduates get jobs?

 

If the PhD program can get you the jobs you want, then go for the PhD.  If not, then I would take the year and apply to other programs.  I wouldn't attend an unfunded MA.

[sociolife]

I would consider applying again next year, if you're not fully convinced to either. Going to a grad school is a huge investment of money and energy, so I think it's worth to spend some time for the right one. In the meantime, some working, or real world, experience may be helpful to broaden your scope and find a right direction, though it depends on your major.

[Purplescarves]

Echoing some of the sentiments above, make sure you figure out the job placement numbers. While a funded PhD is great, the purpose is getting a full-time job. If they don't have a track record of doing that for their graduates, then that's not a good sign.

[gensexhopeful]

Thank you, everybody. I am pursuing Sociology, and was actually just accepted to a school ranked #31. I know rank isn't everything, but I am pretty sure about 80% of PhDs hired from my discipline are from people with a degree from a Top 10 institution.

 

With that being said, I am visiting the school tomorrow to see if it is a good fit...