New School for Social Research

[widefellow]

Just got accepted with no fundings.

Anyone has any ideas about this school?

also, rejected by Uchicago Sociology but offered the admission to MAPSS

comparing between New School and MAPSS, which is better you guys think?

Thanks

[hoobers]

I would go to MAPSS and apply again. MA programs boost your chances a lot, and the cost of MAPSS is tiny compared to New School. Grad school w/o funding is a bad idea.

[widefellow]

I would go to MAPSS and apply again. MA programs boost your chances a lot, and the cost of MAPSS is tiny compared to New School. Grad school w/o funding is a bad idea.

What if we dont consider the cost then?

By the way I got accepted by the MA program at New School, not PHD. Seems like MAPSS sends out quite a lot of offers.

My situation is that this year I dont have the luck to get into PHD programs, I was planning to get my MA degree first and after two years I will apply to decent ranked PHD programs.

Which one of those below may give me better chance after two years?

1 New School for Social Research Sociology, I have heard that the Sociology program is pretty good but I got no funding, and it will cost a lot living in NYC.

2.U Chicago MAPSS. No idea about this program. Not sure about its reputation.

3.NYU Draper program, dont know if you guys heard of it or not, its a inter-disciplinary MA program in Social Thought.

4.Columbia, Anthropology. My subfield is gender/sexuality/culture. And I dont really have related work at undergraduate. Not sure what to take.

5. California State University, Northridge. Sociology. Quite not expensive but not well ranked program as New School University.

Thank you guys for giving me advice!

[ewurgler]

My instinct is chicago. They have the best sociology program out of the schools you mention, therefore you would get to take classes in one of the best programs. Additionally, you can get letters of rec from chicago soc people.

I know a tiny bit about MAPSS--you have one core course, and otherwise you get to take whatever classes you want in the social sciences. It will give you a chance to get a great writing sample and get some courses you need.

Don't do northridge. Yes, its cheaper, but the other schools you are considering are much more respected and will give you a much great boost in the admission process for a PhD.

[widefellow]

My instinct is chicago. They have the best sociology program out of the schools you mention, therefore you would get to take classes in one of the best programs. Additionally, you can get letters of rec from chicago soc people.

I know a tiny bit about MAPSS--you have one core course, and otherwise you get to take whatever classes you want in the social sciences. It will give you a chance to get a great writing sample and get some courses you need.

Don't do northridge. Yes, its cheaper, but the other schools you are considering are much more respected and will give you a much great boost in the admission process for a PhD.

Thanks Ewurgler

I am accepted by New School and MAPSS, and still waiting for Columbia and NYU.

Are you saying that MAPSS is probably best for me so far, as a stepping stone?

Sorry I am not quite sure if I got what you meant.

[Redseele]

OK, here's my take. I Went to MAPSS (I was in your same position deciding between UChicago, New School and Berkeley for MA). I really loved it. It really did help me towards being prepared for a Phd degre and I got 3 letters of recommendation from UChicago faculty. Now, when I applied to Phd programs I didn't do too terribly well, but I think that has to do with the current economic context as well. I know some people who, after doing MAPSS, have gained entrance to places like Berkeley, Columbia, Harvard, Yale and to the University of Chicago itself.

My thought is that it is an extremely good program, but a lot of it is going to be based on how well you choose your courses (because you can basically take whatever you want), how well you do at them and how good of a relationship you build with your professors. Unlike some of the people who have commented about MAPSS here, I never had a problem choosing an advisor, nor did I ever feel that I was shunned away for being a MAPSS student (and not, say, a Phd), but then I developed a good relationship with every single professor that I worked with and participated in class. In other words, you will probably get a lot out of this program, but you have to work your part as well.

[ewurgler]

sorry widefellow,

Yes, I meant chicago is probably the best stepping stone for a PhD in soc.

[nyghtfalls]

i disagree with everyone on this forum. while i understand the fact that you are in a position to get an MA at Chicago or somewhere else, you must consider how soon you are to reapply for a PhD program. Will you wait until the finish of your MAPSS @ chicago in the spring of 2010, apply for Phd programs in the fall of 2010, and enter a PhD program in the fall of 2011? if you plan on doing this, then cool. if, however, you plan on applying for PhD programs this coming fall, in my opinion, you will be in no better position then you are now.

bear with me!

the reason I say this is that, more likely than not, when you reapply for Phd programs THIS semester, your transcripts will be exactly the same (as you will not have grades from UChicago/New School/wherever until the end of December or maybe even January depending on when classes end and grades are posted). Secondly, will the profs @ Chicago know and vibe with you well enough to write you fantastic rec letters? If so, great! If not, then that's something to think about. That being said, if you plan on reapplying this fall, don't spend money on a Master's program. Otherwise, feel free. Also note that Chicago rarely takes students from their MAPSS program into their PhD program, which is pretty bogus in my opinion, but it depends on what your plans are.

my last reason for not going to MAPSS, is that, quite frankly, you deserve better! yes, this sounds pompous. but, everyone knows how Masters students are treated compared to doctoral students, and imho, i wouldn't pay 25 grand to be treated like an urchin (especially considering Chicago's um... interpersonal environment, shall we say). you deserve a program that will fund you completely for doctoral study and support you... i don't believe in shelling out dough for a degree that belongs to merely 1% of the population (again, pompous, i know). i probably missed the whole point of your original post... but that's my piece if it helps.

[PhD2009orbust]

I was in MAPSS and really enjoyed the program. I too was able to improve my chances and was admitted to top-10 programs with fellowship offers. I caution people who are interested in MAPSS as to a few things. 1) Most students do not finish on time and complete the program in August. This may not be a concern to you but unless one is prepared with a topic in the fall and finds a MA reader in late-Fall/early-Winter, you are probably graduating late. 2) The program does not encourage you to apply while you are in program. This means you will be out of school for one year before you begin a PhD program. I did not wait because I was able to secure 2 letters from Chicago profs. and use a prior recommender. 3) You must choose the right courses carefully. You should ideally find the person you want to work with on your MA paper in the Fall, meaning you should take a course with him/her. Many profs limit the number of people they will work with and if you do not develop a rapport early in the process, there is a good chance that you may not get to work with him/her. I knew a number of people who waited until mid-February to find a faculty reader and were turned away by several people and simply found someone to "sign off" on their MA paper.

Again, my experience was great. I took the correct courses such that I was dropped into the 3rd year of the PhD program where I am enrolled and will probably be done in 3 years. Many people realize that graduate school is not for them and there are a lot of unhappy campers, particularly during thesis-time.

[widefellow]

Thank you all guys. I really appreciate it, though I am getting confused.

I will wait for Columbia and NYU, and maybe CU is my top choice if I could get in

Otherwise It is no easy