Opinions: MA then PhD or straight-to-PhD program

[shoemonster]

Hello,

 

I will be finishing my BA this year (barring any bureacratic hold-ups that my university is well known for making).

My biggest question is what is the best path to take regarding graduate school. It really has me a bit torn up.

 

On the one hand, I might like to apply to a 5 year PhD program in the states. There are a lot of advantages to many of the top-tier universities in the States not the least of which includes the degree of funding, the depth of the study program, and breadth of study available. I am also a US citizen, so I don't have to worry about visas (I am doing my BA overseas).

 

On the other hand, I am getting strong support from some my professors at my university to continue at my current university for an MA. The advantages of course include the ability to build relationships with my professors which among other things can lead to stronger letters of recommendation, continuity of study, and on a personal level continuity in my life (I have lived overseas in my country of study for 7 years, but--to keep it short--have had a relatively hectic time about it until the last 3 years). Just to stay in one place with a similar routine for another 2-3 years is nice).

As long as I am considering the MA and PhD separately, I am also strongly considering trying to go to the UZH (University of Zürich) as I have developed a strong interest in Swiss German dialects over the last year (I have been teaching myself Basel-dialect Swiss German and researching it for my second seminar paper). However, in order to make deadlines, I'd have to take a second year off before starting my masters in order to learn enough German to be accepted. Disadvantage to this lies mostly in finances and in regards to the personal reason I have for currently staying in one place.  But the advantage lies in being able to go to an excellent university in the country where people speak the language I'd like to become an expert in.

Of course, this leads to the disadvantage of doing the degrees separately: it takes longer.

 

I am not in a rush in the sense of "finishing as soon as possible". But I also want to make the most of the time I put into my degree(s). If doing the straight-to-PhD program is ultimately going to get me more or less the same results, then perhaps it is best. But I know very little of higher education in the US other than what my impressions were graduating from a US high school, and having friends go through US undergraduate programs. My grades are good, so going to do an MA first isn't about buffing them up. It's a "simple" 'what is best for me?' and the question is driving me nuts. So I came here and wanted to know what others thought and what others' have experiences.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

[tspier2]

It all depends on what your ultimate goals are. I was always told that the Ph.D. is typical for positions in research and academia, which normally go hand-in-hand. If you cannot see yourself teaching down the road, then it might not be worthwhile to do the doctoral degree. On the other hand, the MA/MS could help you decide if research is really what you see yourself doing. If you have an interest in Swiss German dialects, it makes more sense to do it in an area where you have direct access to it.

 

I may have read your post too quickly, but what is your actual major? How much research experience do you have?

[shoemonster]

My major is in Linguistics. I have no research experience outside of what I need to write a seminar paper (here that's like a beefed up, slightly more serious term paper, but not necessarily original/long/thorough enough to be a thesis, between 20-30 pages). I have strong interests in Lexical semantics, Syntax, Language Acquisition, and Language Change.

 

I know that a PhD is necessary for academia. I am passionate about my subject, I have always loved teaching (and the prospect of teaching) and I want to do esearch in my field.  My only concern is the best way to get there. I am concerned that while getting my PhD right after my BA is very appealing, it might be better in the long run to do it one at a time in spite of the fact that it could and probably will take me longer by at least a year, maybe two.

Edited January 17, 2014 by shoemonster

[hoviariel]

If I were you, I'ld would just do what I did the last month: apply to everything that I wanted: American Phd (I'm an international), American MA, and local MA. 

The thing is that you're just comparing between hypotheticals now. There's no way to know that in a year or 2 you will actually face the choice of going to either a PhD, MA, or Zurich because you got accepted into all of them.

[shoemonster]

I suppose. Except that getting into a local MA program is easy. That one I know I can do because I meet the qualifications for automatic acceptance at the same university and have the support of at least two professors. It's the the other options that have me all confused--they are oh-so-appealing, yet oh-so-in-the-future and unknown. Oh well. I know I have time, but I appreciate all of your feedback (and hopefully will get more?). It helps me think.