Northwestern vs. University of Maryland for English MA

[ProductiveJenna]

I would be very happy to attend either university, but I'm a bit more interested in Northwestern. However, neither program is funded, and it would be much cheaper for me to go to Maryland. I live in Baltimore now, so if I choose UMD, I could keep my job part time, and I wouldn't need to bother moving. I plan on applying to PhD programs after getting my MA, so is it worth it to go Northwestern, which has a higher ranked English program? I would appreciate any advice you could give me. Thanks.

[Crucial BBQ]

I am not sure if you would stay in Baltimore, but BMore to College Park is not that bad of a commute, in particular since you could avoid the Beltway.  If you can afford the move, tuition/fees, and living expenses, Northwestern might be worth it.  But honestly, if I were you I would think about where I plan to go for the Ph.D.  It might be best for you to take the offer at College Park, then apply to Northwestern for the Ph.D.  

[ProductiveJenna]

Crucial, thank you very much for the advice. I know that there are many other factors involved in decisions, but do you think that getting an MA from a top 20 school vs top 30 would make me a much more competitive candidate for PhD applications? Thanks again.

[junotwest]

Everything I've read about the MA in the humanities seems to suggest that what is important is that you produce a quality writing sample, propose an interesting research project, and have three letters from professors who can confirm that you are a solid researcher and would produce quality work as a doctoral student.  Having said that, I think both programs would provide you with the means of accomplishing these things, granted you take the thesis option.  I'd be weary of paying more for the MA than is necessary, but I would also encourage you to also consider the reputation of the professors with whom you would work at each institution, as a professor's reputation in the field can affect the valuation of their letter.  Does this outweigh the additional costs incurred at one institution? I'm not sure, but it's something to consider.  

 

Also, program structure would be sort of important.   Which permits/encourages the most specialization?  I say this because increased specialization would make it more likely that you can persuasively propose an original research project.  

 

What I'd like to conclude with is that you can still be a competitive applicant from either institution, but I'd argue that most of that is dependent upon the caliber of work you produce as a student there.

 

Congrats and best of luck to ya!

 

*disclaimer, I'm a senior undergrad and all I know about MA's are what I've read when I considered applying for them, so please feel free to discard my opinion if it seems ill-advised.