Columbia University (MA in Sociology) - Funding?

[ieatshampoo]

Hey guys,

 

I am a Canadian undergraduate studying in the University of British Columbia. I am doing a BFA program in Visual Arts and a minor in Sociology. I made dean's list two years in a row and I have a good avg + CV.

 

Only problem is - I hope to do a MA in Sociology in Columbia. What are my chances of getting funding from them as an international student (note that I am Singaporean by nationality)... Also, I lack research experience - is this gonna jeopardise my chances?

 

Also, my ultimate goal is to do a PhD... How is that gonna look for me?

 

I am doing the GRE this summer for this.

 

Any comments would be helpful!

PS: My backup plans are - University of Toronto, McGill and Cambridge. Once again, funding...

[hj2012]

Funding chances are low at Columbia. They state as much explicitly on the website. Funding is also dismal at Cambridge for international students. Not sure about the Canadian universities, though.

 

If your ultimate goal is to do a PhD, though, I don't really think you should concern yourself so much about the "name brand" of the school, especially if money is a problem. Search "funded master's programs" on this site and you'll get a list of places.

Edited March 5, 2014 by hj2012

[juilletmercredi]

I go to Columbia; I'm not in sociology, but I wouldn't recommending doing a one-year master's here.  Chances of funding are slim because the free-standing MA programs at Columbia are money-generators for the university.  You'll basically end up taking on $60,000 of debt.  But if you are planning a PhD in sociology, you can't expect to make much more than that, so you may be in more debt than you can afford.  (Also, I'm not sure that Cambridge is a "backup" for Columbia.)

Personally, I think the best course of action is to get an MA at a Canadian university.  It's likely to be far cheaper for you.