Kaitri Posted March 10, 2014 Share Posted March 10, 2014 Ok everyone, I need your help. I'm going to assume for now that I'm not going to get in to any of the other programs I applied to, so right now my challenge is deciding between two programs at the same university. Here's my issue: Program 1: - Traditional anthropology program (focusing on medical anthropology) - Overall less funding - No guaranteed TA position which means that the funding they would give me isn't tied to work, but I would also prefer to have TA experience as I apply to PhD programs this fall - Guaranteed supervisor who has been amazing - she let me know when I was admitted (weeks before the offer itself arrived), has been communicative throughout the process, and is supposed to be a great professor in general. She's doing work in a field I'm very interested in. - Average reputation (within Canada only) - the program is relatively well-known, but the school itself is best known for its medical school and sciences, not social sciences - Relatively large cohort of graduate students (MA and PhD) Program 2: - Interdisciplinary program (globalization studies) - More funding overall, most of which is tied to a TA position - The program invites students to design their own program of study: they offer courses, but also let students take any course offered at the university (with permission from the other department) - I would have to find my own supervisor, but I would be able to work with any willing professor currently working at the university - Better than average reputation - the program is relatively new (10 years old), but it's one of the first of its kind, and there's regularly a series of visiting scholars who are excited to come and study/teach at the school - Small cohort of MA students only (there is no PhD program) Since both programs are at the same school, then none of the city-specific issues that often arise when making these decisions affect me. Right now, the only issues I'm struggling with are the nature of the program that I want to take, and the funding offered. Do any of you have any insight into interdisciplinary programs and PhD application prospects? I asked the program director about that and they said they have a lot of success placing graduates into well-regarded PhD programs (but he didn't offer any specifics). I would feel really bad if I turned down either offer - the advisor I would be working with for Program 1 has been amazing, and the director of Program 2 took a lot of time to try to convince me that his program was right for me. Anyway - I would love any insight all of you could provide! I will be cross-posting this in the "Interdisciplinary programs" section (FYI to all mods!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allysekn Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 Hi--I would go with the guaranteed funding of globalization studies, UNLESS you plan on applying to traditional anthropology programs. I've heard they tend to prefer anthro-specific backgrounds.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rising_star Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 Take the funding! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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