Seeking any insight on UBC's MA program

[pastylancheru]

Hi, everyone! I've been creepily lurking in this forum for the longest time. I have learned immensely simply by perusing through the nearly endless topics that have been discussed in this forum and feel extremely grateful to all GC members that contributed to educating clueless and helpless individuals such as myself.

I have recently been accepted into University of British Columbia's MA program and had a considerable amount of questions in regards to it. Based on everything I've gathered by perusing through this forum, I've read that job placement rates for PhD graduates are not very promising, but I haven't found much information pertaining to the MA program (and I apologize if my lack of literacy hindered me from noticing any available info on it). I would highly appreciate ANY information or scoop on it, but here are a bunch of questions for anyone that would prefer I be more specific:

1) How is the general atmosphere within the department? Is there a sense of community and collaboration or is it more of a competitive, every-man-for-himself type of environment?

2) What are your impressions in regards to your overall experience with the program? Are there any aspects of it that make things particularly difficult for MA students?

3) What are the primary challenges during the first year and second year of the MA program? Is it possible (or even common) to have some semblance of a life outside of coursework and research, or is it reading and writing 24/7?

4) How could one describe the extent of rigor and intensity in regards to coursework and work load? I have become accustomed to the idea that graduate courses are far more rigorous than undergraduate coursework, but I am completely in the dark in regards to the extent of it. Is it reasonably feasible to maintain the equivalent of a 3.5 to 4.0 GPA? Is a 90 percent in the Canadian grading system more difficult to attain in comparison to a 90 percent in a U.S. grading system? Are there certain professors who make it particularly challenging to make a decent grade? I assume that all professors are, of course, brilliant and immensely knowledgeable individuals, but I'm aware that not every single one of them must be easy or pleasant to work with.

5) If not offered TA-ship, do students generally have part-time jobs? If working part-time is common, what types of jobs do students generally partake? Is it more difficult for an international (American) student to land a part-time job compared to a Canadian student?

6) How do UBC MA graduates fare in terms of placing into reputable PhD programs? Or placing into high-school or non-adjunct community-college teaching positions? Do those placement rates vary by geographical location (Canada, U.S., overseas)? Is landing a job in Canada particularly difficult for an American citizen that earned a graduate degree in a Canadian university?

I apologize in advance if anything I've said in this post (or will say in any future post) comes off naive, delusional, or ignorant. As much as I've tried to keep myself informed and knowledgeable in the whole grad-school process, I'm sure I am still clueless in regards to many aspects of it.

 

Edited March 14, 2016 by pastylancheru

[erosanddust]

Hi! I was very seriously considering UBC's MA program last season. I didn't end up attending, so I can't answer all of your questions, but last year I asked the MA Director if he could put me in touch with some current students and I corresponded with them via e-mail to ask many of the same things you're asking. I also corresponded with a couple POIs. I really recommend doing the same -- everyone I talked to was incredibly helpful!

Overall, based on correspondence and my campus visit, I was very impressed with the program. They were very collegial and supportive, and the Department does some great work.

[pastylancheru]

Thanks for the advice, @erosanddust! I visited the campus last summer (but didn't get to interact with anyone within the English department) and felt that it would be an incredible environment to be a part of. If it's not too much to ask, may I ask why you eventually chose not to attend?

[erosanddust]

14 hours ago, pastylancheru said:

Thanks for the advice, @erosanddust! I visited the campus last summer (but didn't get to interact with anyone within the English department) and felt that it would be an incredible environment to be a part of. If it's not too much to ask, may I ask why you eventually chose not to attend?

Sure! For me, there were two main considerations: first was a question of fit (there were a couple faculty members in my current department whose research interests were more closely aligned with my own), and the second was that my current program offers more opportunities for teaching, which is an area in which I really wanted to develop during my MA. But it was a very difficult decision to make, and I know I could've been very happy and done good work at UBC as well.

[pastylancheru]

Thanks again for your scoop on the program, @erosanddust! Very much appreciated.