Accepted to NYU MA program without funding

[Falcore]

So as the title suggests, I was accepted into NYU's Cinema Studies MA program, but was not given any funding. I was thrilled to read that I'd gotten in, as I've been rejected from all the other programs, but the lack of funding is pretty discouraging, especially since NYC isn't exactly cheap. I'm not really sure what to do. My ultimate goal is to pursue a PhD in the same topic, and I think an MA from such a good program might help, but I don't know how to pay for it. 

I suppose I'm asking for general advice. Any is helpful, since I know a number of people on this site have dealt with similar situations.

Thanks

[GradSchoolTruther]

Does the program even offer funding for MA students? Don't see anything on the program website regarding MA funding. If you can't pay for it, your options are clear, right? 

Edited March 22, 2016 by GradSchoolTruther

[rising_star]

My advice is not to do an unfunded MA, especially not in NYC, unless you have a trust fund or are otherwise independently wealthy. I have several colleagues in Film Studies and most of them did their MAs in English programs where they could concentrate/specialize in film/cinema/media and which offered them funding via teaching assistantships. Could you find something similar? I know Pitt has such a program, just to give one example.

[Guest Grad19204]

Two things. First off, congrats! Second, Pitt's program isn't funded anymore. In fact, the amount of funded MAs has dwindled this year compared to the last.

If you don't have debt already from your BA and have safety nets in place (parents, trust fund), I say go for it. Studying film in NYC sounds like it'd be worth it. My understanding is that you want to continue towards your PhD and I think an MA is a necessary step for most, including myself. 

But yeah, generally speaking, unfunded MAs are a bad idea. If you won't be getting help, it's an easy decision to decline and cast a wider net next year. You also don't want that black cloud over your head for the next 7+ years while writing a dissertation.

It's a tough position to be in.

[GradSchoolTruther]

It's cinema studies; not learning how to be a filmmaker. The location does not really matter.

[Guest Grad19204]

4 hours ago, GradSchoolTruther said:

It's cinema studies; not learning how to be a filmmaker. The location does not really matter.

I'm vaguely familiar with the field. I have an MA in Film Studies myself and have committed to UChicago for a PhD in Cinema and Media Studies. I'm not sure if you know this, but New York has sort of a rich history when it comes to film and other forms of audiovisual media. The city is the site of the New York Film Festival, Tribeca, and countless other film festivals and gave us Spike Lee, Martin Scorsese, Woody Allen, among many, many others. Top film scholars, film critics, and filmmakers choose to live in NYC for this reason alone--to be close to their texts. These people organize screenings, panels, and other sites of academic discourse on a regular basis. I would guess their residency in the city is more strategic than incidental (a friend of mine just flew to NYC to interview Philippe Grandrieux for his master's thesis; it says a lot about the city that an researcher/practitioner like him would choose New York as his home base). While there are famously many top production programs in New York, they have no shortage of Humanities-based film programs, such as Columbia, NYU, New School, CUNY, Fordham, and St. John's, all of which have terminal degrees or certificates in Film Studies. Thomas Elsaesser is at Columbia, Anna McCarthy is at Tisch, Lev Manovich is at CUNY, Alexander Galloway is at Steinhardt--the list goes on and on. The film community, which includes critics, theorists, historians, as well as practitioners in NYC, is the main reason academic programs have developed within the city. Don't you think that criticism would follow art to where it's being produced? Do you believe the greater New York film community to be an accident of geography?

Now, I looked at your profile. You seem to like to barge into threads and leave flip, arrogant, and half-baked opinions masquerading as advice (academic negging? your own profile name points to this), so I won't indulge you any further. I don't know what your area is or what emboldens you to pose as a "truther" of any sort, but Film Studies (and Humanities in general) is a lot more than "talking about movies."

In any case, Falcore, you want to go somewhere where your intellectual interest in film can be satiated. I don't think GradSchoolTruther can make a decent argument that NYC isn't one of the best place in the world to be student of film, regardless of whether you're an artist or a scholar. Cheers!

Edited March 22, 2016 by Grad19204
angry typos

[GradSchoolTruther]

You are selling the OP on a dream that will likely lead to a mountain of debt with few prospects to pay off that debt. I know what cinema studies is, and I know that for a master's, the same skills can be acquired at other schools.

[Guest Grad19204]

1 minute ago, GradSchoolTruther said:

You are selling the OP on a dream that will likely lead to a mountain of debt with few prospects to pay off that debt. I know what cinema studies is, and I know that for a master's, the same skills can be acquired at other schools.

I don't disagree, which is why I told him that "generally speaking, unfunded MAs are a bad idea." In another topic, I personally told Falcore to try again next cycle and gave him a list of funded programs.

I'm addressing your condescension and the fact that you made an incorrect statement about film and New York in your misguided one-liner.

[COGSCI]

Rising_star brings up a good point. You can even do media/film concentration through East Asian studies. If it is not an urgent matter, I would take some time to research funded programs.

NYU is a great school for cinema studies so if you are willing to put the time and money into it, go for it! I had to refrain myself from going to columbia for my doctoral training because of the living cost, NY is such a great city for a lot of thing but it is expensive to live in

[Falcore]

Thanks for all the advice guys. GRadSchoolTruther, yes they do have funding. About 35% get something, and you're reevaluated for funding every year. I appreciate your attempts to be sobering, but I think you might be drawing some unnecessarily fatalistic conclusions. 

[Falcore]

On 3/22/2016 at 4:09 PM, cikkatikkaskwarr said:

 

In any case, Falcore, you want to go somewhere where your intellectual interest in film can be satiated. I don't think GradSchoolTruther can make a decent argument that NYC isn't one of the best place in the world to be student of film, regardless of whether you're an artist or a scholar. Cheers!

Very true! The city is amazing, and I'm thrilled to have been accepted to such an incredible program with such a rich academic and cultural network. It'd be a huge upgrade from studying film out of an English dept. at Salisbury University. Night and day. All things to consider. You seem to have done very well for yourself in the field, so I really value your advice. Thanks again

[GradSchoolTruther]

47 minutes ago, Falcore said:

Thanks for all the advice guys. GRadSchoolTruther, yes they do have funding. About 35% get something, and you're reevaluated for funding every year. I appreciate your attempts to be sobering, but I think you might be drawing some unnecessarily fatalistic conclusions. 

You're not one of the 35 percent, since you wrote you are not being funded, so it is not as if my conclusions are wrong. How much funding is available for your second year, if you're lucky enough to get it?

[rising_star]

If it's just about being in NYC, you could do the master's at Brooklyn College, which would be way less expensive.

[Falcore]

18 hours ago, GradSchoolTruther said:

You're not one of the 35 percent, since you wrote you are not being funded, so it is not as if my conclusions are wrong. 

That argument is totally nonsensical. Your whole point was that you that program didn't even HAVE funding, but it does. So to defend your argument past that point is kind of fruitless. Honestly, I find your whole schtick a little condescending; I know you're trying to help, but it comes off like you're telling people they don't know what they're talking about. I'm asking for honest, balanced advice here, and while I can appreciate your position, it feels like you're presenting an extremely hard-line view of the situation. You come off as combative-- and it's more than a little unnecessary given the kind of discussion this is supposed to be. It's not meant to be a debate. 

 

 

14 hours ago, rising_star said:

If it's just about being in NYC, you could do the master's at Brooklyn College, which would be way less expensive.

I got accepted to their program as well. I'm seriously considering it, but since it's new, I can't find much about it online. Is it a well regarded program? Do you know if it's worth my time?It looks really great, and the price is phenomenal,  but I know looks can be deceiving.

Edited March 26, 2016 by Falcore

[YabanciKiz]

Honestly, don't do it. You'll seriously regret it later with the debt and the uncertain prospects of employment. I'm a dreamer, too. I studied ancient Greek Philosophy. Unfunded MA's are not a great idea financially.

[rising_star]

17 hours ago, Falcore said:

I got accepted to their program as well. I'm seriously considering it, but since it's new, I can't find much about it online. Is it a well regarded program? Do you know if it's worth my time?It looks really great, and the price is phenomenal,  but I know looks can be deceiving.

I don't know that much about the program, sorry. But they did get some major support from movie industry people when their building opened, for example. It might be worth talking to some of the faculty, especially if the price is phenomenal.