Brock, Texas Tech, the New School

[nurhandrio]

Hi All,

I got accepted to all three. Below I listed them with information that I consider necessary and important. Financial aid is of paramount condition for me in choosing as well...

1. Brock University

Program: MA in Comparative East & West Philosophy. 

Scholarship/Financial Aid: Full-Tuition through graduate fellowship and assistantship.

Stipends: None. 

Location: St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada.  

Pros: The only program in the country that offers extensive east and west philosophy courses.

Cons: No stipends. 

 

2. Texas Tech University

Program: MA in Philosophy

Specializations: Analytic philosophy. 

Financial Aid: After waivers, approximately out-of-pocket $2,400 per academic year.      

Stipends: $1,444/month for 9 months, through graduate teaching assistantship.      

Location: Lubbock, Texas.

Pros: One of the top 11 philosophy master's programs in the country according to the philosophical gourmet (which is mainly only for analytical schools); great PhD placement records; stipends available; graduate teaching experience. 

Cons: The location seems like in the middle of nowhere, although it is a college town and hometown of Buddy Holly.   

  

3. The New School for Social Research

Program: MA in Philosophy

Program Specializations: Continental philosophy, Critical Theory.

Financial Aid: 40% off tuition scholarship. Approximate out-of-pocket tuition (60%) = $18,180 per year. 

Stipends: None. 

Location: New York City.

Pro: Quite unconventional courses; Richard Bernstein is there; strong critical theory.

Cons: Expensive tuition even after the scholarship.

 

Thanks for your help guys!

[be.]

The New School should be off the table. Unless you are independently wealthy, do not pay for graduate school in philosophy. With respect to Texas Tech, $2,400 isn't terrible, but it is still a lot of money.

[bookofletters]

TTU looks like the place unless you want a specialty in eastern.

[Duns Eith]

TTU has good placement, lots of faculty, and a healthy ratio of those-who-graduate:those-who-apply-to-PhD. This sets a professional tone. I turned down TTU in favor of a better funding situation and better locale, but had I not gotten the offer where I am now I would probably be at TTU (over a third place I was accepted into). Given it's an MA, you don't need to specialize by any stretch before the PhD, so the fact that TTU doesn't have the eastern courses should not be seen as a strike at the vitals. It's perfectly OK. (unless they have absolutely no placement in the schools you're considering after?)

While there are cons for Lubbock, a big pro of going to TTU is low cost of living of Lubbock. Seriously. Cheap rent, cheap food, cheap gas, etc.

Edited June 8, 2016 by Turretin

[Guillaume]

I would tend to agree with Turretin...Texas Tech. Would you be able to work in Canada? If not, the amount you will go into the hole to cover your cost of living would probably be significantly more than the $2400.00 you would pay at Texas Tech. Also, as Texas Tech comes with a tuition waiver (I am looking into applying there myself) I assume the $2,400.00 is mostly made up of fees? While you might end up paying these for the first year, it has been my experience as a graduate student that once you are at a university, there are a number of scholarships that you become eligible for (obviously, assuming a good performance) that might cover these for the second year.

While I know it is tempting to go to the place you "love"...I would save that for the Ph.D decision process as you will spend significantly more time in that location. The MA selection process should be about how cheaply can I get what I need to get into a Ph.D program.

[Duns Eith]

On 6/12/2016 at 9:21 PM, Guillaume said:

I would tend to agree with Turretin...Texas Tech. Would you be able to work in Canada? If not, the amount you will go into the hole to cover your cost of living would probably be significantly more than the $2400.00 you would pay at Texas Tech. Also, as Texas Tech comes with a tuition waiver (I am looking into applying there myself) I assume the $2,400.00 is mostly made up of fees? While you might end up paying these for the first year, it has been my experience as a graduate student that once you are at a university, there are a number of scholarships that you become eligible for (obviously, assuming a good performance) that might cover these for the second year.

While I know it is tempting to go to the place you "love"...I would save that for the Ph.D decision process as you will spend significantly more time in that location. The MA selection process should be about how cheaply can I get what I need to get into a Ph.D program.

At least when I applied, they gave only 80% tuition waiver: at $15,224 /year with $12,179 tuition remitted, there was about $3,000 leftover of tuition. The stipend, of course, covered that shortfall commensurate with work ($13,000 for 9 months). There are other funding opportunities on top of that. (checking the website, it appears it has stayed the same)

RE: Underline: Yes! Definitely go with the best spring board for PhD over all other considerations.

Edited June 17, 2016 by Turretin