MA Choices that get you into PhD

[Smaudge]

So it looks like I'm going to get my MA degree before getting my PhD (I gave a shot at going straight to PhD.. not looking so good). My question is: should I...

1. Go to the most highly-ranked program I can get into, even if the program specializes in something related to my sub-field of choice, but that I don't care much about

(I'd do this if it gets me into a PhD program I love)

2. Go to whichever program specializes the most in what I want to do for PhD

3. Go to the cheapest program I can find, as long as there's someone there who does what I want to study

In all three senarios, I am theoretically getting an awesome GPA. I really just want to know which choice would most boost my application for a PhD and be the best choice given that these programs will probably be unfunded.

[johndiligent]

4th option: go to the one with the most well-known and respected advisor (in your chosen sub-field). More than rank, those are the kind of connections you can really sell.

[JerryLandis]

I'm glad you brought this up, as I'm probably going to be facing a similar choice soon (assuming I do get admitted to the MA programs I applied to!). My choices are a little different. I think I have a good chance of being funded at one MA program, whereas the other one I would obviously have to pay for. The one with funding is not a well known institution, however it does offer many courses in my desired area that sound very interesting. The only downside is that I would not be working with well-known historians. If I were to attend this program, assuming I do get a graduate assistantship, would my application for PhD programs be viewed less favorably than if I attended the more expensive, more well-known, but equally subject-appropriate institution? My guess is no, because I will not be able to procure as impressive letters of recommendation, but I do wonder if the PhD admissions committees would allow my receipt of funding to compensate for the lack of brand name.

[Summit_Bid]

I'd go for choice 2.

If your MA School is a good match with your dream PhD school then you should be set right? I'm the humanities too and I went to a #1 school but got an MA in something slightly different than what I want to get my PhD in. I think this has been my problem getting into PhD programs.

[fuzzylogician]

Assuming that you can do good work, that is (at least somewhat) related to your interests, go to the place where will get you the best recommendation letters and make the best connections. The biggest consideration against such a school would be if you would have to work an extra job or go into serious debt in order to attend, in which case I might pass if there was another option that was significantly cheaper and could still get you good letters.

[Roll Right]

Your MA program will have nothing to do with your PhD application power honestly. I mean...if it was a really prestigious school...it'd have a PhD program. You'll do a thesis, but its nothing you'll need an advisor to work with on intimately. I'm doing a sociology of religion thesis, and we have no religion guru in the dept. This is just further training for your PhD. Don't worry about going to a MA that is suited to your interests. Go to one that wil give you money. Thats all that matters.

[JerryLandis]

...but it is a really prestigious school. One of those "you're not good enough for our PhD program, but if you give us money you can attend our MA program" kinda deals. I wish these places offered information about where their graduates end up going afterwords!

[jacib]

...but it is a really prestigious school. One of those "you're not good enough for our PhD program, but if you give us money you can attend our MA program" kinda deals. I wish these places offered information about where their graduates end up going afterwords!

That's an excellent question! You should ask them! I mean, everyone who is accepted to a PhD program asks about placement, why shouldn't everyone accepted to an MA program ask the same questions? Definitely ask the administrators about it. Also ask to talk to students currently in the program; if it's a two year program, I bet they have a good sense of where people end up next year... and if it's a one year program, they're all applying now anyway so they'll know at least where THEY ended up. Me, my instinct would be to follow the money because I'd be leery of taking on unnecessary debt that I couldn't start paying off for half a decade at least. However, if the kids from the expensive program get into much better schools than the free program, well then it seems like your future earnings ought to outweigh any current debt. Another problem is that if it's a "we'll take your money but not give you a PhD" program, ask the masters students how much contact they actually have with their professors. At my undergraduate, that was a big complaint of Masters students. Again, ask current students about these questions. If you want personal contact, and you want to work closely with professors, consider the lower ranked schools. However, if all the masters students at the expensive school whom you talk to are getting into fantastic programs and have had wonderful experiences, well then perhaps you should consider that one.