I don't have the grades to get into Harvard's Phd program. They offer a masters in government through the extension school there. Would this be a good building block to gain some experience to go for a 10 ten phd program?
Political Science Job Rumors » Questions from prospective grad students
Harvard University Extension School
(39 posts)-
Posted 1 month ago #
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Absolutely.
Posted 1 month ago # -
for a 10 ten phd program
A phd program where you end up teaching a 10-10 load?
If so, this masters is for you.
Posted 1 month ago # -
I dont know what '10 ten phd' program is but if its something like university of phoenix, absolutely.
Posted 1 month ago # -
wow, your elitism is so refreshing. thx!
Posted 1 month ago # -
actually, if you're doing the extension school to try to get a backdoor into the government department, it's not a very good strategy. faculty know the caliber/admissions standards of the extension school (low) and you'll have that scarlet letter to tote around, even if you do quite well. do it only if you are doing something else in boston (e.g., a research job, or already working with a faculty member) and were looking to get that MA on the side and take the methods sequence or something like that (and could make that clear in your phd application -- even then it's a long shot). otherwise, the stigma is pretty large. (sorry if that sounds elitist, it's just the truth.)
on the flip side, if you were doing it to get into a phd program at another school, maybe you'd have a shot. no idea how well aware faculty at other schools are about harvard's extension school.
Posted 1 month ago # -
I would advise against the extension MA.
From a cost standpoint, you'd be better off doing an MA at UMass Boston in their public policy degree, or, if you can move (for some reason I'm assuming you're in Boston), an MA at a state school somewhere. You shouldn't pay for a masters at a private institution.
From the standpoint of getting what you need to apply to top PhD programs, I also don't think the extension will help you. Assume that, after your MA, your GREs will be about the same as now. So, what you can do to help yourself at the MA institution is impress your professors so that they will write you over the top recommendation letters and maybe even contact graduate directors in top programs via email and phone for you (and/or contact their friends in these departments). You want these faculty to be people who are known in the discipline (that is, they publish research in good journals/academic presses). Now, I'm happy to be told that I'm wrong, but I don't think that the people teaching in the extension program fit this bill. So, what you should be doing is looking for programs with MAs (some of them might also have PhD programs) with good faculty who publish in good journals/academic presses (hopefully at state schools, so you don't completely bury yourself in debt).
Posted 1 month ago # -
^
yes, you're wrong. Many, but not all, that teach in the extension school are regular Harvard faculty. See here:
http://www.extension.harvard.edu/courses/govt.jsp#e-1005Posted 1 month ago # -
^ yeah, but the point still stands. if you're at the extension school, everyone knows you're there for a reason. either (1) you couldn't get into a regular MA, (2) you're in boston for another reason, or (3) you're trying to suck up badly to harvard faculty. of these, only #2 is ok, the rest are reason for faculty to dismiss you pretty quickly.
basically, don't waste your time. get into a real program or do something else with your life.
Posted 1 month ago # -
I'm the one who said I would be happy to be told I'm wrong (though some of these courses with regular faculty look like they are online in which case I wouldn't hold out a lot of help for an outstanding recommendation). Thanks for this information. And the costs of these classes are less than I would have expected. I'm tt at a lower R1 and I would consider paying $1850 to take a class from Jennifer Hochschild!
Having said that, I bet your chances of getting significant faculty support to apply to PhD programs would be better at a "regular" MA as the poster above puts it. But this option is better than I would have thought.
Posted 1 month ago # -
you say you don't have the grades to get into harvard. what was your undergrad GPA? if it's 3.5 or above, you're actually fine, assuming you got mostly A's in relevant courses. if it's below 3.5, consider doing a real MA. it doesn't need to be at an elite school, but that would certainly not hurt. something like MAPSS at UChicago or an area studies MA (if relevant to your interests) at a place like Georgetown would certainly help your case. if taking on debt is a real issue for you, consider a strong state school like Madison, where tuition is much lower.
Posted 1 month ago # -
I am the op.
Here is why I am considering this.
I want to go to a top ten phd program. Lets face it, reading these boards the competition is tough for tenure track jobs. I would use the Harvard masters to show experience when applying to phd programs. I have the grades (3.7gpa) and gre's(1470 total) to get into a top school, but i had to start and stop by bachelors 2 times and i have large gaps in going to school (I am 31). I am trying to show I can do top level work and show a phd program I am serious.Posted 1 month ago # -
^ with a 3.7 and a 1470, you will not be denied admission to a top 10 program based on grades or GRE score. that's just a fact. if you can get outstanding letters from your undergrad advisors, write a top-notch personal statement, and show that your interests fit with the departments to which you apply, there's no reason you shouldn't get into a top 10 program. if you feel that your gaps in undergrad need explaining, explain them with an addendum. it's not a big deal and not a situation that necessitates getting an MA.
Posted 1 month ago # -
let's make one thing 100% clear. an extension school MA is not a real harvard MA, despite what it says on your diploma. faculty from harvard will certainly know, as will most ivy faculty (I imagine). the extension school is pretty much harvard's attempt to get into the for-profit education industry. there are no admissions standards besides the fact that you can pay the enrollment fee.
don't waste your time.
Posted 1 month ago # -
^ why limit it to ivy faculty? come on, guys, the ivy league is ultimately a football league. faculty at any good school who know anything about academia will know harvard extension school doesn't have much in terms of admissions standards.
Posted 1 month ago # -
Op here again...I know its not a Harvard MA. I got that loud and clear. I have met with several top 10 graduate admissions officers where I could and they all tell me the gap in my education is a problem. I am a complete realist. I have the grades and gre's however many others do as well and did not have to starts and stop school. I was just thinking the MA would just show I can do the work and have no issues going forward. If someone is going to give me full funding and a stipend at a good school, I can't blaime then for wanting a good track record.
Posted 1 month ago # -
look, to be honest, the schools most likely to fall for the trick you are proposing are schools outside the top ten. if you want to get into a top ten, I think you'll need to find another way to signal your capabilities...maybe an MPA/MPP, JD, extra research with a prof, etc. Asking the people who wrote your letter to explain why you were in-out of school might also help.
Posted 1 month ago # -
Not a trick my friend. Just looking for a good educational experience with good faculty. That is about it.
Posted 1 month ago # -
*eyeroll* if that's the case, then just go to a real PhD program.
Posted 1 month ago # -
Well that is the problem...don't think i can get in one!
Posted 1 month ago # -
Ok, I believe you that people at top PhD programs told you that your time out of school is an issue. My question is why you seem to be so opposed to real MA programs? MAPSS offers, I think, between 33 and 50% tuition remission, as do other MA programs. It's not like Harvard Extension School is going to offer you funding (though I haven't done the math to figure out whether it would be cheaper to go there as opposed to a real MA program), so what's the issue? Why do you think getting this MA at Harvard Extension would be better than getting an MA at UChicago, Georgetown, Wisconsin-Madison, Tufts, Johns Hopkins, etc.?
Posted 1 month ago # -
op here...I have lets say a complex situation. I appreciate all the advice.
Here it is...I can't move all the across the country for the next 2 years. I would have to limit my selection of schools based on being in the Northeast USA. I started and stopped my education twice. I was in school from 97-2000, started again in 2005 and stopped again, started again in 2009 and will finish in May,2011. A 3.7 is good in 4-5 years, in all these years well...not so much. I guess I don't want to set up expectations to high. I have a really good job (100k) and I don't want to give up for a crappy MA program. I can go to Harvard and get the MA at night and not loose the job. I go to a northeastern state college and I could get my MA there but they are SUPER weak in IR and I don't even want to waste my time.
Posted 1 month ago # -
^ ok, but what about part-time MAs at other boston universities?
Posted 1 month ago # -
given your background, going to the extension school is going to signal nothing more than "hey, look at me, i've been a flake before, and i'll continue to be a flake by going to a for-profit masters program that tons of people start and few finish."
bleh.
Posted 1 month ago # -
that was harsh...yikes...Well thanks for the info guys. I will check around. Too bad there was not funding for an MA...seems such a waste to take loans out for an MA
Posted 1 month ago #