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[britlitjunky]

Exactly how important are school rankings when it comes to MA in English? I cannot afford to move across states with a family at this point, and I've already waited three years to get to this point (where I can start grad school).

I know some areas (majors) are more competitive than others, but I'm not sure whether it's all that important when it comes to earning my MA in English. And...if I plan to apply elsewhere for my PhD, will it really matter in the long run where I received my MA?

When you get to the point where you are applying for a teaching position, is the school's name and/or ranking that important? I had been on the track to go to law school, and in that field I know that school name does matter--at least when you apply for your first job. Beyond that it's more about your experiences.

So, I guess what I'm trying to figure out is will it hurt my CV to have a less reputable school for my MA? And...if I apply for a PhD at a top school, does the unknown school where I receive my MA look bad on my application?

Any advice is appreciated. Be kind, please.

[jonesey]

Why on Earth do you want a masters in English? 

If you've got the time, go to law school or get an MBA.  You'll make more money and you'll actually be employable.

That said, if you're dead set on it (and if you are, you should just go straight for the PhD...an MA isn't going to get you anything), then, no, MA rankings really don't matter all that much, except if you're using it to overcome a poor BA.  Then it becomes more relevant. 

IOW, if your BA is from, say, Sacramento State, but your MA is going to be from Berkeley or UCLA or somesuch, it will make up for your "lesser" undergraduate degree. 

If your goal is an academic job, you need that PhD.  Even then, your odds of getting a full time job (ever) are very, very slim. 

[pink_]

If you want a tenure-track position in English, you need a Ph.D., and you need to be willing to move.  You need to go to the best program (not in name but in reputation--name matters some here, but not just the name of the school, but also your advisors).  Most top Ph.D. programs do not offer MA degrees.  Students apply directly to the Ph.D., and pick up the MA along the way.  You can do an MA and then apply to Ph.D.s (I did), but you should be aware that it will slow you down.  Most Ph.D. programs will accept a few transfer credits, but had I stayed at my MA institution, I would have a full year of coursework less.  I wouldn't change my path even if I could, but I did not have a family (save for my parents) to consider.

But a very important part of this equation is missing.  Why do you want the MA? 

There's another thread around here somewhere about whether or not a the MA in English is worth the paper that it is printed on.  The general consensus there, if I remember correctly, was that as a professional degree the MA is basically worthless.  But it can be useful as a way to explore the profession and boost your credentials before applying for the Ph.D.

You will need a Ph.D. to get hired to teach literature just about everywhere.  There are some community colleges that will hire MAs, but the market is beyond competitive these days.  You might be able to pick up a few Comp classes as an adjunct depending on where you live.

Do not even consider going into debt for an advanced degree in English.  Even if you are one of the lucky few who get the elusive tenure-track job, you won't be making big bucks.

[i_do_not_have_a_phd]

OP stated that hu wants to go on to a PhD. Both replies ignore this.

[systeme_d_]

Disclaimer:

I am not in Lit.

But some MA programs in my humanities field are "feeder" programs to top PhD programs.  Others are not.  Caveat emptor.

[jacaranda_]

And...if I apply for a PhD at a top school, does the unknown school where I receive my MA look bad on my application?

Possibly, especially if you really mean that people will not even have heard of it.  It could make you look like you couldn't get into any place that was better.  So I'm afraid there is some stigma.  Why bother going there at all?  Convenience is not a good reason to pick a school.

If you're planning to leapfrog from a so-so MA program into a top-notch PhD program (and if you're not aiming for the latter, you should not be planning to enter this career), you have to get letters from faculty who have at least some profile and credibility.  You have to receive training that will allow you to compete at the R1 level.

I will add to the chorus of caution here about even heading down this road (I'm in Brit Lit, if that matters to you).

[pink_]

OP stated that hu wants to go on to a PhD. Both replies ignore this.

Both time the OP mentions the Ph.D., it is in the conditional: "If I go on . . ."
That's not the same as stating that s/he wants to go on neither does it answer the very important why.

[prof22]

I'm not an English professor, but it seems that a MA program is not required for the PhD program; hence, maybe you do not have to worry about the rankings for the MA program you are currently considering.  

It seems that many are concerned about your potential financial debt.  Does the MA program offer TA positions?  If you can get your MA paid for AND obtain teaching experience, I think you would have a win-win situation.  As long as you are willing to pick up a second MA within your PhD program, go for it!  I have two master degrees (no regrets).  

[britlitjunky]

Yes, I plan to go on and receive a PhD in the field. The "if" part was whether I stay at the school where I receive my MA or go somewhere else for my PhD.

The said school I'm going to for MA is Univ. Of TN. I'm not sure how high it ranks, but I know it's not ivy league. I was planning on moving this fall and applying to U of Penn, Princeton, Rutgers (great schools, go right into PhD program, living where I'm grew up), but we could not afford the big move from TN right now. So, I thought maybe I would go ahead and enter into MA (that's the only option, geographically speaking) and either a) finish my MA here at UT, or b) take one year of graduate courses and then transfer into better PhD program.

I do want to teach at a college/university and have tenure track position "someday," but it's not all-encompassing right now. I would be content to teach some classes here and there part-time for a few years and slowly work on PhD. I'm just considering my options.

As far as the college where I received by BA, it's a small private, Christian college--unknown--but I did graduate with 3.9. I'm not sure how that would be viewed if I tried to apply to a top school for PhD program (most of the top schools are so competitive and only have a few positions each year). I guess I would rather go somewhere now with lesser reputation and go on to better school in a few years for PhD. Besides, the better schools also have better funding...which brings on another debate.

I am applying for a TA position or fellowship that would give me the funding to pursue graduate studies without getting into a lot of debt. I already have some loan debt from my undergraduate degree (there wasn't a choice there--college or no college), and I definitely don't want to take on more debt. So funding is a very important factor.

[jacaranda_]

UT Knoxville is a perfectly respectable school -- looks like most of the faculty in your field have degrees from very high-profile schools.  Certainly you would receive superb training there at the MA level.  But you are right to be concerned about whether this is a place where you would want to finish your PhD.  Ask the DGS for very specific information about where their PhDs are getting tenure-track appointments, and how many have been on the job market for years without much luck.

I'm more concerned about your overall approach to entering this profession.  It sounds a little too much like you would want your graduate study to be a stimulating side-hobby for you, doing a little bit now and again as you have the time, and it's simply very difficult to build an impressive job file when you approach it in that way.  I appreciate the fact that you simply have other life obligations that are quite important to you and you need to balance things here in a way that seems best.

Be prepared for the possibility that you will have a tough time getting into any of the programs you mention above with adequate funding.  You are competing with other applicants who have a 3.9 from an Ivy and top-percentile GRE scores.  You would have a better chance applying there if you manage to publish an article during your first two years at UT Knoxville (a big challenge at that stage), get onto an MLA panel, or if the professors writing your letters can say you are one of the three very best students they have had in their entire careers.  I don't mean to sound too discouraging, but that is what competitive means in those graduate programs.  There are other terrific grad programs in English in that region -- several of the SUNY schools, e.g., although they're having a very rough time financially right now.

More locally have you considered Vanderbilt for either the MA or PhD?  Extremely well-respected for decades, very high-ranking in English, internationally known faculty in Brit Lit.  That would be a superb place to do either an MA or PhD.  They also seem to be in good shape financially so might be able to offer a better funding package.  You are right that you absolutely should not take on additional debt while working on your PhD.

[britlitjunky]

More locally have you considered Vanderbilt for either the MA or PhD?  Extremely well-respected for decades, very high-ranking in English, internationally known faculty in Brit Lit.  That would be a superb place to do either an MA or PhD.  They also seem to be in good shape financially so might be able to offer a better funding package.  You are right that you absolutely should not take on additional debt while working on your PhD.

Vanderbilt is three hours away. We can't move right now, so that would be out of the question. I could possibly enter there in another year. Thanks for the advice.

[i_do_not_have_a_phd]

OP stated that hu wants to go on to a PhD. Both replies ignore this.

Both time the OP mentions the Ph.D., it is in the conditional: "If I go on . . ."
That's not the same as stating that s/he wants to go on neither does it answer the very important why.

Sometimes, we all read too connotatively into quite literal posts. It's okay--I forgive you.