I am not looking for the education/study info but looking for info on places, housing , area with seasons, transport, museums, woods walks, quality of life etc.
My daughter international student from EU is now a senior at a midwest college.
She has been looking since sophomore at possibilities for a Masters/PHD in philosophy in USA. She has major in philosophy and a second major political sciences and two minors in asian studies and history. Her best friend graduated in History and is working to save for a Masters in History. So her college choice also depends on where best friend can do a Masters History after the work.
They share rental housing with another student friend who maybe maybe not might study further not sure.
Of course DD allready has certain colleges on her list. But I think to ask here as someone might know something? I do get her list soon but she was like maybe mom comes up with some more novel ideas, my mention was allwomenscolleges perhaps.
Is there a site with top 10 or top 15 based on my questions here?
Very expensive city in housing like NY is less of an option.
Climate is an issue she needs seasons, cold, snow etc. Wood walks, nature etc.
Maybe trains Amtrak connection? An airport with flights to EU within 1 day drive?
Another bit strange question but would RV living for students be a possibility?
During a Masters study do same tax laws apply like only limited small job?
Terminal masters programs are often not funded. Maybe, if she is hoping to do a PhD, she should focus on masters programs that are part of a PhD program, which is more likely to be funded.
If she is interested in living somewhere with a true winter, RV living is not ideal (although a place in a mobile home park might be).
The RV idea was my idea but know with true winter would be issues plus both DD and her dad look at me as mom with her strange idea…
Yes true winter more snow and the proper house for it in an affordable rent. I see rent prices vary a lot in USA.
Roommates help with living expenses. In some areas craigslist helps a lot.
There are some great schools in relatively low-cost areas. And even finding a place in a moderate-cost area can be affordable if she’s living with a couple other people. You’re right that rents vary a lot in the US.
This isn’t your question, but what does she hope to do with a masters degree in philosophy that she can’t do with her bachelor degree? A PhD degree may make sense if it’s funded, in which case the living expenses will also be covered, regardless of the geography as the cost of living in the given area is taken into account.
Teaching at 4 year colleges/universities doctorate is required. College professor.
Please look at those job prospects before enrolling in a PhD program, especially if it’s not funded.
Academic fit is pretty much the ONLY thing that matters when selecting a PhD program. She needs to find strong philosophy departments with excellent job placement (well, as excellent as it gets for the humanities these days – which isn’t saying much) and professors who work on things she’s interested in. All other factors like location, cost of living, university size, etc. are of little relevance until she has offers in hand and is making a final decision about which program to attend.
PhD programs are very, very different from college. Usually you are working closely with only 2-3 professors, and a department will not admit you if it feels you are not a good fit. Additionally, it is incredibly important to pick a PhD advisor who has relevant research interests and is willing and able to advise you. Unfortunately, there are far too many professors who are excellent researchers but terrible (or even borderline abusive) advisors.
Her undergraduate professors should be able to advise her on appropriate PhD programs in philosophy, but the Philosophical Gourmet lists may be helpful as well.
https://www.philosophicalgourmet.com/
It can be pretty expensive to live in a major city, but usually the top universities offer a stipend that’s (barely) enough to live on. I finished my PhD in Los Angeles a couple of years ago while making about $23-25K a year, which wasn’t exactly ideal but was enough for a decent apartment in west LA, and many universities offer more generous stipends (e.g. ~$32-35K at Penn).
It’s really important that she goes to the best program she can to maximize her job prospects after graduating. I would never dissuade anyone from earning a PhD in a field they love. But she needs to know the reality of how competitive the job market is for college professors.
And funding is really important, too. My doctoral program was funded and I still needed to take out some loans for living expenses. I’m still paying them back, but since this was 20 years ago, it only amounts to a couple hundred bucks a month.
Any other ideas for a masters degree? Agree that employment options are unlikely to be improved. The job market for PhDs in philosophy is not good at all.
Both of you, but especially her, should read this article.
https://www.philosophicalgourmet.com/m-a-programs-in-philosophy/
It will be hard enough for her to find a funded masters/PhD in philosophy without having to also find a program for her roommate in history (funded also?). Her current professors probably have the best info for her on masters/PhD programs that would be best for her.
My daughter just started a masters in history. She was very lucky to get a fully funded program, but the ‘fully’ part of it is very limited as she only gets $1400/mn for living expenses (so she works a part time job too). She’s also not in a ‘top’ program, but is very happy with her choice. I don’t think she would have received much money at a ‘top’ program. There are a lot of stories about the TA students at California schools not getting enough to pay rent or buy food in the expensive college towns.
So some things are really going to have to give for your daughter. Location, top program, funding, a masters program for friend, an airport? Something. (she’s not going to have money for international travel anyway!)
I think the same rules will apply for an international to work while in the PhD program - she could get tuition and fees funded, plus a stipend for teaching a course or two, but no off campus work. I don’t know if the college would or could give her a TA position with a stipend plus another job on campus.
My daughter’s already planning for next summer. She gets no stipend in the summer and is expected to travel with her program so won’t be on campus to do her part time job. She’s planning on saving her stipend from the school year for the summer living expenses and live during the year on just her part time job money (which also isn’t much). She’s trying very hard not to borrow any more through student loans.
Thanks everyone for the answers and yes emailed her the links and I read it.
Update on DD she is waitlisted at 4 PHD programs and still waiting to hear from the rest of her applications.
Valentine came with great news she got 3 acceptances and 1 more waitlisted.
Still waiting for more results of other applications. Very proud mom very happy for my daughter and she is very happy too that she got into PHD.
The rejected are only 2 so far.