<p>I have a really strong desire to go to grad school for music composition or musicology (possibly conducting, but not currently my top choice) after I finish my undergrad. However, I do not come from a well-off family, nor do I have good finances myself. I have seen a lot of stuff on the internet about skipping the master's degree and going on to a Doctorate's program after undergrad if you know you want the doctorate's anyways. Apparently (and I've seen this on the school websites I've looked at) most Doctorate's programs have a full tuition wavier and living/teaching stipend. This idea interests me, as I probably won't have the funds for a master's straight out of college (unless I get good scholarships). I was wondering if I can just apply to Doctorate's programs at any school or only at schools which state that they allow students to do so? Also, how much harder will it be to get into a doctoral program vs a master's program straight out of college?</p>
<p>It’s much, much harder to get into a doctoral program than a master’s program. First, most doctoral programs are fully funded, including both tuition/fees and a stipend for living expenses, usually with a funding commitment that goes out multiple years, formally or informally. It represents a real investment in you by the university. Master’s programs are profit centers – you may get financial aid to some extent, but fundamentally you will be paying them, not the other way around. Second, there are many more master’s programs than doctoral programs, and they tend to accept more students per program. Many doctoral programs only take 2-5 new students/year.</p>
<p>The relationship of master’s programs and doctoral programs can be confusing. Most (all?) doctoral programs award their students master’s degrees on the way to getting their doctorates. But that’s not the same thing as what gets called a “terminal” master’s degree, where students are not expected to continue on to a doctorate after they finish. Doctoral programs will not admit people who really only want a master’s degree, and who would consider dropping out after they earn an MA. (Every year plenty of doctoral students drop out of their programs after they have earned their MAs – they just don’t plan to do that in advance, or at least they hide their planning well.) Some universities won’t admit students directly into their doctoral programs, instead requiring them to enter a terminal master’s program, and apply to be allowed to continue as doctoral students at the end of their master’s courses. But that’s the exception, not the rule, and universities like that rarely attract the best potential students. Most doctoral programs prefer to admit people directly into the doctoral program, regardless of any terminal master’s program the department may have. If a student already has a master’s degree from a different university, the doctoral program will usually give some credit for that, but not full credit.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, from the student side many/most students do not really have their stuff together to present a compelling doctoral program application before or right after they graduate from college. They may not have done enough high-level academic work, or worked closely and successfully with faculty who will recommend them. They may not have a precise enough idea of what they want/need to study and to write about, and they may not really know whether they will like the hard work required of a grad student. Students like that often apply for terminal master’s programs, so they can assemble a stronger PhD application and figure out if a PhD is really what they want.</p>
<p>One other thing, because it’s not clear from your post that you know this: A PhD prepares you to teach academic subjects in a university. I don’t think there is such a thing as a PhD in conducting, or any kind of performance. The highest degree available for performance or creative activity tends to be an MFA. Getting an MFA won’t generally help with doctoral program admissions, and getting a doctorate may not help with finding work as a performer or as a teacher of performers. Going for a PhD means doing extensive academic writing and academic research – if that’s not what you like, don’t go into a doctoral program!</p>
<p>My professor who has a PhD says its easier to get into PhD programs because they want people who want to go the whole way, but I guess it varies by university and program.</p>
<p>Sent from my PC36100 using CC App</p>
<p>As I feel compelled to remind people when this subject comes up, there are many master’s students on funding, including myself. You have to do more searching and more applying, but it is very much possible, depending on your field.</p>
<p>JHS,
thanks for your reply, as you were very informative. I actually do not want to enter a Doctorate’s program to get a master’s then drop out (just so my master’s was fully funded). I was more saying that I want to eventually get my Doctorate’s (either PhD or DMus), as I’m a complete music geek and obsessed with pretty much anything musical, but thought it may be less expensive if I could go straight to the Doctorate’s program, and therefore, just not be paying for the Master’s on the way. Again, your reply was really informative and relative!</p>
<p>You should also post your Q in the museum forum. Lots of good resources there, and IIRC, some war stories about students pursuing DMus and/or DMA. Good luck!</p>
<p>Have you posted this on the Music Major forum? You may also get some helpful insight there.</p>