<p>My current MA program in English does not offer the option of doing a MA thesis, just final examinations. Call me crazy, but I was a little disappointed because I realize that a thesis can provide valuable experience. I was wondering if not having done a thesis will hurt me when I apply to Ph.D. programs in English. I have contacted these programs, and they said that they did not see it as a problem. What do you think?</p>
<p>Some PhD programs won’t grant you advanced standing with an MA unless you did a thesis. However, I don’t think it will necessarily hurt your application.</p>
<p>What is advanced standing? Is there any other way to gain it?</p>
<p>I am currently applying for PhD programs in Musicology (music history and criticism; a very writing-intensive field), though I did my Master’s in a more performance-oriented field (conducting) in a program that did not require a thesis. Since I knew that my terminal degree might be in musicology (I had not yet decided between conducting and musicology), I found a professor who was willing to grant me an independent study. We used that class as an opportunity to create a thesis-level document (of course, it wasn’t completely finished in one semester, but he was very willing to help me in the finishing process over the following summer). Now I can show admissions committees that I am serious about my intended field, and of course, show the departments that I am ready to hit the ground running (I don’t need to be taught how to create a bibliography, how to organize large amounts of information, how to write in a clear manner, etc.).</p>
<p>If you can work it out, I would highly recommend this path.</p>
<p>Best of luck!</p>
<p>Joel</p>
<p>Can anyone tell me a bit more about advanced standing? Is it fairly common?</p>
<p>Also, will it hurt me more to not have a thesis if I am also unable to get any other publications or conference presentations? I would like to try to do conference presentations, however. Can anyone give me good venues for grad students in English?</p>