Thoughts on Stony Brook European Style MA

[yankeefan]

So the general consensus on this forum is that doing an Econ MA based in the US (apart from Tufts U and a handful of others) is not ideal as a stepping stone to a top PhD due to the fact that they are applied/policy degrees and not research/theory oriented. This is why the advice here is to go to Europe/Canada/UK if you want a PhD prep MA degree. However, for us ethnocentric folks who have no interest in residing outside the Free World for an extended period of time but still think they need a prep MA Stony Brook has heard our cries! Since we can't (or won't) go to Europe, they have brought Europe to us! It seems very different from the typical NYU-esque American MA program, and I am curious to know how you would compare it to its European counterparts.

[tm_member]

I am guessing a certain part of the above post is meant as tongue in cheek, but I would suggest editing it. I haven't included it in my response so that you can edit it and have no record of it.

[OneArmedEcon]

I think that the OP's level of snark is perfectly appropriate.

[tm_member]

I think that the OP's level of snark is perfectly appropriate.

I disagree. The vast majority of countries in this world are "Free". I find it insulting and degrading.

There is some idea out there that the US is the only place where entrepreneurship is supported and taxes are low. I've lived and worked in 3 english speaking countries - each had it's pros and cons, but in each, I had personal freedom and democracy. Shock.

[OneArmedEcon]

You might enjoy this clip from Aaron Sorkin's newest show: Jeff Daniels tells why America isn't the greatest country in the world. - YouTube

Anyway, I read the OP's post as sarcastically self-deprecating rather than as any sort of a slight on the rest of the world. That is, making fun of American students who would prefer not to study abroad--even if it means studying at an inferior institution (EconPhD.net ranked Stony Brook as 293rd in the world, which among UK schools places it between such global academic heavyweights of Brunel University and University of Saint Andrews).

Honestly, the only people who should be offended are those affiliated with Stony Brook.

[yankeefan]

I thought I would not have to worry about political correctness on a forum full of aspiring academic economists. In any case I will clarify. My use of the term "Free World" was not meant to imply that the USA is the only country in the world that has low taxes and a high ease of business index. "Free World" is a common moniker for the USA and it is used outside the US/North America to refer to the USA. I am aware that it is a politically loaded term but depending on who uses it (or where it is used), it can either have negative or positive connotations; my intentions were positive.

With regards to SBU's ranking, I see that it is ranked #59 on US News economics rankings. I'm just saying that it seems to have all the features that make European/Canadian MAs superior to the typical American MA, and I was wondering if it is a viable option for those of us who do not want to move to a different country, learn a new language and culture and be zillions of miles away from our loved ones (trust me I have done it before and it wasn't pleasant).

[OneArmedEcon]

With regards to SBU's ranking, I see that it is ranked #59 on US News economics rankings. I'm just saying that it seems to have all the features that make European/Canadian MAs superior to the typical American MA, and I was wondering if it is a viable option for those of us who do not want to move to a different country, learn a new language and culture and be zillions of miles away from our loved ones (trust me I have done it before and it wasn't pleasant).

With respect to ranking within the US, at best, you could describe it as a Top 80-100 program. 59th doesn't make a lot of sense to me and I'm willing to bet that it's influenced at least in part by Stony Brook having strong graduate programs in other disciplines. But within Economics, it's on the periphery of research universities. For example, University of Toronto is approximately Top 20-40 program (so say comparable to something like UC Davis), whereas Stony Brook is more on par with a place like Washington State.

If you're comparing a Masters from a top European/UK school like LSE, then Stony Brook is clearly dominated, IMHO.

[Humanomics]

Exactly. OP wasn't kidding, and I was offended too. Now OP is using an elevated vocabulary to defend his xenophobia. I'm a libertarian, and believe in a tolerant society, so if you want to believe (even loosely) in American exceptionalism etc., be my guest. As a libertarian, I also believe that private-sphere mores, e.g. polite society mores like "don't vent feelings publicly that are liable to offend large ethnic groups or nationalities" are extremely important to benevolent social coordination.

So I would recommend reconsidering where you vent those feelings.

[Vengeance]

I think it would be pareto efficient if OP moves to Stony Brook and spends the rest of their life there.

[whatdoido]

Everyone needs to chill. If you can answer the OP's question, then do. Otherwise, just don't comment.