Post-Grad FAQ

Diplomas, email, and PhD planning

Q: When do I get my diploma?

A: Barring any holds, your diploma is usually mailed to your permanent address eight weeks after your degree is issued. To make sure your permanent address is the address you want, check your Albert account.

Your degree will only be issued after you've met all requirements to successfully graduate from your program, all your grades have been posted, and all your transfer credits (if you applied any) have been successfully applied. Beyond this, make sure you do not have any pending payments left on your NYU account from your last or previous semesters, which can been seen through your Bursar's profile.

Q: Will I be able to keep my NYU email after I graduate?

A: Yes! All NYU graduates after 2001 are able to keep their NYU email address as long as they login to their email every six months. If you don't keep your NYU email active, the NetID linked your NYU email will be recycled.

Q: After I graduate, do I still have access to certain NYU facilities and resources?

A: Yes! As long you are registered through the university as an alumni through their Alumni Association and have an active NYU Alumni Card, you still access to limited variety of NYU resources, such as Bobst Library and the gym. Additionally, you can get discounts to certain services through the Alumni Association.

Note: Access to the NYU on-campus (and off-campus) resources may require an additional fee to be paid. These resources are no longer free for you since you are no longer paying tuition. Make sure you do your research!

Q: What Alumni benefits are available to NYU graduates?

A: Check out the Alumni Association website to see what benefits are offered to Alums of NYU!

Q: Can I still be involved with the MCC Department even after I graduate?

A: Of course! The MCC Department encourages alumni of our programs to maintain connection with their cohort members and the department. Take a look at our MCC Alumni page to see how else you can stay connected with MCC and how we can help in your future career goals.

Q: I want to get a PhD in MCC. What does that process look like?

A: Doctoral applications are typically due the December before the Fall semester candidates would start (Ex. To start in Fall 2021, applicants needed to submit applications by December 1, 2020). For more questions regarding the application process, visit out PhD Admissions Page, as well as our PhD FAQ Page.

Q: I'm considering a PhD, how should I start preparing now?

While there is no one right answer or a list of resources the MA program will prepare you to think critically and become a good writer to apply to Ph.D. programs. Additionally, each year MCC has an event for MA students interested in applying to PhD programs. It typically consists of a panel with faculty, former and current Ph.D. students and they all discuss preparation and the application process.

We suggest that you take advantage of the Steinhardt Writing Program while you are with MCC. The Director, Kari Hensley, started the writing program specifically for MCC students and is an MCC PhD alumni.

• You should plan to write papers for conference submissions to get practice presenting academic papers at conferences- keep an eye out for announcements that are sent throughout the year for these opportunities!
• It will be important for you to find a particular lens in which you are viewing the world of media studies through and develop a well thought out research area/ thesis. You will need to become well versed in the literature around your topic area.

A few things you can start doing (within your topics area) are:

• Reading journal articles and practice writing annotated bibliographies (to synthesize literature and start building your database of resources). The NYU library research guides can get you started and looking through the many online journals you have access to through the library.
• Take intro courses online with NYU's data services to learn other software to help you analyze data and find your preferred techniques
• Practice good citation skills and literature storage/ management tools - this link can be helpful.
• Follow academics in the field on social sites to understand what the trending topics are.
• Review the MCC MA Thesis guidelines in the MA handbook since you will want to write a thesis for your culminating experience. This will help produce a good writing sample for your Ph.D. applications