PD33

Looks like I won't have to get that Master's after all. Just got accepted to Maryland's PhD program. Woohoo!

Thanks mvl... I'm also reading a book right now by Kathy Peiss... Hope In A Jar: The Making of America's Beauty Culture. Good stuff.

Sigaba - that's what I'm worried about, but then I also had the same thoughts as mvl. *sigh* Decisions, decisions...

Women's studies, generally, does not focus primarily on history. While I like women's studies, I am more interested in focusing on women in a historical context, and becoming a historian of women, rather than a scholar of women and gender.

Well, it looks as though I'll be getting an MA first. 3 MA acceptances, no PhD acceptances. I feel pretty good about that, though, having come from a super small, liberal arts college. I do have a question for you all. I was accepted to a history MA program and a women's studies MA program. My area of focus is 19th and 20th century women's history - more specifically, the history of feminism, women's education, and the influence of popular culture on the construction of gender roles. For that reason, I am leaning more toward an MA in women's studies. Do you all think that will in any way hurt my chance of entering a history PhD program (I have a BA in history)?

I've been lurking this thread, but I HAVE to post now because I might, seriously, be losing my mind at this point. Aaaaaarrrrrrggggghhhhhh!!!!!

I am fortunate to have a supportive family, but we are similar in that I have bipolar 1 and am a first-generation college graduate who is seeking further education. I'm in the middle of finding the right medication now; I was just diagnosed (properly) in August last year. I'm so sorry that you don't have a strong support network and I think you're certainly doing the right thing in following your dreams. Just remember to practice self care. I'm sure your goals are within your reach and that wherever you end up going to school will have a disabilities services department and counselors who can assist you in building the support network that is lacking. Best of luck!

Just a thought: My advisor always told me, "If you can imagine doing anything other than getting a PhD, go do that." Meaning, IMO, that a PhD is a TON of work, often for little tangible reward. If you're not fully invested in taking on the work for, again, little reward, you're probably better off doing 'that other thing.'

Just pretend like it doesn't exist. [wishing I could take my own advice] Every afternoon = checking the status of applications and the results search. My anxiety is through the roof, for sure.

I only applied to 6 because they are the ones that are the best fit for what I want to study. I don't think that having a long list is necessarily better (or worse), and I couldn't see myself applying to places, even schools into which I might have been accepted, if they weren't a good fit.

I average about a book a week when I read for fun. Then, I also work full time and I have 2 kids (plus the husband), so… yeah. I'd probably suck down quite a bit more literature were I not always so busy! LeventeL - You're killin' me with your list of places to which you've applied. I feel like such a slacker!

I'm reading Hope In A Jar: The Making of America's Beauty Culture and The Prince of Tides. I'm usually reading one non-fiction monograph and one or two fiction novels at the same time. I've also been slogging my way through The Plague, but it's so damn boring.

Just joined because I think I might (figuratively) die while waiting on app/admissions responses. I thought it might be nice to be amongst others who are experiencing the same sort of anxiety… oy. I just graduated in May from a small, liberal arts institution and have applied to 6 grad schools - focusing on U.S. women's history. I hate this wait!!!