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Josh J.

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Posts posted by Josh J.

  1. I'm in the same boat JJWS. I've heard that Emory has already released all acceptances, but I feel that it's all speculation at this point. I'm also wondering the same thing about Vanderbilt... I know that a few acceptances went out early last week (congrats to those folks by the way!) but no word since. The silence is deafening!

    My understanding is that Vandy sends out all of their acceptances at once...

  2. What a great conversation regarding historiography/philosophy of history.  It strikes me here that one of the main issues here that we aren't addressing head on, but instead are beating around the bush for, is that of privilege.  "Traditional" history, whatever that is (Consensus and military, perhaps), as we probably all know, was dominated by politics, capitalist economics, and supposed "great men."  So the so-called dilution of history by the inclusion of those subjects and peoples that were marginalized or just simply ignored by those wealthy white men who were telling the story is simply a corrective force against their hegemony.  

     

    That said, correctives, in my personal opinion, often go too far the other direction.  I think that right now, we are starting to see things swing back the other way a bit.  Many historians, I think, are coming to the conclusion that social and cultural history is just uninteresting if it isn't tied into politics and larger cohesive narratives, and so political history is seeing somewhat of a resurgence, but in a non-traditional way.  

     

    At the same time, I must say that when I was looking at different departments that I was interested in based upon the reputation of their prior scholarship, there were a few where I was just like, do they really need EIGHT historians who more or less study the same damn topic from the same "sexy" methodology that lots of people are into right now?  There were a few departments that I have planned to apply to that in the past had great faculty that would have worked well for my topic, but that have packed their faculties so full of historians that study certain niches that I was pretty frustrated.  That is, in some ways, connected to this traditional/non-traditional argument, and, I wonder, some of what might be driving this conversation.

  3. BTW I don't mean to denigrate the good folks at SE MO St., but for the LOVE OF HISTORICAL ACCURACY, now is not the time to be sending out mass emails like that!!!

    Gotta wonder if they aren't trying to prey on the poor self esteem of PhD applicants nervously waiting acceptances and rejections right at this time of the year...

  4. My mind is about to EXPLODE. I just got an email saying that I was accidentally rejected for the museum studies for GWU when I've actually been accepted!! I have to lie down or throw up now......

    So... Does that mean you are in??

  5. @Josh and JPB (quotes haven't worked for me today)

     

    This applies to anyone really...but it is always best to contact potential supervisors before you apply. If you find a supervisor who is able and willing to supervise your project on religious history I doubt the department would object.

    That doesn't work well when your advisor, who is the DGS, advises you not to contact POIs when you apply. I've got another thread on this from earlier this cycle.

  6. I'm frustrated because I'm a U.S. historian who focuses on religious history within the United States. I have a B.A. and am finishing my M.A. in religious studies; however, I've decided to apply to History Departments to better explore the history of immigration and education, in order to better understand American religion at the turn of the century. Not to mention I ultimately want to teach broader U.S. history. But as soon as programs find out my research interests have something to do with religion, they immediately try to shift me over to a religion department -- and I would've just internally petitioned to stay in my current program, if it were that easy. I've been declined from three places, and all three places said that I should apply to their religion department. It's been maddening.

    jpb,

    Where did you apply?  I am also a US historian with a focus on American religious history.  I am finishing up my MTS, and applied to all history PhD's (except for one University, where I applied to both religion and history).  Many, but not most of the places I applied to, also have a religion department, but I haven't had anyone try to send me towards their religion department. 

    I'm not sure what my advice is worth since I've not gotten any acceptances, and I have a feeling I won't be getting any, but, is there anything in your SOP that could come across as churchy?  In my SOP, I discuss how I am interested in the intersection of religion, social history, social control, etc... I attempted to make sure that adcomms knew I was very much interested in studying history, not religion, even though I did highlight some of my theological research in my SOP, just to show that I had worked with a well known scholar and been encouraged to publish my work.  Don't know if that is helpful ​at all, but FWIW.

     

     

  7. Thanks for the info about timing. It may be good for all of us applying to schools affected by the weather lately to remember that decisions may come later than usual this year due to department meetings being postponed. Hang tight, everyone!

     

    I would guess, though, that the person who received the rejection and was recommended to apply to the MA program at Vanderbilt might not have been invited to interview which could explain why they received their notification earlier.

     

     

    Seconded, the timing is weird but GDR does refer applicants to the Div School for a M* so it's not impossible. With no one being on campus the past two days, it means the decision had already been made and was released today. Presuming their rejection came so early, I doubt they were ever interviewed for a spot.

     

    Well, I take back my suspicions.  The history department at Vanderbilt sent their admits out today... 

  8. So, I know I've been Mr. Mopey around here. Tonight I got rejected by Minnesota, but...... I just was accepted to COLORADO! I'm so happy. I did a dance and everything.

    Congrats, Heimat! Beautiful state, and great beer there too!

  9. Okay, I am a bit weirded out.  Someone just reported a rejection from Vanderbilt's Graduate Department of Religion, saying they got it via email yesterday.  It is the only religion program I applied for.  The GDR adcomm works pretty closely with the History adcomm because they have a large overlap of faculty and often, of applicants as well. Campus was shut yesterday, though, so I find this a bit odd and suspicious...

  10. I know Vandy's killing me. Nashville must be covered in ice or something, otherwise it seems like the amount of snow they've gotten would not warrant two days of cancelled classes. 

    Anna Leigh,

     

    The weather here isn't that bad, but Nashvillians freak out at the slightest bit of snow. Or ice. Or rain, for that matter.   People can't drive safely here when its 80º and sunny, so if the weather sucks, watch out!  1/8" of snow causes people to buy out the supermarket! So strange...

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