NSGoddessQ

Thanks for the update. April 1-- wow! Do they have an official visit weekend between then and April 15th, or is it individualized? Can any accepted people weigh in? Just curious.

It's great that they're giving you that kind of assurance. I *am* curious about the funding thing -- everywhere that's accepted me has waited to do it until they've either been able to give me a package, or to say "we're funding you -- details on the way." It's interesting to see how different places do it! I don't seem to remember the UNC app being due much later than others, so I wonder why their funding isn't set yet. Would it have to do with budget stuff, negotiations, or the NC legislature? All conjecture, of course. My other question (if you don't mind) -- what history field are you in? Just wondering if my subfield has started telling people yet. Again, congrats, and I hope they get it all worked out quickly and to your satisfaction!

Hey everyone! I was perusing the results this morning and saw two UNC acceptances. If those people are reading, do you have any info? That would be awesome -- I'm down to waiting to hear from two, and UNC is one of them! Thanks and big congrats.

I got my rejection from Harvard today. You know, the afternoon after the night that the boyfriend submitted his application to Boston University, which he was waiting to do until we heard whether or not we could have a potential match in Boston. :x I really don't mind being rejected (again, I'm v. happy with the offers I've got and am going to agonize over the decision as it is)...but for the two paragraphs that they sent, they really could have just opted for the website or the email notification, like Yale did. I'm just saying. If you're going to tell me that I didn't make the cut, opening an actual physical envelope isn't going to somehow turn it into a transcendent character-building experience.

I forget who was looking for alternative ways to rank history programs other than just what USNews says, but I ran across this in my bookmarks today and figured I would share: (The 2000 National Doctoral Program Survey at http://cresmet.asu.edu/nagps/getWeights.php?deptSet=1&deptType=112) Yes, it's 8 years old and based on self-selected responses, but it might be something to kick around. I wish they had a more recent one!

An FYI to anyone who applied to UNC: I called there today to ask if they had any idea when offer letters would be sent out -- primarily because I need to plan how March (with its visits and its midterms) is going to go. If they take me, I'd love to visit, but I'm going to have to know in enough time to be able to make arrangements. It would be great at this point to know when I might know! The woman on the phone (who was very nice) said she understood completely. After thinking about it for a little bit, she said that their break starts on 3/3, so hopefully the first letters may begin to go out by March 5th. She assured me that this wasn't an exact timetable, and that "everyone should know by the beginning of April." (I would hope so.) I feel like this isn't a lot of new information for you guys, but I also figured I would share, with the caveat that it sounds like you shouldn't freak out if you don't hear even into mid or late March! Good luck to all -- especially as you try to figure out travel plans. ::facepalm::

:mrgreen: YAY! I would love any more info about this, actually. I wonder if the helpful prof is Michael McGerr, who is one of their big Progressive-era guys... Really looking forward to visiting IUB. They seem like really nice people, for lack of a better description.

Yeah, I had to call a few times, and I'll say that she didn't exactly sound thrilled upon picking up the phone. She transferred me to someone else though, who was very nice about telling me that letters had gone out.

I just did the same thing to hear it for myself, and yup, they passed on me too. Oh well! Like I told her, it simplifies my decision.

Thanks for making the call, Cornell. Wish they would have been more specific. I might call tomorrow myself... And thanks for the info about the admit weekend, Missy. Of course that conflicts with Rutgers! I suppose that the course of true [grad school] love never did run smooth...

I thought about applying to BU, because I love Boston and Harvard is not exactly a "mid-range" school, but neither BU or BC seemed to have enough people in what I want to do. The boyfriend is not in history, though, so my pass on them has nothing to do with his choice. :wink:

I don't know, but I would sure like to know. I've got an SO who wants to know if it's worth it to apply to BU...

Ancient not implied! :oops: I meant "older" in the sense of "not just blindly stumbling from undergrad into grad school in the attempt to prolong the awesomeness that is college." (Not that any of the extremely motivated people on these boards would be doing that!) And "on your own" in the sense of "not a Trustifarian, whose time between grad and undergrad would have been entirely subsidized by generous parents." And yay TFA! I know a lot of really awesome people in that program, and have heard stories both terrifying and heartwarming.

Hey Amanda, I didn't get that offer -- just the 2 year fellowship/3 year GSI thing. Perhaps the fact that you are an older student and have been on your own for a while would account for the "disadvantaged" part? (I'm not hallucinating that detail, right?) Though I feel like "non-traditional" might be a less...awkward...adjective for that demographic.

I know this isn't the forum for it, so I'll just say quickly: OMFG YES. Teach for America and the like are wonderful, but you have to have a vocation for it. And I honor those that do.

CSO, I think your post is a bit harsh. Moreover, I would question some of your points. First of all, college teaching employment, according to the US government's labor projection website, is expected to grow. Tenure is another question, of course, but as more people go to college, they need more people to teach them! Secondly, while I agree that departments get kind of "buzzy" about new and interesting ways of looking at the field (history of science and tech seems to be one of these) -- people are still interested in some of the more traditional types of history. At my institution, you can't get a language degree without having had at least one history/culture-type course related to that language. Our CAMS (Classics and Medieval Studies) department is growing too. So while there are certainly fads and phases of research bursts, people still have to be able to master, teach, and reinterpret "old" knowledge dominions. Third of all, there is something to be said for the idea that most programs in the top twenty or even THIRTY are going to do you pretty well for finding a job and giving you good research support. Personally, I am trying to scrub the USNews rankings out of my head -- what is most important is how you fit with your department, the kind of support that you're getting from your advisors and the faculty there, and your quality of life in these places. Being happy and supported seems as important for grad school as it does for undergrad -- and most importantly, for LIFE. In the end, you're going to be doing the research and writing, not your advisors. So go where you can be most productive! Also, I think the idea that you had to have gone to a top school is crap. My undergrad institution is somewhere in the top 50 -- but I've gotten wonderful support from my profs, who've thrown both money and engaged feedback at me. Working minimum wage, if combined with good grades, recs, writing, etc, is only going to raise your estimation in the eyes of the reviewing committee. Louise, I really hope that this year's round of admissions doesn't make you lose faith in the whole process. I hope that you find something for this year that you enjoy doing -- check out museum or archival work, or try an MA program! And next year give yourself a range of reach, midline, and safety schools that you could see yourself being happy at. Anyway, I may have something of a middle-class chip on my shoulder, but I really don't think you have to get into the top program in your field in order to make a niche for yourself in the academic world. I think it's ultimately wise to temper ambition with contentment, and to balance your professional life and aspirations with your personal life.

Hey ticklemepink, where did you apply? The only reason this pings me is that I have a class on American Jewish history right now, and I know that one of my advisor's specialties is American Jewish history. That being said, I'm not sure that we are considered a powerful grad program in that field...

I just found out this morning that I'm officially in as well! The funny part? Status webpage still says no decision! This perversely amuses me. :twisted: Do you think you'll be at the Open House? I'm basically tickled pink that it's over my spring break. That was thoughtful of them!

Huge congratulations, el217! I know you really like their program. Also, how did you find out to check? Mine still says "no decision," even though I've gotten emails, etc.

Yeah...Philly, while it has its benefits, is not my favorite large PA city. Although I'm still considering Rutgers, which is quite near (and nearest to home)... And hey, totallyfreakingout: I'm not sure you need to anymore. :wink: You're in at two great programs, in a gorgeous location where you will need these: 8) Even those lucky people who are getting them all can only go to one school in the end, which is something that is kind of starting to sink in with me... "You mean that grad school isn't buffet-style? I can't take the architecture/campus of School X, put it in the lovely pastoral town of Uni Y, cut and paste the whole thing right on the Northeast Extension, and then fill it with my favorite faculty from everywhere? You've gotta be kidding me! I thought we were living in the future here!"

As things stand, I'll be at the official visit day...having done Amtrak cross-country the day before. (aughhh...I really don't like to fly; not to mention that it's beastly expensive.) We'll have to make sure that we say hi!

My status still hasn't changed, but I got an email earlier this week from the prof who does the American History evals. I ended up calling her and we chatted about the school and the area and the profs. She said that there has been a lot of interest in my research (blush!)and that letters should be going out in the next few days. So I guess that means I'm in? Otherwise they're being hella cruel. I'll wait til I have a letter in hand saying explicitly that I'm in before I post it on the big board, though.

Congrats! You've really been getting the nods, missycari! Here's a question for people who have had some acceptances -- how do you plan to decide? I'm going to be taking a week off and heading out to Indiana and Michigan to meet with people, which should help. But ultimately I know I'm going to have to choose. Basically, I'm so grateful to everyone that accepted me that I want to go everywhere. ::rolls eyes at self!::

Ditto McDitto. Only try having Spanish as your language while you're studying 19th century US History (primarily from the East Coast). :roll: It worked great for my Comp. Lit. major, but not so much for the historical time period I'm working in. This summer's project? French or German. (or Yiddish if I wanted to get really creative... 8) )

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