Sio68

I've started looking at the Results Page and thinking "oooh that person got in at Harvard Business" that'd be fun.... "Ooooh Aerospace engineering", they're gonna have a cool life ... "Ooooh... they're going to be living in California, how lovely!"

Is today the last day of relative peace and quiet? I'll start doing my stretches. Hey Berkeley applicants.. don't worry.... just because there's been one European admit, doesn't mean they're done. As you say, it could be a POI heads up, or they may not too everything in one batch. Don't give yourself a heart attack yet... there's a long way to go for us all. You're going to need that energy *group hug* I haven't heard a peep about anything from anyone. I'm still surprised that I'm pretty calm.. what's that about?! I get the odd bit of nerves, but on the whole doing fine. I totally think that's going to change this week. ETA: annieca - good luck with Aber! I'm sure they'll want to keep you.

Thank-you for all the great advice.. it's so nice to hear and learn from people who have gone thorugh this process before. You have reminded me to go talk things over with a friend before I get any decisions... that way I can instruct her that she may need to remind me of my rational pre-acceptance/pre-refusal self! Some days I'm weirdly zen about it all, other days quite optimistic, and others very pessimistic. It's like a rollercoaster of emotions! However, I managed to have an amazingly productive week despite the background nerves. Congratulations to all who received acceptances this week, and good luck to everyone else! It certainly seems like the floodgates have started to open, just that little bit...

For the life of me I can't remember which school this was (it's all a blur!) but one of them only allowed one scanned page per transcript... my transcripts were two pages long!

Good luck! You'll be fine Congratulations on having a professor interested in your application - that's certainly positive!

Hm.. is this a British University? If it's an admissions contact, I'd be inclined to try to contact someone else in the office and explain why you need to know as quickly as possible. They tend to work in the same large offices, or at least on the same corridor, and from experience job-share. For example, at my school, if one person is unavailable another member of staff will step in and help. I'm sure this won't happen, but it would be awful if a chance passed someone by just because of an administrative mistake.

I'm not Art History, (History), but I have the same issue. I contacted the school a while back and they replied confirming that they did have my scores but hadn't run the programme to match them up with applications yet. That was 4 weeks ago and it's still showed as 'awaiting'. It makes me nervous but I do have that email confirmation from admissions.

Oh I sympathise with this! My University has an... let's call it, 'interesting' way of labeling start-dates, graduation dates, finish dates... etc We end up with multiple options depending on which form or certificate you choose to read. Going on my transcripts it looks like I took 6 months longer to finish my grad degree than I actually did I'm choosing not to worry about this because, short of writing some long and technical email to admissions departments (which I'm not sure they'd appreciate at such a busy time!) there was nothing I could do.

Chocolate or coffee. Bleurgh.

Lol! Nope! I bet they won't! They'll ask you focused questions about your research and stay away from anything remotely personal, other than birthplace/previous University. ETA: I'm not suggesting this is better, or else I would be weird to apply to the US!

Awesome advice from goldielocks and TMP! Thank-you so much. With regards to 'tell me about yourself'.... That is a nightmare question for a Brit. It's culturally impossible for us to answer that. We'd get as far as name (knowing full well they already have that!) and place of birth and then shut down, because anything after that would be considered vulgar self-centred prattle. There's possibly only one scenario worse than this for the British. It fills us with dread, and is known as "Let's go around the room, .... stand up and tell us something about yourself ". Fuuuuuuuuuuuuu....

Well done everyone on staying sane! And congratulations on your interview(s) KTLady! I don't *think* any of my programmes interview, but I'm not taking anything for granted. Trying to desperately renew my passport this month Well... good luck to everyone with exams/thesis/marking/teaching... and fingers crossed we all get where we want to be eh?! And who knows, perhaps some of us will end up in the same place one day! (*eyes you all suspiciously*)

How's everyone doing this week? I'm trying to write a conference paper and not doing very well! A pile of marking just turned up on my desk too.. so I'd better get my head in a better place quick smart! I hope we're all staying sane and happy Maybe it won't be too long until some decisions start trickling in.

Wisc are quite open about their timeline - it's outlined on the website. Adcom may have made decisions already (according to the outline) but notifications are sent out first week of Feb.This seems to correspond with last year's timetable too. I don't know about the others, sorry!

I'm being asked repeatedly, every day, "so did you get in anywhere?" I'm pretty sure they only just started reading applications If this continues for the rest of January I might actually go insane.

Well I suppose I could put it another way; I use my introductions to outline why the topic is important, and why my contribution is important. So my intro will 'introduce' (!) the topic, but then also go on to position this topic within the discipline. There wasn't that much on my subject either - which is what made my contribution important. However, you should probably talk about what *is* available (this might be specifically related to your topic, or thematically), and show how it leaves big gaps. You then go on to summarise what you will do and explain how it fills these gaps and/or gives a different perspective. If done correctly an analysis of existing historiography should naturally give you the opportunity to say why your work is important. Perhaps you could take a look at some journal articles or books for example introductions because I find that most historians will weave the historiography into their intro, with varying degrees of skill. I haven't read Imagined Communities, but it has been recommended to me! I should get on to that (along with my gigantic list of other recommendations...!) Also a fan of Foucault.

1) When is your deadline? I'd probably start thinking about chasing it up now, especially if the deadline is looming. I don't think that's an unreasonable timeframe, especially if you phrase it politely! 2) If I'm understanding you correctly, mine always goes in the introduction. Well actually, it is the introduction. But then I'm quite big on historiography and historical theory; it tends to structure my entire approach to a topic and thus makes sense for it to be my introduction. It'll be interesting to see what others say. [this might depend on whether you're a modern history, early modern, medieval etc...]

Oh, don't get me wrong- I totally get it! I can't even imagine the hours that go into reviewing applications. I know how long it takes me to go through and mark undergrad essays and give the students verbal feedback. It's hard work and time consuming. The fact that all of this falls over the Christmas break just adds to it all. It's just funny that I never realised all this waiting around was going to bother me... (and some days it doesn't). I think it's a mixture of nerves, and the unknown. As soon as semester kicks off properly here I'll likely forget all about it because I'll be so busy.

Is it just me or is it really hard seeing all the science peeps getting results?! We've probably got weeks to wait yet, but it feels like ages ago that I submitted my first application! *le sigh*

(This is a bit OT, but it might help some transatlantic applicatants:) I think this is a mixture of general cultural difference, specific University attended and plain old individual circumstance. Generally Americans are much more... what's the right way to put this (?!)... 'out there' and 'enthusiastic' than the Brits. We'd say 'over the top' (lol.. not meant to be an insult per se). Although a stereotype, my experience on both sides of the pond tells me that there's some truth to the idea that the British are reserved (at least in comparison with some other nationalities). Although the younger generation are certainly different, it's very much the case that we do not really 'gush', we're not that touchy-feely, we're actually much less blunt/straight-forward in our speech. It would be seen as distasteful to be too 'over the top' with an LOR, and I can imagine that generally, there would be a much more subtle/formal tone to the British letters. The other issue here is University. If you attend Oxford/Cambridge... some others, there's a very good chance you will not form any kind of close relationship with a supervisor. Particularly at undergrad, both also potentially at MA level. You stand a better chance of knowing your tutors at some of the other UK Universities. I am very lucky to have a very friendly department and a supervisor who has made a huge effort getting to know me and supporting me. On top of this... it's just luck! Some Oxbridge people will know their supervisors well.. some in the other Unis will have crappy departments, some will have a supervisor from the ark (... meaning that they're old-school upper class, distant and a bit eccentric )

Sad to hear about the passing of Gerda Lerner - extraordinary woman and academic, to whom we all here (especially those whose research has a historical approach) owe much!

Well... er... yeah there could be some truth to that, but as a Brit I am hugely shocked that someone would write such a thing. None of the academics in my department would ever write such a thing! If a supervisor/tutor cannot or does not want to write a strong letter for a student then they should just tell the student that they cannot do it and perhaps suggest someone else to ask. If I'm understanding correctly (having not see the letter) it seems to me rather cruel to write such things, knowing full well that it could damage someone's chances. However, I agree with the others that hopefully your other LORs and writing sample will make up for it.

Thanks everyone.. interesting info. I'll check last year's forum for my subject area. Good luck to those heading off to these recruitment weekends!

Yes, I did. I'm going to guess that this is the same for Art History as straight History - but if I were applying for a PhD here I would write a very specific, detailed statement about my thesis proposal. Although I haven't looked into UK applications in any detail, I have always been led to believe that they want a thesis proposal. For the US, as a consequence of the MA being attached to the PhD, they do not seem to expect a thesis proposal (at least, not in the way we think of it). It's almost like a cross between an UCAS personal statement, a CV and a thesis proposal! They want to know more about you than a UK University might. So... basically, you should write a statement that says what it is you want to research (maintain a good degree of focus and specificity, but try to show that you have an open mind and are drawn to the broader, more inter-disciplinary approach of the US-educational system), what work you've done in the past that has prepared you for this (languages/dissertations etc), why you picked this particular University. Some also want to know your career aspirations, any relevant work experience etc They all want to get to know YOU. The reason that many of the personal statements look quite creative is because they're trying to keep the reader interested, make their statement stand out and have the committee get to know them. Some Universities are very specific in what they want from your statements, so be careful to follow their guidelines if they do.

They sound almost exactly like a student that I had last year. This student had Aspergers. At a guess, although not diagnosed, it sounds like your student may also have aspergers. I really wish I could offer you some great advice, but honestly, it was a struggle for me too. My student, like yours, was hugely intelligent and enthusiastic, but like yours could not understand the dynamic of the class correctly and frequently monopolised seminars with lists of questions or very long verbal explanations/ideas. I didn't want to dampen this person's spirit, and indeed, appreciated the contributions on those days where the others had been out drinking and turned up hungover In the end I learned a few techniques that worked with this one particular student - I tried to get to know them a little better, stay behind after class to let them ask me questions and even on occasion, I absolutely had to point-blank ignore their hand up, or cut them short. It ended up being a balance between offering my time and energy, and being a little blunt/harsh to protect the learning environment of the other 15-20 students. I think if you're really struggling you should do what I couldn't (lack of resources!) and go and speak to your University's Disabilities Centre so that you can get some help understanding this student. They may not self-identify as autistic or as having aspergers, but if you describe their behaviour to an expert they should be able to offer you some strategies. I realised that a syndrome is not a personality. You can often deal with difficult personalities through previous life experience, but to deal with a syndrome you need to understand how a student sees the world. Good luck, I wish I could be of more help.