LeatherElbows

While we anxious historians are waiting to hear back from programs, release some pressure. What are you all looking forward to the most about graduate study? It doesn't necessarily need to be something deeply academic or profound. (Just what your mind wanders to while you refresh your inbox every 3 seconds.)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ironically, two of the things I am the most excited about seem rather trivial. I've spent a few years working abroad since undergraduate and ... I missed JSTOR access heaps. Also am quite stoked about reemerging as a member of the college town cafe/coffeeshop clientele.

Below I've posted a list of history programs that seem to offer some possibility of funding to MA students.  I found this info by browsing history department web sites (usually it was in the "Financial Aid" section or the graduate handbook).  "Full funding" means assistantships and tuition waivers.  Sometimes it was unclear whether assistantships included tuition waivers, and in those cases I noted the assistantships only.
 
Please consider this to be a list of leads requiring further research.  I don't know these programs personally, so the info might be out-of-date or inaccurate.  The DGS in each department will have the best information.  Also, I'm sure I missed a bunch of programs, so keep looking on your own!  
 
I really hope this helps somebody!
 
Auburn University: MA students eligible for full funding Case Western Reserve University: some MA fellowships through the Julia Edwards Fund, program seems to try to provide tuition waivers as well Florida International University: MA students eligible for assistantships; limited number of tuition waivers also available Georgia State University: MA students eligible for assistantships Indiana University - Bloomington: they "provide multiyear financial support for the vast majority of students admitted at the MA and PhD levels." Iowa State University: MA students eligible for assistantships Kent State University: MA students eligible for full funding Miami University (Ohio): full funding for MA students. No PhD program. Northeastern University: some partial tuition waivers available Northern Illinois University: MA students eligible for funding Ohio University: full funding for MA students Oklahoma State University: MA students eligible for full funding Portland State University: full funding awarded to a number of MA students. No PhD program.  Southern Illinois University - Carbondale: "Approximately 60% of our MA and PhD students receive some form of funding." St. Louis University: assistantships available to MA students Texas Tech University: MA students eligible for full funding University of Alabama - Tuscaloosa: full funding available to MA students, limited number University of Cincinnati: tuition waivers (80% - 100%) offered to most MA students, assistantships awarded competitively University of Delaware: MA students eligible for full funding University of Hawaii - Manoa: MA students eligible for full funding University of Houston: MA students eligible for assistantships - also a public history fellowship University of Maine - Orono: MA students eligible for full funding University of Massachusetts - Amherst: full funding for select MA students, merit-based University of Mississippi: full funding awarded to a few, based on merit, as well as some scholarships for unrepresented minorities University of New Hampshire: MA students eligible for funding University of Oregon: full funding available to MAs, awarded on competitive basis University of Rochester: half-tuition scholarships available to MA students University of South Carolina: full funding available to "many" MA students University of Utah: MA students focusing on the American West eligible for the May Fellowship. Possibly other full funding available to MA's (?). Washington State University: MA students eligible for assistantships, awarded competitively Western Michigan University: MA students eligible for assistantships

I'll echo the Lenovo sentiments. I have a 2007 Thinkpad. The only problem I have ever had was the battery going out 2 years ago. I like no problems with my academic laptops.

I had a very pleasant and quick conclusion to the program search today. I've decided on University of Washington. 
 
Again, congrats to everyone who has made their decisions and the warmest, best wishes to anyone still waiting. I'll probably stick around here though, at least for a while, due to the good company.

I had a very pleasant and quick conclusion to the program search today. I've decided on University of Washington. 
 
Again, congrats to everyone who has made their decisions and the warmest, best wishes to anyone still waiting. I'll probably stick around here though, at least for a while, due to the good company.

I had a very pleasant and quick conclusion to the program search today. I've decided on University of Washington. 
 
Again, congrats to everyone who has made their decisions and the warmest, best wishes to anyone still waiting. I'll probably stick around here though, at least for a while, due to the good company.

I had a very pleasant and quick conclusion to the program search today. I've decided on University of Washington. 
 
Again, congrats to everyone who has made their decisions and the warmest, best wishes to anyone still waiting. I'll probably stick around here though, at least for a while, due to the good company.

I really wish US News & World Reports wouldn't try to assign a numeric value to something that complicated. Supporting that school A is 0.1 better than school B seems pretty tenuous to me, regardless of whatever methodology they employ. I think it makes a lot more sense to rank schools in categories of overall quality, then quibble about the break-off line for each division. That wouldn't sell as well though or get as many website hits.
 
Wouldn't it be funny if we applicants had a counter-study that ranked programs by how many people applied? I wonder if this list would correspond with the current US News & World Reports list, and why this similarity might exist. 

I really wish US News & World Reports wouldn't try to assign a numeric value to something that complicated. Supporting that school A is 0.1 better than school B seems pretty tenuous to me, regardless of whatever methodology they employ. I think it makes a lot more sense to rank schools in categories of overall quality, then quibble about the break-off line for each division. That wouldn't sell as well though or get as many website hits.
 
Wouldn't it be funny if we applicants had a counter-study that ranked programs by how many people applied? I wonder if this list would correspond with the current US News & World Reports list, and why this similarity might exist. 

Maybe it's effectively a silent waitlisting?

A marathon with a $125 entrance fee and no participation sticker. 

A marathon with a $125 entrance fee and no participation sticker. 

Someone above compared this to a marathon. I'd say it's kind of like that, but right before the finish line all the spectators tackle you and kick you a lot.

Haha, that was me. I'm glad people enjoyed it. I needed to add some humor on the results board.

My favorite comment from the results page today:
"$175 for taking the GRE, $25 sending of the GRE scores to Columbia, $105 Columbia application fee....Getting rejected from Columbia: Priceless"

I was also axed by Stanford. Wonderful school and great potential advisor, but the cost of living there was always a looming eye-opener. I wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors!

I was also axed by Stanford. Wonderful school and great potential advisor, but the cost of living there was always a looming eye-opener. I wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors!

While we anxious historians are waiting to hear back from programs, release some pressure. What are you all looking forward to the most about graduate study? It doesn't necessarily need to be something deeply academic or profound. (Just what your mind wanders to while you refresh your inbox every 3 seconds.)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ironically, two of the things I am the most excited about seem rather trivial. I've spent a few years working abroad since undergraduate and ... I missed JSTOR access heaps. Also am quite stoked about reemerging as a member of the college town cafe/coffeeshop clientele.

If you wind up adjuncting for $2000 a course (which is a realistic possibility in this field) even a deal that pegs your $100k debt repayment to 10-15% of your income will be financially debilitating and leave you with tens of thousands of dollars in debt piled up on your deathbed even if you die very old. The adjuncting lifestyle is hard enough without such worries dogging you to the grave.
 
It is more than worth the investment of another year's wait and reapplication not to put oneself in this situation for life.

My thoughts on this week are a little less cerebral. I think Han Solo's "I have a bad feeling about this" sums things up nicely.

My thoughts on this week are a little less cerebral. I think Han Solo's "I have a bad feeling about this" sums things up nicely.