playingivory

On the topic GPA, I'm coming straight from undergrad, and my major GPA is like a 3.9 or higher (one stinkin' B+ threw me off amongst otherwise all A's), and while I'll graduate with what I assume will be a 3.7 (university honours and highest honors) if you factor in grades from transfer institutions (there are 2), it is going to be way lower because at one university I was told I had to take F's rather than drop classes when I had to leave school to take care of my grandma or else get stuck repaying all of my financial aid. 16 credits that semester, naturally. Oh and even from transfer intitutions, still only A's in history. Anyway, it's way in the past, and I know my grades are good, so I don't feel the need to overexplain in a personal statement, but any thoughts on whether or not that will be a problem?

Completely agree, CrazyCatLady! (love the name btw ) The "top" schools thing is definitely not my feeling on what one should do, but I find it remarkable that every professor has said that. I coach high school students applying to collegiate musical theatre programs (talk about competitive -- whew!) and I tell them that the "top" program is the one they get in to! For what my specific research interests are, short of studying in the UK, my top choices (only choices, really) for advisers all happen to be pretty competitive programs (Harvard, Columbia, Princeton, Duke, Berkeley, Stanford, UCLA). There were a couple more, but they are retiring. So I'm left in a pretty sticky situation. My next step is to research the folks that have more broadly the same interests so I have a couple of options that aren't so far up in the clouds. On a separate note, I go to UMich (though I am an undergrad) and would be more than happy to answer questions about the program, area, etc- feel free to send a PM.

Wow some of you guys have some real horror stories! I agree with TMP also that writing someone off for communication issues might be extreme as life can get in the way. At the same time, I am a firm believer that we as students "audition" these schools as much as they do us when we apply -- or at least, we have the opportunity to. If we're intelligent enough to presumably begin doctoral studies, we're intelligent enough to compile a list of criteria that we expect a program to meet and thus base any future decisions off of given the opportunity of multiple offers..... and for me, communication is a darn important criterion! That's all I was realy getting at

This entire discussion in general is super helpful. I'm applying for the Fall 2014 and, as a bit of a compulsive planner, am thinking about starting my SOP now as I've already gotten some offers from potential program advisers to help me edit it. The advice you give, linelei, I think is something that I'm going to have to contend with. Has anyone had any experience with writing a "diversity statement?" This is something Berkeley is asking for and I'm curious as to the differences of approach -- my first thought is that the diversity statement is something like a place in which one can discuss hardships, how they got to where they are now, etc? This is perhaps not the best way of wording it, but it seems like a place to put some of the more fluffy/expository stuff that you'd leave out of the SOP?

Of course!: https://shprs.clas.asu.edu/history_placement They're not exactly statistics, but since you mentioned they have such a small class size, you can interpret from there. And as a Michigan girl, I can say with certainty that ASU is leagues better than OSU!!! BOO BUCKS!! (j/k - I know OSU is a great school!)

Congrats! I considered ASU, but who I was mainly interested in working with is retiring. I guess my feelings on your situation would be: - you mentioned there are experts in your field with whom you would be excited to work. I believe that speaks volumes, regardless of the presumed caliber of the program. - with regard to your concern for it not being a "top" program, what do you want to do with your degree? Would you be happy staying in the Phoenix/Tempe area to teach at a local institution (or even a fancy prep or charter HS)? - ASU has a decent placement record post-grad. Look confidently at those statistics! -- they must be doing something right to train their young historians! - the campus is freakin beautiful. I mean, there's that, right? All of that said, perhaps the DGS could put you in contact with some current grad students- I'm sure they'd be helpful in making an informed decision about the program. Best of luck!

L-O-L. A novel idea, and I personally would settle for that hat if nothing else. Too funny. I'm not in this position yet, so I'm not sure how practical my advice would be, but this sprung something for me in regard to making final decisions: I am personally a bit compulsive when it comes to planning and poor communication is one of my hugest pet peeves. If I am fortunate enough to have choices, a BIG factor for me would be how well graduate advisers and my presumed research adviser(s) communicated with me. There is a really phenomenal program out on the west coast that I visited this week and I wanted to meet with someone who shares my research interests. I emailed him twice, left a message...and finally called the department to verify he wasn't on leave. It really turned me off to the program. I still visited, liked the campus okay, enjoyed the atmosphere and the people I did speak with within the department, but if it came down to it, especially given other variables being similar, I would choose to go elsewhere. Just my two cents!

Thanks for the feedback. I feel like I've talked to them all over the world, so to speak. Yes, to answer your specific questions. They have all told me that I shouldn't go anywhere that doesn't fully fund me with a 5 year package and that, given what I want to pursue post-graduation, I should only apply to the 10-15 "best" programs...which to be honest, makes me a little bit nervous! And I suppose I understand the negativity more and more -- but for myself, every job I've held since I was 13 has been teaching, so I can't worry about the negative when I know teaching is simply the only thing I really know. And the academic research end of the deal is like icing on the cake to me...getting paid (even if only peanuts) to stay in school for the rest of my life? Woohoo! It has been touch and go as far as probing for my research interests. In my initial email to contact anyone I've met with, I've explained what my current research is and that I'm looking to continue down that general path. Prof at Columbia was extremely interested and talked to me for a good hour about what I've done, who I've read, where I want to go with it, etc, at UCLA we touched on it briefly and at Berkeley, we only discussed it in reference to where I stand currently with my language requirements.

Congrats to those of you receiving your acceptances! I'm curious - I'll be applying for the Fall 2014 season and the professors I've met with about my particular circumstances have been fairly favourable to my chances of getting into a "top" program despite my not being on Michigan's main campus. My question for all of you is: what are your general statistics if you don't mind sharing (e.g. past/present degree programs, writing strength, GPA, GRE scores) and where are you getting accepted to? I'm not looking to compare myself to others, but at the same time... I'm just curious! All best to those still waiting on the final letters to come rolling in!

Not too early at all! Thank you for starting this! I've been an observer of this site for a while and decided it's finally time to get involved I'm currently looking at around 10 progams. I've visited six of them and met with three potential advisers and/or grad counselors (@ Columbia, Berkeley, UCLA). Has anyone else done this? I'm a compulsive planner so I felt it necessary to understand the feel of the program. My research interests lie broadly in early modern Europe and more specifically in the implications of reformation in the Tudor age. Couple of things I've run across that I wonder if any of you have encountered/have opinions on: - negativity from faculty re: job prospects after receiving a PhD - programs that want to you focus on one specific area of research vs. programs that require you have several fields (potentially including a field outside of history) All best to everyone!