natsteel
-
Posts
477 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
2
Posts posted by natsteel
-
-
I've wanted to get a PhD in history ever since I was 12.
Just don't start off your SOP with this...
-
You need to learn this fast: Take everything that professors tell you with a grain of salt. The encouraging professors just have a lot of faith you and see potential in your work and you should keep their optimism in mind when you're struggling with the application process. The discouraging professors are (mostly) being realistic about the life of an academic, especially these days when competition is insane. Some of them just want you to get out in the real world and work for a while to be sure that academia is where you REALLY want to be. Nobody can truly assess your chances until they've stacked you up with other applicants, which they won't know about until January.
Ultimately, you will need to learn to believe in yourself in order to feel confident. Be self-aware about your confidence level. Too much can lead to deep disappointment, anger, and regret down the road if things don't work out and you are more likely to make unrealistic decisions about your school list. If your confidence level is too low, people will notice it through your statement of purpose and any conversations you may have with the programs. Also, you are more likely to be at risk for the "imposter syndrome," which is basically underestimating your ability to succeed and this is absolutely prevalent in academia.
I think a lot of this is down to the fact that many professors went through the application process so long ago. Also, those who teach at schools without graduate programs become out of touch with the current vagaries of the process. Those vagaries are the reason why it's smart to apply broadly.
-
I am somewhat surprised that a school wouldn't care at all about clubs! Do you think that is universal? The MA program I would most like to attend definitely suggested they would care about that!
Thank you again.
ticklemepink is right (as usual). Adcomms generally don't care about extra-curricular activities in the way that they do for undergraduates. If they were history-related, you might mention them on your CV, but, even then, they won't be worth much in terms of admission at most schools.
tmp is also right about the GRE. I sweated over it both before and after I took the test, but I think the GRE is a way to whittle down the applications. Yet, even at very good schools, the cut-off is likely a relatively low score. As long as you don't completely bomb it, it won't matter. This is just my perception but I don't think adcomms take the difference between 700 and 800 very seriously. However, the difference between 500 and 600 a little more so.
-
RNG, you and I are somewhat similar. I'm straight-up working class and went to a large, not-highly regarded, public university at 28. I just graduated this past week with a record similar to yours (3.9 GPA, no conferences but a pub in a "national" undergraduate journal).
I also had similar concerns as I was preparing for the process. But let me tell you from personal experience... Where you do your undergrad does not really matter as I got into my top choice (a top 3 Ivy).
550 on the GRE Q is more than fine (560 is the average score for Humanities students). For top programs, you'd give yourself a better shot if you could pump that Verbal score up by at least 50 points. I tend to think that if your score is at least over 600 that it becomes a nothing factor.
I don't know deficient your languages are, but, if I were you, I would apply to PhD programs, along with a few funded MAs (if possible).
-
I'm just nervous because it seems like the graduate school application process is a little less formulaic than the undergraduate process... so even designating a university as a "safe" option is difficult. But I'll work on it, thanks!
This is absolutely true. There are fit factors and there are also political or logistic factors beyond your control. It's not uncommon for someone to get into their top choice and rejected by their so-called safety schools. In applying to doctoral programs in History, there is no such thing as a true safety school. Nevertheless, pick a few schools outside the top 50 or even 100, depending on fit, as your "safeties."
-
I just applied this past season, but my mentors all advised around 10 schools in order to get a decent spread. The key is to apply broadly among different "rankings" to give yourself the best possible chance. For someone completely intent on pursuing a PhD with no geographical restrictions, I'd say at least 6 to 8 but, preferably, anywhere from 8 to 12 depending on how many fits you find.
-
I'm currently an undergrad history major interested in military history, international security/strategic studies issues, as well as other closely related topics. I'm a soon to be junior eying grad school eventually and since I've long been wanting to to get published.
So since I have a a few papers from my classes throughout my college career so far that I'm working on. I was wondering if anybody knew of any good undergrad journal's especially one's that take submissions in this area, where I could possibly be published?
Thank you in advance btw,
Here's a list of undergrad journals but you have to check their websites because only a select few solicit submissions from outside their own universities:
http://learning.berkeley.edu/buj/USundergradJournals.html
And you will need a research paper that is based on primary sources for these types of journals. Department-specific journals generally not so much, but the ones that solicit outside submissions are looking for high-quality research papers. And, for a few, your professor has to nominate your paper. You can't just submit it yourself.
The junior year is the perfect time to write an honors research essay because you can then polish it up over the next summer and use it as your writing sample. My school had a research colloquium in the spring, so I took an independent study in the fall and developed my topic. Then in the spring, I wrote the paper, which got into one of those undergraduate journals that solicit outside submissions.
-
This is not wholly related to the OP, but I think there a fair amount of people who are under the misconception that there are still CC jobs out there for people with MAs. The reality is that the market is so saturated at this point that tons of PhDs are applying for those CC jobs.
I would second the advice not to take out loans for an MA in History. Perhaps one of the schools has a public history program, but I would also second the advice about establishing residency first before starting an MA to minimize tuition costs.
If I were you, I would apply to both PhD and MA programs because you could possibly end up getting an offer to do a PhD with funding. You say that you don't want to spend 6-7 more years in school because you want to get out there and begin "doing history." In a PhD program, only the first 2 years or so would be coursework. After you finish your exams and advance to candidacy around the 3rd year, your primary responsibility would be to research and write your dissertation, while TA'ing on the side. You'd be out of that daily school culture/routine and there's no experience more about "doing history" than writing a dissertation.
My fear about just doing an MA would be that if it were not in public history or in education, an MA in History will not increase your marketability very much at all when it comes time to hit the job market.
-
I used the street view and did a virtual walk from my new apartment to the campus a couple of times, which is about a mile long. Really cool.
-
I have a bunch of apps for Mac that I use for academic work, which I detailed in another thread. Generally, my workflow consists of Papers, OmniOutliner, Scrivener, and Word to which I'd add Evernote.
However, I want a note-organizing app in which I can include reviews and summaries of all my readings. I figure that by the time I get through reading for my orals, I'll have a nice database going. I initially tried DevonThink Pro, but stopped using it. Does anyone have any experience with Tinderbox or Twig?
-
My brother did his MA in Linguistics online through UMass-Boston (though he did travel to Boston for his comp exam). His diploma will be the same as those who got theirs in-residency. I'm not sure, however, if you are expected to denote if it was done online on your CV.
-
[based on what I'm seeing on the websites for various English Ph.D. Programs, they are not nearly as interested in applicant scores on the quantitative section of the GRE. Below I've pasted two instances where these grad programs state that they are primarily interested in the verbal score. Mind you, these are just two examples, and I would certainly agree with Mal83 that you should contact admissions at the schools you specifically want to know about.
This is the impression I've gotten as well. The only caveat is that if the department does not have universal funding, you will be competing for university-level funding, which often have combined GRE requirements. For example, a professor I was in contact with at OSU told me that my 1220 combined score (660V and 560Q) might not be good enough to secure a university fellowship. I've heard a lot of people say that the average minimum cutoff for this is 1200, but keep in mind that is a generalization. That would be a question you could put to admissions.
-
That's true! I'm just worried that my undergraduate university's lack of prestige will negatively affect my chances for admission to an excellent program. I'm not sure how much one's undergraduate institution factors into admissions decisions, but I suspect it plays some part at least.
I'm in History not Lit, but I had this concern as well early on in the process. All my mentors told me it wouldn't hinder me in anyway. And that statement proved to be true. I come from a public college that's part of a large urban public university system. The History Department at my college within the system had four students accepted to top-10 PhD programs (all top-3 in their field) with full-funding. The work you've done matters far more than where you did it.
-
When I was beginning the process, I asked my mentors which schools/advisors I should be applying to and all three named top-10 programs or professors at them. I was skeptical at first as well. I also thought that my chances of getting into a place like that were slim especially being a non-trad from a large public university. However, I bit the bullet and applied to those programs. It worked out well for me as I'm now on my way to New Haven. When I told my mentors I'd gotten accepted to Yale, they said they weren't surprised.
Like cheshirequeen said, go back and ask them, "What do you think my chances are of getting into <top program>?" They have no reason to lie to you especially if they know they'll be writing your letters. Get over the self-doubt. After all, you can't win the lottery if you don't buy a ticket.
-
On "fit," it is not something that has to be an exact match. The period and subfield should be relatively similar or complementary. For example, I do colonial U.S. political culture and my new advisor does early national U.S. political culture. Then again, each professor will have a different notion of "fit."
And, I agree with ticklemepink. If you want to take classes, take a graduate seminar or two. Don't waste your time with undergraduate classes if you already have an advanced degree. A graduate school in my city will allow you to take 1 or 2 classes without being matriculated. I doubt that it is a unique policy. Check nearby schools with graduate programs to see if you can take (not just audit) a graduate-level seminar.
And, just for the record, I second (or third or fourth) the warnings against taking out too much debt for an MA and applying widely.
-
IA lot of them just tend to be of the mindset that they should dispel what they consider to be illusions early, I think.
I think that's what it is. It can be intimidating to lurkers or newcomers, but if you ask sensible questions and don't get easily offended by answers both harsh and true, you'll be fine. I think you have to realize that they've answered the same question dozens of times and are not going to sugarcoat their answers or opinions in any way whatsoever. Many newcomers are not prepared for the sheer frankness of their responses and get defensive or wrongly feel as if they're being personally attacked.
The CHE forums are a great resource about life in academia and so it makes no sense to simply pass on it. If you don't feel comfortably posting, there is nothing wrong with lurking. Besides, you learn more when you listen anyway.
-
4.5 is above average in the sense that it's slightly better than 50th percentile. I scored 1220 overall (which isn't mediocre, but isn't anything to write home about in comparison with the top candidates at top 10 programs in my field) with a 4.0AW (45th percentile) and got into my top choice. I've never talked to anyone (including professors at top 10 programs) who said that schools actually care about the AW score.
-
With a small program and the fact that your grade isn't the make-or-break grade of your graduate career, I would say nothing and just avoid the professor in the future.
+1. As they would tell you on the CHE forum... "STFU." No need to cause any waves especially when the problem is not having an adverse effect on your academics and the solution likely would not produce a favorable effect for either you or the professor.
StrangeLight is right... you could easily come off as a gradflake.
-
Hi,
I'm an international student currently studying at Oxford University, UK, and considering applying to the U.S. for a terminal masters in Philosophy.
I was just wondering how important the verbal GRE score is, seeing as I just took mine and got the following: 800q 580v 5.5aw
Could anyone give some advice on whether it is worth retaking if I am thinking of applying to the following places:
- NYU
- Columbia
- Stanford
- Tufts
I will be applying for Fall 2012 admission, and my predicted results for undergrad is likely to be very postive (i.e. a First Class Honours).
Please do advise, I will be very grateful!
Thanks (:
From the NRC info:
The average GRE Verbal scores of those admitted into the Philosophy program:
NYU - 701
Columbia - 679
Stanford - 657
Tufts - N/A
From these numbers, I would say that you would definitely need to retake it. I would suspect that a score under 600V will not even get you looked at the first three. Keeping in mind that these are averages (meaning people with lower scores get in), I would think that maybe a 630-640 would nullify the GRE as a selection criteria. Even that would put you at the bottom of the pile of those being considered especially at NYU and Columbia. My advice (and others may disagree) is to retake and focus entirely on the Verbal section.
-
Whether we agree or disagree, the study shows that adcomms react negatively to disclosure of mental illness. So to give yourself the best shot, don't mention it. There really is no reason to mention it unless it adversely affected your academic record in some way. If we're talking about an SOP, adcomms want to see your professional ambition, not your personal history. Some people use personal history in an SOP to good effect (others not so good), but it usually comes off when it's a positive thing rather than being used as an excuse. OP, if your record was not affected by your mental illness, then there is absolutely no need to disclose it. That's just my opinion, though...
That said, the stigmatization is a problem. I have read posts on the CHE forums in which you can see that some professors aren't very educated about mental health issues. For example. one poster said that they wouldn't meet with a student alone who has known mental issues (in this case, BPD). They seemed to think that everyone diagnosed with BPD is a ticking time-bomb and psychotic or sociopathic. It is something that could use addressing among faculty.
-
lingrussian, here's some very general advice: Develop good relationships with multiple professors, i.e., take multiple courses with them, visit their office hours regularly, ask if they need research assistants, etc... A big part of your application will be your letters of recommendation and the better a professor knows you, the more detailed a letter they can write. Also, do as wel you as possibly can on the honors thesis since that will likely end up as your writing sample. For language studies, you might consider a study abroad, as well.
Conference presentations or publications are great, but they aren't expected even at places like Yale. I got in for history with only an undergraduate journal publication (which, in all reality, doesn't count) and no presentations. Just make sure your letters, personal statement, and writing sample are as good as they can be. Other than that, it's something of a crapshoot.
-
I worked for many years at quite menial jobs. In the end, I took an assessment of myself. If you don't know already, figure out what you are good at. What talents or skills do you have? Then find a field which prizes those skills. Maybe it sounds more simple than it is, but that's how I did it.
-
hi,
since the question i am asking differentiates a bit from the earlier posts regarding e-mailing to professors, i wanted to start a new topic. there are three professors whom i want to work with. i have read their books and articles. my research interests coincide with their interests. now, i think it is time to contact. my field (medieval and early modern islamic mysticism) is not a popular one and i don't think they will forget me until the time is right for applications. do you think i should lay it out straight and tip my hand. or should i first try to establish a relationship by talking about both my own and their works? actually considering i have an ultimate purpose i don't find the latter approach sincere
what do you think? i trust my research topic and am searching for the best way to approach the professors.
any comments will be appreciated.
orient
Orient, if you are applying this fall, it is far too early to contact prospective advisors. Wait until the fall semester begins, around the first week or two of September, at the earliest.
Then send them a very brief email with one sentence each introducing yourself, your school and advisor(s), your field and subfield, and your previous research topic. Use one sentence to tie it in to their previous work and ask if they are accepting new students in the fall.
Don't attach anything to the email and just use "re: Prospective Student" as your subject line. A long email will be seen as presumptive. Just one short paragraph with the information above is fine.
I contacted 11 professors during my cycle this past fall and all but 1 got back to me. The majority were very kind and we ended up trading a number of emails and I had phone conversations with a few.
- gellert and Neuronista
-
2
-
As you contact profs you are thinking of working with, it is useful to attach the CV for them to look over.
I don't know about this. It's actually not a good idea to attach unsolicited materials when initially contacting profs. For one, it could get put in their spam folder or they might be wary of opening an email with an attachment from an unknown sender.
If a prof asks you for your CV by all means send it, but sending it unsolicited probably isn't a very good idea.
As for the CV itself, include sections with headings EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT (academic-related only), [PUBLICATIONS (if any), PRESENTATIONS (if any)], HONORS AND SERVICE (your scholarships, Deans' Lists, organization/club involvement if you were an officer), and REFERENCES. In History, many people include RESEARCH INTERESTS and give two lines of what they are interested in. In some fields, if it is especially pertinent, some will include a LANGUAGES heading.
Too old for a PH.d?
in Applications
Posted
I don't know about STEM fields, but, in the Humanities, older students are looked upon less favorably because these schools are funding students under the assumption that they will then go out and get a tenure-track job somewhere. This improves their placement rate. If, after completing the PhD, they would be too old to be considered for tenure-track teaching positions, it makes less sense to these programs to use valuable (and increasingly scarce) funding on them.