KLZ

I received an unofficial offer of admission on Friday from a faculty member and an official letter with rough details about funding and prospective student day on Saturday. My first email mentioned that the grad committee met on Friday. I'm not sure if all offers went out over the weekend or not. I study modern US foreign relaions, btw. Also, they didn't contact me for an interview in advance. Maybe interviews are at the discretion of the faculty.

UCLA.

I think this thread as moved away from the OP's original (broad) question to a thread on researching in the archives. With that said, I would like to contribute to this great discussion on visiting archives! Expect the unexpected! I did research in southern Africa a few years ago. I reserved a hotel that I thought was across the street from a particular archive (according to the archive's stated location on its website). When I arrived, I found out that the archive had moved two years prior to my visit. And no, they did not update their website to reflect the change. I started emailing historians that I knew worked in this archive in the recent past, and none of them knew anything about the move! Fortunately, I learned that they only move a few miles down the street so I didn't miss out on the opportunity to visit during my short stay. I've heard other stories about people planning day trips to archives only to find them closed for unknown holidays, infrastructure issues, no personnel, etc. Some archives in my region are windowless buildings without proper storage of documents. Boxes tend to be damaged by weather and pests. Traveling for research can be pretty exciting stuff--if not completely anxiety inducing. I love it!

If you are possibly interested in museum studies, you might consider going for a MA in Public History, or at least enrolling in a school that offers both history and public history degrees. In general, you'll get better training and career advice from schools that have strong connections with the public history sector. I would not personally take on debt for an MA, nor would I do an MA online. Its certainly possible to attend a grad program on a part time basis while working full time to offset the cost of tuition, and its also possible to take those classes during the evening hours on campus. If you are doing the MA for self enrichment, you will get more out of the program if you go to class with other students. I would not trade in-class seminars and discussion for anything. If you are not interested in pursuing a PhD, you might focus on schools that offer a non-thesis option for the MA. Unless you are passionate about research and writing and perhaps already have a project in mind, you might enjoy the MA more if you just take the classes and do the coursework. Public History MA programs are typically non-thesis track programs, at least the program at my alma mater is.

UNC is so weird.

Did you apply to unc also? I'd love to stay in NC too.

The letter was a generic email from the DGS (even suggested they would pay for my visit to Durham....I live 20 minutes away). I think all offers of admission went out a the same time, unfortunately. A current duke student me that all students got a list of those accepted soon after the offers went out. Duke may have a soft waitlist though, and as people decline their offers, others may be admitted.

You can also apply to joint pdh/law programs.

If I get into two similarly ranked programs, I will most likely prioritize funding over fit (as long as fit is not too disparate). My project will depend on international travel, so funding is important to me. Also, my spouse is a current PhD student with a graduate student stipend, so our personal finances have to be a consideration in my decision.

Officially second string at Yale and cut from Vandy. Vandy wasn't a terrific fit. My Duke offer is looking better and better every day.

Each field has its own admissions meeting to select candidates before putting forth names to the adcom. Sounds like the committees meet at different times. That's probably why some admission notifications have already been released. Global History, for example, has not met yet.

UNC isn't finished reviewing applications yet. I just got an email requesting a phone call later this week.

Dogfish Head can't distribute 120 minute in NC, but I brought a few back from the brewery a year ago. Sadly, they did not make it through the application season.

Respectfully disagree... Drinking beer never gets dull. Wish I were drinking a Dogfish Head 61 Minute right now. I'll settle for my Sierra Nevada Hop Hunter, though.

Agreed. I'm so glad I already have an offer that I'd be thrilled to take. Best of luck to everyone! I hope this week/month brings great news!

Yes. I agree with mvlchicago - if its being published, send it! Especially through your POIs. If its just the book review that you wrote for your Yale application and you have not submitted it for publication anywhere, or have published it on a blog, etc., I'd hesitate.

Not sure you should send unsolicited materials. Anyone else, thoughts?

I got into Duke! Great option for me!!

thanks so much! that would be so exciting!

I'm the Yale interviewee I couldn't be more excited or nervous! I study 20th century US-foreign relations. My geographical focus outside of the United States is Africa, especially South Africa. I'm doing all I can to review my application materials/MA thesis and refreshing my memory on my POIs research, but other than that I am at a loss of how I should prepare for my interview! Does anyone know of a good (history PhD) thread on this forum that might help me get an idea of what questions they could ask me and what questions I should ask my interviewers? I am open to all suggestions. Best of luck to everyone going through the admissions process. The wait is killing me and its only mid-January.

Hi there! You might consider applying to NC State University for the Public History - MA program. They have a museum studies track, and they also just added a digital humanities option. Best of all, they offer funding (tuition/stipend/health insurance) for the MA and offer some support for students that take unfunded internships.