[Suggestions for brief US Social History reading list]

MacLean does have a lot of political undertones, so you might want something else if you are looking for diversity. Have you read Trachtenberg's The Incorporation of America? It fits into the time period and might fit well with Lears and Kennedy (Although I think Lears' Rebirth of a Nation and Kern's Culture of Time and Space are better, they may not fit into your scope). Something like Peiss' Cheap Amusements might be a fit and move away from the political and towards the cultural with a focus on gender.

[Suggestions for brief US Social History reading list]

Just off the top of my head, Cohen's Consumers Republic is worth reading and really picks up where Making a New Deal leaves off. Roedigger's Wages of Whiteness is a great read if you haven't got to it already. David Kennedy's Over Hear is a pretty good history of the First World War. I also am a big fan of Nancy Maclean's Freedom is Not Enough and Lisa McGirr's Suburban Warriors. Most of these border social history, some more than others.

Hope that helps!

[Fall 2014 Applicants]

Hi everyone,

This upcoming spring, I'll have graduated from UMass Dartmouth with a BA in History, so naturally I've been looking deep into possible Master's programs. I've been quite stumped as to what schools would be best for my interests, though. What I want to study is social and intellectual history during Renaissance Italy. I'm also particularly fascinated in the more prominent families of the time period, such as the Medicis, the Borgias, the Sforzas, etc.

So, what schools have good Master's programs for European history? One of my top choices was Brown, but from what I've read, there are probably better choices than Brown as far as European history goes. I've also looked into Penn and UC Berkeley but I'm stumped otherwise.

Recommendations?

Not really something I know a lot about, but I have heard a lot of good things about University of Toronto and it's European history (seems to be it's strength). Might be worth looking into.

[Fall 2014 Applicants]

Canadiensfan: Your first project sounds like it might fit in well at schools with strong history of science programs. I think New England Nate would be able to cover this a little better, but I know Cornell, Princeton, and Harvard (in the latter case, History of Science is a separate PhD program) have good ones. You may also want to think about American Studies or History of American Civilizations programs that might let you work on more expansive or interdisciplinary projects. As to your second question, I would apply as widely as possible. Find the programs with both the best narrow and broad fits and see where you get in. Admissions can be a crapshoot and you may not wind up with the choices you'd expect. As for your third question, see the discussion above about applying with two different projects in mind that are vaguely within the same general field. I did this in my application on the assumption that it wouldn't look good to have recommenders talk up one focus area if I claimed I would go in another in an application to some schools, but I think it hurt me. The best thing to do might be to make absolutely sure you're on the same page as your recommenders so that nothing they say will "give away" that you've applied to different schools with different foci in mind.

Thank you for the advice!

I've thought about both Princeton and Harvard, and I looked into Cornell on your advice and I think I will strongly consider applying to them. My only issue with Harvard is I don't want to get a PhD in the History of Science, I'd much rather get a PhD in history with a specialty in the history of science (not sure of this really matters). I've also looked into UPenn but it is a separate program much like Harvard.

American studies isn't something I have given much thought to, but I have looked at Yale's program, as well as the one at Brown. Not sure of this is something I want to further explore. Like I said I very much want to work in history. However I know of some great historians who have american studies degrees.

Thanks again for the great advice!

[Fall 2014 Applicants]

Hello everyone!

 

I've been a long time reader of these boards and I have decided to register and start posting as I will be applying for my PhD this fall. I have just finished my MA and decided to take a year off to ready my applications.

 

Just a little bit about myself, and then a few questions. I focused on American history for the MA and I really want to continue research in that field. However being Canadian, and also worried about getting into American schools, I have decided to also apply for a similar project in Canadian history should I end up only getting into Canadian schools.

 

My interests lay in late nineteenth and twentieth century American cultural history. I guess I have two major interests within this broad framework. First, I am interested in the relationship between older traditions of magic, spiritualism and the occult, and the emerging scientific worldview of the twentieth century (My MA focused on this). My second interest lay in the development of a culture of consumption from reconstruction to WWII. I would like to do a cultural history of salesmanship, from the traveling salesman to the department store demonstration.

 

Now on to my questions. First does anyone have any suggestions for schools for these projects? Schools I'm applying for sure are: University of North Carolina, Rutgers, University of Michigan and Wisconsin. I've been thinking about Chicago, Johns Hopkins, Minnesota, Harvard, Yale and Princeton, but I don't think these are perfect fits.

 

That leads me to my next question. What should I be looking for in terms of a fit? Should I look for professors that border on my specialization or should I be looking for a department with strengths in American cultural history, and a strong focus on the late nineteenth and twentieth century.

 

Finally, What is everyone's opinion on applying to different programs with two projects? Should I do this or should I decide on a single path? (I can always pursue other projects later in my career).

 

Thanks in advance! I look forward to going through this process with you all!