ToomuchLes
-
Posts
348 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Posts posted by ToomuchLes
-
-
Submitted all my applications during Thanksgiving Break, and now... I am waiting for a single letter of rec submission to complete my application
-
Today I found out that I passed my French proficiency exam, thus satisfying my language requirement for graduation. I am taking Portuguese this semester (and in the Spring), but due to my full schedule I am thinking about dropping it. What is the general attitude towards a W on graduate transcripts? Should I mention it in my SOP?
My MA GPA is 3.95, so Im concerned that because I don't practice my Portuguese often it will drastically hurt my GPA.
-
Great advice from everyone =) Thanks!
Welcome Bridget H!
-
I emailed a POI a month ago and never received a reply. I briefly introduced myself, mentioned my plans to apply to the program, and then concluded by asking if the POI was accepting new graduate students. When should I send a second email? I would like to know, for sure, if each POI that I selected is accepting a new grad student, which is the purpose of my emails.
EDIT: Just to be clear, there is no information on the website or their page.
-
On 7/29/2016 at 6:07 PM, novazembla said:
Hi everyone! I'm applying to a bunch of PhD programs for fall 2017, focusing on modern East Central Europe. The universities I'm applying to have pretty wildly divergent requirements for the length of the writing sample, ranging from ten pages (!!) to thirty pages to "Just send the whole thing with the understanding that we probably won't read all of it if it's too long". I have a 50-page research paper that I want to use as the basis for the writing samples. I'm wondering if it's okay for me to send an excerpt from this paper to the schools requesting shorter samples that's very obviously an excerpt, or do I have to re-form it into something that would pass as a stand-alone thing? Professors I've talked to have told me that sending an excerpt is okay, but I'd like the input of others, too.
I'm also completely at sea about the statement of purpose. Can anyone point me to any sample SOPs for history? I know that's lame, but that sort of thing really helps me. I know what my purpose is, I just am not sure how to go about writing it and it's making me a little crazy.
intextrovert gave some brilliant advice here ...
I formatted my MA SOP in a similar structure - Focus, Fit, Future. Im doing the same now for my PhD SOP =)
If anyone is interested in swapping SOP send me a PM!
-
Question for everyone: Out of curiosity, what type of writing sample are you submitting - original research seminar paper, thesis, book review, historiography, etc?
-
24 minutes ago, mvlchicago said:
So it begins! If any of y'all have questions about Brown feel free to message me
~~First year going on secondI appreciate the offer and will definitely message you in the coming weeks.
-
Hello, hello!
I am also looking at the US South of the 19th century, though I am focusing on the history of slave families and enslaved youth. Still in my early stages of putting together my apps, so I am still searching for programs/POIs. If anyone has suggestions, feel free to post/PM. As always the app season is both exciting and scary, but hopefully it goes well for all of us.
-
Unfortunately, I do not know of any cheap, safe storage units in Bloomington. I suggest googling and reading reviews
-
The city takes good care of the roads during the winter season. Snowplows clear the streets as early as 5:30am, however if you're coming from Cali make sure you trade in your low-profile tires for all-season. Even with clear roads, your car will encounter ice and when it does you need friction to stop safely. All you have to do is look at the writing on your tires to know what type they are. Also, you will need an ice scrapper, which you can buy for less than $10 in town.
I have two suggestions regarding the winter. First, make sure you have warm clothing by early November because you will wake up one morning with two inches of snow and no warning. You can find places to buy clothes in town. I shopped at Kohls because I have a card+purchase points. Theres also Target, thrift stores, and little momma-papa shops all over the town. Second, buy a portable $15-30 room heater
Finally, if you're near the beach make sure you enjoy while you can. I was a huge Venice beach bum, and oh, do I miss it.
-
17 hours ago, hahaha1234 said:
I'm from LA!. What about you? I have not seen snow for years and really don't know how to prepare for the cold
I was in your shoes ... err flipflops when I moved from LA to Btown. Make sure you have good shoes (Converse won't suffice, I tried), an exterior waterproof thin (or thick) jacket, and dress in layers. Also, buy 2-3 tights to wear under jeans or dress pants; scarf and a few stylish beanies. Be prepared for all kinds of weathers, from Wizard of Oz-like windstorms and thunderstorms to random humid heat spells.
-
3 hours ago, KLZ said:
I've decided to attend Duke! I'm excited and grateful for the opportunity to study with amazing scholars. I also got a summer job with Duke that I'll start at the end of May. Its in South Africa! I'll get the chance to work with undergraduates while conducting my own research. Can't wait!
Sounds awesome! I am very jealous.
-
56 minutes ago, st3p4n said:
IU. Only program that would admit me, but a good fit and a nice change of scene from SoCal.
Welcome! I too came from SoCAL and it definitely is a change of scenery.
-
15 hours ago, MikeTheFronterizo said:
My brother is an undergrad at UCD and also recommended Lorena Oropeza! I completely forgot about looking deeper at the program there.
Thank you for mentioning Rachel St. John! I just did some research on her and her area of research is pretty much identical to mine. She has an interesting paper that I have not yet come across in my research on the Tijuana vice industry of the 1910s-1930s. I wrote about the topic last quarter and I have to say it's very similar in terms of subject but Professor St. John takes another point of view that I did not think of.
I am now seriously looking into UCD because of the her and the other faculty. Once again thanks!
2I second ... or third, .. working with Dr. Resendez and Dr. Oropeza. I knew them during my undergrad years at UCD, and they're fantastic people! I don't study Mexican/Chicano history, so unfortunately I cannot speak for their scholarship but it seems other people already have =)
-
2 hours ago, aslabchu said:
My understanding is that the buses are one of the best parts about IU. They're free for students, relatively prompt, reliable, and accessible (they have a phone app so you can see where your bus is). I talked to some of the various offices on campus and I was strongly cautioned not to try to park on campus on a regular basis, even with an upgraded permit. They give out many more than there are actual spots, so there's quite the competition to park.
The bus system is free for all IU students, and somewhat reliable. I say, somewhat because in the winter time they have a tendency to be a few mins late/early at the stops, so you need to keep an eye on the app. If you search in the app store "Indiana University," download their main app. Using the app you can search/enroll-in classes, check emails, use OnCourse/Canvas, and yes, check the location of the bus. I heard they're redoing the app over the summer, so it'll be better by the new academic year.
I would highly advise NOT purchasing an on campus parking pass. They do oversell more permits than actual spots, and unless you arrive early in the morning, you'll have a very hard time finding parking. They also cost a few hundred bucks, ouch. Don't risk parking on campus without a pass either cause campus police always patrol the parking areas. If you need to drop something off and only need to park for 10-20mins, on the east side (near the Law School) you can find free 30min parking by stores, restaurants, bars, etc. Theyre pretty empty during the daytime, but don't leave your car for longer than the available time.
I take the #6 and have a majority of my classes in Ballantine Hall (biggest, ugliest building on campus =( ). I usually leave 30 mins before class starts, and always arrive on time. Thats my experience.
-
Depends on the course and instructor. Typically for a colloquium, we're required to read one monograph, 1-2 articles each week, and then expected to write a 2-3 page response paper. On top of these weekly assignments, we have book reviews, and grant proposals/syllabus projects due throughout the semester, and a single 10-15 page historiography/big project due at the end; but it really varies on the instructor.
In one class, we have to write a book review, grant proposal and historiography paper; while in another, we have 4 book reviews.
Research seminars don't require readings (at least not the one that I'm taking).
What is the workload at your department like?
-
Its crazy how much we have to read in grad school. Im handling the reading load well, but looking back after a week... sometimes I surprise myself that I can keep up.
I read South Side Girls: Growing Up in the Great Migration by Marcia Chatelain. Finally! An assigned book on the History of Childhood. Although I've already read it, I very much enjoyed reading it again.
Also read From the Bullet to the Ballot: The Illinois Chapter of the Black Panther Party and Racial Coalition Politics in Chicago by Jakobi Williams; Left of Karl Marx: The Political Life of Black Communist Claudia Davis by Carole Davies; and, as a fun read, Havana Storm by Clive Cussler.
-
3 hours ago, aslabchu said:
This is what I've heard. It's a shame.
I second this.
If you're attending IU for a masters, theres no reason to switch state residencies unless you see yourself staying in Indy longer than a year or the university is funding you thus switching residencies is required. I started my MA in history, expecting to finish in 2 academic years, but it looks like I will finish everything by this fall (I started my program fall, 2015). If you're driving across country with your belongings (especially from CA) or have any general questions about Bloomington, I can answer any questions/concerns =)
Bloomington is definitely a charming blue dot in a red sea. It has a lot of things to do, places to see, but be warned (if you're coming from a place that doesn't have a winter) you need to plan ahead, i.e buy layered clothing (which I didn't have coming from LA haha), car maintenance, proper footwear.
-
4 hours ago, Neist said:
I should post in here more. I burn through a lot of books.
Haha I hear you. I started reading Angela Davis's Women, Culture and Politics and finished this afternoon. This is my first time reading her material and wooow... I could feel the passion in her written words. Its one of those books that energizes me to share my findings with people and read more about the topic. Really good book. Tomorrow, Im starting The Cry Was Unity: Communists and African Americans 1917-1936 by Mark Solomon.
-
This was a great thread back in the day that I'm hoping to revive.
I just finished reading for the second time Talitha L. LeFlouria's Chained in Silence: Black Women and Convict Labor in the New South. I read and wrote a book review on it last semester. A very enjoyable read! It's so cool when you reread a book you notice small things you missed before. Today, I even spent some free time revising and adding a few points to my old paper haha.
Also reading for fun Confessions of an English Opium-Eater by Thomas De Quincey cause ... why not
Tomorrow, Im going to start reading Marcia Chatelain's South Side Girls.
-
8 hours ago, Ahtlatl said:
Like I said, a person in the history dept. told me that all fields made all of their decisions as of last Friday. No word on whether acceptance letters have been sent out (still waiting for my official letter), I only got an informal phone call. My POI said that they still needed to go through some more hoops to make it 100% official, but he wanted to let me know that as long as nothing weird came up, I would be in. As I said previously, my POI and I talk frequently, he's my mentor/thesis advisor, so that's probably why he gave me the inside word on my acceptance. Another person here said that they were notified about being waitlisted by their POI at UCLA who is also their thesis advisor. So I think that the only people who have been informed are those who are in regular contact at UCLA with their POIs. My guess is that they still have to get more paperwork and other bureaucratic stuff done first, and then whenever that's done, all of the letters will be sent out, hopefully this week! Only way of knowing right now is through your POI if they are willing to be forthcoming with that info.
Hey Ahtlatl, I'll be finishing up my MA program at IU this upcoming fall, and applying for PhD programs at the same time. UCLA is my top 5 interested programs. Can I PM you a few questions about your applications?
-
You should find a prof in the dept that best aligns with your research interests. Talk to him/her about the program, whether its advisable to attend the same school for grad school (some believe academic incest is a big nono), if theyre accepting grad students, and any additional questions you have about the program. Email them, dont show up at their office.
I wouldn't stress too much about the GRE though. The essays and "fit" is much more important. And if you're worried about your GPA, dont be; its fine
-
Going from Davis' quarter to IU's semester is an interesting experience. I must say, I prefer the semester system over quarter.
-
Biggest, most obvious : MA programs are usually non-funded, while most PhDs are funded.
Fall 2017 applicants
in History
Posted
NWU, UCLA, and Rice have already made decisions.