TMP

I did in my last round.... only because I told no one (except for my mother) that I was applying (again). Even if someone asked, I responded, "I'm not applying this year." The conversation moved away from graduate schools. It was an excellent idea in retrospect.

It sounds fine to me. Just submit the paper. They just want to see how well you work with primary sources (legal cases are primary sources, especially the deposition, transcript, legal briefings, etc) and analyze them. They're used to getting applications from JD people. There are a dozen of historical methods out there and you'll learn a number of them through your graduate courses in the PhD program.

What is it that is keeping you in the PhD program? Why did you want to pursue the PhD? If you realize that you're not living the subject you're working with, it may be time to think about leaving. What I mean is that most graduate students who come to "hate" their dissertation topics (either because the dissertation is not going anywhere OR they just spent so much time with it and are feeling sick and tired) but they do love other aspects of the PhD such as teaching and talking to others about the field so.... they stick it out and finish. But if everything- the department, the dissertation research process, the teaching, etc, etc- is making your miserable, then I'd consider leaving altogether. You'll also want to look ahead to the way funding is structured in your department in terms of research/travel. Will you be able to get some that will help you finish?

Honestly, if you're early in your program, don't worry too much. You just need to keep working at proving yourself and becoming a colleague. It may be that you have yet to reach your candidacy exams when your world will change. You just may not have hit the "sweet' spot for good rapport yet. Time will come as you two get more comfortable with each other.

As you enter in the university politics, you will find that nobody has a "clear" definition of diversity.... but in generally it does mean representing a minority group whether it's gender, ability, race, ethnicity, socioeconomics, sexual orientation, etc. My university's definition of "diversity" for its diversity fellowship tend to favor applicants of racial/ethnic minority group.

Honestly, the bigger issue than citations is plagiarism. Professors would prefer that you actually make the effort to cite, even if you don't have the formatting right, than not. I've had professors who insist on citing multiple times in a paragraph even if things are from one source.... just wait until you deal with journal editors and their reviewers. As for the timeline, yes, the month of December is usually spent getting the applications organized by the graduate coordinator. S/he checks the applications for missing materials and any *important* things to flag for readers such as diversity or a super desired field for that year. Then the DGS receives the applications along with sub-committees (generally divided by geographical fields). Those professors have approximately 3-4 weeks to read them, discuss their top choices, and forward their top choices to the Graduate Studies Committee. The DGS and the GSC will determine their top applicants and, if applicable, nominate their tippy top choices for fellowships from the Graduate School. That deadline is usually sometimes in late January/early February. February is generally spent -- unless everyone is guaranteed funding-- deciding the funding packages and ranking the applicants. Once that's done and approved by the faculty in a faculty meeting, the DGS notifies applicants of the admissions decision (or to the Graduate School for the online system). There's a reason why private universities are usually able to notify early while public universities have to deal with complications of limited funding and gaining funding approval from the Graduate School. Fortunately, my program (at a public university) guarantees funding to all nominated so even if the fellowship for a nominated falls through (sometimes it does happen for silly reasons), the person still has 4-5 years of TAship. Sometimes there's a second wave (of several) or a turn to the waiting list (which is done one-by-one) if there has been enough "declined." It's nerve-racking and stressful for both sides of the table. Remember, it's not just you. However, as nervous and stressed the faculty members are about getting new students, they also recognize that having admitted students saying "no" is part of the business and there's always next year. I'd urge applicants to take similar approach.... there is....always next year. Oh yes, be aware that Princeton operates on a funny academic schedule.

They don't teach you how to cite in graduate school because it's expected that you KNOW how to cite properly.

Aim for more primary source- they'd like to see how you engage with primary source research.

I definitely did in my second semester of my first year in the PhD program (I came in with a MA). I was taking four courses- 2 reading courses, 1 independent study, and a research/writing seminar. They were all necessary for my exam fields and dissertation. It was just one of those semesters where I didn't have a class where I could take a bit easier than others. I ended up crashing at the end and took extensions for all of my courses except for one. I felt very embarrassed and like a failure because I had never asked for an extension before in graduate school (except for once because of eye strain) and was usually able to cover up anything I didn't get caught up on. Depression and anxiety also got the best of me- took over my life. That semester was a wake up call for me and my adviser in context of better management and recognizing my limits. You should reach out to your professors and let them know what's up, particularly if you see that you're not going to be able to deliver good work. Is there a way you can cut back on your job for a few weeks? I did during my MA for a few weeks and it was really helpful (I did eventually quit).

Look up imposter syndrome. Nobody is immune to it. You need to raise your self-confidence so you can actually start doing well in your courses.

The OP isn't talking about having sexual feelings for her adviser though she would entertain a proposition (who doesn't if you find someone attractive?). She is on track when she mentions her childhood. Sometimes people who walk in our adulthood remind us of the void that we experienced as children and we're so happy to have that void filled in some way. It sounds to me that your personalities have meshed quite well and that's wonderful. It is important to be a bit conscious of how you talk about your adviser to others in your department and field. Hitting the right tone in your first sentences will immediately let others know that you have excellent relationship and they don't need to worry about you at all. Simply convey that you deeply respect your adviser but are open to hearing their feedback on this or that. They will be more willing to communicate with you and resepct you, thus diffusing any possibilities for rumors. Rumors will spread if you maintain an atmosphere of maintaining an exclusive relationship (i.e. will only listen to your adviser and no one else and don't interact with others in relatively similar manner as with your adviser). Many graduate students have reasonably good relationships with their advisers. Some go naturally deep faster than others. Some just fizzle out at some point. By the way, grad students think MORE about their advisers than their advisers about them. Also see PM for the 24/7 obsession. from this poster who feels about HER own adviser (and it's four years later...).

First of all, your feelings are absolutely normal. Everyone questions their fit in their first year. It's part of cultural adjustment. It's the letter from your adviser that matter the most so you definitely want to be working with someone who can immediately *get* your ideas and research. I'm in my third year. I have to cook "international." I love, love my adviser and the work she does and we're French cooks. She gives me the outlet that i need for feedback. Being the only French cook does force me to search out for outside workshops/seminars that do European cooking so I can interact with colleagues closer to my area. I bring in some Chinese cooking to our conversation and they're richer because I share knowledge and insights from the Chinese cooks. It's an interesting challenge to be in a mediating position and the rewards are really satisfying. Your dissertation is an area of your PhD career where you get to be a real specialist- you have all that time to read whatever you want. Your coursework is designed to make you a generalist so you can teach as broadly as possible. Give yourself a full year before deciding whether or not this program is for you. You'll also want to be conscious of faculty searches that are being planned. Sometimes it's hard to attract new faculty if there aren't any graduate students for them to work with immediately. Just thoughts off the top of my head.

I struggle with that issue too! Some grad students have found me too intense because I can't stop talking about academics, even in a social setting like a bar. I'm trying to curb it and talk about what they want to talk about (sometimes not so interesting to me...). A number of my peers want work to stay at home/office and just get drunk and dance all night. But as others say, little things like hanging out in the lab/office for a bit can do you good. You need small doses of human contact to stay sane and healthy. Talking to your pre-grad school friends can help a lot to remind you of who you are and what you like to do when you're not obsessing with your research.

Love this "autocorrect." In all more seriousness, you might be interested in Ohio State as the department recently strengthened its modern US history program in the area of women, gender, and sexuality. Your GPA is a bit low and I'd encourage you to apply to more MA programs. I wouldn't stay at UIUC for your PhD unless you're working with a super star because having all three degrees (BA, MA, and PhD) from one institution suggests that you might not have broad intellectual exposure as if you do take 2 out of 3 degrees in one institution. No two departments are alike and you would be challenged at each department you work in.

I say this for every single person thinking of going to grad school. Make sure you have had time off from school whether before starting undergrad or between undergrad and grad school. You will arrive in the program more settled and ready to work, not spending weekends getting trashed. Spending time outside of academia also makes you a more interesting person especially that your professors are very.... cosmopolitan. Another thing I always say, have a "Plan B" in place before you submit those applications. Admissions is very competitive-- it's partially dumb luck. What are you going to do if you don't get in that year? What if you student teach next year and realize that you don't really like it? Would it be because of the student body (K-12)? College students are hardly different from high school, especially freshmen and sophomores and you'll be dealing with them as a teaching assistant (TA). What if you just don't like to teach- would you be okay pursuing the PhD for the love of it and get whatever job that fits you afterward? As Sigaba,suggested, spend more time cultivating relationships with your professors and exploring your interests than worrying about admissions. Such tasks will actually help strengthen your application- you'll see as you put it together when the time comes. Don't worry about your double major- your English background clearly informed your interests in social and cultural aspects of the Victorian Age via literature. You wrote that you're interested in "imperial history"- what would be your interested in the British Empire during Victorian Age? As regular forumites know.... I'm bluntly honest about graduate school. My $.02.

Gotta say this. Don't forget the food! It's another big expense.

Only you can decide what's for you. You'll need to investigate the types of intellectual questions you want to ask. Are you interested in Japanese colonial history and intend to write a dissertation about it? Are you using the contemporary issues as a jumping off point for "why history matters"? Or are you more interested in theory, methods, and quantitative analysis and not consider the "humanity" of colonialism?

It may be that he was taken by your presentation during your orals and would like to see you speak more and get into the habit. Consider his feedback as a professionalization advice. If I were you, I would send him an e-mail letting him know that you will show up for the next class and do what he asked to you to do- speak up more. If he doesn't respond, just go and do it. If he doesn't say anything, then it's all forgotten on his part.

I used to get really nervous in my first year as well about my adviser leaving because one of the best jobs in our field had opened up. Of course, nobody said anything of that sort in my department- just not really the culture. Still, until you have facts from your adviser's mouth, gossip is gossip. Also, I agree with TakeruK's take on the self-deprecating comment, especially if your institution isn't one of the top 10-15. Once the professor receives tenure, it's quite difficult to move because tenured professors required more money (salary, start-up costs for buyout, etc) than tenure-track professors. If you're already in a well-positioned department, I wouldn't worry, because it's harder tot move "up" than down. But if you just *have* to know, next time you discuss your coursework, ask him about his plans for Fall 2015 and whether or not he can do independent study with you in your specific area.

From my own experience, let her be. As the deadline approaches, just send a text/e-mail saying "I hope my feedback was helpful. Best of luck!" It seems to be you're being helpful as a peer helping another peer win a fellowship. Until you get to know her well, I wouldn't read into her non-response too much. Also, you should-- by now-- already recognize that feedback is feedback and you cannot take others' reception of your feedback personally. I've learned from my professors to say this, "Take my feedback or leave it." It elicits greater autonomy for the person to decide for him/herself what to do with it and makes you appear as a gracious, respectful person.

It does depend on the overall departmental culture and politics concerning whether or not the faculty on leave may be able to get a new student upon his/her return. I've applied to programs where my POIs were on leave and didn't get in. I knew it would be tough- they had told me that they wouldn't be able to be "there" to pull the strings. It's normal and expected that your adviser will go on leave at least once during your PhD. It does matter at what stage though- prior to candidacy exams, you'll need him/her around. It's going to be up to the two of you how you're going to be able to proceed while s/he is gone. Developing a relationship with other faculty members in your first year is crucial for this reason (and many others) because you'll want to build a support network which you can lean on when you're running into issues with your adviser. Thus far, I haven't really heard any of my graduate peers complaining about an adviser going MIA because of sabbatical. If they're MIA, they're already MIA by character. With e-mails, phones, etc. these days, no reason for people to drastically change their communication.

Eh, I just checked the box "Yes" to see what happened. Didn't do anything for me at the end.

To be blunt, there is almost no external research support for master's students. I was a MA student as well but in an interdisciplinary one (with a history focus). Most MA students can only get support from their universities. External fellowships want doctoral students who will be writing their dissertations (with hopes of turning those into books). Even so, those doctoral students usually have to pass their candidacy exams in order to qualify for research fellowships. As for conferences, I found them through H-Net daily digests and went to the annual meetings in my particular fields. I know some graduate students have asked their advisers where they could present their work. There are a lot of graduate conferences. If you are in a PhD program as a terminal MA student, you should be asking the DGS or graduate program coordinator for those e-mails announcing conferences. I would not be so concerned about "enhancing" your CV for doctoral programs if that's the reason. You just do the best you can and write the finest writing sample possible. Professors aren't stupid- they know what's available out there for research monies and that many do not support students pursuing master's degrees and will be forgiving about it.

Why did you decide to go for a MA in Classics? What were you hoping to get out of it? If you're on scholarship (full ride that is), why are you asking? You're being given the opportunity to study something that you love for a few years without much cost. The value of your MA for the job market shouldn't matter then. Choose a job that you can see yourself doing regardless of what your degrees are in. It sounds to me that you're still not sure what you want to do that isn't related to history. It'll take some time to find that niche in this world where job options are endless. Do a few internships (you'll probably have to start off with unpaid to get some experience). If your MA isn't entirely funded and you're placing the value of your MA in connection to jobs, you'd be best to walk away now. It's not worth going into debt for MA unless it's something you're genuinely interested in and you don't mind spending a few years doing it (and years of paying off the loans).

The key is.... be an advocate for yourself and don't be afraid to fall flat on your face in front of your adviser. Your adviser's job is to help you get back on your feet and steer you in the right direction. A good adviser won't get upset as long as you tried and don't make assumptions about what s/he wants/expects of you.