Heimat Historian

Congratulations Ashiepoo!

Exciting Gurjap. How are your preparations coming? Have you found somewhere to live?

Oh I understand now. Got it.

I think it's important to include relevant secondary literature. It shows you understand the historiography in your field. From my experience, departments want folks to be able to reference the key points of debate in their scholarship.

I'd begin by looking at history departments in the 1-50 scale according to rankings. Find professors at those schools who work on immigration and begin reaching out to them with your interests. I found this immensely helpful in my search for programs. Also, consider if you'd be a good fit with their methodologies, interests, etc. Finally, consider what your goals are after you graduate. That will influence where you apply.

My best piece of advice is apply broadly. Between 8 and 15 seems to be the sweet spot for getting into a good program. Also, are you interested in a particular immigrant group? A certain region?

My adviser is teaching theory in the fall! Getting more excited by the day.

Such an exciting time! My countdown is to 81 days left at work.

That's fantastic! Congrats on surviving comps. I registered last week for way too many hours. My adviser suggested I go to the classes and see which ones I liked the most.

That's brilliant! I'm stealing this.

The time goes so slowly! I work a 9-5 as well and every day just creeps. I can't wait to start the next phase of my life.

uh... that's very strange.

I get to register for classes today! It's really happening guys.

I'm in a similar position Chiqui. My wife is on the job market for the Iowa city area and has had some positive feedback, but nothing substantial yet. We're also cleaned out the garage of a bunch of stuff this past weekend. Finally, we're looking to rent the house before we move. I can't wait for August!

I'd say the majority of popular history books are written by journalists. They have a completely different methodology for how they do their work. I appreciate a good narrative, but I also want better source work.

Yeah. Shirer was pretty good.

I know this is a bias, but I have little patience for journalist who pretend to be historians.

I love the dismissiveness Baruma shows towards theoretical approaches. This isn't my field but I'd imagine he's pretty old school.

I'm re-bumping this thread. I'll be attending Iowa in the fall for my PhD in history. Who else is going to be there?

Hm.. no Iowa folks huh?

This is great to hear everyone!

Congratulations Ashiepoo!

Would you do US/Russian relations in history? like foreign policy?

Ok. So if you want to be a balanced 50-50 research and teaching you're not really looking at liberal arts colleges. You're looking at Research universities. With that in mind you need to consider schools that have a proven record of solid placement in those type of institutions. There's a report floating around on the forums that lists the schools by rank from a study a few years back. Look at that list and then dig in and do some research on those schools that have the type of adviser you want to work with and in a place you can live in for the next 5-7 years. Then start making contact.

CarrieMarie, what are your post-grad school plans? That matters as to the type of programs you apply to.