emhafe

I'm late to the game, but I do want to add this: getting a PhD in history doesn't automatically qualify you for jobs in the GLAM (galleries, libraries, archives, museums) sector. Those fields require different skill sets that aren't normally taught in a traditional history program. As someone mentioned earlier, getting internships and finding opportunities for certificates along the way will greatly boost your odds of getting a job in that field. I'm biased--my PhD is in public history, my MA is in public history, my undergrad had a public history minor--but we need to be realistic about the "alt-ac" jobs that are pushed, especially if people are unprepared for them. Those fields aren't brimming with jobs either, and even with a PhD you'll need to be competitive against BAs and MAs who have more experience in the field. Twenty or thirty years ago you might have managed to do that. It's harder now.

My university told departments to spread 1 cohort across 2 years to prevent a full year without acceptances. This information won't be publicized and I suspect will be common. The philosophy department at the university filled up all their slots for this fall and won't be able to take anyone until fall 2022.

I would like to recommend Arizona State University. They have a really vibrant online program. I'm not a student there--I'm a PhD candidate elsewhere--but I have heard great things about their program. https://asuonline.asu.edu/online-degree-programs/graduate/master-arts-history/ Their professors have produced some of my favorite history books.

My university is online for grad programs and "hybrid" for undergrad--although every course that is offered on campus must be made available online if a student requests it. I'm ABD so I'm not worrying about classes, but I'm grateful for an active dissertation writing group that meets virtually on Mondays. We do Slack text check-ins on Friday. This has provided the pandemic with some sense of normalcy. Our HGSA is active and keeps planning virtual movie nights or Zoom happy hours, which is nice. I'll be teacher of record for the first time ever this fall--so, not ideal time to get my own classroom, but excited to have final say over ethical decisions related to COVID in my classroom instead of having to run it up the TA food chain. I'd definitely suggest trying some Zoom events for fun instead of just for work! Makes a world of difference.

No, that's fine! I just met a perspective PhD student and her parents happened to walk across campus with her so we invited them along for the tour. I'm close to my parents and couldn't imagine moving to a new city without them viewing the campus too! I wanted their insight. It's totally fine. Also, congrats on museum studies! I'm a public historian--yay museum folks!

So, I'm curious what other grad students and grad school survivors have to offer. I'm in a program that I initially loved, was excited to work with my dissertation adviser, and willing to overlook that I really don't like the geographic location. Now my dissertation adviser is taking a different job, I'm done with coursework, and for the first time really floundering about my decision to come here. Like, all of a sudden it hits me just how much I don't like living here and that I'm only here for this program that now feels unsatisfactory (no longer anyone in my field). I have funding for five years (almost half way through) and seriously considering forfeiting the reminding years to take a job and write the dissertation while working. Thoughts? I haven't posted on here in years so I'm not sure I put it in the right place. This might just be me venting. Idk...I've been so sure of everything at every moment and now I just feel sad and confused now.

Are you fully set on museum studies or willing to apply for public history MA programs as well? Most of those provide funding. This link provides a list of programs: . https://ncph.org/program-guide/

What aspect of historic preservation work would you like to go into? Some public history programs offer a strong emphasis in historic preservation. The National Council on Public History allows you to search programs with a historic preservation emphasis: http://ncph.org/program-guide/.

For whatever reason, the first thought that came to my head when reading this was high school and I was super impressed you were applying to PhD programs straight out of high school. ?

Oooooh, come to the dark side--go the public history route ?

A full time course load is 9 credit hours, or 3 classes. I would anticipate taking 3 courses unless your program director says otherwise.

Note: My advice only pertains to Catholic schools. Attending a Catholic school was an important factor in my undergraduate and graduate decision making. Catholic schools in generally shy away from statements of faith. At one point in my undergraduate school's history, it had a very brief president who did try to enforce one and he met huge resistance from staff. Ultimately, he did not last at the school. There are also varying levels of "spirituality" (for lack of a better word) at schools. Some colleges are very outwardly religious (thinking of Franciscan University of Steubenville) while other schools are more secular in environment. (I don't want to name an example because that's a contentious debate among Catholics, and it feels wrong to pass judgement on a university's religious atmosphere). If you're worried specifically about Catholic schools, there are resources like the Cardinal Newman Society which releases a program about the spiritual life of Catholic schools. That could provide insight on how active the faith is on campus. https://cardinalnewmansociety.org/program/the-newman-guide/ I would assume there are similar guides for Christian universities in general that can provide insight.

I've found that specifically in public history graduate programs that there are a variety of academic backgrounds. Of course, there are differences between public history and "traditional" history, but I've never seen my classmates struggle because they have an English background rather than a history background. (We have a few). I think interdisciplinary approaches can help to really round you out as a scholar! Plus, your statement of purpose is the place to explain how that English background affects your historical scholarship.

Since this is my first year in Chicago, I opted to live close to campus until I had a better understanding of the city. So, I walk a couple blocks over! I've been quite spoiled this year by that.

I have a stipend slight smaller than yours (18,000) and live in the northern part of the city. I've always been frugal, but I've been extra careful since starting my PhD with budgeting. I have been able to save money--one, because I set it in my budget and, two, because I don't feel the need to spend every cent in my monthly budget if at the end I have money left over. Next year I'm going to find a studio which will make my housing more expensive and I doubt I can save as much (if any), but it was a decision I had to make for my own happiness.