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emhafe

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Everything posted by emhafe

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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!
  6. 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.
  7. 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/
  8. 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/.
  9. 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. ?
  10. Oooooh, come to the dark side--go the public history route ?
  11. A full time course load is 9 credit hours, or 3 classes. I would anticipate taking 3 courses unless your program director says otherwise.
  12. 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.
  13. 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.
  14. emhafe

    Chicago, IL

    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.
  15. emhafe

    Chicago, IL

    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.
  16. emhafe

    Chicago, IL

    This is my first Chicago winter (I live in North Chicago). Everyone keeps telling me that it hasn't been bad (so far). I did invest in a really nice heavy coat before I came. One of my professors gave us a winter pep talk and emphasized not wearing your heaviest winter coat until it's really cold. It's the wind that makes life miserable. I will say I find myself less motivated to do these in the winter evenings, but I do think I've adjusted pretty well. If everyone else can do it, I can do it!
  17. @TMP, I totally understand your concerns and I have no plans of writing in crazy, off-the-wall ways. (Although maybe if I want to use my PhD like Philippa Gregory did, I should start... ). There's nothing wrong with exploring writing styles. Yes, our dissertations must follow a standard format, but part of learning is growing. Thankfully I'm in a program that provides a little more leeway to try new things. Of course, the program is specifically for people who aren't remaining in academia, so we're a little different to begin with. @TheHessianHistorian and @pinoysoc, if you haven't read The Craft of Research, I also find it to be a good source to add to the collection. I've had two grad professors assign it at this point. It did make me reconsider my argument and evidence more. Also, @ashiepoo72, I read Scraping By in the fall and it was so good!
  18. Yes, Cronon was a great suggestion! I read his classic Nature's Metropolis fairly recently. I'll have to look at the other ones, @TheHessianHistorian. I'm a fan of the colonial stuff. Arc of Justice by Kevin Boyle is also phenomenally written. It reads almost like a novel more than a history book. I kept having to remind myself to take notes!
  19. Hello! I've been pondering my writing style a lot recently when it comes to historiographies, seminar papers, and my future dissertation. I realized I write very topically throughout a paper and want to smooth my writing out (if that makes sense). So, to make this more fun, I wanted to ask everyone what articles or books you enjoyed because of the author's writing style. Did you like their use of narrative? Did it open with a weird story? Was it easy to read yet informative? Are there any popular history books you enjoyed because of their writing style? Haha, I know that might be a controversial question, but I'm just interested in reading good examples of writing. (Although, if you have a really bad one, feel free to share that too!)
  20. emhafe

    Chicago, IL

    Hello! I moved here in August and live on about $1,700 a month. Definitely not the easiest, but totally possible. I currently have roommates but want to live alone next year, so I'm willing to pay extra. You can find studios around $750-850 and some one bedrooms around $900 in the outer edges of the city. I prefer the northern part of the city anyways. However, I did move from Pittsburgh where the cost of living is significantly lower, so it was a sad change. Taxes on groceries and stuff like that are also fairly high.
  21. This was my first time attending the conference. I assumed this was the set-up used in previous years, but during the cold it was really, really miserable. Thankfully they had the shuttle, but the shuttle wasn't super effective since it couldn't make a full loop during the 30 minute break window and it dropped you about a block from the door still. That being said, I had so much fun at the conference!!! I felt like a real historian for the first time! I got to meet some cool people! I did not go broke buying books!
  22. I love the fact that someone from AHA was willing to be interviewed for the article. Obviously it's the whole reason I'm attending the conference... I definitely read a history book once where in the acknowledgements the author wrote about how he met his wife when their eyes locked at a conference. I wish I could remember the book.
  23. Hello! I just wanted to pass along the link for the online program. https://aha.confex.com/aha/2018/webprogram/start.html So much to see and do! I'd also like to share the most unexpected website for conference attending tips. I discovered this yesterday: http://www.datingadvice.com/for-women/the-american-historical-association-unites-thousands-of-members-at-annual-meetings Enjoy perusing!
  24. Thanks for the information! I moved halfway across the US this week and forgot to respond. @rising_star's advice to find a bar does appear to be the cheapest option! Ugh, the whole NFL market area/black-out area thing really irks me. At least pre-season gives me plenty of time to test out the bars in the area...
  25. Ok, this certainly isn't an academic question, but I thought someone might be able to advise me. I'm moving out of the network area for my beloved football team and am looking into services to watch the games. I'm willing to pay (to a certain extent). Football games are my weekly mental break if I can't squeeze any other time in, and I just can't imagine not watching my team play for several years. It almost seems cheaper to go to a sports bar and pay for a couple drinks weekly. For anyone else who has moved and loves watching their team, what is the best way you have found to do it? I figure I can use the preseason games to test out services. Thanks!
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