catsandscarves

When I applied (two years ago) there was an official waitlist, and they notified me via email. I'm guessing that is probably the same?

cohorts aren't as big as they used to be so sometimes only a few are on grad cafe. I know in my application year (2014) they took 10 (at least that is what they told me!) I don't mean to be a downer just trying to provide info! Also anyone with questions about IU, feel free to be in touch.

Hope it went well!!

I would just focus on responding to their questions. It just so happened that the questions were more historiographically/terminology based than I had expected rather than centered on if the program was a good fit. It seems to be the case for other people too so far. I think they want to see how you think. I would be prepared for both!

I did last cycle! They asked me many questions based on terminology and the historiographical changes in my field/those terms...you're not alone!

did you email them when you submitted your application? when was the deadline? if a professor asked me to do that, I would email them and let them know I submitted my application and that I was still very excited (in a more tame way obviously) to work with them/interested in their program. I would reply to the thread we had already started together so they could remember who I was. Hope this helps!

For my first round of applications, where I only got in 2/10 after graduating from a very small liberal arts college, I called every school and asked why I was rejected. 6/10 said they did not even read my application because they did not know my school. I appreciated their honesty and picked up an MA from a state school. This drastically changed my second application cycle, and I had choices between a few top programs in my field. (humblebrag for information's sake ). The MA made all the difference.

that must be what you are searching because it is definitely a large field. I can follow up with more later but I'd scan Ethnohistory, William and Mary Quarterly, and state journals in your region of interest to start. These are all scholars working in later time periods but Dan Richter, Dan Silver, Nancy Shoemaker, Claudio Saunt, Juliana Barr, Christina Snyder, Susan Sleeper-Smith, Robbie Ethridge, David Nichols, James Brooks, Karl Jacoby, Kathleen DuVal are all scholars who explore these kinds of themes and there are many, many more. I have tried to vary this list regionally as well.

Hello! we have similar research interests (though differing geographically and temporally). I study early American and Native American history (particularly mid-eighteenth and into the antebellum era but I am still narrowing this) in the Ohio River Valley. I am very interested in relations between Euro-Americans and Native peoples and in particular thinking about captivity, slavery, kinship, and race. More than willing to chat!

IU Bloomington does not fund all or even most of their MA students...

No need to worry really there are still seats open in the class. I'll see you there

Quick notes from being Waitlisted at michigan: you could get a call on April 15 so keep that in mind. Also it's not in only based on a ranked order; for you to get in someone in your field has to reject. This is how wait lists at many schools work, but I know this is how Michigan's work from faculty there. Best of luck to you all!

IU doesn't do a visit weekend but they do schedule many individual visits for students working around your schedule. I got my offer letter a few weeks after receiving that very same email so I hope for the same for you! What is your field/POI at IU?

I was absolutely exhausted on one visit, and then they took me out for Italian. So first of all carbs are going to put me to bed. Then they (2 profs) insisted on getting a bottle of wine for us, though I kept telling them I was fine..I mostly didnt want to fall asleep mid conversation or over the drinks we were getting AFTER dinner ha!

One funny note about campus visits...get ready to get STUFFED. They feed you so much and very well because they want to impress you (at least on the visits I went to). Enjoy being on the other side of things...now they get to make YOU want to choose THEM!

Absolutely agree. I just think sometimes it is pretty clear some schools are safety options if you don't get into top choices with funding. Definitely have to think of yourself thought if it might be a close call.

Great! Anyone who ends up getting accepted/is coming to visit let me know and ask any questions you'd like. I'll likely be showing around prospectives, and I'd love to meet you all.

Totally with you that bloomington is the only place I'd want to live in indiana haha

Sure did! They are currently hiring a grad student assistant so that is an opportunity opening up/ will be rotated here as well!

I really love it here. Really supportive department with great opportunities all around. Many different ways to be involved and engage in the scholarship/friendship of other students and faculty. I couldn't be happier with my decision. So far, I don't know anyone who is absolutely disappointed in their advisor either (though I admit I mostly know professors in the early American/antebellum time periods/fields) Also, great research funding available as well as dissertation support. People are not struggling to pay for their research here (or so it seems from my eyes and from other students who are off doing research). IU is also unique in that it houses the Journal of American History and the American Historical Review (actually almost across the street from each other!), and grad students can work there as part of their funding. I realize I sound like an IU commercial, but I really have nothing but nice things to say. As for Bloomington, I do like it; however, I came from living in a city so it is a bit different. Cost of living is really low (2 bedroom/1.5 bath two floor townhouse for $792 a month), and because IU is such a big school, there are always things to do. Great ethnic food scene, great theater productions always coming through, variety of bars to commiserate at. There are also great state parks/places to hike nearby. So while it is not city living, I am genuinely happy here except when I want really late night food or to buy some beer on a Sunday (can't sell it then here!)

Oh definitely. My MA advisor told me the same thing. As hard as this is to say, and was for me to hear, with how the job market is, unless you can easily finance the PhD/ your life without a job (I know I couldn't do that!!!), you really shouldn't accept any offer without funding. Sorry I did not state that more clearly in my advice, but for me, that was always a given. Do not withdraw until you have concrete funding and an actual offer letter to accept that they cannot take away from you!!! Also, I highly recommend keeping acceptance emails. As I have low moments in my program, they are nice to go back to for a pick me up

I think everyone is over-thinking at this point At this point, your application speaks for itself, and I don't think it was a bad sign. I find faculty are either amazing at email or just let things that they really might think are important fall through the cracks of their inbox. I wouldn't sweat it!

Absolutely no problem! Glad to help

wish I knew! If I find out anything I will post. History and Philosophy of Science is actually a separate department at IU so there have not been any history offers made that have been posted. If it gives anyone peace of mind, I got an email in late February saying pretty much "you are in the top of our applicant pool. please do not accept any other offers." Then received a formal offer March 4.

Waitlists are a bit complicated. So you do not always have to wait until the deadline...but some people wait to make their decision until that day so it can come on April 15 or after. Here is where it gets tricky. From what I have heard from various professors (UPenn, Madison, and Michigan) with waitlists and waitlists for funding it usually comes down to fields. So for example, someone in your field/working with your advisor would have to reject the offer for you to get the offer. It DOES happen because people will obviously turn down offers, but isn't just a ranking of candidates. Hope this helps/makes sense! I urge people to turn down offers once they have an offer they would accept over the other(s) they have I did this throughout my process at the advice of a poster in last year's thread. Schools REALLY appreciate it. Some schools have a certain time window to make offers or can only make a certain amount for a certain fellowship/financial package so it is kind to your fellow applicants to #1) make their time waiting for acceptances shorter (we all know how stressful that is!) #2 give schools the chances to make those offers. Congrats to all the admits so far! SO happy for you all!