ashiepoo72

Program prestige is also heavily dependent on subfield. If you want to study African history and aren't taking MSU seriously, for example, you've not done your homework. As good historians should, make sure and do your research. Know your subfield, and it'll help you choose the right programs.

I would write to your POI, thanking them for their kindness and help throughout the process, but that you've decided on the other program because it's a better fit for your long-term research goals. Since they've been so great to you, I think it's appropriate to send them a nice personal email. Make sure and send another note to the DGS that you're declining the offer and if there is anything else you need to do. Id let them know what program you selected.

I'm sorry to see you guys going through this. I have to stress two things that will help you get accepted. Focus on fit, not on program prestige, and cast a wide net. If what you love is teaching, it shouldn't matter if you go to a well-ranked program that's outside of the top 10. No matter what, you're competing with hundreds of other people with perfect scores, publications and multitude of accomplishments--I truly believe what sets applicants apart is thoughtfully choosing programs that fit their interests and showing that in the SOP. Casting a wider net is the advice given me by my LOR writers and mentors (Harvard and Columbia and Stanford grads, no less). Look at stuff like placement rates at programs that go beyond the school rank. If this is what you love, I hope you don't give up.

Haha I guess it's all relative

A one bedroom in the Palo Alto area easily runs for over $1000/month.

I have nothing but good things to say about the department, my POI and the grad students at UCSB. They're a fantastic bunch, and a lot of interesting work is getting done there. Anyone interested in interdisciplinarity (which I totally am) should definitely check them out--they don't just say they encourage it, they act on it. One of the 4 comp fields is pretty much required to be outside the department. I'm going to have lots of tough decisions to make! I'm at MSU now and absolutely loving it (snow and all!) If anyone ever wants more information about these departments, shoot me a PM.

I've had a surprising season, not least of all to myself, so I thought I'd share what I think made a difference for me. 1. Take your time. Start thinking about where you want to apply well in advance. I started researching potential advisers about 10 months before I actually submitted applications. I made a pretty detailed spreadsheet (must say I'm pretty proud of it haha) that listed the program, it's rankings (NRC and US News), and at least 2 people I could see myself working with, including their contact info. I wanted to make sure at least 2 people in my subfield that I could work with were accepting students. I nixed programs that only had 1. Get in contact with grad students as well--they can dish about stuff that professors might not know about, like the details about living in grad student housing, stipends, TA responsibilities, departmental drama etc. 2. Obsess over fit a little bit (or a lot). I spent so much time contacting POIs, seeing what they were working on and if they were interested in what I want to work on. I looked at entire departments--if I felt I couldn't be supported by the department (because let's be honest, most people don't have advisers that encompass everything you want to do) then I didn't apply to those programs. Look at the university resources--are there amazing special collections resources? A good university library? Centers and institutes that you could use? Area/language studies that would help your project? Then I recommend going beyond the school and looking at the state/surrounding area itself. Any good presidential libraries around? Archives? Depositories? Historic sites? Think about methodology. Do you want a department that supports interdisciplinarity? Comparative history? Strength in ethnic studies? Gender? You should go through a laundry list of questions to really determine fit, and only apply to places that have that fit. I'm convinced that the main reason I've been accepted to a bunch of programs was all the time I spent thinking about fit. 3. Agonize over your SOP. And I mean agonize. Rewrite it a dozen times, get at least 2 professors to edit it, send it to your trusted family and friends. I've reread my SOP several times and haven't found a mistake because I went through it over and over and over and...you get the point. I read other people's horror stories and looked for those mistakes in every SOP, not just my "general" one. And as a sub-point, try to really tailor your SOP to each school. A lot of mine was the same--my "hook," research experience and interests. But I went through and included fit details throughout, as well as a fit paragraph at the end (and I think the end is the best place for the fit paragraph because that's the impression the reader is left with...I recommend any "extenuating circumstances" information to be buried somewhere after research experience and interests, but not at the end). 4. Think about what you want to do research-wise. I mean, really think about it. Read secondary literature and pull the bibliographies. Allow yourself room to change and grow. This will help you choose programs. My initial list was vastly different than my final list of programs because my research grew in slightly different ways, and I had to admit that and cut programs I initially felt excited about from the list. 5. Make your writing sample tight. Intro, historiographical review, clear thesis, and strong primary source research with good engagement with secondary sources. Write a compelling conclusion, but don't drag it on and on. Make sure your citations are pristine (go over this a lot. I found mistakes after 3 read-throughs and ended up doing like 6-8). Make an impeccable bibliography. I highly recommend sitting someone down and reading the entire writing sample aloud to them. You'll pick up on awkward spots and mistakes, and they can tell you if something doesn't make sense (I'd pick an intellectually-engaged non-history major). 6. Start on the nuts and bolts of the application ahead of time. I had all biographical data/other information, transcripts uploaded (if applicable), etc done wayyy ahead of time so when I finished my writing sample and SOPs I could quickly upload them and click submit. 7. Plan money-wise for application fees, transcripts, GREs, etc. don't be caught without enough money at the very last minute. 8. Think beyond the application--like best areas for you to live as a grad student, housing costs, if you have a kid start researching schools and daycare etc. This helps you figure out if stipends are sufficient when you get accepted. You'll probably have to set up your living situation pretty quickly after you get accepted and choose a program, so looking into this ahead of time is just good research that'll make your life easier. 9. Enjoy the process. Get excited about your future plans, programs you're applying to, research you're thinking about. Be confident in your abilities and your preparation. At the same time, don't let the process consume you. Do normal things with your friends, don't let coursework fall by the wayside if you're applying while in school, and spend quality time away from applications. Best of luck!

Soul by Soul by Walter Johnson is probably my favorite book ever. I second Race and Reunion by Blight. Christine Stansell's City of Women is another fave. It's a pretty incredible book, all the more for how well it's aged. Eric Foner is always good, too. You may want to check out Sean Wilentz and Paul Johnson's Kingdom of Matthias--it's short and reads like a sexy/disturbing novel.

So glad the interview went well for you, Josh! Hoping you get positive news soon!

Did you get in contact with anyone at IU? Just curious how you got the info...I'm still waiting on them! Also, congrats to all the admits and condolences to those who received bad news!

I found out today that 12 people were admitted at UMinn, for those who want to know cohort sizes. They tend to have a high matriculation rate (sometimes 100%).

Teach me the ways, TMP! I hate the idea of haggling, but one of my programs offered me extremely generous funding with guaranteed summer support, while the other one offered a comparable stipend with little to no summer support. Problem is, I would likely accept the no summer support program tomorrow if they gave me summer funds! I need to wait a few more weeks. Both UCs haven't gotten back to me about $ yet, so I don't even have all the cards laid out. And I'm waiting on OSU and IU, both of which would for SURE throw a wrench in any tentative plans I make.

Yayyy congrats Kleio!!!

How exciting Fianna! I'm sure you'll have a blast. I just got my official funding and offer letters from Minnesota and Binghamton. I don't know how I'm going to decide guys. This is a great problem, but that doesn't make it less agonizing.

Thanks guys! I'll dish when I get back and I'll let you know how the beer was (hint: free beer is amazing). My mom and grandma are so cute. They're like: "be careful at the bus station! Don't talk to strangers!" And I'm like: "guys, I'm a 26 year old female and worked for years in one of the worst cities in California...I'm well seasoned in suspicion" haha

Congrats!!!

So I'm on my way to the Greyhound station, about to embark on a journey to Santa Barbara. Only freaking out a little bit, of course...

Congrats on making a decision, mmehistorian!! I bet you feel so relieved. Best of luck at Penn, and don't be a stranger! Let us know how much you love it there when you start next term

That sounds like the pre-Twilight days of Comic-Con...ohhh the nostalgia...

Umm who wouldn't wanna go to HOTlanta for some beers with fellow Gradcafe friends? Don't be a hater!

Me too!! Yay I'm excited! Let us get beers in January

I could also be totally wrong and only a few admits posted results this year, so there is that... Maybe I'm biased, but I feel like this application season has unfolded in unexpected ways.

OSU more than likely hasn't notified. Despite this site only having a small sample size of applicants, plenty of OSU rejections and acceptances show up on the results board each year. Maybe you guys are just extra special

Haha thanks for volunteering me! I'd love to have a get together! The logistics of getting us all in one central location are daunting. I vote for California!

Lol I know the feeling. I keep thinking I'm the beneficiary of a series of fortuitous mistakes.