ashiepoo72

I felt the same way about Northwestern. If they looked at my materials and either didn't think I was "good enough" or didn't see the fit that I thought was there, then they did me a favor by rejecting me. I know it's hard to accept that when we all feel so strongly about studying history (should I say obsessed?), but it's probably best to study it at a place that wholeheartedly wants you there--not just by accepting you but funding you as well. There are about 3 more weeks in February, so it's still early...here's to fabulous acceptances with funding to everyone still anxiously waiting!

Congrats to all the new admits!!

Summer pay!! That's awesome! I can see why it's a hard choice. You may have some more amazing surprises in store, though. It's still early

Congrats Chiqui!!!

Yay gradcafe friends we are all going to be colleagues, so I'm glad we get along so well! edit: I wish I could upvote, too! I run out almost immediately after I first check this site in the morning

Congrats to the Princeton acceptee! Wow is right

My grandfather's family settled in Massachusetts, my grandmother's mostly in California. We have some family back on Pico and some in Canada. I've never been to Funchal, but Faial is gorgeous (and so close to Pico!!) I'm traveling to the islands for about a month this summer. Have you ever been?

I started contacting in April/May because I figured profs might not check their email as often in summer, though I did contact some in August/September. Any later than that and it's too close to application due dates for comfort. I didn't want to come across as someone trying to influence admissions. Don't email anyone asking for information easily found on the department website. Stuff about research, if they're accepting students next year, etc is perfectly appropriate and helpful. My list of schools changed radically thanks to convos I had with profs.

What's awesome is that, though we all have different backgrounds, our family histories got us to where we are. It's really cool hearing all your stories. Makes me want to be a historian of aspiring historians

Pico! Where is your family from? Always love meeting another Azorean!

When I make my final choice, I'm taking my grandfather out to a nice dinner. He immigrated here in the 70s, but before he came to America he was one of the most educated and ambitious men on the island he was born. He moved here to improve his family's chances, like many immigrants do, but ended up doing backbreaking or janitorial work the rest of his life, never really learning the language. His dream was to be a professor in Portugal. When I left his house today, he choked up, saying "one day, I'll be able to tell people my daughter is a doctor." He raised me, so he's like my dad. It made me cry. Of course, he said something was caught in his throat. My grandpa never cries

I'm a modern Americanist, mostly WWII and the Cold War. What about you?

No problem! Looks like I'll be seeing you at the UCSB recruitment event I can totally relate. I was born and raised in CA and have never lived more than 15 minutes from my childhood home, so taking one of my offers from Midwest schools will be a huge huge change. Visiting campuses is crucial in weighing if that kind of change is worth it. Do you have some options in your area as well?

Congrats!!!! That's awesome news One of my friends is at Kings and by all accounts she loves it.

No list, but we are only expected to know author's last name and the first part of the title, so I guess that's something haha there are about 4-6 books per section (like Progressive Era, Women and Gender, World War II, etc), and the questions are written to focus on a particular section, though obviously some books can be used in many sections. That makes it a little bit easier to digest. I'm writing a précis per section to map the historiographical threads between the books, which I think will be useful (I hope!!) Do you guys get a list? Im sure all of us will get through this! One of my friends failed the first time he took it, but he only read like 10 of the books so it's his own fault haha

Oh man, that's really rough! For my exam (singular!) we have to read a list of about 80 books. Since I'm a modern Americanist, my list ranges from 1877 to the present. We have no idea what the questions will be until we sit for the exam and end up writing 3 essays in 4 hours. I have this recurrent nightmare that I fail the exam, don't get my MA and have to turn down PhD offers. It's making me extremely motivated to study!

I was at work when I snuck a peak at my personal email, saw the acceptance and immediately ran outside to call my aunt (she and her husband are the only people who really supported my PhD ambitions). I was shaking, laughing and crying and she thought something was wrong when she answered. Then I said "I'm getting my PhD!!!" And she started crying, too. It was not the most elaborate scheme, to say the least, but I'll never forget it. Edit: the minute I hit submit on this post, I started tearing up again haha seriously, I think any way you tell your family will be great

I'm betting on Madison reporting next week. Check your mailboxes, for some reason they seem to still notify by snail mail!

If you're interested in a more scholarly approach to Lincoln's political genius and cabinet in-fighting, check out Michael Vorenberg's Final Freedom. It covers just the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment, but it's very well done. I think Vorenberg's a prof at Brown.

Oh I know, and there was some movement on the results board today. I meant this particular thread has been quite quiet.

Ohhh the silence... It's amazing how active the boards were yesterday compared to today

I think it could help, but getting versed in the literature of your field and starting some self-guided primary source research (maybe in consultation or with the advice of one of those professors you mentioned) would probably be more beneficial. That'd show admissions committees you know exactly what grad school and a career in history are about and that you're self-motivated. Edit: you could also ask said professors if you can audit their grad courses, or sign up as a non-degree student to get some grad courses under your belt.

That's great advice, TMP. I've spoken to a few grad students with kids at some of the places I applied. I wanted to get an idea of how they make it all work, and one of my favorite questions to ask is "what do you wish you could tell yourself if you were back in the decision-making stage?" I definitely don't want to have a car/insurance/gas prices to worry about once I move, so that'll save me a huge chunk of money. Fianna -- it'll be nice to declutter, though I totally get that it's overwhelming! I'm going overseas for a month this summer, so Im going to start packing up stuff I need but don't use frequently, otherwise I'll never finish before it's time to move! There's always the question of whether a huge garage sale and buying mostly new stuff is better, or paying the costs of a moving truck is. I'll probably end up doing the moving truck, but thinking about that cost makes me cringe.

Yeah, the logistics of moving are weighing on me. I've been researching apartments and grad student housing at the programs I've heard from so far so that I can gauge whether the stipend is sufficient, how much I need to save, etc. Not to mention all the stuff I'll need to buy to move to a completely different climate (if I end up picking a school in the Midwest). I have a spreadsheet that outlines general housing costs at all the schools I applied, what neighborhoods are recommended/safe, if there are elementary schools nearby (for my daughter) and if public transit is good (so I can sell my car before I move). It's all a bit overwhelming!

I feel the same way. My (as of now) top choice is having recruitment weekend at the end of March, too! I'm excited by the prospect of going, but I also want to take all the programs seriously when I visit them. Glad the list helps