ashiepoo72

This doesn't just vary from program to program, school to school, but also within each term. As an MA student, my classes are generally split between reading and research--generally colloquia involve more reading, seminars more writing. The amount of time I spend changes each week, month, semester, and year depending on my classes. I'd imagine it's the same at doctoral programs. FWIW, when I have research-intensive semesters I spend a lot more time working. After my 1st year in grad school I learned to gut/read books quickly so courses heavy in reading take less of my time.

There is no right answer to your question--it is highly dependent on a lot of factors. Do they work at a community college or a research institution? Are they tenured or not? Do they have other commitments, like being department chair or personal things that limit the time they can spend researching/traveling/etc? Here's an example. My program is at a rather large state school, but the history department is small (used to be 40 faculty about 15-20 years ago, we are down to maybe 10). It is not a research-heavy program, but majority of the faculty publish frequently, meaning they make research a priority. However, my program is teaching heavy. TT faculty teach around 4-5 classes each semester among other duties, which requires a huge commitment to students and teaching. One class is generally around 3 hours a week, so with 4 classes that's 12 hours of teaching plus grading time (who knows how long? Maybe with papers or exams, it averages 10-15+ add'l hours a week, but it also depends on class size...a 30 person vs.100 person class is going to have a huge difference in grading time. We no longer have TAs at my program, so that's another factor affecting how long profs work) plus office hours (each professor offers different times--one of my profs is in about 6 hours a week PLUS appointments, others have 1-2 hours a week for office hours)--I'd say they average at least 30 hours a week on just teaching and teaching related duties...this isn't including committee time, presentations, conferences, department meetings, etc. Suffice it to say, professors work 40+ hours a week. Research is so hugely different for every person, it's impossible to say how much time someone takes on it. Is it for an ongoing project? Something new? A book? An article? A presentation? When I was researching the paper that will be my writing sample, some weeks I spent 10 hours a day looking at microfilm and other weeks I spent a few hours looking at secondary literature each day--and I'm just an MA candidate. If I was to ask any of my professors, they'd all tell me they work more than 40 hours a week. Their work doesn't end when they get home. They still have lectures to prep, emails to answer, and many other things related to their job. The only ones who work less, at least in my department, are forced to because of health issues. Sorry for my non-answer. I just don't think anyone can give you a definitive one.

I googled your question and found several examples of CVs that have a section titled something like this: Other Articles (Non-Peer Reviewed Publications and Reports). Definitely put the section for peer-reviewed publications above the non-peer reviewed one.

You weren't at all! I was concerned that my comment came off all wrong, especially since I'm no expert on applying to Medieval history programs.

I did not say five or more languages was a prerequisite--nor would I, as I am only familiar with applying to grad school in Medieval Studies through friends who are going through the process--just that even with stellar credentials admissions is competitive (hence why my friends felt the need to learn what I view as a crazy number of languages, although they seem to think it's not atypical). And I certainly wasn't trying to say obviously unrelated languages were advantageous--if my comment appears to suggest this, please disregard it...the languages that are valuable are the ones that are relevant. Anyway, the OP is more than likely aware of the competitiveness of grad school admissions, so I probably came off as a debbie downer unnecessarily (my apologies, OP).

I don't study medieval history, but I'm pretty sure most of the schools you listed do not offer a terminal MA degree--as in, you'd have to apply to the PhD program in order to get an MA, and even with a 4.0 and several languages it's really difficult to do. A few of my friends who are Medievalists have five+ languages under their belt before applying to PhDs. For the GRE--take lots of practice tests. I have read that for the essays longer ones tend to do better so you want to at least be able to write enough for 5-6 paragraphs. Plus practicing your typing will benefit you later on--history is a writing intensive subject. I would spend more time worrying about verbal than quant.

What are your actual verbal and quant scores? People hoping to apply to history programs, both MA and PhD, should have a good showing on the verbal (I'd say 85th percentile or above, but it varies). With your GPA, you should aim for well above 90th percentile in verbal and a decent score on quant. Honestly, doing so should land you at a combined 310+. To put that in perspective, my GPA is above a 3.8 and I view that as a weak point in my application, so I studied my a** off to get a 165V on the GRE to hopefully offset it. Like Sigaba mentioned, there are lots of posts concerning GRE scores and other questions. You should look through the history forum specifically, as well as all the application forums. I probably have the history forum's content memorized from when I obsessively scoured through it in my early days on the site. It is a wealth of information. Personally, I would apply to MA programs to boost your resume. I had a lowish GPA from my undergrad (3.4 overall, 3.7 in history courses), so that's what I did and I don't regret it. I was NOT ready for a PhD after my BA. Something for you to think about.

I'm applying to PhDs in History so take this with a grain of salt. Schools do care about your personal history. Not all of them will ask for a separate personal statement, but from the bajillion posts I have read, in addition to advice given to me by potential advisors, your unique personal history is significant. How does this play out? Well, it all depends on the program and you. All programs will weigh factors differently, and ultimately your SOP won't be effective if its terribly written and not thought out (not saying this is what you'll do!) The difference between programs that ask for a statement of purpose ONLY and those that ask for both an academic and personal statement is the amount of space you dedicate to the personal. For programs that only require an academic/statement of purpose you should probably not use more than a paragraph for personal stuff. For these programs, the bulk of space should be dedicated to your research, fit, etc. I am applying to several schools that offer applicants an optional diversity essay, and one that requires an academic and personal statement. Everything in both essays should, somehow, relate to why you are pursuing a graduate degree at the institution. So, for example, I talk about growing up in an immigrant household which helped me learn a language pertinent to my research and exposed me early on to transnational history...so the personal becomes an augmentation of the academic in a way. Personal statements are also a great place to talk about peccadilloes in a really positive way. Basically, I looked at the personal statement as a chance to argue my case for admission even more, to show the adcomm that I have thought deeply about both my research and their program. Long story short, the personal is important. It will give the adcomm an idea of who you are, explain any questionable things in your record and allow you to show that you will add a unique perspective to their program.

Keep in mind some fields, like U.S. history, have a lot more PhDs on the market so the competition is even worse (which really is just a degree, because it's super competitive across the board). From what my MA profs have told me, if you are willing to move around anywhere in the U.S. for 10-15 years to take temporary positions, your chance of landing TT is higher than someone who will not follow the jobs wherever they may be. Several adjuncts working in my department chose to only work in California, which really limited their job prospects, whereas one of my TT professors moved around for a decade (including to areas he really, really disliked), building up his CV while holding out for a better position. This isn't to say it's a guarantee, and obviously a lot of sacrifices have to be made (some people choose not to start families, etc, until they land a permanent position). I read an article not long ago (I can't find it but I will post a link if I do) that said more history PhDs are going abroad to teach. Some countries have a dearth of PhDs and U.S. doctorates are pretty well respected, so if you speak the language and are willing to take a global view of job searches then you open other avenues to permanent positions (although I have no clue how tenure works in other countries).

I'm 5' even, so I feel your pain. It's certainly a personal preference whether to wear heels or not, but it's pretty clear you were just making a suggestion based on good intentions. I, for one, feel empowered when I wear heels because I can actually look people in the eye...or at least closer to their face than when I'm in flats. I won't pretend gender stereotypes don't exist, because that's silly and utopian. Obviously there are gendered biases at play--against both women AND men--and these are certainly worthy of discussion. But I am wary creating symbols of oppression in spaces where they don't need to exist, like this thread (we can discuss the oppressive nature of heels in relation to consumerism and female identity outside of this thread, certainly). Intent does not wash away all sins, but it does mean something. TMP's intent was not the perpetuation of gender hierarchy, but to give friendly advice based on her personal experience. OP--it's pretty clear TMP meant that you should dress professionally and in a manner that makes you feel confident. You don't want to wear clothes that make you feel insecure and out of place in a setting that can already be intimidating. Replace heels with your nicest slacks, blazer, tie, or whatever piece of clothing makes you feel like you're on top of the world.

For POIs I'm really interested in, I send an email that says a bit about my background/research, then ask if they are accepting students and, if so, whether they'd be willing to answer some specific questions I have for them. This has worked pretty well, as some respond that they aren't taking students or are retiring, but often these POIs suggest scholars in their department who they think are a good fit. Nearly everyone I've emailed has responded (some were standoffish, others seemed really interested--try not to be offended if some don't answer at all, they are busy people!) I think the point is not to waste a prof's time with fangirling about their work and not having anything to ask them. Besides, in my experience I always remember someone who annoyed or angered me more than someone who was normal or nice--who wants a prof on the adcomm to remember them as the annoying email person? In essence, I think everyone on this thread is right. Emailing POIs can be fruitful in so many different ways, but don't do it if the department website specifically says not to or you have nothing valuable to say.

That's so funny thedig13-- I got the same score on my draft! I think us history majors love using nouns and prepositions Telkanuru - lol

Oh, and I've heard Kaplan scores are generally higher than the actual GRE, but don't let this freak you out. I scored 165 and 167V on my Kaplan practice tests, so it wasn't that far off. I scored 159 on the first Powerprep, and 162 on the second. The best thing these practice tests do for you is make you an expert on how to take the GRE, which makes up a huge part of how to do well on the GRE.

From my personal experience, I would recommend you take as many practice tests as you can. I took a few Kaplan ones, Manhattan Prep, and DEFINITELY take the Powerprep tests--those come directly from ETS so they are most like the actual GRE. (I scored between 159-167V across my practice tests and got a 165 on the real test. I didn't do the math portion of the practice tests because my discipline doesn't really care about it as much, but I scored 151Q). For the verbal, study vocab. Vocab is the way to go. I used an app on my phone so I could test myself wherever I was. Honestly, I spent more time studying vocab than anything else. It helps to use the words in context. I'd also practice reading comprehension if you want to raise your verbal--practice tests will help because you kind of figure out where the test is trying to trick you. Manhattan Prep really does a good job of breaking down where the pitfalls are. Math--well math and I aren't good friends, so I can't help you much. I know ETS has free resources for reviewing GRE math on their website, so I'd skim through those. Even if you ace the practice tests, if you go into the real test nervous/sick/depressed/any amount of other things, you might not perform as well. Try not to stress too much about it, and remember that it's only one part of the application. For test day, remember to eat before you go in. My stomach was growling the whole time and I was miserable. Also, use the restroom. I totally forgot because I was psyched out. Think about if you perform better in the morning or afternoon, and sign up for a test time accordingly. Just take your time and try not to stress yourself out beforehand. You're going to do great!

Hey everyone! I'm knee deep in SOP drafting and found a pretty cool resource, so I thought I'd share This website diagnoses your writing to see if it needs to be trimmed down in different areas (like if you are nominalization-happy, use excessive prepositions, etc). It's not going to edit for content, but helps make the paper more concise and if you need to cut down on word length. http://www.writersdiet.com/WT.php Have fun!

^^ I agree with maelia8 that there's no need to contact a POI just to say 'Hi, I'm John Doe, I want to work with you" because (especially at the top tier schools) professors get approximately a billion emails like that. But I think it's good to email professors you are seriously considering as potential advisors to ask if they will be accepting students and if you have specific questions for them (not stuff you could easily find on the department website), which it sounds like you did (re: whether he's willing to advise on something he covered awhile ago). The point is to make your emails have a purpose--everyone gets ticked off when their time gets wasted. What you may want to do is get in contact with grad students at the programs you're looking at--I've spoken to a few people working with scholars I'm interested in and their insight has been invaluable.

You guys are awesome.

Thanks for the response. I definitely agree about the page length comment, I just wanted to give some context and lots of the POIs I've spoken to have asked about my different papers in terms of page length-I'm sure to get a sense of if I can do a sustained project. I've made use of every opportunity to write and research by gearing it toward my focus as much as possible, and the page number doesn't necessarily reflect which ones have been the best or most fruitful. I'm working on the paper for the conference now. Hopefully I can get it done in time! Thanks again for the advice.

Hey everyone, I've been googling what research experience to put on a CV and it seems to vary depending on major, so I figured I'd post my question here. I'm at an MA program that, like many others, is losing funding by ridiculous amounts each year and cannot support TAships or outside research anymore. I'm planning on attending a conference this coming semester but need to spruce up the paper I want to submit--also hoping to get it published. However, the conference and publishing are not guaranteed and may not occur before I submit applications. I have intentionally taken as many research seminars as possible at my program. All of them have required original primary source based research and lengthy papers (two 15 pagers, four 20 pagers, and two 30 pagers). I do 20th century U.S., and all but one paper was in my time period and all were related somehow to U.S. history. My question is, should I mention these on the CV? Obviously I don't want a big fat blank on there, but I also don't want to sound like a desperate applicant trying to add fluff. I feel like it's all relevant because I made sure to always pick topics in my area and got lots of experience using primary sources and sources in other languages, but I'm second guessing the first draft of my CV. Oh, the joys of applications!

I'm actually an Americanist so I don't have any concrete information for you, but I would try looking through this website: http://secure.historians.org/projects/cge/PhD/StateMap.cfm It lists all the schools that offer PhDs in the U.S. by state, so you can look at states you'd be okay living in (or all of them if you really aren't discriminating about location) and it lists each department's areas of specialization (so you can pick through and see which ones have medieval Europe as a strength), as well as lots of useful funding and demographic information. I used this list to find the schools I'm applying to. Whenever I saw one that looked interesting, I would jump to the department website and see if it looked like the department could support my specific project or not. It's a lot of work but hey, we are history majors so research is our thing. I don't know what your language requirement would be, but you may want to take a class or two in some relevant language just to augment your application. It always looks better if you have another language under your belt or at least show signs of gaining proficiency in one. Best of luck!

The first thing you need to look at is any word/length limits for the individual programs. The schools I'm applying to range from 500-1000 words or 1-2 pages, so the statement of purpose may look quite different depending on the length. DON'T go over the specified limit. I think average length for SOPs is irrelevant--how much do you need to write to get your point across as concisely as possible? If your word limit is 1000 but you can say everything in 600 words, don't fill the rest with fluff. On that note, I would include the directly related research interest in your SOP and maybe include other research in your CV, which is how I'm approaching the same problem (any research experience is good, but some of it just isn't relevant to my research focus). Your SOP is about what you want to do in graduate school and, while the other research may have been good practice, it's not directly related. Again, you might choose to include it in SOPs that give you a larger word limit but I'm of the mind that SOPs need to be as focused and clear as possible, without extraneous information. You can use whatever you want to use for each SOP. I have a general list of things that need to be in each SOP (my research interests, focus, plan, etc), but I personally chose to write each SOP individually and tailor it to the specific school from start to finish. Everyone has their own method. If you think your schools are so similar that you only need minor changes, then go for it. Be careful about it sounding generic and make sure you actually change all the information for each school. There are plenty of horror stories on here from people who sent in SOPs with the wrong school/professor names.

It's apparent that you're being thoughtful about this process. I think all we can do is talk from our experiences and hope they give you some ideas. You know your department, professors and self better than any of us do. I apologize for coming on so strong about the year off or MA, particularly since it really was unsolicited advice. I was very alone when I applied to MAs and had to hope I did things "right," so my advice comes from a place of good intentions--and, as we history majors know, everyone is influenced by their unique context. I think you're just fine. Talking to your profs (as riotbeard suggested) sounds like a great first step. They can be a huge asset.

For MA programs, I think you will be fine with your completed bibliographic review. I would worry more about polishing and updating it (if necessary). The fact that you've been taking grad classes in your spare time will look good on your apps and show you're ready for grad school. For reference, I used a comparative historiography paper for my MA apps. If you are also applying to PhDs this cycle, I think the paper would be fine in theory, but I personally wouldn't be comfortable submitting a writing sample that wasn't based on original research and mostly primary sources.

If I was you, I would ask your thesis advisor if he would be willing to write you a rec based on the next few months of work, offer to show him some papers written in other courses, and hope he says yes. But I have to agree with pudewen that a year off or even an MA would do you a lot of good in the application process and, more generally, as an historian. I remember when I finished up my BA at a large state school. I knew very few of the faculty well enough for them to write me a strong recommendation. I did not know the historiography of my area and period of focus well -- heck, I didn't even know what my focus would be. I ended up taking a year off and working while staying connected to history by reading A TON, then started an MA program. Now I have upwards of four professors willing to write me strong recs (they know me super well because, by nature, MA programs are smallish), my focus is...well...focused, and I have several solid, primary source based research papers that could be writing samples. Besides all that, I've done graduate-level work (which in this day and age of intense admissions competition goes a long way). I'm not saying you need to follow my path, but I know for sure I would not have been able to do a PhD out of my undergrad. It helped me a lot to get some perspective on my year off, and really become more sophisticated in my studies during my MA--and POIs I've spoken to agree. Anywho, this is my 2 cents. I don't see anything wrong with you applying this time around, but maybe include some MA apps just in case. Nothing wrong with having contingency plans!

Thanks for the reassurance. This process is insanity-inducing! I had no idea about the waivers. I have to say, I'm glad the POI told me (even though it resulted in panic haha). I have had many frank conversations with different scholars, and that has been super useful. I can tell my obsessive stalking of thegradcafe will get me in trouble during application season and when I'm waiting for results, but it's also been helpful in calming me the heck down. I hope everyone is having a relaxing summer!