LifeIsGood

It seems to me that there are two issues here: 1) Would you actually want to work in those other labs? If not, no need to go unless you want to make connections in the field and think you can do it without annoying anyone for wasting their time; in which case you'll want to make the best impression you can. If you would attend, even if as a last resort, go to the interview and give the best impression you can. 2) If you do go, should you mention the first professor? This process is kind of like a job search in that, no matter how enthusiastic a professor is, you're not really in until you've been officially notified. Not to be too morbid, but he could get his by a bus tomorrow and you'd be out of luck. There are too many ways for it to go south. He could turn out to be a crazy person. But, that said, it sounds like you're in a great position. You could mention him, as in "people you know in common and whose work you admire," not in terms of "the person I'd rather work with." That shouldn't cause any problem, and might add to their impression of you. Good luck!

Just a quick financial note to help with the planning: Daycare is really expensive. By the time I start the PhD (if I get in), my youngest child will be in kindergarten, saving us $500 a month. Last year, both little ones were in still daycare, so double that. And that's inexpensive compared to what it costs in most parts of the country. Just something to think about when trying to plan for a grad student stipend. Universities are starting to offer assistance with daycare (like Princeton), but its not very common and their on-site childcare facilities tend to have years-long waiting lists.

I would think it would be OK to email the department secretary back and politely ask who you'll be meeting with. Worst s/he can do is say no, right?

Cpaige, don't worry about it. They'll know that there are lots of people with the same name out there, and they'll be able to see that it's not you. For example, on the second page of my Google results, it says I'm a 50-year-old realtor in Miami. Nope. [On edit: I just saw that at the bottom of page 3 in my Google results, there's a link to the program of a conference I participated in last year. My first academic Google hit! Yay!]

Googling my name turns up a bunch of not-bad stuff, actually. They can see mostly business-related things, articles I've published, and my running club and race info. My Facebook page is hidden, but my mom is on there with me, so there's nothing too bad anyway. If there WAS anything horrible to be found by searching, I think I'd try to get a lot of other stuff posted to drive the bad stuff to the bottom of the list. I don't know if that would help, but at least I'd feel like I could control a little piece of it. [This topic reminds me: In promos for the show Rescue Me, Dennis Leary calls the social networking sites "FaceySpaceys" and "TweetiePages." It still makes me giggle.]

AmHist, thanks for clearing up the mystery. Congratulations! Mind giving a little more info? Was the email from the DGS or your potential advisor?

Does anyone know who that UNC/US History admit was? I'm curious the subfield.

Oh, right.

Congrats, Rockchalk! Guess that email from the prof was a good sign!

Holy carp! I can't stand the suspense. Is the 2nd one just details on the first?

I emailed Yale to find out if there was any anticipated change on the notification schedule because of the earlier app deadline and just received this back: "The admissions decisions should be communicated in early to mid-February." So still within the general parameters for previous years.

I've read this before, and am wondering how we know. I'm prepared to believe it, but I'm curious. Are we assuming this because anyone who is anal enough to post about this stuff nonstop is also anal enough to have done well in school? Or has someone made a comparison between stats posted here and stats found elsewhere? Please enlighten me.

Oh, jeez, I didn't even think about that. I've been assuming we'd hear in the second week of February.

I switched majors a couple of times, and I think they only showed the final major. I also had several major problems with my academic history (really bad record in UG), but didn't mention it in my SOP. I depended on my MA record, LORs, and GREs to show them that I was capable. I also made darn sure that I professionalized quickly (conference presentations, movement toward publication, etc.). I think your adcoms will see this: An applicant who has an MA in history and a philosophy BA, but who had a real interest in history even during UG. The applicant has a good GPA in both UG and MA, but received 2 Ws in UG. They may notice the W on the thesis and recognize that means you had been a history major and then dropped it, but I don't think that's a big deal and can't be uncommon. They'll want some assurance that you can do research and that you can stick it out, which the successful completion of an MA would give them, at least to a degree. I wouldn't mention any of it, but would make sure your MA experience includes great grades, a lot of documentable research (independently, if necessary), and stick-to-it-tiveness.

That may be the crux of the matter. I'm only Friends with family and friends (not even acquaintances). It's the primary way we communicate, especially with those family members who are out of the country. My friends and family ask me how the application process is going in posts, and it would be appropriate for me to announce it in this way. I might not give a blow-by-blow on school results (will probably save this for my parents and closest friends) but will definitely post about the the final outcome.

Congratulations!!! I'm so excited for you guys. Must be a big relief to know that you're in at such a great program, although I imagine the wait for funding information is frustrating.

I did this too, but I found myself clicking on Update a million times, so instead I... ...did this. I open my browser, log into the apps pages to see if anything's changed, then look at the results page and the forum New Content, then close the browser. Then open it again five minutes later to look at the results and forum again. And repeat.

This, definitely. I only applied to two schools and my LOR writers were prompt, so I know I had it much easier than most.

Me: I'm applying for Ph.D. programs in American history. Them: Cool! I love the History Channel. What part do you like best? Me: I study the 19th century. In the South. Specifically, African Americans in the South. Them: Oh, slavery, then? Me: Kind of. African Americans who used to be slaves but who were later freed, or people who were always slaves but acted like they were free. Or people who never were slaves in the first place. Them: And how long will it take to learn about that? Me: 6 to 10 years. Them: *Silence* But, when I have a chance to talk more about the specific topic, they think it's cool. I've pieced together a story of a man who had been a slave but was freed after much drama--a kidnapping, unrequited love, betrayal, a treacherous journey, being reunited with long-lost family, a chase on horseback to save him from being re-enslaved, etc. Then the response is: "Wow! That sounds like a great movie! Will Smith could be in it!" They stop wondering why I'm interested in it, and start wondering how I'm going to find a job doing it. Good question.

I keep trying to think of a good consolation prize, but I can't think of anything. I'll probably just end up buckling down to work to finish my MA, and then figure what to do next after graduation. Maybe I'll get a massage.

Qin, I did like the idea, but many of us have already posted our stats on other threads, such as the negatives and positives threads.

I was a reporter in a former career, but now I'm applying for a history PhD. Pot? Meet kettle.

Congratulations! How did the interview come about? Did the prof contact you?

Good news! That would have freaked me out.

I'm definitely a liberal (social issues, environment, foreign policy, church/state, etc.), but I swing center on financial issues. I'm the product of a very liberal family, so no surprise there. I've never cast a vote for anyone other than Dems, and it makes me nervous when some of my local elections (school board, judges, etc.) don't specify party affiliation. I Google like crazy until I have enough info to figure it out myself. My humanities profs have all been liberal as well, with the exception of the Latin Americanist -- a Cuban exile whom I believe has good reason to be conservative on some issues, such as foreign policy and the military.