[History 2010]

While I'm sure it's better to have come from a more highly ranked university, I don't think it's really the be all and end all of admissions. I'm not speaking from personal experience, since I'm currently applying, but I'm sure that attending a less prestigious university, as you say yours was, won't ruin your chances since you performed so well there. It's great that you have an entire year to prepare your applications, and I suggest working on it as soon as you can. I started well in advance (summer before applying), but definitely could have done more. Spend a lot of time preparing for the GRE, for example - it's only once you're cramming a day or two before the test that you realize just how much you can improve your vocabulary and math skills by doing practice exercises. If you do a little bit every day or so, you'll be well prepared when you take the test. Also, you can use this time to read works by potential research supervisors. If the departments you are applying to have language requirements, perhaps you can take an evening language class in the coming year and a half?

Thank you very much for your post. I have 3 years of German instruction and 1.5 years of college German, so I need to get cracking on that.....good point. And having a chance to research all potential instructors' works is also a very valuable point.

This is all so similar to doing the law school application process, except the entire kit and kaboodle isn't based on ONE single number - your LSAT. After studying every day for 4 months for that, the GRE experience will hopefully be a cakewalk. I can hope can't I?

[Chances for PhD Programs]

wow, excellent post. from a newbie to this forum, thank you.

The tales of disappointment that seem to be prevalent on this forum come from people who don't seem to take the application processes seriously. They decide which universities to apply to based on where they want to graduate from instead of who they want to work with. They come up with inadequately defined or inappropriate research topics that undoubtedly reflect their interest in History, but do not indicate the applicants awareness that they are actually applying to become professional academics.

The fact of the matter is that if an applicant goes about the process properly, applying to PhD programs is not a crap shoot. It should go without saying that applicants need to have good academic records. If that is what one is stressing over, then I would recommend not even applying. Beyond that, no one should be applying anywhere unless they have a pretty good indication that they will be seriously considered. This is ascertained not by hoping and praying, but by being in contact with potential advisers and graduate program directors. It doesn't take a lot of time to email a professor asking if they would be interesting in working with you given your research interests. In the end, any number of reasons might mitigate against one's application, but being dully diligent and only applying to places you know you're wanted increases your odds of being accepted well above what the game of craps has to offer.

[History 2010]

Hello everyone, new member here. I am toying with the notion of applying to a phd program next fall (I was going the law school route until a month ago when I got my LSAT results!), and was wondering what kind of backgrounds you guys have. I guess the underlying question is 'do I have a chance!' in this seemingly ubercompetitive world!

So, I'll go first! I graduated from San Diego State University in 2000 with a BA in History, 3.8 average in the major and 3.5 overall. My senior thesis' general theme was the real estate development and boosterism of San Diego County (I tried to prove through census records that the boosterism campaigns of a certain individual did, in fact, bring people to San Diego). I had a great time writing it and was one of the highest graded papers in the class. I was named the top undergraduate for that year and was cum laude, and graduated 'with distinction'. (All of this is with a grain of salt since I went to SDSU!). I am a Phi Alpha Theta member and presented this thesis at their regional meeting that year. I still have an excellent professor who will write me a stunningly good LOC, or so I hope. hehe

Anyway, after I graduated, I abandoned the idea of teaching high school (which was why I initially got into the history major) and went to work in commercial real estate - I have been in that world world ever since - 10 years. I have been the regional research director/manager at a few of the large firms, which involves a lot of work in statistics, market trends, writing analyses, etc. I have also done some continuing education work and am a candidate for a CCIM designation, which is very important in our industry.

So, all that said, with all the time between graduation and my application (2011), my lack of recent work directly IN history (though my career has prepped me for what I want to study - history of real estate, development, urbanization, etc), my alma mater's less than stellar reputation, etc.....what kind of schools should I be shooting for? I will likely apply to all the UCs (I am a CA native) and maybe USC, Stanford, etc. To try to mitigate my lack of a CV, I will be resurecting my thesis and submitting it for publication in the local journals next year, as well as any other history related stuff I can get my hands on.

whew! Long first post. So what are y'all bringing to the application process? I'm very interested in interacting with others who have the same goals as me. I appreciate your responses in advance!

BR