nerdguy

Dealing with the same issues. I've narrowed down my choices to about two schools (I think). School A is a top school with at least four or five faculty with whom I'd like to work, a great cohort of grad students who'd be studying similar things, a beautiful climate, and a good track record with jobs. I'd have a great shot at getting additional outside funding if I went there, but obviously there are no guarantees. Living there is expensive, and the stipend is less than my other offers. School B is still a well known school, with a number of star power faculty, tons of money to go around, and lower cost of living in an up and coming city. But less of a track record with jobs (maybe due to the fact that it is an up and coming program), and a smaller cohort. I'd effectively have twice the salary at school B, and I do like the faculty (and they like me), but everybody is telling me that school A is probably where I ought to go - mainly due to the jobs thing - and I do have this gut feeling that school A might produce the best historian/happiest person out of me. School B would allow me to save and perhaps buy a decent used vehicle, and I do think I could do my project there and do it well. The point being I don't know how to decide because I don't know what will happen over the next few years. I don't really know what is more important in fostering a successful graduate career - funds or atmosphere.

Why not a middle ground? Find good fits at multiple levels of prestige. Top ten, top 25, other moderately well ranked programs as well. Unless you pigeon hole yourself, you probably could find people to work with in various places. And as much as adcoms are looking for specificity, they also want people with open minds. But let's face it though, the level of sophistication - I'm not saying unnecessary complication - but yes the level of the work in your writing sample and the level of the project you propose is all important at getting you in. The LORs and the CV, GPA, GRE, etc. are there to prove you are not bullshitting right? A big name might be important, but we can't all get those. Focus on the core of the whole thing - the things that show your writing and ideas. Yes in the end prestige might count, and I think we will all need to join hands to fight for the rights of adjuncts - the lot they are being handed is garbage - but we aren't there yet. We are just trying to get in to a program that will pay us to sharpen our skills and minds and eventually produce a dissertation.

I'll be quick, because I've written something similar somewhere else on this board recently. This is my second cycle. Five years ago I was rejected across the board, but offered the MA at Chicago, which I did, incurring a significant amount of debt. I moved abroad after that and have spent three years learning my second (and much more difficult) foreign language. Essentially, this time around I had a better CV, a master's from a widely recognized top-10 institution, well known LOR writers who offered to write strong letters, a writing sample based on primary sources in a foreign language, a language certificate to vouch for the new language I have been learning, and the required GPA and GRE scores. All things I don't think I had the first time around. But all this won't get you in unless you can articulate a specific question in the SOP. I could, but it wasn't easy and I stressed out about it for a few weeks. I made every word count. Name archives, frame the question around the scholarly debate that does exist, start from the big picture and how your work relates to that, progress toward the details in the next two paragraphs, and then show them that you are ready to tackle this problem because you are so well trained. If you aren't able to show them that, the rest of your application better be something. Definitely reach out to the professors beforehand. I don't care what anybody says. Do it - it helps you get your name in the heads of professors who will be involved in the decision making process. Some will be really appreciative and helpful. Now I'm sitting on offers from at least 6 (maybe seven schools), out of the 11 I applied to. Three are in the "top-10", another three in the "top-25", and another one is not far off. The places I was rejected from did so most likely because they weren't accepting so many students this year, or they didn't have the faculty to support me, or because I fucked up really badly on the interview - which only happened because I suck at interviews and this one occurred at least two hours before I would normally be awake (remember I'm in a foreign country).

Just remember, most history professors are cool as heck. They are fully aware that new PhD students won't be on their level. They know you are ready and want to help you achieve your potential (which your application suggests you have). You'll be fine!

According to the results search, those who will be accepted at Ann Arbor are likely to find out today. Good luck!

Thanks. Luckily you've been accepted at one of the best programs in the nation - and with one of the better placement rates.

20th century comparative. I applied to the late modern Europe fields at most schools, and East Asian/Japan fields at others. But all the schools I applied to know that I want to work comparatively.

Thanks ashiepoo72. Looks like you have a big decision on your hands as well!

I'll claim one of the Vandy admits. So far admitted to Columbia, Berkeley, Vanderbilt, Rutgers, and Wisconsin. Still waiting on Michigan and Harvard. Looks like I didn't make the cut for Chicago and NYU. The only reason I applied to so many places was that I was warned that my chances were slim anywhere and everywhere. This is obviously surprising, but I can only choose one, so those on wait lists have a chance to grab my spots.

accepted at Madison too!

I was oddly not interviewed. Strange. But I'm in too! I'm studying transnational history as well (late modern europe as first field).

I'll give my short story: I finished my undergrad in 2009 at a big, moderately well-ranked state university. Great GPA, loved the history program and the professors, and knew that I wanted to apply for a history PhD that fall. I thought I had a shot. Shored up my LOR support, researched programs, and wrote my SOP, but I was honestly incapable of planning and pitching a feasible and specific research project. Naturally I was rejected from seven programs flat out, and luckily admitted into three entirely unfunded MA programs - one from a top ten university. Knowing that it would saddle me with loads of debt, I went to the top ten school to do my MA anyway. It was incredibly challenging, but it gave me the skills necessary to do real academic work and write a good SOP. After finishing that degree in 2011, I took three years to live abroad, boost my language skills to the point of being effectively tri-lingual, and rethink my project. And the results of this year's applications have reflected my hard work and commitment. So far I have been accepted with full fellowship to no less than four top universities - two of them in the top ten. Maybe I'll even have some more acceptances if I'm lucky. But the point is none of this was easy, all of it required time, effort, and tough decisions, and the endgame payoff is still far away and will require more hard work. To those who succeeded, great job! To those who haven't yet, don't give up if you don't want to. Remember, going into academia IS one of the most intellectually stimulating careers out there, and you DO have a shot if you keep trying. Also, rejection may also give you an opportunity to explore another creative outlet. So don't be stubborn. I used my three years in limbo to write and record music and learn a bit about audio engineering as well. I launched a Kickstarter page and, like the hipster I want to be, even raised enough funds to press my album on vinyl. Another dream of mine accomplished. So don't get depressed about any of this!

It's entirely possible they have only done a few. They were closed for two whole days. Maybe only the few definites have been notified at this point.

You should write those who contacted you and still express your supreme interest in the program. It might get you in if someone doesn't take their offer.

Congrats to the chicago admits. I did my masters there. A challenging and great place. Looks like I didn't get an acceptance there, but who knows, maybe I'll make the wait list.