mmehistorian

Lurker mmehistorian here. I applied to 6 PhD programs in American history. I have been accepted at 5 (University of Minnesota, University of Indiana, University of Maryland, University of Michigan, and the University of Pennsylvania). I have not heard anything of the 6th, UNC.

I surely did not expect to get in these places, really. I was in the middle of sending MA applications when acceptances began coming in. I am currently an undergraduate in psychology with a history minor. I've been doing original research for a few years and have come across some interesting things that have been neglected in the literature of my field. It is for this reason primarily, as well as strong letters of recommendation from my very dedicated & selfless mentor, that I was able to have success, I think. I can't say that I applied too few or too many, as that's a hard hindsight bias, but I do know that it was extremely difficult for me to pay for those applications. I would advise future appliers to start saving soon, because the application fee ($45-100, mean ~$85 for me) plus GRE scores ($27 ea) plus actually taking the GRE, plus transcripts ($15 ea for me), it really hurts. I had friends who could loan me money, but that was really one of the most difficult parts for me.

In terms of applications: pay attention to what they want and how you fit. No one can tell you enough how much "fit" matters. You can be brilliant in modern German history, the top of your field; that doesn't mean the early Americanists at William & Mary give any bothers about you. Find the scholars who wrote the books that rocked your world, and see if you can be where they are. See if that program is near your sources. See if they have a few complementary people for a committee. Mention these things in your SOP. And don't get personal on your SOP unless they specifically ask you to. They want your intellectual journey as a historian, not your whole life story.

Also, if it's possible, go to conferences and speak with your POIs. Engage them and let them at least acknowledge you, have a conversation if appropriate, and email them later to thank them for their time & to check if they're accepting students next entrance period. The woman I wanted to work with at UNC isn't accepting students this semester, but I couldn't contact her beforehand because she was on sabbatical. She totally deserves the time off, but this is just an example of why brief, polite contact with your potential advisor is important.

Lurker mmehistorian here. I applied to 6 PhD programs in American history. I have been accepted at 5 (University of Minnesota, University of Indiana, University of Maryland, University of Michigan, and the University of Pennsylvania). I have not heard anything of the 6th, UNC.

I surely did not expect to get in these places, really. I was in the middle of sending MA applications when acceptances began coming in. I am currently an undergraduate in psychology with a history minor. I've been doing original research for a few years and have come across some interesting things that have been neglected in the literature of my field. It is for this reason primarily, as well as strong letters of recommendation from my very dedicated & selfless mentor, that I was able to have success, I think. I can't say that I applied too few or too many, as that's a hard hindsight bias, but I do know that it was extremely difficult for me to pay for those applications. I would advise future appliers to start saving soon, because the application fee ($45-100, mean ~$85 for me) plus GRE scores ($27 ea) plus actually taking the GRE, plus transcripts ($15 ea for me), it really hurts. I had friends who could loan me money, but that was really one of the most difficult parts for me.

In terms of applications: pay attention to what they want and how you fit. No one can tell you enough how much "fit" matters. You can be brilliant in modern German history, the top of your field; that doesn't mean the early Americanists at William & Mary give any bothers about you. Find the scholars who wrote the books that rocked your world, and see if you can be where they are. See if that program is near your sources. See if they have a few complementary people for a committee. Mention these things in your SOP. And don't get personal on your SOP unless they specifically ask you to. They want your intellectual journey as a historian, not your whole life story.

Also, if it's possible, go to conferences and speak with your POIs. Engage them and let them at least acknowledge you, have a conversation if appropriate, and email them later to thank them for their time & to check if they're accepting students next entrance period. The woman I wanted to work with at UNC isn't accepting students this semester, but I couldn't contact her beforehand because she was on sabbatical. She totally deserves the time off, but this is just an example of why brief, polite contact with your potential advisor is important.

Lurker mmehistorian here. I applied to 6 PhD programs in American history. I have been accepted at 5 (University of Minnesota, University of Indiana, University of Maryland, University of Michigan, and the University of Pennsylvania). I have not heard anything of the 6th, UNC.

I surely did not expect to get in these places, really. I was in the middle of sending MA applications when acceptances began coming in. I am currently an undergraduate in psychology with a history minor. I've been doing original research for a few years and have come across some interesting things that have been neglected in the literature of my field. It is for this reason primarily, as well as strong letters of recommendation from my very dedicated & selfless mentor, that I was able to have success, I think. I can't say that I applied too few or too many, as that's a hard hindsight bias, but I do know that it was extremely difficult for me to pay for those applications. I would advise future appliers to start saving soon, because the application fee ($45-100, mean ~$85 for me) plus GRE scores ($27 ea) plus actually taking the GRE, plus transcripts ($15 ea for me), it really hurts. I had friends who could loan me money, but that was really one of the most difficult parts for me.

In terms of applications: pay attention to what they want and how you fit. No one can tell you enough how much "fit" matters. You can be brilliant in modern German history, the top of your field; that doesn't mean the early Americanists at William & Mary give any bothers about you. Find the scholars who wrote the books that rocked your world, and see if you can be where they are. See if that program is near your sources. See if they have a few complementary people for a committee. Mention these things in your SOP. And don't get personal on your SOP unless they specifically ask you to. They want your intellectual journey as a historian, not your whole life story.

Also, if it's possible, go to conferences and speak with your POIs. Engage them and let them at least acknowledge you, have a conversation if appropriate, and email them later to thank them for their time & to check if they're accepting students next entrance period. The woman I wanted to work with at UNC isn't accepting students this semester, but I couldn't contact her beforehand because she was on sabbatical. She totally deserves the time off, but this is just an example of why brief, polite contact with your potential advisor is important.

Lurker mmehistorian here. I applied to 6 PhD programs in American history. I have been accepted at 5 (University of Minnesota, University of Indiana, University of Maryland, University of Michigan, and the University of Pennsylvania). I have not heard anything of the 6th, UNC.

I surely did not expect to get in these places, really. I was in the middle of sending MA applications when acceptances began coming in. I am currently an undergraduate in psychology with a history minor. I've been doing original research for a few years and have come across some interesting things that have been neglected in the literature of my field. It is for this reason primarily, as well as strong letters of recommendation from my very dedicated & selfless mentor, that I was able to have success, I think. I can't say that I applied too few or too many, as that's a hard hindsight bias, but I do know that it was extremely difficult for me to pay for those applications. I would advise future appliers to start saving soon, because the application fee ($45-100, mean ~$85 for me) plus GRE scores ($27 ea) plus actually taking the GRE, plus transcripts ($15 ea for me), it really hurts. I had friends who could loan me money, but that was really one of the most difficult parts for me.

In terms of applications: pay attention to what they want and how you fit. No one can tell you enough how much "fit" matters. You can be brilliant in modern German history, the top of your field; that doesn't mean the early Americanists at William & Mary give any bothers about you. Find the scholars who wrote the books that rocked your world, and see if you can be where they are. See if that program is near your sources. See if they have a few complementary people for a committee. Mention these things in your SOP. And don't get personal on your SOP unless they specifically ask you to. They want your intellectual journey as a historian, not your whole life story.

Also, if it's possible, go to conferences and speak with your POIs. Engage them and let them at least acknowledge you, have a conversation if appropriate, and email them later to thank them for their time & to check if they're accepting students next entrance period. The woman I wanted to work with at UNC isn't accepting students this semester, but I couldn't contact her beforehand because she was on sabbatical. She totally deserves the time off, but this is just an example of why brief, polite contact with your potential advisor is important.

Greetings fellow historians. I have watched this space compulsively for months now, but am posting for the first time. I just wanted to bring what is hopefully good news to some. I have been accepted but will be turning down the following programs for American History PhD: University of Minnesota, University of Indiana, University of Michigan, and University of Maryland. I've decided to attend UPenn in the fall. I hope the waitlists open up for you all!

Greetings fellow historians. I have watched this space compulsively for months now, but am posting for the first time. I just wanted to bring what is hopefully good news to some. I have been accepted but will be turning down the following programs for American History PhD: University of Minnesota, University of Indiana, University of Michigan, and University of Maryland. I've decided to attend UPenn in the fall. I hope the waitlists open up for you all!

Greetings fellow historians. I have watched this space compulsively for months now, but am posting for the first time. I just wanted to bring what is hopefully good news to some. I have been accepted but will be turning down the following programs for American History PhD: University of Minnesota, University of Indiana, University of Michigan, and University of Maryland. I've decided to attend UPenn in the fall. I hope the waitlists open up for you all!