nevermind

It's good to know the vocabulary, but it's just as important to understand the context (what's really being tested). I'd recommend using study books (like Manhattan) that goes into detail about why a question is "right" (as opposed to just having the answer key), so you can really learn what the test makers are thinking, rather than just simply learning more vocab (although you should really be familiar with the 1000 most frequently tested words...if you have a smartphone, Magoosh has flashcard apps that are very helpful in gaining this proficiency). FWIW, this is what I did and I got a 165 on verbal.

There's your problem. Some things, like GRE Verbal (unless you just know a lot of the vocab naturally), are going to take a lot longer to sink in than a month. Granted, there are some superstars who can take the test cold and score nearly perfectly. I'd suggest taking 3-4 months and studying, perhaps using Magoosh (they have study plans available on their website). If you want to be competitive (for great programs), I'd try to pull that verbal up to at least a 160 (your math is fine, unless you want to do quant. methods) and your AW score up to 4.5+.

Hmmm...it sounds like you're quite the competitive candidate. Maybe it just wasn't your year (meaning your POIs weren't taking students, etc.) For applications, I'd suggest soliciting more review and talking with professors about research fit...and applying broadly (not sure what programs you applied to, but I did a range of top 10-30 programs). In terms of work, I'd say just find a job (which is easier said than done). Leverage your writing skills (if you're in history, you probably have them)...you can probably get a job writing marketing copy (press releases, white papers, etc.) or technical writing (instructions) for a year, which gives you plenty of time to reevaluate any missteps this academic cycle.

Progressive is a bit value-laden, but I just see what it means for my own research...history of science = less interdisciplinary than I realized due to certain institutional biases. STS 4 Lyfe I guess.

I haven't received my rejection from UO (Geography), but was told that "offers are going out now, so you should hear by next week", so I'm *assuming* it's a rejection. No matter for me (I've settled on UCSD anyway), but I also had positive interaction with my POI there. We can always high five at national conferences!

I just found this article (http://www.davidjhess.org/uploads/3/5/1/3/3513369/minerva.2011.draft.pdf) and thought it was really interesting. Maybe some of you have seen it, but I hadn't. It would've helped me a lot in my application cycle: "...that institutional prestige has a positive association with the history of science as opposed to the history of technology, industry, and the environment (TIE) and social science. Likewise, there is a weak to moderate negative association with topical interest in the environment or sustainability (ES); democracy, social movements, or public participation (DP); and class 26 or labor (CL)." Yep. History of technology (specifically envirotech) is definitely a hard sell at some schools. Hopefully, it'll fare a little better on the job market.

I've (clearly) already made my choice too. I'm waiting until I get my last rejection (which should be next week) + after admitted students day (just to make sure it's the right place for me) to make it official.

Hmm...With your parking permit, you might be able to park (for free) at Hasbrouck (North Campus) and catch buses downtown. I lived in Hasbrouck when I was there and would run downtown (sometimes) and then take the bus back up if I felt too lazy to run back up. Otherwise, two metered lots for commuters are B Lot (North Campus) and Peterson Lot that is close to Riley Robb (where I spent some of my time...but kind of far from the Physics building...but it is usually NEVER full). Peterson Lot is also close to the Dairy Bar, so that's a little extra incentive too. I should note that buses pick people up from these locations all the time. More info: https://transportation.fs.cornell.edu/parking/campusparking/visitors/metered.cfm

Fair enough. I forget what it's like without a TCAT bus pass to get you where you need to go. Have fun! Don't forget to load up on Cornell swag.

I dropped off like 7 things, some that weren't really "Dry clean only", but really because I suck at ironing. What are you doing all the way down there? You should be exploring better places on State Street! Just stay away from Mate Factor...it's really a strange cult behind it (http://iottc.blogspot.com/2009/03/why-we-boycott-mate-factor.html).

In other news, I just dropped my clothes off for dry cleaning for my admitted students day trip. I feel like a real adult now.

I don't really want to disclose how much I was personally offered, but you might want to check out http://www.phdstipends.com/results for more information about funding packages at different schools.

(1) Lower Ivy is used usually to denote an Ivy that isn't HYP. See https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/lower_ivy But yes. I attended Cornell. (2) Yes, obviously going to a well-known institution will bring a certain academic pedigree to your application. However, the issue at hand is whether or not you should take a funded offer from an R1 institution vs. an unfunded offer from an Ivy. To me, it's a no brainer. A Master's degree from an R1 institution (all else being equal) is not going to be a hindrance to future Ph.D. applications and people seem to overestimate the influence of prestige of an Ivy Master's degree. Certainly, there are some programs that serve as feeders to other Ph.D. programs (Harvard's MTS degree comes to mind). However, when you consider faculty from R1 institutions likely received their Ph.D.s from Ivy's (if the general rule of thumb is to believed...that you end up teaching on the tier below where you receive your Ph.D.), LORs will *likely* be known by Ivy adcoms, you're not going into debt for it, and you likely get good research opportunities...a funded offer R1 is generally the better choice.

Definitely a good excuse! My lease runs out in April, so my boyfriend and I have to figure out when we want to make the move. He's on a month-by-month, so I'm just going to move in with him until we figure out what the job situation looks like for him. Luckily, he's a computer developer and CA might have some jobs for him that help offset my stipend. On a side note: if anyone has 500k lying around and wants to buy me a condo, that would be great.

I'm in a very interdisciplinary field (not anthro) and I'm going to wear a pencil skirt ensemble with flats (probably lots of walking). If you're female, something like these may work: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/543317142523796297/ https://www.pinterest.com/pin/526499012658610143/ http://www.polyvore.com/grad_school/set?.svc=copypaste&embedder=3415147&id=44634375

Finally got my rejection from Penn. Now if I could finally get Oregon to respond...then I can be officially done with the application season!

Using self-funded Master's programs as a source of revenue is something a LOT of departments do, so you're not that cynical. If you have a choice between a funded offer vs. a non-funded one, go with the funded one. An R1 highly ranked university will arguably give you as much visibility as an Ivy, if the department ranking/reputation is about the same (that is, if you're working with a Nobel Prize winner at Harvard vs. a no-name person at the R1...then things might matter differently) and you do good work. There's no guarantee in Ph.D. admissions. I have a Master's from a lower Ivy and got shut out at all the Ivies I applied to, so don't assume it will open *that* many doors. Your work matters a LOT more than name does.

Yeah...for better or worse, acceptances + funding information have definitely gone out. Right now, I'm waiting on the Graduate School's "official" approval before I can accept my offer, so I'm suspecting that's what the hold up on everything is. My status hasn't changed on the web portal, despite on-going communication from the department.

YES. I really can't wait, partially because I've basically already committed (in my mind) to going there and this trip is just to make sure it has the right "vibe"...and partially because it'll be 70 degrees. I feel like I might get more information today, as they gave my my acceptance letter on a Tuesday, funding information last Tuesday...and today's another Tuesday. Who knows.

I'm attending a recruitment event this weekend too...get there Sunday and leave Monday. It's going to be a whirlwind trip. I've not even been sent an agenda or transportation details yet (bought my ticket...but beyond showing up to the airport, no idea what will happen). So, hopefully I get that info soon. I don't like to be without details...waiting through February was hard enough.

Forest Park is reasonably bike friendly most of the year. STL is kind of weird to bike in the winter though, as roads aren't really plowed if there's snow and it's mess. The Metro is getting much more reliable though and public transportation is improving!

^ This. In my offer, I was "guaranteed" 5 years, but the letter also provides additional information saying that advanced candidates can petition for additional TA-ships "if necessary" and that those that need that have "been very successful" in getting those positions. So basically, "if you need more than 5 years, there are alternatives"--but they can't guarantee more than that. In other programs, I'm sure it's different.

I don't think it would be insurmountable, given that you would have the requisite language background. It seems like a logical progression to do history > history of Christianity. I did the opposite...I have a Master's degree in Jewish Studies and was admitted to a Ph.D. in History and my background only helped. As the previous poster noted, I do think it would be difficult going from an M.Div to a Ph.D. in Religion, as an M.Div is a more ministry-oriented degree, and not necessarily a research-oriented one.

Ouch. That's certainly a harsh way of letting someone know.

Agreed. If you have a car, bring it. If you can get a car, get it--especially if you want to live off-campus (the further away from campus, the cheaper it is). Ithaca isn't really super-centralized (you can get downtown pretty easily by bus or walking from Cornell) and to get to grocery stores or the big box stores (with the exception of Target, which is on the bus route), a car is a pretty good thing to have. I didn't have a car though. I just used my bus pass and http://www.ithacacarshare.org/...The upside of this is that you get a student discount + you don't have to pay monthly car insurance. If you only use a car occasionally, it ends up being cheaper. I'd either ride with friends to Wegmans or rent the car and stock up.