Quickmick

Ive been through the process (law school apps and MS apps) and am currently 1/2 way through an MS program. Going through the process was stressful and I did check for status updates often . So, I am not very far removed from the process and have been gearing up for another application cycle. I went to a conference in the spring to meet some POIs and one TT prof gave me some interesting advice. He said, "Remember, all you do is lick the stamp," meaning that I really have no control over the process. I protested that I can write my SOP/writing sample!" He maintained that the amount of chaos, and other variables beyond my control, going on during the admission process have far more impact on the outcome than anything I can do. I would hope that this time around there is less stress, less checking for updates, but I am doubtful. At the end of the day, all I can do is put forth my best effort and let the chips fall where they may. If I know I have done all I can, what else is there? I would only suggest that as the weeks slog on without any notification, resist the temptation to reach out to schools for updates unless communication is warranted. Not much help, I'm afraid, but rest assured you are not alone and this is a great place to get feedback. Good luck, QM

I have a wife and a two year old, so time management is particularly important. I use two things. One is similar to @Focus' suggestion which I used in the professional world. There they called it timeblocking--which is basically planning your day--the trick is that there are no allowed interruptions. For example if 2-4 is blocked for reading and the phone rings--no answering it.. calls get returned at 5-6 (or whatever). This seems to help out as my blocked time doesn't get broken up by a bunch of small breaks. The other thing I have found effective is to plan tomorrow today. Last thing I do before I leave my desk is to look at what I want to get done tomorrow and have a plan for it today. If I don't, I will fiddle around, check the news, eat a burrito, and next thing I know it is 10 o'clock. If putting down the phone is difficult, I think some people have looked at the effects of setting the screen to black and white and the decrease in phone use is noticeable (who wants to look at black and white, right?). Simple things, but they have worked pretty well.

Looks like you have gotten great advice so far. Looking at your dual major I would point out that U MICH has an interesting combined program in Anthro/Hist that you might be well suited for if your research is so inclined... good luck, I would guess you will do well whichever way you go.

It is my understanding (and experience) that if you are in school full time you don't have to enter to in to a payment agreement to start making payments. You can just start giving them money when you want/can and they will credit your account. As long as you are a full time student you dont (I am pretty sure) have to elect a payment plan at this time.

Most subjects have a society of some sort (this might be helpful to you: http://asphs.net/) maybe poke around the directory a bit. It also has a cache of past conferences where you can leaf thought and see who presented what. good luck!

I, too, am gearing up for a trip through the meat grinder. Environmental History (20th century Latin America). I will apply to around 8 History programs and 2 in other disciplines. School list pretty nailed down, POIs have been contacted, writing sample in good shape and the tailored SOPs are 1/2 done. I hope to have all the apps out in Sep so I can just drill down and finish my thesis for my MS. The app part isn't too bad, just all the infernal waiting! Thanks to everyone who started last fall (and before) and still hang around to help. Hope everyone is having a great summer. QM

This has stats on % of female faculty as well as student data (as well as a bunch of other stuff). Pretty handy, if a bit outdated http://www.nap.edu/rdp/

I imagine their interest is related to in-state tuition and your tax filing status. For example, they would not like you to file state taxes in FL (@ 0%) and take advantage of their instate tuition rates. Even if as a student your state tax bill is probably minimal or nil, my understanding is that they are really asking you if you are going to be a taxpayer.

Even if you decide to reapply I (personally) wouldn't retake the GRE, and I got the same score you did. My thinking is that my score is good enough to get my app to the selection stages at which point it will be moot. I can't imagine adcomms looking at a list of finalists and making decisions based on 2 points of GRE verbal. As an aside, I spent time in Bloomington and IU is a beautiful campus and has a LOT to offer. I particularly enjoyed the summers when many students were out of town. Just curious, you didn't mention the possibility of attending the 'elite' MA as an option, and I am curious as to why. Did they offer you funding? Couldn't that be a stepping stone into their PhD program or at least a stepping stone to some elite PhD? Good Luck!

If you have already notified them, I am not sure what good opinions will do now. In any case, it is hard to say without knowing your particular situation. Do you have a trust fund? Kind uncle named Bill Gates? If money is no object then the money doesn't matter. For me, I won't go without funding but that is largely a product of where I am in life (I turned down significant funding for law school as I didn't want to pay the remainder) and the simple math of the economics in terms of time horizon.

While I am not an expert in Education or Psychology we are in somewhat similar situations. I am earning my MS in Environmental Science and am looking to possibly take that and fold it in to a PhD in Environmental History, so not just switching fields but moving from the sciences to the humanities. I will mention a couple of things that I have been thinking about and a couple of observations about your situation. At some point we have to work (for real money) and looking at my choices in these terms it seems the sciences afford both the opportunity to teach and to be competitive in private/public sector workplace. However, the question remains: what is going to make you happy? I have generally gone by the mantra if it doesn't make me happy, I won't do it and have never let the fear of failure hinder my endeavors. That being said the job market for historians is pretty abysmal so has to be weighed into the equation. That being said, why worry about problems I don't have? I will apply to a smattering of top tier programs and see what happens. If I get in then I have options in hand and decisions to make. Why not go ahead and apply to these Psychology programs and see what emerges? While it seems reasonable to join the workforce and see where it takes you I would only caution that it seems that you are currently in a financial position to continue school; if you leave and see a jump in pay it may be hard to resist some material comforts that require continued income at the new level (car payment, house, etc) to maintain so going back after a few years may be a challenge. While I mentioned I am not an expert in Ed, I would ask if you are being fair in basing a judgement on your TFA experience, if moving toward a PhD means more high level admin type stuff you might be comparing apples and oranges here. Lastly, sure doing well in your MS might help you move up the ladder, but it might not. I was at a conference recently and a tenured professor told me, "all you do is lick the stamp and mail it it." At this point everyone is highly qualified and has a great CV/scores/grades etc. You might find that your MS in Ed sets you apart from other Psyche applicants too. His point was that at this stage of the game there is quite a bit of luck involved and we, on the other side of Oz's curtain, will never understand the incredible amount of chaos that goes on during the adcomm process. I would suggest that if you are considering it, go ahead and apply then worry about the decisions when you have them to make, otherwise you might wonder: what would have happened had I applied? Hope this helps a little. Q

Just a thought, but you might want to consider what a lengthy submission is telling your professor. It seems to suggest, "I know you said 10 pages, and there are 10 of us, but I've decided that of the many constraints placed on your time it is best spent reading 5 extra pages from me (or) this is absolutely the best thing you will read all term so I am worth it." Both of those cases seem like probable long shots. Last term I had a fellow who said 10ish--don't give me 5 unless you are incredible at being terse and don't give me 15 unless you are a savant with a break-though. My point is just that their time is important. This term I had a paper that I could tell was shaping up to run over, so I just sent an email over explaining that I know you wanted 10 but I am running long (to 18) and asking if is that OK or should I cut it. He said long is fine but try to get it to 14. So, I got to be long and practice separating the wheat from the chaff. Communicating seemed to be the most direct approach for me.

We are headed here: https://www.oceanicsociety.org/projects/turneffe-atoll-marine-reserve which was designated a marine reserve in 2012 (so not that long ago). We will be studying Coral Reef Ecology, probably measuring some corals maybe looking at lionfish populations and looking a abundance/diversity to see how well the reserve is doing since its inception, especially given that it is fairly 'new.' Part of the reason I am going that it should get me very close to (if not there) earning American Academy of Underwater Sciences' "Scientific Diver" status ( http://www.aaus.org/). Should be good for a lot of reasons!

Field work collecting data for my MS thesis for much of it, then off to Belize in August for two weeks to do some scientific diving off of Turneffe Atoll.

It sounds like a fantastic opportunity--except the bill. While this is probably something you are already aware of, I would mention that US $30K deferred for 5 years at 6% turns into 38k, then payments for 20yrs at 6% = 272/mo total loan cost is around 65K. Is your health insurance included in that number? I am not trying to deter you, but *for me* a funded option would be a lot more attractive. As an aside, I am in a funded MS situation, and have still taken out a smallish loan amount for incidentals I didn't foresee in the budget. All that being said, it does sound like an incredible place to spend time at university.

This is a very interesting thread, and I have enjoyed reading how everyone has come at the task. While I have some papers I thought about resurrecting, I have opted to write something new. Assuming my writing gets better with time (more practice, elevated thinking, etc,) I will use something that I wrote this term. Luckily enough one of my MS courses is broad enough that the Prof gave us carte blanche in choosing a topic so I was able to choose one that combines the science with the history. In my case, I am in an MS Environmental Science program and really wanted to showcase how I can bring that training to bear in Environmental History, so tried to craft a piece that did that. I was able (I hope!) to combine an evaluation of current metrics employed to manage the issue and the genesis of property rights in an international sense (via Grotius) to make a new argument generally, while looking at a particular issue over its 60 year history. It contains the required primary sources and conclusion by analysis as opposed to quotation and has been well received by those who have seen it. Working on something fresh also allowed me to tailor length to fit and it comes in at about 19 pages--though for one application it will get edited down to 10--with two half page illustrations. I do have a question for the group. One of my reviewers said, "Historians reading this would likely ask about the larger historical context of these decisions and might be concerned about the lack of archival research. Much of the primary source research would be held in government archives and published government documents. However, I think you could make a case (perhaps as a short one-page introduction to the writing sample) how this work has led you to realize there are gaps in the research and thinking on the subject (both yours and the larger field)—and gaps that an environmental historian could fill." While most of the piece is cited using international agency official reports (primary) I could add more, but my question is do you think the inclusion of the suggested cover page makes sense? I had been leaning toward making revisions instead of adding the suggested cover page, but the jury is still out. Thanks!

You could (although you mentioned this is it for you) use that as a springboard for next year. I went to a conference at the beginning of the month ahead of the upcoming admission cycle. Don't know if it will help or not, but I am hopeful it will.

When deciding on my MS I had some of the same thoughts/feelings...but someone reminded me that at this level (or that one as the case were) knowing that I had done my due diligence there really was no bad option, just perhaps a 'good, better, best' and they all represented a privileged opportunity (not to say we don't work like heck to earn those opportunities!). You are probably about to get paid to do what you love (or REALLY enjoy) and pick up a top flight education along the way. Heck, even the DI athletes don't get paid to go yet!

@Calgacus I agree on the word of mouth thing, you might want to reach out to your history dept and ask some question, I would also point out that a school with a lower 'ranking' may have a giant in your field which is a mitigating factor. That being said you can get a neat (if outdated) excel book here: http://sites.nationalacademies.org/PGA/Resdoc/ for free that gives a lot of interesting information such as enrollment, gre, health insurance, do you get an office, pubs of profs, avg time to complete, etc. They say they look at 5000 programs at 212 institutions--but I didn't count. As you may have heard, when you are looking at places it might serve you well to look at their placement statistics. Hope this helps! Q

I think TMP is spot on with this, as it sounds like in an overall sense they seem fairly evenly matched. Slightly better fit with more bureaucracy vs better monied generally but a bit further... sounds like you have it narrowed down to two good choices: I would just trust my gut at this point.

I am flying out tomorrow to attend the American Society for Environmental History's conference in Seattle. Is anyone else headed that way?

Goldman's Imperial Nature and McNeill's Something New Under the Sun...guilty pleasure-->on book 6 of The Saga of Recluse by L.E. Modesitt, Jr. More are piling up for schools I don't even attend! lol I have been reading papers by POIs, and during the course of discussions with them it seems they are all suggesting books to read! Oh, and all the stuff for my MS work.

It is not uncommon to pick up an MA incidentally on the way to PhD, which would be at the same school so in practice for job purposes I don't think it would raise eyebrows. If you think you have taken advantage of all there is to offer from you current community then it seems to make sense to look at it that way. Having lived a few places in the country I've found I enjoy a change in regional scenery every once in a while--but that is just me. On the flip side, having established relationships and familiarity with the processes has some advantages and you don't have to be the new person again and relearn the way things are done. I have heard from faculty that when you eventually try to land a job you might be a bit more attractive to schools other than your PhD granting institution, as it promotes cross-pollination of ideas. That being said their familiarity with you might make you more attractive and I see,and know, plenty of people that work where they went--if they have a need and want you it won't blow up the deal. LOL so I guess I am just saying it depends.

I would echo @TMP's great advice and suggest that you curb your emotional input to what (in large part) should be a business decision.

While I would agree that TAMU gives you a very reasonable shot in TX, I would suggest that if you want to speak to how TX schools are funded you read this: https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/khp02 basically it explains that while oil and gas go into the 'permanent fund' the principle can't be spent, so the income revenue from that fund (more investment/interest driven) is what pays out. Additionally, any revenue generated by oil and gas is a double edged sword (look at current gas prices) as any revenue that comes from that stream is price dependent, not some absolute value.