AP
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Posts posted by AP
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1 hour ago, wfchasson said:
hey all. i'm wondering if anybody knows how your language training factors into the decision process, what language training phd programs expect coming in, etc, particularly if you aren't doing American/British hist. anybody care to share their experiences with language abilities and the application process?
That's a question best answered by each program because different programs (and different professors within each program) has different expectations.
The question of languages is important because you need to be able to relate to others beyond your field, especially if you are not an Americanist. Learning a language takes time, and some languages take more time than others.
If you haven't asked this to your POI, I suggest contacting them. Though the question to them should be: What level of expertise should I show command as a graduate from this program? That way, you don't disclose that you are anxious about admissions
or if you are lacking the training.
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29 minutes ago, Thucydides34 said:
Just wondering whether it matters one way or another if we send a thank you email at all. Is it impolite not to?
That's a great question and I'll answer it this way: I didn't (culturally, I was not aware Americans are big on thankyous) and I got in.
No one will stop admitting if you don't send a thank you email, it's just nice.
If you decide to send a thank you email: just one line.
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7 hours ago, TheWiggins said:
Thanks for this comment. So a few things I just want to mention. First, I appreciate your best wishes and your time commenting. I think as most prospective doctoral students should, I reached out to at least several faculty members in the department and have had extensive conversations with them, so they are aware of the fields I want to dip my project in and why. This was established before the SOP was written. Second, again because you could not see the whole statement, the very first sentence of the next paragraph states what those sub-fields are and immediately dives into the project and what it is really about. It was designed so that the last sentence mentions that the project is wide reaching, and then the next paragraph talks about how and why. So, I respectfully don't agree with the appraisal that unless you mention sub-fields off the bat in the very first paragraph, the statement goes into the "no" pile. If this was the case, I would have never have gotten my Master's and many others would not have gotten their PhD's.
Second, that's okay if we judge writings differently, but I don't think the tone tells anyone what to do. It is a part of what I see my project being and again, the project would not have been green lighted in interviews before the actual writing of the SOP if faculty members were not receptive to the philosophy of how I saw my project. Also, if an academic department does not have the same approach to history that you do, in the sense that they don't share the same approach of how historical scholarship should be approached, chances are that is not the department for you. No matter what you study (but, especially in the humanities), if a department does not value your academic philosophy and faculty members do not think along the same issues that you do in similar ways, those are not the right people to be working with.
Lol I’m faculty.
Several students also reached to me, but I’m not on the AdComm and they filter applications first.
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3 hours ago, TheWiggins said:3 hours ago, TheWiggins said:
Replying to TsarandProphet
Hi - I am not surprised that the metaphor does not make full sense as you are only able to see the opening paragraph to a statement of purpose. Now, the heartbeat metaphor is intended as an impactful hook to quickly get the eyes of admission officers in graduate application review committees. As far as what the specifics of historical sub-fields, actors, or lived experiences - well again, that would make sense if you could read the entire thing. The metaphor comes from a literary giant Raymond Carver - this idea of looking into the past to listen for the heartbeats is a philosophical overture about how I think historical scholarship should and ought to be conducted. This project that begins with this paragraph ultimately discusses maritime experiences of early modern books and readers - it is about creating a interdisciplinary project that explores the fields of ocean history, history of the book, intellectual history, and transnational history. Again, you would have no idea about this because only the intro is there. The metaphor is there to provide grounding - basically, to look for the "heartbeats" of historical actors is the basis for conceiving of doctoral project that is truly interdisciplinary - I believe the last sentence mentions this rather clearly.
I believe that in a statement of purpose for a doctoral program, you want to distinguish yourself from other applicants. Diving into your research is very abrupt and fatigues the eye - if you can start with hook that frames the discussion carried out in the SOP, but also differentiate yourself as a budging scholar with an academic vision, then you are doing the right thing in my opinion. Of course during the progression of your program, naturally, your project and focus will shift, however, I think it is important to be able to express in your SOP that you have an idea and philosophical background on where you want to root your project.
Then again, not everyone likes one's writing as is the normality of academic exchange.
I agree that you need a hook, I disagree that you need a whole paragraph to say "I'm into interdisciplinary work," especially since you are doing it through the eyes of another scholar, not your own.
I second @TsarandProphetthat is not very clear. The heartbeats metaphor (noise of the present to understand lived experiences) made me think of anthropologists and how they do participant observation (or you could even argue oral history). This ambiguity does not work in your favor. You want to be as clear as possible. While I grant the benefit of the doubt that you will eventually explain what subfields you are referring to, you have little space in a SOP, so if you are not mentioning your field/subfield/etc right away, in my eyes it goes to the "no" pile.
This might be just the wording you chose *here*, be aware of passages such as "I think historical scholarship should and ought to be conducted" which doesn't appear verbatim in the intro but there is that kind of tone. While I understand your argument to have a distinct philosophy to distinguish yourself from other applicants, the *tone* in which you say sounds like you are telling faculty what they are supposed to be doing. As you proofread, pay attention to that and if you are satisfied, then send it along.
Good luck.
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I realize maybe my post might have contributed with the anxiety. But it was aim this way: are you waiting it out? Put your time to use and prepare for possible interviews. And yes, "interviews" can be an umbrella term for anything from an informal phone conversation to a more structured meeting.
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1 hour ago, Manana said:
I've had an interview today and I feel like it didn't go great. Like it wasn't horrible, but I was nervous and not prepared and so I forgot important points in my answers and my english (not a native speaker) wasn't great at all, I stuttered and forgot words a lot. The good thing is, I know my prospective advisor is very interested in my proposed project (he mentioned it several times in emails and repeated it during the interview).
So my question is- should I send an email? Is it considered appropriate to ask for a second interview, or to try to explain my performance? Just for reference, this is an English university.
No. If you send a second email it should ONLY be to thank them.
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11 hours ago, telkanuru said:
You can also try prompting faculty to talk about the one thing they always really want to talk about: themselves.
And a great question, for either the interview or the students weekend (which I doubt they'll do these...) is "what are you working on right now?"
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As you may begin to receive interview invitations (not all programs have them, and not all faculty do them), let me share some unsolicited and by no means exhaustive advice.
- Try as much as possible to detach yourself from your UG identity. Don't be a student, be a prospective colleague.
- Interviews aren't that long, about 30 minutes (has anyone had a different experience?). You want to answer as many questions as possible so practice answering questions in 2-3 minutes.
- In general, faculty want to know that you are not a jerk. Don't be a jerk.
- You will get a question about why you want to come here. This is a chance for you to talk about about your research interests in terms of what they are offering (not in terms of you). So, talk about how faculty research inspire/inform/fir your interests, how course offerings and other training opportunities fit your professional goals, and how university-wide mission fits your persona (and this doesn't need to be very broad, think intern opportunities in the museum).
- You will be offered to ask them questions and this is a question. Have smart questions ready, like how does the program sees itself in five years? (you'll ~on the market).
This is the most urgent themes I could think of.
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6 hours ago, Manana said:
In one of my applications I have to fill up a "Other research-related skills" (in additional to a separate languages box). I wonder what I am expected to write in there. For reference, I have done a BA and an MA in History, and worked as a research assistant and teaching assistant.
This is if you have any other skill you want to add and you didn't have a box to do so. For example, a friend of mine worked as an editor before her PhD. I had job experience that I re-worded in this box. A colleague was in the film industry before his PhD. You can word all this to market your skills (project management, data management, etc etc etc).
I don't think this box is going to be consequential. However, if you show an ability to recraft non-traditional research skills into research skills, then you can also learn research skills during your PhD to apply later on in other industries. In a very constrained job market, this is attractive.
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2 hours ago, aco2 said:
Okay interesting, that's helpful! So those of us who haven't heard anything but talked at greater lengths with our POI previously are probably still in the running. What a relief!
I'm history of science/ medicine, with focus on reception of classical medical ideas in later periods. Who is your POI?
Unless there is a clear policy written somewhere, I'd refrain from thinking like this. I've received some applications and will be contacting people, but I don't think some of my colleagues with more applicants will do the same. In other words, unless there is a departmental policy, assume you are in the run until they tell you you are not (or other evidence becomes available).
You will be in this type of situation from now on every time you apply for something (there is an entire wikia for jobs).
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No one know exactly how many students will be accepted any given cycle except faculty in the AdComm.
People might be drawing on conversations, on past statistics, or on conclusions drawn. Programs have a number of offers they make and a typical yield. However, that number depends on many things. Eg: if the previous cohorts were large, they might shrink this year.
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On 12/25/2020 at 7:41 AM, Sleepless in skellefteå said:
Would this be a generic e-mail sent out to all applicants or could it be taken as a promising sign?
''Dear Sleepless in Skellefteå,
Greetings from U Madeupville! I am Professor Madeup Namius, and I am writing to you as MA Director. I see that you have begun an application to one of our MA programs. We are looking forward to reading your completed file and, should you come here, to working with you in your graduate studies.''Then some general information about the school and the campus.
''I am continually inspired by our MA students, by the range of experiences they bring to the school, their creativity and enthusiasm and their potential to grow and contribute to the field. If you come to Madeupville, you will find a lively and stimulating conversation underway, and we are excited to welcome your contribution to it.
I would be happy to speak with you further about the School's MA program. My email is Madeupnamius@Umadeupville.com. I’m available to meet as well by phone or over zoom. Just drop me a line and we’ll find a time.''I lean towards it being a generic e-mail, but I was somewhat unsure due to the last part, which made it seem a little more personal. Probably, I am just searching for any positive signs.
On 12/26/2020 at 1:27 AM, telkanuru said:Gotta keep that sweet, sweet MA money rolling in.
Yes, but also keep the applicant pool big.
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3 hours ago, cryloren said:
I just finished my applications but reviewed a personal statement and happened upon a typo.... cest la vie
At this point, I'm working under the assumption I'm not getting in anywhere so I don't get my heart crushed too badly if I don't get into any of my 10 schools...
Anyway, CHEERS to all of us who have submitted apps. This is a crappy year with crappy prospects; yet we still pulled through and submitted good stuff!
19 minutes ago, telkanuru said:Under no circumstances should you ever read any material you've already submitted. That way madness lies.
As the latest hire in my department, the professor organizing a professionalization session with PhD students asked me if I could share my cover letter and join them for a Q&A.
The first I noticed when I re-read it was a typo this big. And I got the job. So, yeah.
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On 12/8/2020 at 10:47 AM, MtrlHstryGrl said:
She’s always been kind of an absentee advisor, and she has never really encouraged me to present or publish. When I expressed interest in doing individual research, she encouraged it at first and didn’t do anything since.
No, this is not an absentee advisor. If you want to present, go and present. If you want to publish, go and publish. Your advisor is there to advise, not to tell you to do things. If you want specific advice, then ask. "Where do you recommend I present a first paper?" "I'm interested in presenting at X Conference, but registration is expensive. What support can I get from the department?"
I took a course with my advisor for all semesters I was in coursework. It was hard, because it was evident he was harder on me because I was her student. I almost failed one course and she said if I didn't redo the paper, I'd have to leave the program. I re-did because, like yours, it was a crappy paper (to their fairness, she preferred to do that than give me a B).
All in all, I don't see why you can't meet with her and ask for feedback on how to improve as a researcher, a writer, and a historian.
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On 10/7/2020 at 11:24 PM, vnswang said:
what if we are current MA students? Should we write "Current MA Student in xxx(program)"?
No.
Joan Perez
MA Student, Chemistry.
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I'm sorry you are going through this unquestionably stressful situation.
I agree with @Sigaba in that something seems to be missing from what you are telling us. While you might no be ready to share, I would take their advice to salvage as many relationships as possible.
For the sake of just putting things out there for others, be aware that professors can change jobs at their pleasure. They should not have any loyalty to any institution and, least of all, to a student. Seriously, you'd expect someone not to change jobs because of you?
That said, I am very surprised that this person completely disappeared. I've had friends whose supervisors changed institutions (even countries), and they continued to advise them. Each program has it rules and maybe this was discipline-specific, but is there a way to apply to their current program?
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This is an important thread and one of the most insightful ones I've read in years here.
I'll second @Sigaba's comment of not wanting to opine on people's professional goals. I think those fluctuate a lot, and this forum is only a slice of the history community.
I want to be clear about something. There are no jobs. This is not grim or sad, it's the reality and the hand we are dealt with. In my field, there are two. I could go into the weeds of how this is ridiculous as higher education costs continue to increase, but we won't solve here.
If you want to do a PhD in history, then accept that you will not probably get a TT job. Further, if you want to do a PhD in history, do not attend a program that is only geared towards the academy.
More programs now are expanding their objectives and preparing students to other careers. We could discuss if that should be the aim of a doctorate, but for argument's sake, let's say it can be done. This is what @TMP referred to as their grant writing skills. Programs today offer certificates in digital humanities or public history, and many graduates end up working in these fields.
For those of you asking of professions outside the professoriate, here is where friends of mine are working: librarians at research libraries, preparatory schools (they pay as good as a TT prof!), digital scholarship coordinators, advanced education directors, writing center directors, archivist (I don't remember exactly the job, but he is working for a federal archive in programming). A friend of mine with a Theology degree went on to work for sports rep agency. I'm not saying you should do a PhD for any of these positions.
But, alas, basically, weigh everything in, and remember the costs of doing a PhD that are not advertised in the website.
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3 hours ago, HRL said:
I'm actually quite surprised at how many professors I've heard back from, all things considered.
That said, I do have a number of schools with fast-approaching 12/1 deadlines where I would not apply if certain POIs would not be taking students (and have some calls I'm really not sure about in the absence of confirming whether certain profs are taking new students - at one such school, my 2 main people are in their early 70s).
Given everything on faculty's plate right now, would you advise even sending a follow-up a few weeks after the original email (and about a week and a half before the deadline)? If so, how would you recommend wording the email to be least invasive/obnoxious?
Is this...too direct?:
Dear Professor ____,
I hope this email finds you well and anticipating a restful holiday break. I just wanted to quickly follow up on my email from a few weeks ago. I am hoping to confirm whether you are taking on new students next year before I submit my PhD application to _____ to work with you.
Best,
____
My response was to someone asking why professors hadn't responded, I wasn't saying that no one is responding. (I am answering emails, for instance).
Re: follow-up emails, absolutely. I think the wording is fine, and I'd recommend attaching the original email as well.
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On 11/14/2020 at 12:19 AM, KenzieUT said:
Anyone getting little-to-no response from POIs? Should I be worried? Only one prof responded by saying they will respond at the end of Nov.
We are overwhelmed with figuring out how our departments will look like next year, with burned out undergrads also struggling with mental health issues, with domestic responsibilities, with re-structuring entire courses (no, teaching online is not easier), with isolation, with the uncertainty of our research (i.e. our production, i.e. our job security). So, I'm sorry to tell you that an email from a potential student is not a top priority right now.
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I really like how @Sigaba turns my short, clumsy comments into what I actually meant.
(Maybe you should be my book editor?) ?
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22 hours ago, telkanuru said:
NB: you're not wed to your prospectus either. Hell, my understanding of my own dissertation changed substantially by just writing my introduction - which is the last part you write.
Precisely my point.
The SOP should not be a prospectus. Yes, having a project absolutely helps but not so much as the project itself but because it is the easiest (but not the only) way to show what questions you are interested in.
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23 minutes ago, OHSP said:
Don't start your SoP this way -- decenter yourself. I do not know how many times ppl have to stress that an SoP is about demonstrating that you can ask robust, interesting, historical questions. Do that. Start with the questions. Do NOT begin with a bunch of vague stuff about how you identify, what you might be interested in working on, even what your senior thesis was -- professors are not going to read "I am open to a variety of topics" and think "well that's the kind of exciting work I want to be involved with". Sorry to be blunt but it needs to be said. In order to get into a program you need to write a very clear, very strong SoP. It might help to just write down (in very clear, plain English, without any frills) exactly what it is that you are hoping to ask in grad school (in coursework, research, and maybe, eventually your dissertation). A quasi-prospectus is not going to impress professors -- your project will change (and needs to) and that's the point of coursework and early years spent in conversations with profs.
**If you DM me I will send you my SoP from 2017. I'm not sure you've seen enough examples and that might help.Re: Reading sample SOPs, here's my all-time suggestion with a link to a good, annotated sample SOP:
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16 hours ago, Cal2020 said:
Thank you for your detailed comments and criticism. I've since then dramatically overhauled my SoP, but I fear that I have moved so far in the other direction that my readers will get the impression that I have no clear idea of what I would like to do. My most recent draft is as follows:
I am a student of the intellectual history of [country1] and [country2] from the early nineteenth century until the latter half of the twentieth centuries (or simply say "in the last two hundred years" or "in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries" or "since 1800"). I am open to a variety of topics and approaches, both theoretical and methodological, but have until now taken particular interest in conservative, right-wing, and nationalist thought, [country] Revolution, [country's participation in WWII], history writing, and debates on modernization and modernity, among others [this is a sentences full of words but without any usable information. One way of checking this is: notice all the "and"? Karen Kelsky (someone I disagree on many aspects but who has good points about writing) says that when we list so much it's because we don't really know what we want to say. What do you want to say?). Much comparative scholarship on these regions focuses on [metropole of empire of which country was a part] and is devoted to individual thinkers, e.g. [book]; the place of one in the imaginary of the other, e.g. [book]; or parallel diachronic study of one or a few phenomena in each, e.g. [book]. By combining these methods and focusing on [country] periphery instead of [country] center, I hope to explore the ways in which ideas and practices have flowed, not just from the West to the non-West, but also between non-Western regions during and after the transition to modernity [this was my original comment. To my knowledge, there is no clear-cut period that we can call modernity in the global sense that you imply. Stop looking at history as if it was a clear, progressive timeline], as well as the influence that the institutional forms and modes of thought particular to each have influenced these processes in elite and non-elite discourse. [Are you discussing this SOP with your advisor? I'm very curious what they have to say about this list of scholars. My advisor would say: you have very little room in a SOP, why are you talking about others and not about yourself?]
16 hours ago, Cal2020 said:What do you guys think? I fear that my failure to pinpoint any single specific project that I would like to do implies that I am lacking in focus. How do things look from the perspective of someone who has actually read applications and taken students, though?
I am not sure why you (and other applicants) are so obsessed in having a clear project. You are applying for a program, not defending a prospectus. In the SOP, you need to show that you have interesting questions, that you have a strong base to begin thinking about them (such as language skills), and that you want to grow as a scholar. What questions move you?
Disclaimer: I haven't written a SOP in a while and I've only seen those that students shared with me when they want to apply to our program.
9 hours ago, Cal2020 said:Regarding the sustainability of the comparison, I would honestly prefer if I could work on both topics simultaneously without trying to force comparisons for now. Trying to find something to say that a professor would find interesting is difficult enough as it is without trying to force every single topic I would like to do into the comparative and transnational mold. The problem is that I am trying to indicate my openness to a variety of topics and approaches, but I am not sure if I should focus exclusively on comparative topics, e.g. the construction of race in both regions, regimes of sovereignty in both regions, reactionary movements in both regions, or, as I do, name the few isolated topics I am interested in and explain what sort of comparative work I hope to do. I'm also receiving different messages from the people around me, so I am getting confused.
I also thought you were doing a comparison. So, you need to clarify the questions that you have. Do not say you are open to any topic (there is such thing as being too honest, I'm one of those so I can understand!). Walk us through what intrigues you. Remember that, as historians, we are fascinated by the stories, by the specifics. What makes these two countries so cool to study side by side? and then you bring us back to the big question and your contribution to that conversation (what would a historian from another field learn from you?)
Finally, I want to appreciate your openness. It's not easy sharing your work, especially with strangers and taking criticisms as professionally as you have. This is a good example of us critiquing your work (not you) and you knowing the difference. This is a great examples for others, and a great skill for graduate school.
2021 Application Thread
in History
Posted
Unless reading those four languages is very desirable (like for medievalists), I don't think language is an issue in the way you describe it. At least I haven't heard of being an issue.
Yes, your most important task at hand is to do graduate work in Korean history. If you come to a PhD with an MA in a different field, you won't be as competitive, even if it's from Cambridge. From my understanding, that MPhil is British-oriented? or can you tailor it towards your interests?
As you research doctoral programs, check current graduate students in your fields. Sometimes you can see where they got their degrees, sometimes you can contact them to ask questions informally, and those that are more advanced usually have their own webpages, so you can check their CV. This might help.