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Karou

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  1. Upvote
    Karou got a reaction from unwelded in Lessons Learned: Application Season Debriefings   
    I agree about setting up a timeline, I made one for myself with a rough estimate of what i should accomplish each week in terms of applications, and spreading the tasks out over several weeks really helped! I also alternated between heavy-duty things like working on the SoP or writing sample and smaller tasks like dealing with the administrative side of things, filling in application forms etc, which require less brain power (and which can be done while listening to music for instance, and thus make it feel a lot less like work!). That way you can feel like you're giving yourself a little break while still doing something that needs to be done.
    A few things I've learned from my own mistakes: I'll echo what @historygeek said above, be really honest with yourself about where your interests lie. In my case, it wasn't so much that I wasn't being honest with myself, but I was immensely intimidated by the field I really wanted to engage with (which I had engaged with before but never in the context of History; in the end, I went back to what was essentially my "first love" in academia and I'm so, so glad I didn't let my fear stop me). Bear in mind that I had been a history student for barely a year  when I started working on my applications last summer, so my interests were a little bit all over the place, you may have a much better grasp of what you want to engage with, so take what I say with a grain of salt!
    My point being, try to flesh out your interests as early as you possibly can, and contact POIs early. If you're lucky, they will prompt you to think about your proposed project and will be honest with you if they think that it's not particularly original (it's a little brutal to hear but very helpful in the end!). Also, try to allow for the fact that your interests may naturally evolve as you go through the process of applying, whether it be through conversations with POIs, or the research you're doing in a Master's program, or anything, really. This happened to me very late into the process (mid-November) and while the changes I made to my project weren't so significant that it would automatically rule out the schools I had decided to apply to, it did make my fitting into many of these programs a bit more of a stretch. I'm very lucky that it worked out for me and that I got admitted into my top choice program (which I added to my list very late in light of the shift in my interests; it was all very fortuitous really, I instantly fell in love with the program and made the very spur of the moment decision to apply despite the deadline being fast approaching), but I wish I had had more time to put together a more coherent list of schools. In a nutshell: time is your friend, give yourself as much of it as you possibly can.
    And as a side note, I can't predict how active I will be on this forum in the future, but my PMs are redirected to my inbox, so I will get those and I am always happy to help! I can't promise groundbreaking advice (I'm hoping at some point I'll feel like I know what I'm doing, but for now the imposter syndrome is still strong!), but I can at least promise a sympathetic ear and insider info about my own program.  Also this cycle isn't over yet, don't lose hope!
     
     
  2. Upvote
    Karou got a reaction from unwelded in Lessons Learned: Application Season Debriefings   
    I just wanted to add, I absolutely agree that mentors are so, so important! The reason why speaking with POIs was more helpful in my case was because none of my current professors are experts in the field I hope to contribute to as a doctoral student. That being said, their help and support throughout this process was still very valuable and cannot be underestimated.
    On a similar note, if you're an international applicant, I think it's important to have someone that is familiar with the system in the US on your side (this is assuming of course that you're applying to PhD programs in the US. Adapt it to your own situation, if you're applying to a school in Australia, same thing, try and find someone who is familiar with that particular system). For instance, my professors here in Europe only had very minimal comments on my statement of purpose, which left me feeling pretty confident about it. However, when I sent it to a US professor (after they had offered to read and review it), I ended up *significantly* revising it. Now I don't know if my current professors were trying to spare my feelings, or if it comes down to cultural differences about what a statement of purpose should or should not say but, just to be on the safe side, I would recommend having people who are familiar with the educational system from wherever it is you want to apply look through your application materials.
  3. Like
    Karou reacted to Nicator in Applications 2019   
    Accepted Cornell's offer. This Aussie is on his way to the US - woo!
  4. Like
    Karou got a reaction from HMSOC11 in Early Americanists!   
    So nice to read about everyone's research, all of this sounds fascinating! I'm embarrassed to stay I had to look up what French Azilum was, but that is so interesting. I'll look into it more if I find the time! 
    Very rough summary of my own interests: right now, I'm focusing on French settler-colonialism in 18th-century lower French Louisiana (roughly, present day Louisiana and Mississippi) and on Franco-Indian relations, especially in terms of sexual behaviors. I'm generally focusing on the many aspects of the sexual component of colonization (ie imposed sexual norms, sexual violence, etc). I've also been looking into Spanish settler-colonialism lately and I'm hoping to expand on that a lot more during my PhD. Like many of you, I'm very interested in issues of perspective (whose 'side of the story' are we focusing on? whose voices have been left out of traditional narratives? etc). Generally, in the context of these interests, I've really enjoyed the works of Jennifer Spear, Juliana Barr, and Patricia Galloway.
    At the moment, I'm doing research for an essay about declension narratives, as it relates to indigenous history. I have a bunch of articles and book chapters lined up, but I think I will pick up David Weber's Bárbaros: Spaniards and Their Savages in the Age of Enlightenment next.
    (Also Homelands and Empires by Jeffers Lennox sounds really interesting, adding it to my reading list!)
     
     
  5. Like
    Karou reacted to DanaJ in Applications 2019   
    That still has to make you feel good!! Congrats! These late decisions are killing me, I still have one I haven't heard back from and accepted another offer yesterday. I just gave up waiting.
  6. Like
    Karou reacted to historygeek in Applications 2019   
    Just got a voicemail that I was accepted to Loyola's PhD program! I'm not going to take the offer (no real European history and it's unranked) but it's exciting nonetheless.
  7. Like
    Karou got a reaction from I_Am_In_Paine in Applications 2019   
    That's such great news! Congratulations!!
  8. Upvote
    Karou reacted to DanaJ in Applications 2019   
    I am still reading because of posts like this, CONGRATS!
  9. Like
    Karou reacted to I_Am_In_Paine in Applications 2019   
    Not sure if anyone is still reading this but I've been accepted to William and Mary's PhD off their waitlist! I couldn't be happier!
  10. Like
    Karou reacted to elx in Applications 2019   
    Yeah me too. I wasn't expecting anything after the wisdom dropped by current students about admitted students' days having happened weeks ago, but once again, the email rolled in when I was least expecting it -- I've been drunk on wine for a couple hours, completely off the thought of apps or gradcafe. This happened with all of them; never when I was refreshing the results page, or checking the portals. I think that's some powerful messaging that it's less than pointless to chase up the application status, and it's a proper waiting game.
    Nevertheless, I'm amazed at the brilliant people I've met through this forum over the season, and I've felt a lot of joy for you guys as you got accepted, and shared your campus visit etc stories. It's been a huge learning experience -- thank you all who have shared your journey, congrats to the admitted and for those who were less lucky, much like NYU, I 'wish you the greatest success in your future endeavors'! ❤️
  11. Like
    Karou reacted to cables in American Studies Fall 2019??   
    How are people feeling? I hope the people who got rejected aren't too depressed. Now that I"m finishing up my Masters, I see that getting rejected isn't all a bad thing in every case. For me, if I get rejected from my final place, that will give me time to define my projects much more, and look at more programs and contact people, and find somewhere that will be a better fit. I know some of us are just trying to get the degree, and we are dealing with job insecurity and stuff. But I just wanted to throw that out there... and also trying to remind myself! I just saw someone say they're glad they were rejected bc it allowed them to refine their approach and they ended up getting into a top school. Personally I know my app wasn't what it could be, so I'm trying to see it as an opportunity... xx 
  12. Upvote
    Karou reacted to historygeek in Applications 2019   
    My assumed rejection from Toronto was wrong! Just got the acceptance email. No funding, though. 
  13. Like
    Karou reacted to I_Am_In_Paine in Applications 2019   
    Yeah what @thisisnew said is accurate. Plus I just really enjoyed my visit there. Fingers crossed I get off the waitlist for PhD, or admitted to one of the other two I'm waiting on, but if not I'll just take the MA from W&M. 
  14. Like
    Karou got a reaction from elx in Applications 2019   
    Thank you @fordlandia, it's definitely a great feeling to have made the decision, and to go somewhere I'm very excited about! I'm assuming your visit went well also! Do you think you'll go to UT Austin?
    @elx, I meant to comment on that earlier but it slipped my mind, in regards to your 1-year program dilemma, if you do get into Oxford, I know it's possible for MSt students to transfer into the two-year program (I'm assuming since you're an Americanist you've applied to the History program (?) which also has a 2-year track. They've revamped the programs recently so it's a bit confusing, they used to have separate programs for European and American history), so that could be a possibility for you. Of course, adding one year to your MA is also a significant financial decision so taking a year out could be the better option!
  15. Upvote
    Karou got a reaction from Aithera in Applications 2019   
    Thank you, it really did go well! I'm still a little jet lagged and it hasn't really sunk in yet, but I am genuinely thrilled. Duke is definitely the best possible place for me to get my PhD.
  16. Like
    Karou got a reaction from DanaJ in Applications 2019   
    Amazing news @fordlandia, congratulations!
    On my end, I've officially committed to Duke, feels good to know where I'll be going! Now I get to do fun stuff like Visa paperwork. Yay.
  17. Like
    Karou got a reaction from Inquisition historian in Applications 2019   
    Thank you, it really did go well! I'm still a little jet lagged and it hasn't really sunk in yet, but I am genuinely thrilled. Duke is definitely the best possible place for me to get my PhD.
  18. Like
    Karou got a reaction from Inquisition historian in Applications 2019   
    Amazing news @fordlandia, congratulations!
    On my end, I've officially committed to Duke, feels good to know where I'll be going! Now I get to do fun stuff like Visa paperwork. Yay.
  19. Like
    Karou got a reaction from fordlandia in Applications 2019   
    Amazing news @fordlandia, congratulations!
    On my end, I've officially committed to Duke, feels good to know where I'll be going! Now I get to do fun stuff like Visa paperwork. Yay.
  20. Like
    Karou got a reaction from elx in Applications 2019   
    Thank you, it really did go well! I'm still a little jet lagged and it hasn't really sunk in yet, but I am genuinely thrilled. Duke is definitely the best possible place for me to get my PhD.
  21. Like
    Karou reacted to elx in Applications 2019   
    Sounds like the visit weekend went well then, congrats!! Hope you love it!
  22. Like
    Karou got a reaction from elx in Applications 2019   
    Amazing news @fordlandia, congratulations!
    On my end, I've officially committed to Duke, feels good to know where I'll be going! Now I get to do fun stuff like Visa paperwork. Yay.
  23. Upvote
    Karou reacted to historygeek in Applications 2019   
    Something that I learned myself very recently: do research and don't get caught up on prestige for MA programs. 
    A week after receiving (and accepting) an offer for a full-tuition scholarship for a Masters program (which is very rare), I was accepted into the HiLi program at Columbia with a fellowship. Given that the program was a Columbia program and located in Paris (closer to archives), I began to question if accepting my fully-funded offer was actually the right move. Spoiler alert: it was. The program at Columbia is a year, which would toss me right into the application cycle again with very little time. I also know that my interests are changing, so a two-year program would be better. Another big thing was the money. Even though I got a fellowship, it was only 20%. I would have to pay 80% tuition, living expenses in Paris, relocation costs, and a $1,000 enrollment fee. Even though Columbia is an Ivy, it ultimately wouldn't be worth it to go. 
  24. Like
    Karou reacted to dr. t in Lessons Learned: Application Season Debriefings   
    There's an existing thread pinned on the same subject; I merged the two and changed the title - does that work?
  25. Like
    Karou reacted to fordlandia in Applications 2019   
    After a stressful application season, yesterday I found out I was accepted at UT Austin! As a Latin Americanist, I am ecstatic and just wanted to thank you all for your advice/encouragement throughout the process. 
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