AnUglyBoringNerd

Oh yeah, been there, done that. Can't say I enjoyed it, but I definitely learned and benefited from it. Thank you and everyone else for your kind words! Actually I only applied to PhD programs in History, but my background is a bit complicated - I have no degree （and never got to minor）in History despite that I've already had more than one Master's degree. I applied to Princeton's EAS with a focus on History instead of to the History department so it's less likely that my interdisciplinary training (and my non-History disciplinary training) would play against me. Columbia's PhD program in East Asian history is quite unique, it is called “History - East Asia”, and is jointly hosted by the History department and EALAC, and applicants who applied to it (either through the History Department or EALAC) are put into the same pool, evaluated together, and enjoy the same treatment and obligation once admitted. Ugh I feel like I am already advertising for Columbia... ╰(￣▽￣)╭

I strongly second what @hats said. To me these two are both very important pros. Personally, I don't want to see myself in a situation where someone in my program （either faculty members or my colleagues) is doing "exactly what I am". (I wanna be creative, to begin with) I'd instead prefer to be in a program where my POIs understand what I wanna do, can inspire me to think outside the box, and surprise me, challenge me, and push me to constantly expand my horizons. I think, more than often, intellectual sparks are ignited by the communication (if not clash, haha) between different minds. And, I understand and admire your passion for teaching, but I think the less teaching load (as an obligation) you have as a PhD student, the more time and energy you'd have for your own research and development as a professional historian, and I think schools (at least those I applied to) understand that too. For instance, when Columbia called to offer me admission, they also wanted to assure me that the teaching load is light and even suggested ways for me to make it even lighter, so i can have more time for my own research. When I was put in touch with current students at UChicago, they told me similar things, something like "(UChicago is a wonderful place for reasons no.1, 2, 3.. , plus the teaching load is acceptable here and you'd totally have time for your own research!" Just my two cents~

Columbia (EALAC, History - East Asia program) is sending out admissions via phone calls! I believe they picked Chinese New Year's Eve on purpose to "make an entrance" - I thought I was gonna have a third (yes, third!) interview and was super nervous throughout the day... Good luck everybody and Happy Chinese New Year! Woof Woof! (I know, I am supposed to be a cat person )

Thank you for the kind words! Indeed, this year's Chinese New Year will no longer feel like a funeral for my nascent academic career, and my gratitude is without doubt ineffable. Also, good luck to everyone! I was rejected by Harvard (and then UPenn, both were History programs though) around this time last year, and I still remember how it felt. I actually contacted my very nice POI at Harvard after receiving my rejection, who gently explained to me why i was rejected - that was very helpful. I made all the changes I could for this round of application according to exactly what he said.

To be honest, last year when I got rejected everywhere, I felt more like a 弃妇/怨女... Now I wonder if the application process is a gendered experience.... or if I had constructed my relationship with PhD programs in a problematic way....

Long time lurker, just wanna pop up and let you know I love this!

Hi there! To my understanding, if you fill out your stats then it will automatically show on the results page - i have posted results with and without filling out stats and the results page always demonstrates my input accordingly. But a lot people may choose not to reveal their stats for reasons such as privacy. Like one of my POIs has told me, the world of historians is very very small and (quote) "we all know each other". To some extent I think this statement also applies to some applicants. So...yep sometimes I can tell who posted a specific result, especially when that result is an acceptance to a top program. (then you may be able to link that result to a post on this forum and then to a person) am I making any sense?

Ah, my bad. My POI didn't say anything about that, sorry I couldn't bring you more information... >_< but I agree, the number of notifications on the result page seems to be very indicative and significant... :/

I am not sure about that, sorry. but I heard that U of Toronto only admits one or two non-Canadian applicants, so hypothetically speaking, if those one or two couldn't attend....

Also got an offer from U of Toronto with the five-year funding package, and I am an international applicant. I thought I couldn't make it bc they seem to only admit very few non-Canadian applicants and my POI even suggested that I apply to more programs just in case. Also, in case anyone on this forum is interested, if you applied to Columbia's History-East Asia PhD program via EALAC instead of via the History department, the results/(more results?) may come out in a few days. (My POI sent a short email yesterday just to calm me down, it's like somehow he knows about this forum and me being on it, checking the result page in a totally not calm manner...) cheers~

Just wanna chime in, I think there is a website where you can get a general look at PhD stipends: http://www.phdstipends.com/ Usually I'd also look at the LW ratio. And whenever I feel like I've begun to fantasize about a great funding package (for PhD programs in History), I check out the package offered by the same school to folks who study mathematics. Hope this helps. cheers,

Thanks for the kind words! I applied to the Department of History. But a professor from EALC is also one of my POIs. My POI at the History department actually asked the reasons why I wanted to do my PhD in History instead of in EALC (bc either way i can get the same three POIs), and I said I'd like to experience a relatively more disciplinary training in History. (this conversation happened before I decided to apply to UCSB) BTW I forgot where I saw this (either on the forum or the result page) that it is possible that the History Department transfers applications to EALC. Hope this helps.

UCSB is sending out some (unofficial) admission(s), in case anyone is interested. One funding package possibility is something like: stipend (approximately 20 k) + tuition/fees and health insurance) for the 1st year, and TA stipend + tuition/fees and health insurance for 2nd to 4th year. And I if I may humbly offer something else here, this is my second application cycle. After my first cycle ended abruptly in mid February (=I was not even wait-listed) 2017, I expressed myself in the Fall 2017 Applicants thread, and in response, this forum offered comforting words and more importantly, advice on what could be my alternative options/what I could do better. It was based on the (rather personal and very detailed) advice after my first cycle ended that I was able to build a new and stronger application package for this cycle. So far I am offered unofficial admission at UChicago (full funding) and UCSB. Of course, I only experienced two cycles so I am no expert here, but I think for many applicants, the end of your first and unsuccessful cycle is not necessarily the moment when you got your last rejection notification or, fortunately and unfortunately, the end of your Application Cycle. Just my two cents and some very general thoughts - the more specific version would be offered under the lessons learned thread, so please don't take them personal.

Thank you for the very kind words! This is actually my second cycle and I must say I was half wrecked this time last year, and I was checking law schools while thinking about a potential third cycle a few days ago. So hang in there, best wishes, and good luck! Re: my application. To be honest, I had been mentally preparing myself for a third cycle. So, you see, I did not really have much confidence in my application. And I see my lack of confidence kind of justifiable because I did not major (or minor) in History in spite of having two Master's already. In this light, I believe SOP and writing sample are the most two important things which are also and actually in our control. Three members on this forum very very generously and selflessly took time to offer insight into my SOP (and three other students who once studied under my adviser and are currently doing PhD in top programs did so as well). And I wrote my writing sample based on the archival research I did for my master's thesis. I was never interviewed by any of my POIs at U Chicago. Re: notification time. The email came at 4:25 am UTC+8 on January 31, 2018. (so January 30 for you if you are in North America) Best,

Hi there! I am one of the East Asian History admits, my field is modern Japan and I applied to the Department of History. Actually, my original plan was indeed to apply to EALC instead of the History Department, but when I was contacting POIs last year, I was very kindly informed by one of them that the EALC program of U Chicago is primarily designed for applicants focusing on literature and media studies. I was eventually advised to apply to the program of the History Department instead. (I guess this more or less shows how important it is to contact POIs in advance) I hope this is relevant and helps. hugs and warmly, - Nerd (I now regret having named myself as ugly and boring....)

Hi DGrayson! To my understanding, UPenn interviews consistently, like you said. I got an interview last year but was unfortunately rejected (so you see, this is my second cycle...), not even wait-listed. I believe you can find some useful information in last year's thread about UPenn's interviews. Also, at least last year UPenn did not send out the interview invitations all at once- I think I got mine one week after everyone else on the forum got theirs. Hope this helps.

I have been lurking this whole season bc this is the second cycle for me, having failed the first cycle I was afraid that I might give unhelpful info .... so here are only a few things that I did for this cycle but not for the last: 1. Have you received especial information from professors and graduate students at your current school? I majored in international politics instead of History. (international student) Last year I was not able to get any historian from the Department of History but a historian from my department to write my recommendation letter. In the beginning of this year I came back from exchange programs overseas to my home country, badgered around*, and finally got myself to work as an assistant at a research center affiliated to the Department of History under a few historians, one of whom used to teach me when i was an undergraduate (like, 5 years ago!). When I timidly asked him if he remembered me, well, he didn't remember my face, then i told him the topic of my term paper (Asianism and Japanese kokutai nationalism, bc I saw myself as a student of nation building, identity, and memory with a focus on modern Japan ) and he immediately remembered, "oh you are the one who studies Japan ". "the one who studies Japan".....I hope this is how the world would remember me 30 years after my death.... After I finished my assistant work that professor wrote my recommendation letters. So now I've got two historians and my supervisor (whose expertise is in Asia-Pacific studies and intellectual history, focusing on modern Japan and China) to write my letter. Also, students from my department and my major who are already doing PhD in Ivies have viewed and given advice regarding my SOPs. Last year I didn't have as many SOP viewers as i do now. *badgering around = I asked for and got a list of the time and location of graduate level seminars of the history dept. from a friend doing PhD at the history dept. and visited the classrooms to participate in class discussions and one day one professor got interested. 2. How have your attempts to establish rapport with potential POIs worked and not worked? I wrote to two (mostly three) POIs from each program I am interested in, most of them replied. If there is only silence from the entire program, I sent out emails again, if still silence, I drop that program, bc I'd have no idea about if POIs are taking students, let along the fit issue. (I dropped only one school this way) Have you been welcomed warmly as a prospective graduate student? Yes, definitely. Have you been given mixed messages? I don't think so. What is your "to do" list and schedule for the rest of the current term? Finish the SOPs by tomorrow (5/6 finished now, and that's the 6th or 7th version ...) for programs with a ddl in December; finish revising WS by Nov. 20 (I've been revising it for a very long time already); finish two diversity statements by Nov 20, then send all of them to my colleague at work, who's a native English speaker and will help me check my language. How are you balancing your current responsibilities with your applications? I am an NGO researcher and my work (gender, sexuality, international human rights politics) is related to my academic interests (Now I see myself as an aspiring historian in nation building, identity, and gender with a passion for the gendered transition to modernity of Japan and the interplay of international relations and women's history in an East Asian context). My supervisor and colleagues are extremely supportive of my academic career and PhD application. My supervisor started to send me out to do overseas business trips (my first time travelling to Europe! :D) and domestic conferences related to both my research interests and my work this year. And I really learned a lot bc both activists and scholars attended those events. (I am so so grateful for the perspectives I was able to gain) Also, as time goes by, I feel better about my failure last cycle and am gradually coming to terms with that...mhm....closed door. (I love my job at the NGO and am proud of the work I do, only I fancy a quaint academic career more. ) That said, work can be stressful sometimes. So I also taught myself .....baking..... The idea is now that I am taking a gap year and mostly working from home, and I am interested in gender and women in the modern history of Japan, I might just check out my potential as a "good wife, wise mother" and claim that, being a single lady, I am only doing it for research, so I could relate a bit more with women in Meiji Japan. (so lame an excuse...) I also tried flower arranging but flowers get expensive in winter so I quit, though I do like my cookies and stopped visiting bakery for comfort food when i get all grumpy bc of the stress. Also started to work out more, and I lost a few kg and gained defined abs. That's pretty much it.

Thanks for the suggestion! I've checked out their program and it's indeed intriguing! (i Like it that they list gender&sexuality as one of the specializations). Unfortunately, I have also found this piece of info on the website: ...generally between 30-50% of the incoming group receive some kind of funding. Only a few top-ranked candidates can be nominated for central fellowships (which include merit-based fellowships and merit-with-diversity fellowships) from the Graduate Division. Others might receive departmental funding if it is available. International Applicants: Unfortunately it is very seldom that international students are awarded funding through our department, as the costs of supporting their non-resident fees and tuition each term are quite high. (URL:http://www.eastasian.ucsb.edu/academics/graduate-program/application-statistics/) I am an international applicant and all things considered, I really need to get in a program with definite full funding so I guess UCSB is not working for me. :'(

Thanks for the advice! I will definitely check out UC Santa Barbara! (oops I haven't, I intended to save the UC schools for later bc I think some of them ask for transcripts to be sent to them also by mail so I need to figure out how many hard copy transcripts I need to order. :P) I've spent one year in Tokyo. Great experience. Undoubtedly fell in love with the National Diet Library. *dreamy face* Speaking of master's, I think the MAPSS of U Chicago is a very good option for me, and MAPH for you maybe? It offers scholarship and we can work with academics who could be future PhD advisers. I think I'm gonna apply to both MAPSS (history track) and U Chicago's East Asia study PhD program. I was also suggested to look at prestigious programs "everywhere" to find a good intellectual match. So you may wanna consider schools in Europe as well? Oxford, Cambridge, Leiden etc and schools in Canada. (I already did a search of programs in UK and didn't find one I feel like to apply for, I'll try Canadian schools later)

Yesss! Modern Japan here. Interests are the process of modern nation-building, the formation of war memory and collective identities, and gender in the context of international relations. Will indeed apply to Harvard, Columbia and UChicago. (too similar to your target schools? :P) Still searching for other programs at the moment and definitely will apply for PhD and master programs in history as well. I think UPenn's History Department is also quite strong in East Asia history, but not sure about the period you are interested in. UPenn also has East Asia studies PhD programs if I remember it correctly. This is my second round. For the first I only applied for Harvard and UPenn and only the history PhD programs. But I once contacted Helen Hardacre via email bc my master thesis has a lot to do with State Shinto. She's very kind and nice. btw, nice profile name! xD

I think am in a similar situation. Second time applying here, focus is modern Japan (nation-building, war memory, collective identities and gender in the context of international relations). But given that I don't have a degree in History (BA International Politics, MA International Politics- Asia-Pacific study with a focus on Japan), I will definitely apply for both EALC and History programs for PhD and a few funded MA programs in History. (that would be my third Master's though, ugh) I have been doing some research work (participating in some oral history projects as well) for an LGBT NGO in the past few years while I was doing my masters. So a second idea is to also look for programs strong in gender history then narrow the area to East Asia. It's been not so easy for me to find POIs as well. This year I have broadened my search to European institutions too, but I do feel the training system (and archives!) is better for me in the U.S. Any suggestions would be deeply appreciated.

Oh thanks! I don't plan to take it at all since I already have one MA. Also, I am changing field from Politics to History so I won't apply for programs in Political Science anymore. I was just wondering if I am leaving the field due to pure incompetence or (more or less) free will. By "evaluate" I mean "if Columbia MA is competitive and I got an offer maybe I am not that bad as a politics major " I know...it's kinda pathetic.... thanks for the advice anyway. I don't think it's worth the investment either.

Got MA offer from Columbia Univ. today after being rejected from PhD program. MA is without fellowship. I am changing field and reapplying for PhD programs in another discipline this year but still, out of curiosity, does anyone know how prestigious is Columbia's terminal MA? O_O Is it difficult to get in? I didn't get in any of the 4 PhD programs in political science I applied (Berkeley, Columbia, UVA, GWU), I assume it is bc I couldn't find a POI doing what I want to do + lack of quantitative training. I was kind of hoping this MA offer can help me evaluate how....poor/not so poor my application was. =_=

Congrats!!!!!!!! So happy for you!!!

haha, yeah I admit that my thought about corporate work life is immature. Last year most of my friends started to work in big companies so I made some more or less biased observation. Didn't mean to offend anyone who's working in industry, but in China it kind of feels like that way-"a small replaceable part"-because we are, even when we graduate from top universities.