nhhistorynut

One way to find out about if the schools care about Q is to simply reach out to the DGS to inquire about the program. I did this early on for all schools I was interested in and they all asked questions about my interests, GPA, undergrad school, and GRE V and W scores. None, regardless of public or private, asked or cared about my Q score (which was a horribly low 145, for the record). I got into a fully funded state school PhD no problem with an okay tenured placement record (which becomes "good" when you factor in academic jobs in community colleges in addition to 4 year schools).

Good point. I am white, female, and in my 30s. The female aspect of it complicates things a bit, I'm sure, but I find my height kind of helps in that regard (or has in the past, at least), because I am almost 6 feet tall. A friend of mine suggested some sort of brief ice breaker activity where students just say their names, preferred nickname, major, year, etc., before jumping into the week's theme/topic.

Thanks everyone for the advice! I think it's really useful having some history-specific ideas and tips, and I will certainly remember them. All 3 of my discussion sections are officially full and I don't have a single history major in any of them lol so I think, like most of you said, getting students to do the readings will be the biggest challenge. @pro Augustis I like the idea of having them read an interesting tidbit and using that to spark a discussion. I will definitely use that! @gsc I also appreciate your comment on how you can't force the students to completely the required readings, so giving them a few minutes to do it (or at least skim it) will at least make the albeit-shorter discussion time more meaningful. Does anyone have any first day activities they do to sort of "break the ice" with the new students and get them comfortable talking?

@rising_star thanks! I came across one of those. I was hoping there might be some more history-specific advice someone might give

Thanks! They do. I will have an orientation a week before school starts and that night will take the first session of "Grad Seminar on Teaching History," so I should know some expectations after that. I really like getting the input of other TAs like this, too, though, because you guys have more recent experience from a lot of different schools and come with new, unique ideas. Thanks again for the response!

Thanks for the ideas! I'm worried that I'll get there and try to get the convo started and I'll have 15 faces staring at me with nothing to say lol. So those activities sound like good ideas to me

Hi all, I have searched a bit on here and advice and info for new TAs is pretty spread out and hard to find. As someone starting her PhD in August and TAing for the first time, I am hoping some experienced TAs will jump on here and list some ideas/advice for us newbies. For me, I will be leading 3 discussion sections for a total of 45 students from a freshman-level modern-US history class. I've never taught before (other than as a sub at an elementary school), so any advice is more than welcome! Thanks in advance.

Hello Regarding your advisor, I would read out to your other 2 and ask them for suggestions. They would know who might be a good fit and might have time, and then you can reach out at that point. For topic, that's one of the hardest parts. Will you be writing a prospectus this fall semester? If so, you'll need to know your topic when school starts. I'd say read some books this summer and see what really excited you. Last semester I took a class on Nazi Germany (for my MA...starting my PhD in August) and I have some suggestions for books that might help you pick. Of course, it all depends on what sub-interests you have, but I suggest checking these out: 1. Marion Kaplan, Between Dignity and Despair: Jewish Life in Nazi Germany 2. Christopher Browning, Ordinary Men 3. Nicholas Stargardt, The German War 4. Robert Gellately, The Gestapo and German Society: Enforcing Racial Policy 1933-1945 For the last bit, that's something a lot, if not most, of us deal with. Its imposter syndrome. It's normal and the best way to handle it is to just focus on your work. Best of luck this fall!

Not a page limit, no. I think they generally expect something substantial, though. What did you write your senior thesis on? That usually works out to be a good writing sample. For my MA app, I opted to use a research seminar paper on the German navy in WWI instead of my senior thesis, and it was probably 13 pages long. For my PhD app, I used a research seminar paper from my master's program that was 27 pages long. I would just focus on making sure it is based on primary source evidence/research versus a historiographical paper and make sure your bibliography looks decent. Me too. I sort of wish I could see them just to know what they said and to give myself a little confidence boost lol. I will say, though, that in my interview for the PhD program, the grad director specifically mentioned "exceptionally strong letters of recommendation." So it's safe to say they're important!

Undergrad GPA was 3.5 Got into a state school, unfunded MA no problem. My MA stats are 4.0 GPA. GRE scores of 160 V and 4.5 W. They don't care about the Q scores (I got 145). Got into a fully funded PhD program. I think stats aren't as important as writing samples, statements of purpose, and letters of recommendation, but poor stats can certainly keep you out. Yours are not bad, though the 151 V isn't fantastic, but I think you'll do okay for an MA. I'd focus on a good SOP and find quality LOR writers, then clean up your writing sample and hope for the best! Also, fwiw, I also never had a job in the field. I worked in random fields, like in a hospital kitchen, in medical billing, and as a caregiver for the elderly. For the past year, though, I've worked from home as a freelance editor and have made a decent living at it.

One thing I appreciate about the school I'll be attending this fall is they have a mix of "official" gatherings available. They do the first thursday of the month at a local craft beer place that is also a restaurant, they do various dinner get-togethers on campus, and they have a monthly "graduate student writing group" where you just go and sit with other grad students (from all departments) and write. I think these sorts of things probably exist on a lot of campuses if you look for them, even if they aren't "official" gatherings. If not, what's to stop any of us who want them from starting them? All it takes is a posting on a department/school facebook group or in the TA room, and I'm sure something positive can come from it. Just my thoughts

I've been sort of curious about this too. I think you and I are in a similar situation, @SarahBethSortino. I am 30, I'm married, I have a kid going into first grade next year, I own a house, I have way too many pets, and I already have plenty of friends. To add into that, I am also really, really cheap. I find bars to be a huge waste of money. I think that I might attend some outings or university shindigs (they do a once a month grad school pizza party at a tavern known for beer that I might go to at least once), but I am not making it a priority to make new friends or socialize. My priority outside of school is and will continue to be my family and spending time with my kid and having fun doing that. I don't think anyone will think any less of you if you opt not to go out to dinner/drinks. Everyone knows PhD students are busy, and with a kid, you're even more busy and stretched even thinner. At least that's what I'm going with.

I'll play devil's advocate here to the first two responders and say an MA might be a place to sort of figure that out. I went into my MA thinking I'd want to focus on German military history and am coming out of it focusing on US race relations for my PhD. An MA program can be a good place to solidify your interests because BAs tend to be so general. I'll also say that if you aren't interested in a PhD and plan to just do a terminal MA, then you probably don't need to go into it with some specific focus. At the same time, though, why bother? A terminal MA isn't worth a whole lot. If you plan to do a thesis MA then that's different because it leaves you open to PhD programs in the future if you want. All that said, here is what I, personally, suggest: Look at the schools you might want to go to. Identify some potential advisors from both fields at those schools . Make contact with them if you can. When you apply to a school, tailor your app to specialize in the field related to the advisor you want you work with there, be it US or French. Then you can see where you get accepted to and decide from there. During this process, read more in both fields to help you make your decision when the time comes. That's my 2 cents, anyways.

Well, I'm wrapping up my MA so my summer will be spent writing my MA thesis lol. Yay fun! BUT, my husband, daughter, and I go on vacation to Jamaica in 9 days so I'll get at least a short break

I think I come a place of both passion and reason. There are a few reasons for this. First, 2 cousins work in academia, and they warned me sternly about the struggles. One has her MFA and worked as an adjunct art professor for something ridiculous like 15 years before getting a TT job last fall. The other has her PhD in fisheries (basically marine biology) and she essentially just does research work now as it's hard to find teaching jobs. Another reason is sort of my personal life experience. 6 years ago my husband was diagnosed with acute leukemia at the age of 24. I was 23, pregnant (we found out when i was 12 weeks along), and a college drop out. He underwent a stem cell transplant, our daughter was born, and I had an epiphany. I went back to school and got my BA. And then I went back and am almost done with my MA. To me, life is something that should be lived for happiness and with hope. I don't want to not do something just because I'm scared I won't be able to make a lot of money doing it. Here's an anecdote for you: my dad got his BA in urban forestry (it was the 70s...) and then worked at the same seafood restaurant for 32 years, eventually becoming director of operations. He wasn't passionate about it and didn't even really like it, but it paid well and was stable. Or so he thought. Ten years ago he got laid off (along with 200 other employees) when the owner's son overhauled the business. He was 55 years old and had never done anything else. There went the stable, "safe" career. He works at the post office now. Anyways, the point is nothing is ever a given, so why not go for it if you're capable? I like the baseball analogy here (as well as the others). It's all true. And like I said before, at least we'll get 4-5 or more years doing something we love. To me, that means it isn't a waste.

Passion? The desire to get to work in the field for at least 4-5 years as a grad student? Those would be my guesses, and they're the reasons I'm doing it. Idk why people think it's a waste of time, especially when PhD programs waive tuition and offer a stipend. It isn't a lot of money, but it's something. Honestly, another reason I opted to apply and will begin my PhD this fall is because I think I can do it. I believe that I am capable of earning my PhD. So I'm going to give it a go. Plus, as I said above, at least I will be able to work/research/teach in a field I am passionate about for 4-5 years.

Yes we have one about a week before classes start, so that'll be good. It's for ALL incoming TAs and grad assistants in general, but the history cohort will meet with the grad director that afternoon, as well, to go over some specifics. I'm definitely getting excited!

I'm a bit excited for TAing, myself! I'm sure after the first week the reality of it all will set in lol but for now I'm looking forward to getting some teaching experience. Year one I'll be leading three discussion sections that go along with a larger lecture, so I'll have about 45 kids total to grade and such. The funny thing about my school is that I start TAing day one...and also have to take a 1 credit course on *how* to teach college history at the same time

I was looking at schedules for next fall and it looks like if I get either of my first two TA schedule choices I'll only have 2 days where I have on-campus activities. I was telling my cousin, who has her PhD in marine biology, how it was exciting and should leave me plenty of time for reading/writing/grading. Her response was that I "have all the bright-eyed optimism of a newly admitted PhD student who's yet to start her coursework" lol. Made me laugh so I figured I'd share.

Great news! Glad you finally got some good news. So where ya headed?

@orphee I might suggest applying for MA programs if you want to switch. That will give you some grad school experience to show PhD programs and to decide if history is really what you want to do. It will also give you chance to bring up the GPA (and 3.5 isn't bad, but it isn't great, either, and PhD programs are notoriously competitive).

I see where you're coming from. I have a 5 year old daughter myself and next year means some major changes for us (not moving, mind you, but I've been staying home, completing my MA part time, and working from home as an editor for several years now). I think I'd still suggest keeping your name in there. It's not that you'll be able to take an offer if they give it to you in the summer, but you'll know you got it. I think there's something to that, especially based on everything you've talked about here. I think there would be some vindication for all you've gone through and endured through this process. And as anticlimactic as it will be to get the offer and reject it, you can carry it with you that you got accepted to a PhD program (if you get in).

I'd suggest giving it until the 17th. The 15th is the date schools require an answer, so you can probably expect an answer pretty soon after if not before. I'd hate for you to withdraw a week before an acceptance would come. I'd also say, why withdraw at all? If you don't hear anything, take it as a loss, but keep your hat in the ring and move on. Who knows? Maybe in June you'll get a call and have a big decision to make. Even if you opt not to take it, at least you'd know you could.

I felt the same way all through undergrad. I am wrapping up my MA at the moment, and it wasn't until I took a historical methods (HM) class that it really came to me, and honestly I was surprised by my focus. A little over a year ago, I started a required HM class. For it, we had to choose a topic related to WWII and write a 30-40 page research paper (based on primary sources). The class wasn't meant to be a jump to a thesis or even focus/field, but for me, it turned into that. I knew I wanted to do something different, and I knew I loved the island of Jamaica, so I focused on the refugee camp in Jamaica during WWII. But as I wrote, I found my focus shifting to issues of race/racism in the colonial empire, and colonialism in general. My thesis is now about the Jamaica independence movement, with a large focus on Black Nationalism. My PhD studies (which I start in September) will focus on race relations and Black Nationalism with a comparative approach between the US and British colonies in the Caribbean. Who'd have thought?! Not me! So, like others have said, sometimes writing a major paper will help you decide. You have to think about a topic that will not only be broad enough to fill the pages, but one that will also keep your interest. And as @telkanuru noted, you don't have to get boxed in with particulars/regions/etc. You can take what interests you and focus on a theme or set of questions, and expand from there. Going into PhD programs, it can sometimes be best to be a bit flexible with your exact topic, while still having an idea of what you want to do and why.