lafayette
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Posts posted by lafayette
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The area around USC is really not that bad anymore. My father works there so I'm in the area when I visit, and I do remember the 90s, when it was far worse. I really think these are stereotypes left over decades ago (same with the old spoiled children joke, but whatever). Directly next to it -- totally fine. You bet that an expensive private school with a lingering reputation for being in a bad neighborhood is heavily patrolling the area. Some of my best friends out there (who don't attend USC) live about a mile or two west of the campus on West Adams in a beautiful bungalow. And two are petite ladies who frequently take their dog out on neighborhood walks, and enjoy it there, so yeah.
Lots of places in LA have some seriously weird vibes if you're walking around on foot though, which is why I love my East Coast cities.
Er, EDIT: Some East Coast cities. Walking around Wilmington, Del. was like being in a zombie movie.
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Wow, Rutgers! Who knew?
I know! But also just for first year, although the following years ain't bad (esp. for a public institution). I think the actual "winner" is the USC fellowship (though you're probably going to need that in LA).
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has anyone on here ever changed their topic (not altogether, just maybe a tweak) only for the purposes of being "up to date" even if it wasn't necessarily your "passion?" I mean, on the one hand PhD applications in the humanities are clearly informed by the love of the topic you're exploring; on the other hand, it's a job application, and one should exhibit the traits/skills your future employer demands.
right?
I don't know, but things are 'hot' for a reason, I think. As in, it hasn't been done too much before, and now there's a whole new route of possibilities. I think someone who is up-to-date on scholarship will to some extent be naturally interested in at least one 'hot' topic. It might be a new route to explore their pet project, or a new set of ideas give way a new project to look at within a particularly beloved period / region. I think it's a matter of, as it always, not doing what has been done before. I don't think you're reasonably going to be able to cover all the 'hot' topics, and some topics might be a little more fleeting, so you might not want to throw all your eggs into that basket. But for instance, environmental history has really inspired my work, because I think it's a refreshing new(-ish) way of looking at the environment, urban environments included. But am I going to write strictly an 'environmental history' 4 years from now when I'm working on my dissertation? Probably not. But it still helps me think in different ways, and yeah, maybe I could teach a course on this area.
But I am an Americanist -- this might be different for say, a Medievalist, who might feel their whole broad era is not particularly popular (as in, not hiring). My leaps to new inquiries are not so big.
By the way, this is where academic job seekers go to worry: http://academicjobs.wikia.com/wiki/History_2012-13 . It's a good place to see what sort of jobs are being posted and in what fields.
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Yes, try and see if you are allowed to photocopy or photography the materials. I am personally a fan of the latter -- it helps me move a lot faster through materials, and I can organize the files on my computer.
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I definitely understand being worried by that, but there are so many factors that A. you don't know about in her application and B. that go into the decision making process that you really can only take student to student comparisons so far, you know? It's entirely possible that had she applied to the same array of schools last year she would have gotten into one or more. It's also possible that she did not have great relationships with her recommenders so her letters weren't as glowing as yours will surely be.
I did my MA at an institution not known for getting people into Ivy League schools. One of the top students in my program applied to almost only Ivy League schools and no institutions known (in the department) for accepting our students. Thus, she was roundly rejected despite being in a trendy field and having great grades and an excellent thesis. All you can do is do your best, work your hardest and rely a little on luck.
Exactly. Who knows, and it doesn't help to compare yourself too much to another, especially since you don't know exactly what was going on in her application/at the institutions to which she applied. I remember when I was in my MA program and lurking around here, I became terrified that I had neither conference presentations nor published work under my belt. I thought for sure compared to others I would be doomed in these categories, but it didn't matter much in the end, as far as I know. Which isn't to say that having experience in these areas wouldn't help boost someone else's application. But nothing is ensured, and trying to measure if it is via someone else is only going to drive you nuts and offer you little. (Instead, perhaps focus that energy on a research project or improving your writing -- little things that can only help you).
Also, as I think I've mentioned here before, I went to a public institution for my MA in History after playing around in an interdisciplinary program in undergrad. My MA program has no reputation whatsoever -- although I found out after enrolling though that it did have some rocking faculty, since that's the nature of the job market at this point, and their recommendations were definitely key. I think it was getting a little better bit by bit, but no one that I knew of from the Master's program went on to any top PhD program (there was a better track record for undergrads). Mostly its existence was premised on providing additional education to social studies teachers (our classes were all at night). My coursework was amazing and challenging, but really, it was not a program whose name one would brag about. ALL this said, I just want to encourage one NOT to ever dismiss one's chances totally on the supposed prestige of a school. Granted, you're really going to want to try to stand out in such a program, but don't panic too much over what you can't change. And by the way -- the schools I got into seemed particularly interested in gathering cohorts from a diverse range of educational institutions, and I'm grateful for that.
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Oh, and I second the call for those of you who have decided on schools to stick around til April 15!
I'm here! Just a lot less. It's kind of ridiculous how my life stopped when I was basically losing my mind in February. Need to get back on track. But still rooting for everyone.
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Well, everyone, it's been a wild season of ups and downs, but I've now received responses from all the programs to which I applied, have finished up my campus visits, and have now accepted my offer at Princeton (a wonderful department -- New England Nat does not lie!). I hope everyone who hasn't heard back yet hears in the positive soon, and if any 2014-ers have any questions about the process, don't hesitate to reach out at any time and message me. I'm no expert, but I think I did a couple things right (and probably just as many wrong). Thanks for all the support, history grad cafers! Y'all are the best. So glad to be done with this process. Now on to the real work -- which I wish you all the best of luck in, as well.
- annieca, schlesinger1, ttgrad and 5 others
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As I mentioned before, I think it all depends on where you want to be eventually. If you want to teach at an R1 school, you need to attend a program probably in the top twenty. If you want to focus mostly on teaching, ranking is important, but not as much. At the CSU I attend, their new higher in the History Department is from USC, which ranks in the mid-40s. Two years ago, they hired someone from a school that was not even listed, but had an outstanding problem in his field. The faculty also includes professors from the usual round of suspects - Columbia, Harvard, UNC Michigan, etc. Also, there is a school in the top ten that I know very well. I used to work there back in my archivist days. I would not recommend it to anyone studying modern U.S. Their job placement rate is horrible and the faculty is not all that supportive.
Take the rankings with a grain of salt. I used it when I first started doing my research into programs, but mostly as a good list of schools that offer PhDs.
I wanted to say this earlier when you mentioned wanting to teach at a CSU, but here's another chance -- I would love to teach at a CSU (& I want to continue doing research, and hopefully guide students to do the same). I'm sure others at top programs would feel similarly -- some might slight the R2s, but I doubt it. Jobs are jobs in this competitive field, and I think there are many in the top programs who are committed to teaching and can do it well. A professor of mine at the public institution I attended (which is similar to a CSU) told me to go to the best program I could get into. I don't think one should accept less because they don't want to teach at a R1 school. Your students wherever you end up deserve your effort to be the best scholar/teacher you can be.
Also I don't know what school you're referring to that apparently doesn't care about job placements, but I hardly think that a top ten or twenty program would be able to retain that status with a dismal job placement record. Maaaybe I'm being too optimistic, but I'm going to guess that a good program is going to WANT their students to end up employed and successful, and do what they can within reason to ensure that. Maybe there are slightly less helpful departments / advisors, but I doubt that nothing is offered.
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Can I just say that it is absolutely *insane* that anyone thinks that a 3.8 GPA isn't a good GPA?
Pretty sure crazycatlady was referring to her MA GPA and yeah, it's viewed differently than an undergrad GPA, & you should aim to get as close to perfect as you reasonably can.
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I know you think funding has to come first, but, in this situation I would say staying in the U.S. is far more important. The vast majority of MA/MLS programs aren't funded. I had to pay for my MLS out of my own pocket via student loans. In fact, I don't think my program even offered funding. I think the rule "only go if they give you funding" applies to PhD programs only. I know they have funded MAs out there, but there aren't that many. I also had to pay for my MA. It is true that I am in a lot of debt. I doubt that I will never be able to buy a house. However, in the end, it is worth it. In my opinion, if you really want it, you will pay just about any price to get it.
I've worked in archives and have friends currently do. I absolutely agree with crazycatlady -- go to school in the US & work the internship connections. I don't know of anyone who received funding for a MLIS (some were lucky to get grants for internship work later). It's a professional degree; the point is that they put you in the position to make money afterward. Although yes, that it's not exactly a lucrative field is problematic ..
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This is not accurate. An agreement was made by most (but not all) American universities that April 15th (at 5pm in the time-zone of the Univeristy) is the earliest they can require you to tell them whether or not you will be attending. But they all retain the right to allow you to take longer if you wish to.
I encountered two programs last year who had reply-by dates after April 15.
Yes, you're right -- the point is that you're not pressured into accepting one before you hear back from others.
My friend a few years ago had a change of heart after the 15th, notified after, and it was fine.
Personally, I'll be deciding next week which perhaps will help some waitlisters.
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I think I may postpone checking the mail for awhile...
On the contrary I am very eager to receive this physical Harvard letter! already have planned its nearly instant shredding & then maybe the shredding of those pieces etc.
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does anyone know when students usually have to respond back to offers? is it typically april 15, or does it depend on the university/program?
i'm asking for my UVA waitlisted, lurker friend...not me, I swear hahah (i was denied from there weeks ago haha)
It's mutually agreed upon by a council of all (American) graduate programs that April 15th is the reply-by date.
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For those of you who will be going down for different Admitted Students Weekends, is your department footing the bill? I was planning on going to GWU, but they haven't mentioned anything about financing the trip. Would it be rude to ask my DGS?
Mine all did (two were particularly generous), and like others have said, it wouldn't be rude at all, so long as you inquire and not demand
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Don't do US history unless your'e interested in race, ethnicity, gender, or sexuality. Those are hot. Everything else? Not. The competition is really insane, a bit more so than European.
Eh, I'd ignore this advice save for the implied idea in it that you should be up to date on current conversations in your field and not to suggest a project that's been done a million times before. But I think that one should tailor their interests to whatever is 'hot' and ignore the rest is a little silly -- and hasn't gender been 'hot' for decades?
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Congrats-it's better than a rejection right? May I ask how you were notified?
I am also interested to hear how you found out -- postal service? And if you look at past results there's a couple who reported getting off the wait list for that program. Congrats! You have a chance.
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Congrats-it's better than a rejection right? May I ask how you were notified?
I am also interested to hear how you found out -- postal service? And if you look at past results there's a couple who reported getting off the wait list for that program. Congrats! You have a chance.
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Haven't visited all my options in person yet, but it's looking like the decision will come down to this:
1. Awesome History Department with super-star advisor, lots of historians working in my area of interest, and tons of resources for research
vs.
2. Exciting Interdisciplinary Program with more openness to publicly-engaged scholarship and unconventional approaches, but not as much support for my field of study
I feel like I need to figure out what kind of historian I want to be over the next couple of weeks. This is hard.
I like safe bets, so I'm going to throw my vote towards the first. I did an exciting interdisciplinary program for undergrad and I loved it, but I think likely how I needed to do a MA first to be seriously considered for a top ranked history program, it might be similar when you are on the job market. You can always explore unconventional approaches when you are in a PhD program or even better, secure in a tenure track position. I hope to do just that myself. At the very least, ask about job prospects from the second choice -- there are a few very highly regarded interdisciplinary departments where this might not be as big of an issue (Yale American Studies or something like that).
- New England Nat and czesc
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Major props to the 72 year old on the results board who just got accepted to Stony Brook!
Seriously! That made my night and I was going to post the same.
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The department has a history of overworking their graduate students as TAs, something they are aware of, but breaking the cycle is harder to do than most people thought. If you go there you can be certain to do a LOT of teaching.
This is the same for CUNY. You will teach a lot; many, many lower level classes are taught by an army of adjuncts and grad students. And you'll teach at far flung CUNY campuses (do a google map search for Queens College), all of which are seriously lacking in resources. That said, it's New York City, so the location attracts a lot of top rate faculty. I got my MA through CUNY and my professors/advisors were absolutely fantastic. I've heard rumors of Columbia's being sort of an unhappy department, but that's second-hand information, and NYU's grad students and faculty are in constant battle with the administration. That's all from your NYC correspondent.
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Harvard, are you there? Only one acceptance via phone. I suspect that acceptance letters should have gone out last Thursday or Friday. Rejections get sent out in March. If nothing by Wednesday, I'm calling it.
Yeahhhhh. Agreed. Shouldn't take too long for a letter to get to me from Boston, either. So after tomorrow I'm going to call this season closed.
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I suspect those decisions have been sent out as well, since I remember visiting a school in late February last year and a prospective student there was trying to choose between that history department and Harvard's History of Am Civ. But of course I don't know about their admissions process this cycle, or whether they have a waitlist for their program.
Someone posted an acceptance today, & it's the first I've seen. That does not necessarily bode well, but it does seem in past years decisions have gone out later than Harvard history decisions, generally end of February.The application deadline was also much later than history's. But we'll see. I really am not feeling this one coming through, but it's not an implicit rejection, I don't think, yet. But I might be wrong. Oh, well.
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I still haven't heard anything back from UPenn.
I'm probably so far down in their rejection list that they probably won't even bother to send me a notification. That might be a good thing!
But the rest of us didn't get an e-mail either; just a chance discovery on the application website. I'm assuming an e-mail is coming shortly.
But perhaps you'll get a positive e-mail! as I recall there was only one admittance posted to the results, which just seems incredibly low, so hopefully they're still saying yes to some.
On no other basis than your posts over the last several months, I will put my money down on last minute acceptance to said program for you.
Ah, thanks, that'd be nice, although hopefully fate will align to give it to the person who wants it reallyyyy, really bad. And wants to live in Boston
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Ugh. Rejected at Penn, even after the interview. Can't help but wonder what I did wrong.
Ugh, indeed. But though it might be only the slightest of consolations, at least they very seriously considered you and your application. And I bet that it was less you doing something wrong than them just not having enough space to admit all those they ranked highly.
History Graduate Program Funding Package Spreadsheet
in History
Posted · Edited by lafayette
Yeah, Harlem. To the north and east. South of Columbia is some fancy pants 'hoods. But yeah, Harlem is sketch to some, not so to others. Can definitely be somewhat rough. Plus, you know, sometimes people don't love gentrifiers. For this reason I've particularly avoided Harlem to live in: the gentrification is even more problematic than usual, I feel. But eh.
Scariest thing that's happened to me in the city happened in Harlem; scariest thing that happened to my friend in teh city happened in Park Slope, a thoroughly gentrified and mostly family-friendly hood. As it goes in really any city.