Michael Scarn
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Posts posted by Michael Scarn
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1 hour ago, Izzyb0616 said:
Hi,
Just wondering if anyone here has any insight into the MAPSS program at UChicago? I recently was rejected from their PhD program but received a MAPSS offer. It's financially feasible for me, so I'm considering it. Do y'all know if MAPSS actually helps students get into PhD programs? Is it a valuable and enjoyable educational experience? I'd really appreciate any insights-- the program seems sort of confusing to me.
No insight, but was also offered admittance into this program. I already have a master's so it's making me think they didn't even read my application in full
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Does anyone know if University of Chicago sends rejections in waves? Still waiting on confirmation of a decision from them.
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19 hours ago, icanhavephdasatreat said:
Anyone claim the NYU IFS History/French Studies waitlist from the results page?
me! heard back from DGS after I sent an email asking about timelines for notifications
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2 hours ago, histrees said:
I logged into my UChicago account today and it is now asking for official transcripts for my BA and MPhil programs. Was this something I was supposed to do? I had uploaded transcripts that still appear as 'received' on their application checklist, but now they seem to be asking for the official ones. I'd hate to think this was an oversight on my part, as the last time i checked (maybe 2 weeks ago) they weren't asking for any additional materials. Does anyone have any insight into this, or is this appearing on everyone's account now?
No answer for you, but I checked my own account and saw the same missing information. I last checked the portal last week and didn't see this. From what I know Chicago doesn't require official transcripts unless you get accepted? Not to get mine or anyone's hopes up, because there is no status change to my application, so I really am not sure why it has changed on the portal.
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Wisconsin rejections are coming in full swing! Looks like I am amongst that number. As to be expected.... now to continue the waiting game for Chicago and NYU!
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1 minute ago, Marier said:
For those wondering about NYU. Just had an informal interview with my POI 5mn ago, he told me admission results will be posted probably next week (in the best case scenario) or the week after that. Visit day on March 27th. He also said they're only able to accept 15 students: 4-5ppl for the History Programme, and 2 for each Joint History programmes.
Can I ask who your POI is at NYU? I’m also applying to the Joint program. You can PM me
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To the poster on the results page asking about the NYU Joint French Studies/History program: all of the decisions get made at the IFS, and then get sent to the Hist department to get approved and it is my impression that no decisions have gone out for the joint program yet.
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Pretty bummed about the radio silence from Wisconsin, but also not surprised considering both of the people I would most want to work with will be retiring in the next 5-7 years, and thus my POI wasn't as strong of a match. Probably more bummed about not hearing from University of Chicago, which I did feel was a great fit!
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Another Chicago acceptance was posted! Would love to know what region/time period the acceptances are in. I felt Chicago was a bit of a reach for me, but still anxious to hear back.
- ithaca99 and histori041512
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Just received my first acceptance from Ohio State University! Received a nice email and then a congratulatory follow up email from my POI later in the day. I know I should respond within the next 24 hours at least acknowledging the acceptance, but also am not sure how to go about it since I will obviously be waiting for a decision until I hear back from the other schools. How does one go about responding to these emails? I'm super excited for my first offer, I certainly did not expect to hear back so soon!
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1 hour ago, Sigaba said:
I would suggest that your hang up is not thinking that you're qualified enough for the schools that your advisor is recommending. If you weren't, your advisor wouldn't recommend that you apply to any of them. ("Well, and you're an Aggie...." sneered the Longhorn.?)
Is anything keeping you from writing a master's thesis /report that could serve as the core of your writing sample?
Having not done an honors thesis, or 25 page research paper in undergrad, this is why I think I'm not qualified, even though he is recommending them.
Only thing keeping me is it's not a part of this masters program- there is a research paper at the end, but not a large thesis paper. @Sigaba While I know I could possibly benefit from a year off, I'm just not sure what job I would do as a hold over in the meantime. I certainly wouldn't be doing another masters.
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43 minutes ago, TMP said:
Where are you exactly in your master's program? Are you planning to graduate this spring? The bar is a a little higher for MA students because they should *know* already what kind of questions they'd like to explore in the PhD program (thanks, coursework and thesis!). So you'll want to be sure that you show your growth in your SOP/writing sample and that the MA wasn't a "waste of time." Those kinds of questions that you have should actually guide you in choosing advisers and their PhD programs.
The program is only one year, so I'll be graduating in late July, when we finish our masters examinations. There is no big thesis paper, but there is a less substantial research paper at the end- either way, I'd be using a writing sample from undergrad that got me into this grad program.
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Hi everyone! Long time lurker over the past few years here and there. Looking to apply this cycle to at least two schools, and then if I don't get in, try again next year. (I'll explain this theory in a bit). Educational background: History and International Studies with French Minor undergrad at Texas A&M University in 2017 (3.97 GPA) , took the GRE have okay scores (164 verbal 150 quant, 4.5 writing- terrible I know, all I can say is I took it at a rough time), but I'm told by my current adviser they don't look at that at all, just want to make sure you have it. They really only care about SOP, LORs, and writing sample. I'm currently getting my master at NYU, and am interested in their joint french studies/history phd. This is where I'd really like to end up, but obviously don't want to throw all my eggs in one basket!
I'm interested in French nationalism/cultural history in the 19th & 20th c.
I'm beginning to look into other schools as well, based on recommendations from my adviser- Princeton, UCLA, Duke, Chicago. - Although I feel as if I'm not qualified enough for any of these top tier schools.
My one hang up is not having an insanely specific research idea as many people I have seen already have. I beginning to start looking at materials that would benefit me in my research, but with my part time job and my current load as a masters student, it's proving more difficult. Hence, why I don't really want to take another year off (I took last year off), but if I don't get in, I know I'll be able to take advantage of the time.
Anyways, I know I'm late to the draw on the application cycle, but I figured I'd finally post since I always find my way back to these pages.
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15 hours ago, awhiterussian said:
Got my response. Was rejected for doctoral program, but accepted to masters program with what looks like will be full funding. Will keep weighing my options I suppose!
Were you accepted for the French or the French studies masters? Trying to figure out when they will start sending out acceptances for the French Studies
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On 05/01/2018 at 2:34 AM, frenchlover said:
I sent only a few emails, but just to kind of get a better sense of the departments where it was unclear. I did this a while back, though, and was advised that it's most appropriate before applying. Talking to grad students helped me a lot more; for instance, I heard some AWFUL things about NYU so I decided not to apply.
Yeah, I saw the MAPH thing too. This person my from my college went there for a year. Seems like a cash-cow program to me, for the most part, from what she said. @frenchlover
I've just applied to the NYU master program and am interested to hear the negative side. I haven't been able to find much information anywhere by students who have actually done the program! Would you mind pm-ing me? I'd like to get a well rounded opinion in the merits or mroe specifcally demerits of the program! Currently doing the TAPIF program this year and trying to plan my next step.
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On 4/26/2017 at 4:13 PM, laleph said:
I second @RageoftheMonkey's comment. The best advice I got when I was in your spot a couple years back was from a prof who said: sure you can write history papers for whatever class you're taking at the moment, ok, but that's not enough. You won't be happy or successful in grad school unless you have a reason to get up in the morning for 5+ years. It took me a few years of away-time, teaching history and geography at the high school level and pursuing other interests, for me to get there. I'm ready to go back to grad school this fall because I know (at least for now) what'll get me up in the morning. Dissertation topics always change, of course, but I'd encourage you to wait to apply till you find a knot you can't wait to untie -- then identify schools that will support you as you attempt to untie it.
All of your responses have been super duper helpful and I really appreciate it! Just a quick side bar though, you mentioned you laugh history and geography- teaching is actually the other route I'm trying to go through. I'm not sure where you're from, but was that a part of your undergrad degree or did you go through some sort of alternative certification?
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4 hours ago, laleph said:
I second @RageoftheMonkey's comment. The best advice I got when I was in your spot a couple years back was from a prof who said: sure you can write history papers for whatever class you're taking at the moment, ok, but that's not enough. You won't be happy or successful in grad school unless you have a reason to get up in the morning for 5+ years. It took me a few years of away-time, teaching history and geography at the high school level and pursuing other interests, for me to get there. I'm ready to go back to grad school this fall because I know (at least for now) what'll get me up in the morning. Dissertation topics always change, of course, but I'd encourage you to wait to apply till you find a knot you can't wait to untie -- then identify schools that will support you as you attempt to untie it.
Edit: If you're trying to figure out which field you want to work in, reeaaaaddd a whole lot, monographs, textbooks, historiographical essays... That's how I started finding my own path back to history after undergrad. I now plan to work in US history, but like you was tempted by French history during undergrad... I still love reading about French historiography (if you read in French, check out Les courants historiques en France, and the two volumes of Historiographies directed by Christian Delacroix et al., to get a sense of current debates in Frenah history), but I know I want to start my work in US history.
I certainly appreciate both views and this is why I am taking a year off (or more) after undergrad. I think reading is a great suggestion, and definitely something I'll strive to undertake this summer and upcoming year as I work!
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New to this site, but have seen a lot of helpful posts so far. So I'm in the process of deciding whether or not to apply for a History MA for next year (Fall 2018). (Not super interested in PhD at this moment in time, but I love learning and want to further my education)
Educational History: Will graduate in like 2 weeks with a BA in History and International Studies with a minor in French, with a 3.96 GPA from a pretty well known top 100 nation school) and will be taking the GRE soon.
The problem of looking into Grad Schools is of course finding one that matches with your interest. I've pretty much narrowed it down to either French or US History, but I'm just wondering how to really pick a path. At my school, my history classes were all over the place so I didn't get a concentrated dose of education in any one particular field. I know obviously its a person choice, but I'm having a hard time thinking about an era and which region I would be most interested in pursuing. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!
2020 application thread
in History
Posted
That's such a bummer, especially as I have international travel already lined up. I totally understand why schools are doing this, but to decide the next 6+ years without seeing schools is going to be really tough!