ltr317

"I'm working on my French and German reading knowledge. My grad school can administer the test; in fact, my thesis advisor has encouraged me to do it, but will the results be accepted wherever I attend?"
I agree with TMP and psstein that language exemption depends on the particular program.  In my case, I took a French graduate reading course during my MA program.  When I requested exemption at my current PhD program, the graduate director requested I submit the graded final exam (based on translation of a Foucault passage) for approval.  The director determined that the exam was rigorous enough for exemption. 
 

This is an unique situation because of COVID-19.  Most schools are thinking about how to finish the semester without harm to the student body.  It's a fluid situation and my guess is that when Pitt made the announcement they didn't anticipate that the virus would spread so quickly.  It's a good probability that most departments have delayed decisions until they get a handle on setting requirements for the remainder of the semester first.  At my school, they already extended Spring break past this week until the end of next week, so they can establish online teaching protocols.  My advice is to wait until next week to give them a gentle reminder.  Good luck!

This is an unique situation because of COVID-19.  Most schools are thinking about how to finish the semester without harm to the student body.  It's a fluid situation and my guess is that when Pitt made the announcement they didn't anticipate that the virus would spread so quickly.  It's a good probability that most departments have delayed decisions until they get a handle on setting requirements for the remainder of the semester first.  At my school, they already extended Spring break past this week until the end of next week, so they can establish online teaching protocols.  My advice is to wait until next week to give them a gentle reminder.  Good luck!

Yes, good advice on both counts!  That's why more grad history programs are taking a global approach (read non-Ivy) to at least provide an additional avenue for employment.  
 
 

I agree with the other replies, though there are exceptions occasionally.  Unfortunately, (cough, cough) there is implied (cough, cough) age discrimination.  Not universally applicable but departments will favor younger applicants because they can potentially have a longer career.   The same holds for non-traditional older PhD applicants.  

For everyone still in a liminal state of not knowing, hang in there and at least try doing something you enjoy instead of being in nervous anticipation.  It does not change the application process unfortunately.  The academic gods decide, so have a good read, listen to good music, eat a good meal, watch a good flick, and engage in a great conversation with friends.  The best of luck for everyone still waiting to hear!   

For everyone still in a liminal state of not knowing, hang in there and at least try doing something you enjoy instead of being in nervous anticipation.  It does not change the application process unfortunately.  The academic gods decide, so have a good read, listen to good music, eat a good meal, watch a good flick, and engage in a great conversation with friends.  The best of luck for everyone still waiting to hear!   

For everyone still in a liminal state of not knowing, hang in there and at least try doing something you enjoy instead of being in nervous anticipation.  It does not change the application process unfortunately.  The academic gods decide, so have a good read, listen to good music, eat a good meal, watch a good flick, and engage in a great conversation with friends.  The best of luck for everyone still waiting to hear!   

For everyone still in a liminal state of not knowing, hang in there and at least try doing something you enjoy instead of being in nervous anticipation.  It does not change the application process unfortunately.  The academic gods decide, so have a good read, listen to good music, eat a good meal, watch a good flick, and engage in a great conversation with friends.  The best of luck for everyone still waiting to hear!   

In the past two years enrollment in undergrad history classes are generally down across fields at my university.  The dept. is figuring out how to bring enrollment back up.

I just wanted to take the time to thank this forum for all the advice, support, and tough love. Today, I submitted my application to get my teaching certification in the state of Pennsylvania through Drexel University. This isn’t the path that I had envisioned initially, but I think that my talents would work beautifully in a classroom setting. 
 
For everyone thinking of applying to a PhD: please take the time to examine why you want to get a PhD. I wanted one because that’s what I thought I was supposed to do, and I really enjoyed teaching and the thought of teaching at the university level. A PhD isn’t for everyone and I don’t think that, at least right now, it’s for me. 

I like it when aspiring graduate students work with each other by putting their questions and pooling their knowledge in the most recent Fall 20xx Applicants thread.
YMMV.

I passed y'all! I'm convinced my success is at least in part due to good vibes from friends and family, so thank you thank you!

I'm taking comps on Monday and had to post here...I can't believe that 4 years ago I was researching grad programs while trawling through GradCafe, and now I'm about to be ABD *fingers crossed*
Thanks for all the support! This is the best community ever.

Professor Diner has in the past written about other ethnic immigrations--e.g. Irish.

Everyone has given you sound advice on the application process.  Just concentrate on the things you have control over in the next 6-7 months.  Unless I missed it, you didn't specify whether you're planning on applying to MA or PhD programs. 

It's not simply that the school = intelligence, but also professionalism. Ivy league students get groomed for academia from a young age, learning from the leading scholars in the field. That experience goes a long way in helping them develop the personal connections, social manners, and the professional skills to write research papers and statements of purpose which fit the academy's requirements. 

Congrats!  Maybe I'm not seeing something since I'm looking from the outside, but a funded PhD offer from WashU seems more attractive than any of the MA offers.
 

Congrats!  Maybe I'm not seeing something since I'm looking from the outside, but a funded PhD offer from WashU seems more attractive than any of the MA offers.
 

Congrats!  Maybe I'm not seeing something since I'm looking from the outside, but a funded PhD offer from WashU seems more attractive than any of the MA offers.
 

Congrats!  Maybe I'm not seeing something since I'm looking from the outside, but a funded PhD offer from WashU seems more attractive than any of the MA offers.
 

Just got a rejection from Brandeis's Master's program on Monday. Prof. Sreenivasan said he was disappointed with the decision, but it just came down to the fact that their MA program is only 1 year long and he is going to be on sabbatical for half of that year. He said if I'd applied in any other year, I wouldn't have had a problem getting in.
On another note, I just got an acceptance to WUSTL's PhD program today with a $23,360/year x 6 years funding offering. Between that and my acceptances to the Binghamton, Alabama, Northern Illinois, and Texas Tech Master's programs, I have a tough decision to make...

If you can pass comps without a ~3 month period where you're focused on studying (I had to give up cycling and gained 25 lbs), your committee let you off easy, to say the least. It sounds to me like comps are more a formality in your program than they were in mine; you should be careful about universalizing your experience.
And sure, we can all question the utility of comps, but in the end, you need to do what your committee expects. Otherwise, you don't pass, and then your publications (or whatever) don't matter.