hungrybear

Just Magoosh, couple of Manhattan books, and the free PTs given by ETS. I also read a lot of aldaily.com, which has GRE-like articles.

Thanks! You can break into the 160s easily if you have a wide vocabulary. I already had a wide vocabulary before I started studying, but the Magoosh flacshcard app really help me find the holes in my lexicon. I just went through the app and created my own list based on the words I didn't know. I would say, since I'm guessing are applying to programs that require writing, to also do a couple mock essays. Going in blind for that section would have been terrible. We're used to writing with all the time in the world, but that section only gives you 30 minutes for each essay. I got a 5 on the analytical writing, and I think I could have done better had I practiced more for it. Good luck!

Update: unofficial score of 168V/149Q. I'm ecstatic!

As fluent as you can get. But more realistically, you should be able to watch news and understand what's going on. You should be able to read academic level articles with a dictionary. You should be able to talk about your research topics in French. And finally, being comfortable with writing wouldn't hurt.

Start working on French yesterday, if you haven't already. If you're leaning towards empire, you will inevitably end up looking at one of France's colonies. Getting familiar with the language of whatever colony you decide to look at would be wise. As far as programs, ASU has some good scholars for France and Empire. So does UT Austin.

>.> I've definitely narrowed down my PhD choices because of advice here and elsewhere. I'm just doing a select few and putting effort into my master's apps. I think being accepted to a PhD program can possibly (please don't kill me) help with funding a master's.

And if it does that is fine. I'm applying to master's programs as well.

That's what this was all about until @Sigaba stepped in. I'm aware of the importance of proficieny in Arabic for my field. I think where we all fundamentally disagree is the time it will take me to get to that level. I think, coming in with a foundation, I can do it in time with courses during my first two years and summer intensive courses. But please all realize that is my opinion based on my language learning experiences.

I was just responding to JKL's point about needing excellent Arabic to enter a PHD program that focuses on NA. It's not always necessary. My comment about not needing a high level of Arabic was just to point out that there exist instances where it is not needed. Not that I don't plan on learning it. Or that I don't want to master it. And stop assuming I want to be an Arabist.

The students I spoke to in those level programs that are focusing on my area (Morocco and Algeria) had around 2 years of Arabic (what I have) upon entering. Those studying the ME of MENA definitely had better Arabic. The discrepancy comes from the linguistic nature of NA. There are four (generally) possible languages people can use to study Morocco and Algeria: Spanish, French, Arabic, and the Berber language. I am fluent in Spanish and French. Depending what your focus is, you can get away with not knowing or being proficient in the other languages, as many successful historians in my area have done. Not that I am not seeking proficiency (I am). Look, I'm not trying to argue that it's okay to have weak Arabic. I was just responding to JKL's assertion that one's Arabic has to be excellent to enter a PHD program. That is simply not true.

I am aware of this. It's interesting how you are treating this one professor's advice as dogma. You do realize there are other professors in the field that are accepting graduate students? And that these professors may have differing opinions on language requirements? And that I may have spoken to these professors? And that my proposed research may not even need a high level of Arabic?

While I do agree that having excellent Arabic is good thing, it is not necessary. I had that mindset until I really started doing research, and I found that many students entering PhD programs who are studying the region I would like to study had little to no Arabic. Not saying every, just a good amount. And these are top 20 programs.

PhD and Master's apps are asking if I have any publications. I have no research articles published. I do, however, have a published book review in an academic journal. I was an intern for this journal in undergrad, and, as part of the internship, I was allowed to publish a book review. Should I include it in the app?

The standard at my college was size 12 font for any paper, unless otherwise specified. None of my applications specify font size, though it is obvious they want a reasonable size. I was wondering if it would be unreasonable to change the font size to 11? My WS is about 20 pages over the average limit, and changing the font size gets me to about 10 pages over the average limit. Edit: Using Times New Roman.

I would like to add that this is not always true. You can use primary sources to answer larger questions. For example, I'm using primary sources in my writing sample to address the larger question of how can we "periodize" French urban planning in Algeria. It goes from the specific to the broad. And we can't forget people like Foucault who use primary source research to answer very broad questions (much broader than my example) , like how is power exercised etc. etc. Although, I was a history and philosophy major...