Tigla
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Posts posted by Tigla
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6 hours ago, hibbiejibbies said:
Do you know when Umich will announce results? Also, any idea which subfields are more likely to be read favorably? I heard there were too many Americanists and Europeanists in the last two cycles, not sure how accurate that is. And how many students in total will they take, I'm assuming 4-5 people?
No. No. Americanists and Europeanists have been a high proportion at U-M for quite sometime now, which might change as some profs are retiring in the coming years.
Lastly, numbers are difficult. The joint PhDs and solely graduate funded students did not change (about 5-6) while the dept funded students did change (anywhere between 2 and 6, but this changes almost every convo). The major issue with numbers remains the sudden change at the graduate school. Support for incoming students and precandidates was announced at the expense of candidates, so it is a real toss up at the moment.
Basically, U-M is going through some major structural and financial changes so it is really hard to figure out what is going on besides general trends, even for us on the inside.
- hibbiejibbies, Maguire and mercuetio
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13 hours ago, mercuetio said:
Another thing to keep in mind re: UMich admission/funding is that the program overadmitted its history cohort in the 2019 cycle. This, in addition to the COVID situation, is probably placing financial strain on the department and influencing admits. I don't know how they will end up handling it, perhaps it just means they significantly slash the size of this year's cohort.
100%! The department is under a lot of strain from the 2019 cohort, but also because the graduate school has refused to help fund extensions for years 5-7 which means the department is picking up the bill. The last 2 cohorts were cut in half and this upcoming one is cut even further due to funding issues caused by a sudden graduate school change to funding.
(Sorry, I have been the bearer of bad news from U-M for quite a while on this forum. I promise I'm a happier person in real life. =p )
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On 12/11/2020 at 2:12 PM, duesseldreamer said:
Thank you so much for this concrete info. I can try to fill in these blanks and would love if you could comment.
Language: I tested C1 (reading/listening) B2 (speaking/writing) on the TestDAF in 2017. I then worked 6 months in a job where I had to speak German on the phone. I am confident I could clinch the 4x C1 needed, especially if I made some extra effort.GPA: My unique dual degree pooled the GPA on everything from finance courses to film studies. Both BA and BS show a 3.51 GPA. But my liberal arts coursework above the 300 level is literally a 4.0, maybe one A- I'm forgetting about, so 3.9+ for sure. I have around 20 credits of 300+ level cultural/history stuff with a GPA of 4.0. Am I "allowed" to point this out to them? That my subject GPA is significantly higher? Oh and if they care, my MS GPA is 3.89.
Credits: This is exactly my issue. I see all sorts of things, often 60 ECTS of history credits. On a generous US-ECTS conversion I get near that? I guess? The page for the FUB/Humboldt program gets worse with something like "1/3 of credits must be in history" and like literally half my transcript is not liberal arts at all but business.
Programs: To be totally honest I look at programs in a fairly vulgar way, I'd prefer to be in one of the bigger cities, so any big city uni with a high ranking interests me. Obviously if I see the department is not the global orientation i'm looking for i'd look elsewhere. I need to figure out if I CAN get into these programs I guess before really honing in. But a program such as FUB/Humboldts, or one at University of Konstanz ("Global European Studies" or something?), where both feature an obligatory semester in another country. That's my dream program. Something where i'm picking up language and international experience automatically as part of the program.
Thanks for this info. I noticed above that you will be applying for a DAAD scholarship. I suggest that you read into that before applying or reaching out to programs. I missed out on a DAAD scholarship due to a bureaucratic hurdle where I had to apply to the DAAD and then my program, not my program and then DAAD.
With that said, I would now reach out to every program you mentioned. Don't give them a huge explanation of your situation, rather focus on the "1/3 credits must be in history" requirements. I'd start by being upfront and saying that you don't meet this requirement according to your transcript, but that your coursework required you to know the history of the subjects. Whether the program is flexible on this requirement is incredibly difficult to know and unless you ask. However, a Global European Studies program or something studies related will be even more flexible than a traditional history program. In short, start asking around and figure out which programs and universities are flexible on the ECTS requirement and which ones see it as a hard-cap.
Lastly, your GPA is your GPA. You will not be able to explain dips or highlight great classes. I hate the rigidity of such a requirement, but I also weirdly love it. I couldn't get into many American programs for a multitude of reasons, but a 3.94 GPA got me into all my European programs without a hitch. I know a handful of people who came in around the 3.5 mark, but most had around a 3.7 in undergrad. Your application will be very different with an MS so I'm not sure your BA will be as important.
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Having studied in Germany, I can tell you that your GPA is the most important thing in an application to an MA program. They have odd requirements to apply, such as 'x amount of credits in history,' but those can be waived. The other major hurdle will be language proficiency, as you said. Most German programs require at least C1 level German while other "international programs" require B1 German plus B1 in another foreign language that is not your native language.
My first step would be to research programs and try to find some that you are interested in. From there, we can begin thinking through how you fit into the program and whether you are eligible to apply. You will find that there are some general rules across universities, but there is a ton of diversity and flexibility if you know how to ask a question. European bureaucracy is a thing, but it isn't as rigid as many people make it seem.
With that said, what programs have you looked into? Which ones do you like? Why?
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9 hours ago, KenzieUT said:
Anyone getting little-to-no response from POIs? Should I be worried? Only one prof responded by saying they will respond at the end of Nov.
Profs and grad students are scrambling at the moment to move classes entirely online as universities failed to plan ahead for the third wave in the US. It took me a month to respond to a prospective student, not because I didn't want to talk, rather because I have been swamped sorting out the mess my university created with last minute adjustments to only then back away from those guidelines, but then to reimplement them a week later. *deep sigh* A friendly reminder email is probably your best bet, but don't expect immediate responses.
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On 11/8/2020 at 12:24 AM, Sigaba said:
I wonder if comparing two countries is a sustainable approach at this time? Might you be served better by focusing on telling the story for one country and giving the comparison a go down the line?
I want to second this comment for you, @Cal2020. I applied with a project discussing German development ideas in Cambodia and the application of these ideas in the genocide museum in Phnom Penh. The project was meant to historicize while also highlight a very specific museum and its relation to the broader debate of development and human rights in Southeast Asia. Since I started my program, I transitioned into a more global/comparative analysis of European development, mainly focusing on West German ideas and programs. According to my current advisors who agreed to take me on, it was important to show that I could tie something very specific to broader trends within the field, than to carefully lay out a complicated project proposal. As people laid out above me, an SOP is not your prospectus and you are not wed to it in the program. See it as a document to show that you are a budding historian with interesting questions that are related to the current state of the field.
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Well, I have some more news y'all looking to apply to programs this year. My department is taking max 10 people, but there is a current move to not bring a new class this year because the current graduate students didn't receive any help from upper levels of admin since the beginning of the pandemic. In fact, a lot of current 6+ year candidates had their funding cut off by upper levels of admin, which means the department needs to find a way to support them for at least 2 years. In short, admissions are going to be ruthlessly cut in the coming year - and, probably, for the foreseeable future.
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My uni still hasn't made a decision. The grapevines are saying that we will be hybrid, but all graduate students will be expected to come to campus at least once a week. This whole situation is a mess and is not getting better any time soon. Yet, unis are pretending it is over for the sake of money. *sigh*
- TMP and history110
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https://www.insidehighered.com/coronavirus
Check out Inside Higher Ed for close to up-to-date information. I think the current court cases against University of Miami and Drexler University are going to set a precedent for higher ed, so I have been trying to stay up-to-date on those cases, too. For more on the ground advice, reach out to current students and ask how they are coping. We don't know much and mostly are running around with our heads cut off, but we do have some plans ready to go depending on what happens. Good luck to all of you!
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2 hours ago, DenverSun16 said:
I will be applying for Northwestern University's History graduate program this year, to start in Fall 2021. My past research experience and what I want to focus on for my second masters and PhD in their grad program is specifically related to gender and sexuality history in early 20th century USA. I like the partnership their history program has with the gender and sexualities department, and they even have a graduate cluster focusing on that.
This upcoming round is going to be increasingly more competitive and your project (not your stats) needs to stand out. More specifically, the above part of your post needs to be expanded upon. What do you exactly want to research? How are you extending the current research? What theories are you employing or want to employ? Why is your MA in American Studies in Germany helpful? What languages will you need for your project and can you use them or must you learn them still?
Now, I come to something a bit personal and touchy for me. Most of your second paragraphs should go into a diversity statement, but be careful with what you exactly say. Certain phrases trigger different funding sources and programs designed for specific groups of marginalized communities. Claiming an identity when you aren't part of that group may not harm your application, but it will sour your relationship with your soon-to-be graduate students before you actually meet them. Please, feel free to PM me if you want to talk more about this point.
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On 4/17/2020 at 6:55 PM, bibliophile0521 said:
As for my research interests, I'm leaning more-so towards the American topic than the Modern European one, hence why I stated that it was only a new idea and not well thought-out. I think I'm going to look more into the nature of book history and historians within that specialty.
You might be a bit late to the party to do anything related to German/Modern Europe. If you do a field in Modern Europe, you will need at least 2 European languages to pass to candidacy. Some advisers / committees recommend a third language on top of that in order to make your work more marketable in an increasingly tightening academic field. In your case, you would probably need to get German (ASAP) and French (Year 3 or 4). Instead of opening that can of worms, you can cast yourself as an Americanist who studies American-German cultural relations. This route would still require you to pick up German soon, but avoid the typical standards (if that is the right word) of a Modern European specialization.
If you want to pursue the American-German route, then look into a couple programs in Germany (listed below). I mainly picked American Studies based on where your interests lie. History in Germany is mainly German and European history so you would fit more into a "studies program." I know going abroad sounds scary, but doing an MA abroad gives you the chance to learn the language (German in your case) while also having the necessary rigor to do a PhD afterwards. If you do not want to do the American-German route, you could still go abroad to do an MA at any of these universities for American history so long as you are prepared to work a bit blind / on your own.
- MA in American Studies at JFK Institute on Free University Berlin
- Joint MA in Global History at Free University Berlin and Humboldt University
- MA in American Studies at Humboldt University
- MA in American Studies at University of Leipzig
- MA in American Studies at University of Heidelberg
- dr. t, Sigaba and historyofsloths
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4 hours ago, historyofsloths said:
Just for some clarity: I'm currently on two waitlists right now and have been in correspondence with both programs and have been assured that I'd receive an update as soon as they have one (said in the positive about being taken off the waitlist). My question is, if everyone accepts their offers, will they contact me to say that they can't offer me admission once they find out or will I have to wait until April 15th?
They should send you a rejection letter if you aren't accepted off the waitlist. I would not expect a personal email, but some programs might send you one.
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For those of you reaching out to students of professors, try your best to get a range of years. Someone finishing their dissertation is going to have a radically different view of a professor as a mentor compared to a current first or second year, especially since most departments are in the midst of "redefining what it means to do a PhD in History." As noted earlier, offer to call the student if you want them to be a bit more candid. Politics are a real thing in grad school and it is best to start learning how to play / avoid the game.
- psstein, time_consume_me, TMP and 1 other
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On 3/6/2020 at 8:00 AM, Manana said:
I just got notified that I've been accepted to Oxford. I am so excited. Fingers crossed for funding...
Congrats! It is an amazing opportunity.
I don't mean to be a wet blanket, but funding is extremely hard to come by for foreign nationals outside of the Commonwealth in the UK system. I had a fully funded PhD with a TAship and stipend offer 2 years ago, but it was pulled when the university admin realized their "legal responsibility" under the "new UK immigration law" after Brexit. To preempt this issue, I would immediately start looking for American sources of funding. Check out the Marshall Scholarships if their application window is open.
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I would genuinely be interested to know if departments are starting to give feedback to rejections. It sounds like a huge amount of work that professors might not be willing to take on. *stares in grad student*
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1 hour ago, westernpacific said:
Based on the likes and dislike, I can tell this is some old boys vs. new peeps thing. But I think @Sigaba offers reasonable advice, at least in that it's reflective of my personal experiences as a grad student in Korea.
That's very much the case.
I used to be on the f- Sigaba crowd due to the sheer brutality of some of their comments. I will say, though, that their comments are not far off from reality and actually hinge on polite. Maybe some ancedotal evidence will help. (probs not) Anyways, I'm currently a union rep for my department and have frayed a ton of relationships with faculty due to my role as a labor organizer. In fact, my secondary advisor has all but stopped talking to me and begun spreading rumors about me to other faculty. Now, I receive all kinds of looks from faculty and have a general sense of mistrust, which is fair since I had to drop a couple of hammers last semester. Anywho...Sigaba can and often does verge on the polite-asshole line, but my advice would be to learn to hear the advice out of those type of comments. You are not going to be treated well in grad school and you need to learn how to handle that reality while still holding true to yourself and advancing in your degree.
I wish you all the best in the coming weeks. If anyone needs to vent (good or bad) over the next couple of weeks, feel free to PM me.
TLDR: telling a professor to pound rocks might feel good, but will not be worth it in the end. Keep trucking along!
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@KiraBerl and @histori041512, recruitment weekend is being organized right now for the beginning of March, so people should be receiving something soon. I'm not sure the exact time, but expect something soon.
- KiraBerl, eloiwy and histori041512
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3 hours ago, KiraBerl said:
A kinda belated question: does Michigan do interviews?
Michigan does not interview. It is a department policy.
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I'll share my thoughts on the program, but always via PM. As for the reddit link...yeah...it hits a lot of issues, but also misses a lot of solutions.
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On the interview aspect, which has been hammered to death by great advice, I'm attending a program that did not interview anyone. I interviewed at 2 other schools and got rejected from both. One POI that I interviewed with said that he interviews all students who want to work with him as a primary adviser. Meanwhile, another POI said he only interviews his top 2 choices. As a marker of acceptance/wait-list/rejection, interviews are almost meaningless and one should try hard (I know) to not let a lack or abundance of interviews affect them. I hear Jack and Cokes and Vodka Teas are a great way to minimize sweating over apps.
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Do you want to work specifically on refugees and migration? If you need to write a thesis and that is your topic, then I don't see a problem with the program as long as you can "justify" it to people outside of your area of study.
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17 hours ago, Duns Eith said:
Is that true for Philosophy at U of M?
I cannot be 100% sure since I'm in a different department, but Philosophy is under the LSA College and Rackham Graduate School. This means that the department needs to adhere to the basic funding structure set up by both administrative institutions. There will be differences between the departments. For example, I receive an award and slightly larger stipend than my friends in the German department. However, these differences are going to be extremely small and dependent on the department since the rules set by LSA College and Rackham Graduate School are collectively bargained for every 3 years by a graduate student union.
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Your funding should not be attached to any GRE score. Funding at UM comes from two main sources, either Rackham Graduate School through the Rackham Merit Fellowship or through the department and its fellowship. From my experience, the initial funding package is not competitive at UM. There is a standard package that is based on Rackham's figures and the department's ability to pay. If you want to apply for extra funding (year 2 onwards) then funding becomes competitive, but it is based on different requirements (recommendation letters, prospectus, interview, etc.).
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On 11/25/2019 at 6:38 AM, DeNovo said:
Hi all -
I'm editing my writing sample atm, and I am trying to decide whether or not to translate the passages and quotes in my thesis to English. The paper itself is in English, but per my department instructions, all quotes were kept in the original language. Any thoughts?
The general rule I was taught is to always translate everything into the language you are writing in and then provide the original in the footnote. In your case, I would translate to English and footnote the original.
2021 Application Thread
in History
Posted
I'm sorry! This cycle is crazy and many excellent applicants have to be rejected.
Take a break away from it all for sometime. Reopen the documents and re-read them with an extremely critical eye. And then, start the process again.
It took me 3 cycles to get off waitlists and every time it was a punch in the gut. Right now, it is important to do your best and get away from academia. It will help you think clearly when you return to your materials, but more importantly, everyone needs a break after an application cycle. Every cycle, I would download my documents onto a USB, give them to a friend, and then forget about them. How ever you best decompress and relax, now is the time to do it.