BuckinghamRabbit

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a) I am not totally sure what you are saying with "if you can market yourself, you need the specific MAs." It is much easier for people to get jobs (and actually required for teachers in public schools and librarians at research universities) to get an MA degree tailored to their specific career. Archives are different, but the vast majority of archival and museum workers have degrees in Library Science or Public History. Why get a "pure" MA in history and limit your competitiveness? b)If you are asking me, I got my MA because I needed language training in order to be competitive in PhD applications and I was able to secure full funding. It worked out remarkably well: I made relationships with extremely important scholars in my field, learned a language, and got into great PhD programs.

I definitely agree with this, but in my defense, I was talking about a pure MA in "History." For all of the professions you mention, you generally need a very specific kind of history related MA. Teaching usually requires a MAT; museums and archives require an MA in Public History; library services require an MA in library science (which many people tack onto their history MA). As a current MA student whose program title is just "History," I can say that there is literally no path for which a more specifically tailored MA would not benefit me.

Why would you want an MA in history if you are not planning on getting a Ph.D.? There are basically no benefits to a history MA except for the fact that they make you smarter and more competitive for Ph.D. applications. It is not unheard of for people to drop out of Ph.D. programs early, but it is NOT considered normal to join a Ph.D. program with the expectation of dropping out. If you want a funded MA program, your best bet is FLAS (if it is still around in the coming years). You need to focus on an area in which you can use whatever FLAS language you are being funded for. Also, plenty of programs allow MA students to be TAs, but it is usually not guaranteed (you could lose your position in your second year or semester, etc.).

Yeah, this is something they have done a lot in the past. I forgot to mention that. I already have my MA so this is not something that I’m considering.

I have not heard anything (not an Americanist or an East-Asianist either), but assume that anybody who has not heard has either been waitlisted (privately) or denied. The department hosts History Day for their newly admitted PhD students, which falls on March 1-2. If we have not been invited to that by now, I think it is safe to assume that they don't want us there (i.e. we are waitlisted or denied).

Cronon is absolutely one of the best historical writers around. He is also a MacArther Genius and Pulitzer Prize finalist, so this should be no surprise.

If you are comfortable with sharing, do you mind telling us your field? Oh, and congratulations!

If the person who was just accepted to NYU is out there, can you give us some more details? Was it an e-mail from your POI or the DGS? What is your field?

@lordtiandao Let's assume they haven't sent everything out yet... Only four people posted acceptances to Chicago and I can't imagine that only four out of fifteen (or however many Chicago is taking this year) would report to Grad Cafe.

Hey LT, are you one of the East Asian folks that got into Chicago? Just wondering. I am still waiting to hear from them, and really hoping they didn't send everything out on the 30th.

I’ve also deduced that they stagger their acceptances after looking at the previous years’ stats. I certainly hope they do because I haven’t heard anything. The really unfortunate part of all this is that it seems like they don’t send out denials until March. I don’t know if I can wait that long for a denial...

Sorry to be annoying, but is there anything that you think put your application over the edge? I had an interview with a POI at Chicago who was incredibly supportive, but she also noted that the application committee's decision is almost completely out of her hands after she makes her recommendations. Also, what time did the DGS contact you? It seems crazy, but I want to give myself a time after which I can stop expecting an e-mail each day.

Congratulations! You have really achieved quite the accomplishment. I can only hope to join you in this cohort. If I may ask, is there anything that you think put your application over the edge? I had an interview with a POI at Chicago who was incredibly supportive, but she also noted that the application committee's decision is almost completely out of her hands after she makes her recommendations.

Based on the History department's reputation in that field, I am assuming they were accepted as history PhDs. Based on the past few years' stats, it seems they won't send out denials until March. It also seems that they do spread out admissions letters over the course of a week or so. I should have thought of checking that before my original post. In any case, I am waiting right here with you. Good luck!