macmc

Is anyone here attending UCSBs recruitment weekend right now? I couldn't make it, but I'd love to hear your thoughts!

I'm waiting to hear from Harvard too. I emailed them today, actually, to ask about when we might hear something. Do they typically send rejections in batches? 'Cause that's about all I feel I can expect.

I was just invited to the UCSB recruiting weekend, but I don't know if I'll be able to go! Ahhh!

Yikes! Minnesota has started reviewing applications -- my status changed to "Awaiting Program Decision." AHHHHH!

I sent Harvard's tonight! I'm done! LatteArt, I think that as long as your paper is somewhat relevant to your intended research, you'll be fine. I feel like very few people were American Studies majors and have AmSt-specific papers ready to go.

Thanks so much for saying it sounds interesting -- nerdy, perhaps, but I get really excited when people think I'm not a total weirdo about my interests. Yes, for the purposes of my research, I would be defining femininity in a traditional sense. This is because my question is not whether gender/gendered presentation/the gendering of actions is appropriate or real, but why we seem to feel so much animosity towards typically feminine things and modes of being to begin with. In that sense, a large portion of my work would be historical. However, I'd like to tie it all together with a study of the third-wave, particularly the nascent embracement of queer femininity that I see beginning to happen in my communities.

I've sent all but Harvard's, because I wanted to have maximum time to edit -- glad I did, because I've found so many things to change that now I'm doubting I'll get into any of the others! I have two primary research interests: first, I want to study femininity; specifically, why it's so heavily disdained (particularly among queer women) and to what degree second-wave feminism helped perpetuate the idea that femininity is inherently weak/less valuable -- and, most importantly, that femininity is incompatible with being a good feminist. Second, I want to investigate lesbian/queer female life prior to WWII, a la George Chauncey's Gay New York.

Just in case you all need a little levity in your lives right now: 4 Copy Editors Killed In Ongoing AP Style, Chicago Manual Gang Violence http://www.theonion.com/articles/4-copy-editors-killed-in-ongoing-ap-style-chicago,30806/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=SocialMarketing&utm_campaign=LinkPreview%3ANA%3AInFocus #teamoxford.

American History R_Escobar (20th century, American Indian), crazedandinfused (antebellum, intellectual), hopin'-n-prayin' (southern, religious), stevemcn (transnational), Simple Twist of Fate (early American), zb642 (20th century, labor/working-class culture), BCEmory08 (19th-20th century Catholicism, labor), irvinchiva10 (20th century, immigration/immigration reform) natsteel (early American political culture and intellectual history) unforth (19th century US political and military history, US Civil War) hbeels (colonial, early national, 19th century, transappalachain west, historical memory of these eras/areas) thedig13 (20th century U.S., culture and protest, African-American) Weepsie (North American Mapping, Exploration and Trade, Anti-Communism/Socialism in Interwar period, bit of a mixed bag) lafayette (19th c. [with a dash of 20th], urban, intellectual) vtstevie (Revolutionary/Early Republic New England, infrastructure/economic) macmc (Feminist, gender, and LGBT history) European History Kelkel (Modern Germany, political), goldielocks (Britain), SapperDaddy (Eastern and Central Europe), kotov (Modern Romania, Holocaust, labor), RevolutionBlues (Modern Western Europe/France labor and leftist politics), theregalrenegade (18th/19th cent British Empire/environment), jrah822 (19th century Britain; emphasis on colonial relationship to India), grlu0701 (Intellectual & cultural history,fin de siecle Germany and Italy), naturalog (modern European [mostly German] intellectual and cultural/sexuality and gender/political radicalism), runaway (Eastern/Central, memorialization & visual culture), Sequi001 (Modern France, gender and sexuality, colonialism/imperialism) Abetheh (19th/early 20th century Germany and France, religious politics vs secularization) NeutralKate (Modern Russia, modern European economic history) Crackerjacktiming (Modern Germany, gender and sexuality) GloFish (USSR, Stalinism, Soviet-American Relations) African History Oseirus (precolonial/early colonial West Africa), Singwaya18 (20th century East Africa), Safferz (20th century Horn/Northeast Africa), The People's Scholar (Spanish colonialim in Africa- i.e. middle/West Africa) Jogatoronto (Psychiatry in early colonial West Africa) ronwill06(Social and political radical movements) Latin American History CageFree (20th century, Southern Cone), BH-history, The People's Scholar (18th-19th century Colombia) StrangeLight (20th century Central America) East Asian History alleykat (Modern China) kyjin (Pre-Modern Japan) aec09g (Modern Japan) pudewen (Late Imperial China) kdavid (Modern China; focus on the Republican period) Near/Middle Eastern History uhohlemonster, (modern Israel, Iran, Palestine) oswic (modern Egypt, gender) Atlantic World sandyvanb crazedandinfused Global/World History cooperstreet (Cold War) melissarose8585 Jewish History uhohlemonster, (modern Israel) hopin'-n-'prayin, kotov (Holocaust), naturalog (sometimes modern European/Holocaust), runaway (memorialization & visual culture), ticklemepink (20th c. Germany/U.S) Science/Technology/Environment shaxmaty1848 (Cold War) StrangeLight (environmental history, ecological distribution conflicts) Social annieca (Cold War and Post-Cold War East and Central Europe) Classical and Medieval Hogs of War (Monastic Studies and Conflicts in Authority) Cultural StrangeLight (gender, race, ethnicity, and religion) hbeels (race/ethnicity, religious, masculinity/feminimity, print/literature) crazedandinfused (race, nationalism, performance, rhetoric) alleykat (religion, race/ethnicity, cultural relativism) Canadian History truthfinder (New France, religious)

Wow, that's crazy. I saw that people got acceptances to some of the schools I've applied to in mid-January last year, but I have no idea if any of them do interviews. Are interviews common in interdisciplinary programs?

Hitting submit on my first two applications yesterday felt AWESOME. I'm the type to find it relaxing that I can no longer have any effect on the outcome.

My apps are going well...today, I cranked out twelve pages of the writing sample I took it upon myself to create for my applications, so I feel really relaxed. I'll be done by tonight, and then we submit! I'd be looking to work with Estelle Freedman in the history department, primarily, as well as Dr. Davies (Feminist Studies), Dr. Brody (Drama), and Dr. Dierkes-Thrun (English). How about you?

I'm applying to the MTL!

Iced over

Half the time: "Psh, my statement and my research interests are AMAZING. I might as well buy that Harvard sweatshirt now!" Half the time: "At least I have a job, for when I don't get in anywhere."

So, with deadlines rapidly approaching, how are everyone's applications coming? I took it upon myself to write an entirely new writing sample for my programs, so I'm feeling a little panicky about that now (first app is due 1DEC). Hope y'all were more proactive than I was!

Oh awesome, congratulations! Were you at all hesitant to pick UCSB? I had heard that their placement record isn't the greatest, but I can't find any actual stats on it.

I didn't want you to feel like no one had seen your question, but I don't know anything about the UK. Sorry

I went the creative route, partly because UCLA asked me to do the same thing, so I already had something written. I'm still not sure if it's exactly what they're looking for, but I'm already nearing my limit of obsessing over this application season.

I don't know much about Islamic Studies programs in general, but I know that Georgetown has a great program. You'll want to check them out: http://arabic.georgetown.edu/. I would like to second the person saying that the statement of purpose is insanely important. It is! Moreso than any other single part of your application, I daresay! Spend a lot of time honing it.

Thank you, Heidi! I'm hoping the admission committees agree that it sounds interesting and critical. I, of course, think it's the most fascinating thing EVER, but sometimes I worry that I'm the only person who thinks that.

I'm also looking to throw some third-wave analysis in because I see a nascent embracement of queer femininity there, which I find very interesting. Anyone else willing to share their interests?

I want to study femininity; specifically, why it's so heavily disdained (particularly among queer women) and to what degree second-wave feminism helped perpetuate the idea that femininity is inherently weak/less valuable -- and, most importantly, that femininity is incompatible with being a good feminist.

Hooray! I was just thinking that I should start a thread -- glad it's already here! I just recently (like, last couple of days) found out that American Studies is a thing, and I'm SO GLAD I DID -- it fits my interests so much better than History or Sociology. My schools are in the signature. I'm the type of person who likes to obsess, so I'm already on pins and needles, without having submitted any applications. It's going to be a long fall.

squad up!