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FedeHikari

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Everything posted by FedeHikari

  1. Congratulations on the many admissions! I'm waiting to hear from Princeton (though I did not apply through History department, but from East Asian Studies) and few others...Do you guys think things are handled separately? Because my subfield is Japanese history and I don't know whether they consider all the Japanese history application together regardless of department?
  2. I totally share your thoughts. By browsing this very forum I should conclude that every applicant was sent this email. However, it feels strange that they still are at first review stage...
  3. I received the very same email (and I asked the same question in the EALC section, because my field is Japanese History). I thought that by now they had done some sort of 'skimming' process but maybe I'm completely wrong.
  4. One question to senpais or other poor fellows who share with me this hellish wait XD I did receive today an email from Harvard GSAS Department, "As part of the application review process, the admissions committee has requested additional information from applicants regarding prior language study and language proficiency. In order collect this information, we have added a brief form to your online application record." Obviously my heart skipped a beat when I saw the email, even though rationally I do not hope to hear back until February at least. But does it mean they already did some sort of skimming process? Since the deadline was a month ago, even given Christmas holidays in between, I kinda figured that they had already "eliminated" some applicants. Do you think this is the case or the email was sent to all applicants? I may have imagined the process in a very wrong way. Sorry for the long post! This wait is killing me, and it's way too soon to go nuts X'D
  5. I totally relate to it. This really seems my story XD (except that I do not have a fellowship, so maybe my application is not as strong as yours ahah)
  6. Worries: I will turn 28 this year, and I do not have any major research experience on my behalf, nor any particular work experience. Since I'm applying for East Asian/History Department (despite not having a major in History, I undertook several History courses with straight As), of course research experience and publications are somewhat less expected than if I were applying for a scientific program. Yet, I feel I'm somehow old and I wish I had more research experience and publications, but in the end my research experience is summed up by my three honors theses. One of my fears amongst others is that admission committee will judge me "lazy" because I have a BA and two MAs, but an overall work experience of 2 years tops. And, worst of all, I am an international student. I know I'm a very good student amongst Italian students, but I do not know if compared to countries all over the world. I've been told from a very gentle professor that the fact I'm a European woman would actually be seen as a "diversity" factor in the eyes of the committee, but of course my Italian citizenship curtails my chances dramatically. Additionally, my LORs are Italian, and albeit the letters are quite solid (at least for European standards, we tend to be more lukewarm than Americans in recommending people), they do not have any connection to US. Excitement and pros: My three theses could be seen as research papers and the time spent writing them research experience (at least, one POI told me so). All I've always wanted is to enter PhD, and I would be more than excited were I successful. I would also love to explore America and live in a foreign country (I've spent some months in Japan during my undergrad and after my first MA thesis, but this would be completely different). I have found a topic I'm really really passionate about, and I hope my SOP reflects this excitement. My GPA is pretty solid (3.95 undergrad, 3.92 overall grad); my GRE decent (162 V, 157 Q, 4.5 AWA). I have got my writing sample checked by professors (mainly because it's an excerpt from my first MA thesis); I chiseled my SOP so many times that if I see it again I'll probably faint.
  7. Just one missing (but he promised he would submit it today, so I'm trying to relax)...I totally share your sense of helplessness. I don't think I stressed too much my recommenders, but they are in such a bad period that every reminder I sent was probably the last drop. I can understand your problems with relying on others (me too!). Anyhow, good luck to everyone ❤️ this is the worst period because we just have to wait (again, powerless!), but Christmas time is such a panacea for me.
  8. He just texted me that he was going to upload everything today and tomorrow (for the less compelling ones)...I will pray all day XD
  9. Same situation here. I've 2 out of 3 LoRs for every programme I've applied to (and in some cases the deadline was on Friday and Saturday)...and the third is missing. He said he was going to upload them on Friday, but he just disappeared. I've sent him an email on Saturday and one today, but still no answer. I'm not the type who sends every day an email, but I'm really starting to panic here. I really hope schools will accept letters in the next few days (given he ever answers).
  10. Actually, I've added it!! (Especially for Professor Smith) Thank you ❤️ Now I'm almost done with every application (and ardently hoping my recommenders upload every letter in time...)
  11. Chicago, Harvard HEAL, Columbia (History - East Asia), Yale, Princeton, Wisconsin - Madison, Univ. of Chicago at Urbana, UCLA, UCSD, UCSB (lol written like that they seem drugs) ahah! Good luck to you too
  12. Hi all! I have a question which is torturing me XD I think I have found the solution but I wanted more confrontation from you guys. Long story short, I'm now applying for Grad school (PhD program, Japanese History). Yes, I'm in a frenzy, yes, I'm reviewing my writing sample, yes, I'm chiseling my SOP more and more. But I have one painful doubt. My story is a very common one: I'm an international student (Italian), I have graduated with honors from High School and then I was pressured by my family to choose a suitable faculty. I had always loved East Asia (I took Chinese classes very young, and I can assure you that in Southern Italy 10 years ago it was anything but easy), but I felt all the pressure to satisfy them. I attended for a year and a half a Faculty I hated: not because the subjects were uninteresting, but I just felt I betrayed myself. I withdrew and a few months later I started my BA in Japanese Studies, graduating with honors. Now, the thing is: some schools want ALL the transcripts of ALL the institutions you have attended. But unfortunately, since I IRREVOCABLY quit my previous studies, according to Italian University System, my transcripts just do not exist anymore. They're like vanished, so obviously I cannot upload them. Now, usually Universities want transcripts if you transfer from a college to another, so I think I do not need to upload anything related to my previous academic career, but has anyone come through the same situation? As for Columbia (first application I'm sending, the one which raised the issue), there is a box in which you can explain why you withdrew and when. Is it enough?
  13. I'd personally go for TOEFL (had similar scores and I chose it). Just to let you know my scores: TOEFL R29/L28/S25/W26 (108) IELTS R 8.5/L 8.5/ S7.5/W 5.5 (7.5) I have made this decision mostly thinking of my writing performance, which significantly improved for TOEFL. Anyhow, as long as it is more than 100, you should be fine
  14. I haven't counted them lol XD I'd say 15-20 schools, maybe (I know, it seems such an enormous quantity). The first in line are Columbia and University of British Columbia
  15. I have talked (let's say I have sent a number of emails to everyone and someone was so kind to answer) to a POI from Wisconsin, who strongly encouraged me to apply wherever possible. I have a wide array of choices lol, so I give you the same advice: just apply. You really never know (I'm of course SO NERVOUS, also because PhD deadline is approaching so fast, so giving this kind of advices really seems weird ahha) And, as many before me said, tests scores and GPA are only a part of your application
  16. I have had the same problem back in Italy. Although not compulsory, a publication would boost an application. Still, it is somehow (I don't know in China, but given your answer I think that's basically the same) very hard for Humanities (again, I'm speaking about Italy ) students to publish anything. So there's this paradox: you're a recent graduate with very good grades but no publications vs an older applicant with publications, so admission boards prefer the latter. This is not of course to discredit people who have publications; on the contrary, I wish I knew how to do it during my MAs! XD Getting published is a mess back here. I hope that admission boards will consider the different backgrounds. Spoiler alert: an Italian friend of mine with no publications got in Princeton (Japanese program too), so it's definitely doable! I know that sometimes master's thesis are considered as research experience. Anyhow, if you're applying for a MA, I honestly don't think you will need publications at all (they are not requested for PhD programs either ) If I may ask, which Universities are you considering?
  17. I really hope that admission boards will share your opinion ahah! Thank you for the feedback I'm actually so envious of your work experience (we can say there's mutual admiration then)! My best wishes to you too fingers crossed!!?
  18. I actually hope to enter those programs, because they would be the perfect fit for me, but like anyone else one doesn't really know until the admission/rejection e-mail As for my profile, I'm happy to share it with you without any reservation. I hold a Bachelor's Degree summa cum laude from la Sapienza University (ranked #1 in Italy) in Japanese, a Master's Degree in Japanese from the same institution (not laude this time but still maximum, 110/110). I also have another Master's Degree from another Institution (very famous in Italy and Europe for East Asian Studies) with 110/110 too; this Master focused on International Relations. As for GPAs, I think it is about 3.93 (unweighted) for BA, 3.88 for both my MAs. As you can see I'm strong on titles, but not so much on work experience (this is a country problem, but that's a whole other discussion). I have been an intern in the Oriental Library of La Sapienza for a year, I have worked in a travel agency in Naples, have some experience in translation. I have been in Japan for 4 months (a Summer session and for personal initiative to improve my Japanese skills). I'm currently studying to take N1 in Japanese (the biggest grade of achievement for foreigners), probably in July; as for Chinese I hold HSK 4 and I have some knowledge of Korean. It is not an impressive resumé, I'm aware; still, apart from a Stanford Professor, every Ivy (and not) POI I contacted encouraged me to apply, showing deep interest for my intended field of study. I really really hope to enter a PhD program next year! (Sorry for the very long answer lol). As for TOEFL, my score is 108; my GRE scores are 162 V, 157 Q, 4.5 AWA (according to Magoosh, they're fairly adequate for what I'm afraid is a long shot).
  19. Yeah, I was thinking of Columbia and Harvard's programs too, like @AnUglyBoringNerdsaid. What is your field? I'd like to study Japanese education policies in all its colonies during its Empire phase.
  20. I'm very interested in contemporary Chinese history, mainly because my research proposal is about Japanese colonialism, so I have to know some Manchurian/Taiwanese/Korean history as well (that's basically the reason why I attended Chinese and Korean classes back in my bachelor's and master's degree). Like you, in some places I'm gonna apply in EAS/EALC PhD Program, while in others it's gonna be History (even though my major is not exactly History). I was so curious about other prospective Japanese historians but it seems like I'm the only one for 2019 Fall Season in the forum XD
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