MARTINt

If you're interested in the actual Middle Ages (c. 600-1500) - and not the Middle Ages as in "everything before 1789" - I find it hard to believe that a top program will admit a student without a decent knowledge of Latin. It's basically impossible to start doing research without it. French could maybe get you through the sixteenth. seventeenth, and eighteenth centuries, not before that.

I didn't dig too deep into Master's programs, but I do know that both Western Michigan and British Columbia offer some fundings (TAships in case of UBC) and have a rather decent medieval faculty. WMU even hosts the annual international medieval congress. If I were you, I'd think twice before applying to one of Columbia's Master's programs - they're crazy expansive FWIK.

I'm sorry, but this is not something you'd want to have to say about your writing sample. As I see it, the most important function of the sample is to show that you've got the necessary skills to begin your dissertation. In your case, it seems like you need to master Italian and have at least some experience working with archival documents. If you want your application to be competitive, showing the AdCom and your PoI that you have these skills is crucial. If the SoP is the place to say you have the skills, the writing sample is the place to prove it. I'd recommend using your first paper as a draft for a revised paper, most of which will discuss and analyze primary sources in Italian - referring to or arguing with relevant secondary literature.

Thank you, Sigaba. Thanks! What exactly is the location number?

Hey there, Does anyone here work with a Kindle for research? I'm considering getting one but can't figure out how the pages go. Are you able to locate the page number of the printed edition through the device, for footnotes or references? Also, can you open ebooks from your library's website on it?

Brown applicants! Check the portal... I found my rejection letter there.

I'm in a similar situation. IMO, we should bite the bullet. You already have an offer from a school you like, so just try to relax and let go. Assume your future is going to be in the school you were accepted to, and if you'll get another offer - well, you can worry about it then.

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Check out Cannadine's What is History Now? And Bloch's classic The Historian's Craft.

1. Make sure your writing sample reflects all your skills. I study medieval history, so knowledge of Latin is very important in my field. I made sure to translate ALL the passages I quote on my own, and to add the original Latin in the footnotes. Also, I did my best to show that I can read in German (even if it takes me forever). Moreover, try to send a paper that is not only well written, but also somewhat original. I've heard from a current grad student that, as far as he knows, many applicants submit rather technical writing samples. By that I mean papers that show great proficiency in the historiography of a given field, but lack the ability to articulate original questions and to offer provocative assessments. So do your best to show that you have a unique perspective and that you can translate it to excellent research projects. Schools don't need grad students that can only say what hundreds of scholars have already said. 2. I agree with @Karou about the importance of figuring out your research interests. Coming up with a project to which you'll be devoting so many years of your life is not an easy task. I got really confused about it, and offered a project that I didn't really like. From my experience, the most important question you should ask yourself is what are the types of sources (narrative sources, legal documents, charters, epistolography, etc.) you see yourself working with. 3. Don't apply to universities you don't want to go to. Don't waist time on safety schools. I don't think it's worth writing an application for a school that can't fund you properly, or to a professor whose work makes you sleepy.

Which schools did you apply for?

Harvard's response: @Coniferous We apologize for the confusion. We are using a new application system this year and there was a small unfortunate error in the system today when that form appeared in a number of applications. The form has now been removed. You will be notified by email when a decision has been made on your application. The decision will be available to view by logging into your application using your login and password. All decisions will be made by March 15th, though some programs may notify earlier.

Congrats to all Yale admits!

Am I the only one who has this on the Harvard application portal? Clicking the link leads to a page saying: "503 Error This page is inactive."

Isn't it funny that Princeton's deadline is one of the earliest yet its decisions tend to be among the latest to come out?