Genghis

Don't knock it til you've tried it!

It all depends. Sure, a major is preferable. Can you indicate in your SOP that you fell in love with history and didn't have time to pursue a major in it by then? Can you say that you became overwhelmed with a passion for Euro history and just knew that it was exactly what you wanted to do for the rest of your life? Are your recs from history profs who say you are a promising historian? Your double major and double minor are very impressive, but I'm worried an adcom would think "This guy doesn't know what the hell he wants to do." You need to demonstrate a drive to study history. Prove it to them. If you can accomplish that, the difference in preparation between a major and a minor will be insignificant. The above poster is correct in that he said it is more flexible in the humanities than the sciences-- in the sciences there are just certain classes you have had to take or else you're up shit creek. You have a little latitude here, but you gotta hit in every way possible that Euro history is your passion and you are fully dedicated to it. On the other hand, grad admissions are so tough, that it comes down to you and another candidate, and he has a major, adcoms might say "fuck it, lets take the dude with the major."

You're lucky. I've gotta wait til 9pm for 9am EST in here in Thailand. I totally hear ya about the motivation factor-- I should be writing my MA thesis but I'm friggin' obsessed with the waiting game.

There is only one possible answer to the written question "What are you reading?" and that is "What are you reading?"

While wearing my Haaavad tie and nothing else. Seriously. I live in Bangkok. Each girl costs less than a martini at a Manhattan bar.

Thanks. According to one guy they fly students out for an admit weekend. Highly doubt they would pay for my ticket from Bangkok though! Who do you want to work with? I'm all about George Bond.

Anyone apply to Northwestern? Looking at the old results on gradcafe, the only admitted student was notified in late January (and invited to the new students' weekend occurring "a few weeks later"), and the 3 rejected ones in late February. I'm guessing I'm not in.

Wow, RIGHT after I read this I checked my e-mail and got something from another program. The secretary told me, and I quote, "The committee will meet in early March to review all applicants and send decisions out within the first week." The applications were due December 15th. Amazing. Not only because they sat on them for so long but because this reveals just how little time it takes them to make the decisions! If they had started on December 16th, I could have had my decision before Christmas! Mind you this is a VERY small (non-Religion) department, and they have fewer applicants, but still...

I don't think UVA is quick at processing the apps-- I remember last year people talking about how they took exceedingly long. Actually the only reason my adviser knew about me is because I am an auto-reject-- she told me she's retiring and not taking any more PhD students. And she's the ONLY person I could study with there, the only person in my tiny subfield with a very unique language set. I didn't actually ask her about my decision, I e-mailed her about an article she had written. She just told me out of the kindness of her heart-- probably didn't want me dragging out hopes until March.

I think you should DEFINITELY call to confirm if the website shows missing documents at this point. I just called one uni last night about this, and the secretary said, no, they hadn't received my stuff blah blah blah... I looked up the tracking number, found who signed for it, and 15 minutes later she had found it. Otherwise I would have been screwed.

Two chicks at the same time.

Wow, man. That stings. That really stings. I just got rejected from UVA for history of religions in Buddhism! Can I ask what kind of Buddhism you study?

Anyone else applying? I already got rejected from Berkeley South Asian Studies MA.