MtrlHstryGrl

Hello! The title says it all. I am applying to a graduate program at Birmingham with a professor that fits my interests wonderfully. On the application page, it gives me the option to upload reference letters. Just out of curiosity, do programs contact your references if you have already uploaded these letters? Thank you!

Well, didn't get the Fulbright this time around! I have a possible job offer or two coming soon--so when one door closes, I guess. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I got to semifinalist status! Seems like it was a competitive year.

I forgot about this, sorry! I did get feedback from her. It was mostly that the works I used in the historiography section were too "broad" and not focused on the exact time and place as my work--so I may have unconvincingly tried to argue that the works I used were broad because there were very few works pertaining specifically to the project at hand. (There were also some structure comments, though she had praised the structure of the rough draft). I decided to workshop the paper, and I'm going to be submitting it for publication. Ideally, she won't get upset with me for publishing without her permission again. As for my interests, I've used this almost as a motivating factor. I've maintained that I am going to be applying for PhD programs, and she advised me to take a theology course on Christian Women Mystics this coming semester. If I can get an LOR from her is a different story, though I have several people in mind who would be willing to do so for me.

With this professor, writing something to make her happy is the only way to get any kind of positive feedback. ? It's a well-documented problem with her and something that I was warned about.

I did a lot of revision, especially in the historiography/methodology/etc., which were her main critiques, and she at least seemed happy with the historiography when I ran it past her. At this point, I'm nervous that my analysis of my sources wasn't as strong as I thought, even though her comments were mostly "good" and "yes" at specific points. ?

This is mostly a rant. I’m a second-year master’s student in history, specifically focusing on medieval history. There’s one medievalist professor in the department and she’s my advisor. She’s always been kind of an absentee advisor, and she has never really encouraged me to present or publish. When I expressed interest in doing individual research, she encouraged it at first and didn’t do anything since. I’ve also had her as a professor, once my first year and once my second. In the first class I took with her, I got a B+. Which is fair—I didn’t really get the importance of participation and the paper wasn’t great (and my paper had conclusions she didn’t want it to have, even though I did the sources she suggested AND the topic she suggested). I took her class this semester, which was in my intended research field. I participated more and wrote the best paper I have EVER written- she even read and complimented the hell out of the rough draft. I got my grade yesterday—and got a B+, and the only way that happened was by getting a B+ on my paper. She has also made it clear to the class that she won’t give individual feedback. To make matters worse, she’s told me multiple times that I can’t get PhD letters of recommendation with B+s/from professors that give me B+s. At this point, I’m really rethinking going into medieval history and especially my specific subfield. I’m just feeling really discouraged and I’m not sure what to do.

Yeah, I heard they were trying to send people in January, but... we'll see. Where are you applying?

Is anyone else applying for a Fulbright? I'm wondering if we could have a small group chat of historians applying this cycle.

Would someone be willing to give their thoughts on my Fulbright statement of grant purpose? It is a little over 2 pages long and is for a history research award.

Hello! Anyone else in the process of the Fulbright app? I submitted mine to my school yesterday. I'm a second-year MA student studying European History, and I'm applying for a research award in the Czech Republic. I'm having so much anxiety already and I haven't even had my Campus Committee Meeting. ?

Not sure how helpful this is, but University of Toronto plans to accept a F21 cohort. As does Penn's Religious Studies program.

I hadn't seen this yet, so I figured that I would make one! I'm a second-year Master's student, studying European History, and I'm applying for an Open Research Award in the Czech Republic. I just submitted my application to my school and I am freaking out about not having a chance. The Czech Republic has a relatively small application pool, but with Covid and finalists re-applying, I'm scared that I won't be a semi-finalist, much less a finalist. My profile is: Second year Master's student at a top producer (my school had the 4th highest number of Fulbrighters in 2019) Czech language proficiency (and proficiency in Latin, German, Italian, and French) Project is about Czech nationalism & independence and medievalism Personal statement explains personal (3rd generation Czech) and academic (have been connecting all of my academic reading/work to the Czech Republic) 3 affiliation letters (2 from Charles University, 1 for community engagement/volunteering in my field) 2 journal publications, 3 blog & newsletter publications, 5 conference presentations Letters of rec from undergrad thesis advisor, grad school advisor/prof/I was her research assistant, & grad school prof that I've had for two classes Studied abroad for a year, had an internship abroad, started a community service event abroad 3 scholarships, 3 grants, on Dean's List 3 times Volunteer experience, leadership in my sorority, currently have a peer editing position I've also had a lot of support from my school's Fulbright team, who have worked with me a ton on my essays/short answers, so I think those are pretty strong!

Hello! I am trying to start writing my statements of purpose, but I feel a bit stuck. Originally, I had gone straight into my interests ("At [School], I plan to study..."). I have also been told that starting with a brief anecdote that relates to how I became interested in what I want to research. My first thought, anecdote-wise, was seeing my female friends at my Catholic undergraduate school form their devotional lives and identified with certain saints, and then placing that historically through my academic reading. I feel like this may be okay for religious studies applications, but not necessarily history or medieval studies. Some other things that I was thinking about: Study abroad experience-- particularly a study trip to Greece (seeing the Caryatids) or experience in Assisi Experience working on an archaeological dig in northern Italy, but it does not seem as female-oriented as some other experiences

Haha, jinx! I heard about NYU History from two people in my program, though I am not sure if that is true or not. I have heard from Fordham, Toronto, and Penn Religious Studies faculty that it should not be an issue, but I just emailed my potential programs to confirm. FWIW, a professor at Yale recommended Medieval Studies to me, as it was smaller and would likely not be as affected by budgetary constraints. Nevertheless, I sent out emails, and will be trying like hell to win my Fulbright.