snackademic

Thank you all for your advice! It all means a lot to me. My application was very different first and second cycle. I got an MA and gained research fluency in the language that a professor giving me advice first round told me would be helpful for my project. I kept the broad periodization of my previous proposed project but changed the geographic emphasis and thematic emphasis somewhat, and also made my SOP far more focused on historiographical intervention and brought in some new angles (including history of science, legal research, etc.). I also learned and applied some big data skills that I used for my MA thesis, which was advised by a big name in my specified field (as opposed to my undergrad thesis, which was advised by someone who wasn't well-known). Sorry I know that's all super broad and not helpful; my topic is a little bit distinctive so I'm reluctant to identify myself too much on here in case I reapply. But suffice it to say that I changed a lot. Perhaps too much and it came to be seen as a pivot. Or then my project was too specific and my SOP came off as essentially a dissertation prospectus to be rubber stamped, which I've heard is a bad thing. I don't know.

It's been a devastating week for admissions decisions for me so trying to look ahead at what to do if (as appears to be the case) I get rejected across the board. (Only have two schools left to hear from and they are far reaches.) It's my second cycle applying and I aimed high with profs' advice; I have an MA from top 10 school with a 4.0, strong recs, and put a lot of time into making sure I had what I thought was a strong fit, SOP and writing sample... though clearly I messed up terribly somewhere. All to say that I am incredibly disappointed in myself and could use some feedback: 1) Does anyone have any experience applying a third time? Or is that just a waste of time and money? (My stats would be rather similar, though I suppose I could try to get something published in the interim.) 2) Is there any space in the history field for someone without a PhD? Alternatively, any advice on where to look about pivoting towards a new career or related fields that might use history skills? I have 5 years of professional history research experience but it's primarily qualitative. Thank you all for your advice.

Ha, I thought so but thought I'd ask. The silence is so nerve-wracking! Thanks for your feedback.

Is it a bad idea to reach out to POIs inquiring about application status?

What's going on with the sprinkling of results from Columbia and Harvard? So confusing!

I'm struggling with the same thing. All four of the professors I asked for recommendations said that they expected me to have multiple offers, including my graduate advisor saying twice that he has "very high expectations" for my results. I know they meant well but it makes it feel way worse seeing admits roll in to the programs I applied to, with two rejections already. Feels like I'm disappointing them, too, not just myself. Anyway these last few weeks have been absolutely brutal. Sending you all hope, strength, and solidarity.

"Fix You" by Coldplay is an excellent song for rejection dejection. "When you try your best but you don't succeed [...] When tears come streaming down your face / 'Cause you lose something you can't replace."

I'd like to echo the poster on the results page, am curious about what fields the Columbia acceptances have gone out to. Congrats to all!

Anyone have insight into what's going on with Princeton or Columbia? P.S. It sounds like admit rates are especially low this year. Sending so much love to everyone facing rejections this week. As much as it might feel like a personal indictment, an admissions decision is not a reflection of your worth. You are all valuable, talented individuals doing interesting work and I hope that you will hear some good news as well before the cycle ends. ?

That's so disappointing. ☹️ Thank you for letting us know.

So like for Harvard for instance, with the DGS emails going out, does that mean that not having one at this point means a rejection?

I'm rather confused about how to read the results page in general. If acceptances go out in batches, does seeing one on the results page (especially one that's not from a POI) and not getting one mean that you can presume rejection?

Congrats on the great news! Could you share your field/POI initials? Also I didn't know that POIs can call... Yikes, I never pick up the phone because of all the spam calls.

Confused about this Harvard acceptance result, especially since it's only one person. Wouldn't DGS presumably email everyone at once? God, this wait is KILLING ME.

You might have better luck on the Computer Science thread! This one's for history.

I feel really gutted by the radio silence from Yale. It was by far my first choice, with the best faculty fit, and was even recommended by several professors at my MA program as a good fit for me.

Seeing other people hear back from the schools I've applied to makes me increasingly convinced that I'm about to get rejected from everything. ? Anyone else in the same boat?

Does anyone want to claim the UChicago offer? Would you be willing to share the initials of your POI?

The Berkeley rejection was from me, unfortunately. I've been in touch with my POI for a while so he sent me a very nice email to let me know I didn't make the final cut.

Did they give you any insights re: timeline? Would you mind sharing your major field?

Argh misread those Yale Art History interviews on the results page and they gave me a false glimmer of hope. It feels really strange that there would only be two people reporting interviews in History on here, feel like it should be way more. Or maybe I'm rationalizing so I can ignore the inevitable bad news on the way... lol

Same here, I feel like I'm losing my mind. (Applied to 9 history PhD.) This is my second round and the first time around getting a spate of rejections really stung, it's almost worse going in now with that experience. Checking the Grad Cafe results page probably isn't helpful either...

I don't, I'm sorry! I'm not sure even if the final selection thing applies to US as a whole or early modern US specifically. Has anyone else here heard back about interviews? Also does not getting one mean a rejection is coming?

Thank you so much all! I really appreciate your feedback and support during this stressful time. ?

Every day the radio silence gets more nerve wracking... Anyone have some good self-care tips in this stressful time? Presumably not obsessively checking email and Grad Cafe would be a good start. Already struck out 7r my first round and not sure if I can handle a second defeat like that. Especially not when I took out a lot of debt to get an MA at a fancy school to make sure this wouldn't happen again. Also does anyone have any insight into the admin process at Chicago or Harvard?