runaway

Oh gosh... what doesn't? haha. I guess what I'm most worried about though is putting too much of myself into my applications, burning out, and not having the energy to do another cycle when I know a PhD is what I want. I tend to agonize over every little detail, and it's worked in my favor so far (and, miraculously, I have not lost friends or even my SO in the process.) But I know this next time around I'm not going to get admitted everywhere I apply. I might not get admitted anywhere at all! Somehow, before this time next year, I'll need to figure out how to not take rejection (so) personally.

I would be very cautious about this. Perhaps when it comes to graduate school, it is possible to get a place based upon your own merits and the proof of your work contained in a writing sample, etc, and the name of your school has less impact. But as we've all seen on this board, it can take multiple cycles to get into a PhD program. So it's also worth considering that Williams would open a lot of career doors and that, even if it meant incurring debt, it would give you the resume to obtain a job that would be sufficient to grapple with your debt. Looking at a degree as an investment, a name like Williams is a pretty safe one to invest in. A funded MA over an unfunded is one thing, but cheaper is not always better. Plus, Williamstown is awesome. I'd probably never go to class and just spend my days wandering the Sol LeWitt retrospective and contemplating the museum's ongoing relationship with industrial space.

Naturalog -- good luck with the Fulbright! I'm on one now, and it's been an amazing experience. Oseirus -- please don't say that! I have enjoyed your humor so much while lurking on the 2012 thread. (Of course, I sincerely hope you won't need to go through another cycle!)

Read Gender Trouble. Regardless of your era, it will probably come into play sooner or later.

PMing you!

I didn't apply for the history MA, but to another MA program, and I was told mid-last week that I would hear "in a few days." Last year I was notified via email, then by post. Anxious to hear back so I can make a decision! Good luck, lureynol (and anyone else...)!

Congrats on how far you've come, goldielocks and SToF! I feel like I 'know' you guys just from having been lurking. And I feel like I've already learned a lot in the process, so I already have you both to thank for the application and waiting game already feeling familiar. Nice to meet you, lafayette! I know all about that kind of procrastination...

I have a longlist of ~10 programs, but hoping to shorten that down to 5-6 as I look at the programs more closely, email POI, etc.

Thanks for the advice -- it's definitely food for thought. I actually graduated at the end of 2010, and spent a year interning before traveling abroad on a Fulbright scholarship. So I've been doing academic work lately, but not intensively or as part of a degree program. I'm itching to get back to school, and since I was a slightly non-traditional student, would rather not take time off between my MA and PhD to work. I do worry that I might encounter ideas and topics during my MA program that could influence the decisions I make while applying for a PhD, but so much of that has already happened in my months abroad thus far that I'm excited and confident about the direction I'm heading.

Hi everyone, I apologize if I'm jumping the gun, but I noticed that people seem to be making decisions and wrapping up last application season in the other thread, and I'm already starting to worry about applying the next cycle. I have a paper I should be working on which is always when I seem to be plagued by anxieties about things I shouldn't worry about just yet, like applications I'll be submitting in another 10 months or so. This fall (2012) I'll be starting a one-year MA program, so I want to try and get as much of my applications done over the summer as possible. I'm worried that a lot of my SOP, etc, will change in my first few months in graduate school, and so I'm trying to figure out a game plan. I'm also wondering how early I can contact POI, since I'll have much more time to do so during the summer months (when they're probably not too keen on hearing from prospective grad students). Living overseas and the time difference mean that I'm anticipating that being a possible hurdle when trying to contact people back in the US. Is anyone else lurking out there planning to apply for the next cycle? Anyone else in similar shoes as me?

Based on nothing but a sheer miracle, I broke 700 on my GRE. Now I'm afraid the committees will look upon this unfavorably... D:

Slightly echoing what some people have already said, the first thing I would do if I were you is find an internship at a museum. It's not too late to look for a summer position, although most likely the deadlines have passed for all of the funded internships. Museums are complex institutions and need all kinds of skills, including people with computer science backgrounds. Even if you don't want to use your degree in the long term, you can leverage it now to help get yourself a good internship. If you're asked to interview, express your interest in learning more about the inner workings of a museum, and ask (unless it's clearly posted on the website) what kind of opportunities there are to interact with people in different departments. Maybe it's a small museum, in which case that might happen automatically. Otherwise, a lot of more formal internship programs include a mini-lecutre series from people with different kinds of museum jobs. You might learn about a position that really excites you, and be able to set up an informational interview with someone who has your dream job to find out what career path they took, and if they were hiring you for an entry level posiiton, what they'd want to see on your resume. Good luck! I've done my share of museum internships (at both large and small history & art museums) so if you'd like to ask any questions, feel free to PM.

It might be too late, but is there a book you're in the middle of? My favorite thing about flying is the excuse to just read without stress for a few hours (usually one of those less-academic books I never get around to otherwise). If you're in the middle of a good one, focus on losing yourself in the narrative instead of worrying about the flight. Good luck, I'm sure all will be fine!

It's interesting. More meaningful since a professor recently described to me his experience of seeing a similar phenomenon happening at Belzec.

I'm currently reading his new book, Złote Żniwa-- my goal is to finish before it comes out in English on May 1, but I keep picking up other things...

And just wanted to add (since I didn't see anyone else mention it) that art schools who primarily train people going into the fine arts also employ art historians, since art hisory courses are usually a mandated part of the curriculum. I'll be applying to both history and art history PhD programs next year, and use a combined methodology. Sometimes I feel like a black sheep in both disciplines (my BA is in both) because there are still academics who are defensive about their discipline's methodology - even with how popular interdisciplinary work has become. I'm leaning towards a degree in art history, though, mainly because I think that degree is slightly more flexible, as Meg pointed out. I'm not surprised by the number of applicants to programs at all.

Jacekla, were you also offered a place at the Courtauld? I was as well, and would love to connect with others likely heading there in the fall -- feel free to PM!

I always get these semi-pitying looks and questions like "how do you deal with it?" Um, it's not like anyone is forcing me to do this. If it ever becomes too much I'll know it's time to step away. I wish some people would trust my judgement and that I'm able to discern for myself weather or not I'm cut out for this subfield. (I'm guessing there's analogous reactions in other subfields too... right?)

"You study the Holocaust? I love the Holocaust!" (five seconds later...) "Well, you know what I mean." Bonus points: "I know all about it. I saw a six hour documentary once."

Thanks! I guess I should have been clearer-- it was in reference to work I've already completed, not POIs. Ie, "As a student of Jane Smith I did x y and z..." as opposed to "A student of Dr. Jane Smith..." I haven't had need (yet!) to include a POI's name in a personal statement, so I hadn't even thought about that! I totally agree with you about the added formality seeming proper in that context.

Poking my head out of lurking because I think this discussion is really interesting... I was told one that it's common in the south for professors to be referred to as "Dr." while in the north it's more common to call them "Professor." I certainly noticed this difference firsthand when I transfered from a school in a south to a school in the Northeast. I wonder if regional differences have anything to do with the way some people approach this? I was also told once to not include 'Dr.' in front of the names of my professors in my personal statement, because the context makes it clear that they obviously have attained a PhD (ie, it becomes redundant). Bad advice?

I've done internships in museum education and Bank Street has always been highly respected by my supervisors. My experience is in New York City, but I think that any museum education department would think well of a Bank Street degree. It's a very specific program, though, so a broader MA in art history or museum studies with good museum education internships might be a better way to make you eligible for a wider variety of jobs....

coming out of lurking for a moment - I didn't apply this time around, but have been keeping up with the board as I'll be applying to PhD programs in the fall. I was wondering if people might be willing to indicate if they're open to PMs from people applying to the same intitution(s) in the next cycle? I think it could be valuable to hear some first impressions and, maybe, tips for applying from those who have recently gone through the process. Congrats to everyone who's gotten in, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for everyone else!

As an undergraduate applicant, I mistakenly gave BU an essay on why I wanted to go to a small, liberal arts school. I caught the error right away, emailed them the correct essay, and was admitted. It may have helped that the right essay was very specific and had detailed reasons why I was interested in BU. But I wouldn't count yourself out just yet - explain the error, and make sure that your corrected essay can speak specifically to your interest in Berkeley.

hence the term "hysteria."