TheWitWitch

So, I wasn't expecting this...But I've just received two offers, one from Duke and the other from Berkeley. I have no idea what to do...

Let's hope...

Nothing....nada....and I'm going crazy!

Same here, I don't know if I should e-mail someone...Or just wait.

Yes, that is how I feel as well...

So, I will share my experience with you, maybe it will help. I had an interview at Berkeley. The interview was conducted by two professors, one of whom I had previously spoken to. I didn't know if I should be prepared for a formal or more casual interview, so I studied and was ready for either one. The interview itself was a mix of formal and casual, some of the questions were almost like a conversation. But then, they asked me more dense questions, like which archives I believed I could research during my Ph.D., and how I was planning to link my object of study to a transnational approach. I answered everything and they seemed to have liked my answers. Maybe you could prepare yourself for something like that...Try to imagine what troubles you may encounter during your PhD (sources, archives, methodological questions, etc).

Thank you so much!!

Hi everyone, I as mentioned in another post... I was invited for an interview that will be happening later this week. How to best prepare for it? What should I be expecting?

Same thing here, just got an interview invite.

Any info would be highly appreciated

Yup, feeling deeply sad. I really liked the program and had such a good connection with my POI.

hey, anyone heard anything about Columbia?

Same here, hopefully we will hear something soon

Hey everyone, as I am seeing that many of you are getting interviews at Columbia, would you mind sharing some info? What field are you applying? I am feeling very anxious right now, I had a feeling that Columbia was my strongest application….

@Imperator Totius Hispaniae no I did not, and I didn’t know they conducted interviews. I have been in contact with 4 professors there and none of them said anything about interviews. So I am quite anxious right now…

Has anyone else had an interview with Columbia?

Same here, never knew UChicago did interviews. None of the professors I spoken to mentioned.

That’s odd, I never knew Columbia did interviews.

Yah, mine is a historical writing sample. However, I was wondering... Would you be able to adapt your previous writing sample? And make it more of a history one? I mean, you have the sources, you conduct 20 interviews. What are they about? Is there any historical aspects in it? Maybe intersections? I suppose (but then again, just a thought)you could select maybe three interviews that contains topics that dialogue between them, and write a new one. Describe what kind of Oral History methodology you are going to use...maybe you follow more of an Alessandro Portelli (that conducts a more corporal type of analyzes) or maybe a Paul Thompson (a more traditional approach to Oral History).... Maybe establish a dialogue with the field of History of the Present Time, since they are very into Oral History and Trauma.... Define a period that embraces your interviews, what are they talking about, what historical vestiges do they portray in their narratives... I do not know if this is doable on time, but I think it could demonstrate to the committee that even though you are switching fields, you already have a foundation in the historical research....Maybe, again, not start from scratch, but adapt what you already have.... I am not much of an Oral History researcher, but have a lot of friends who are. So, anyhow, if you need some help with it, just send me a message. I will be glad to help you.

Hello, I have another question. In the application forms, they ask which universities I am also applying for. Should I or should I not answer that?

Hi everyone, I am new here, and this year will be my first time attempting to get into a PhD at US. I have recently finished my master's degree. As a matter of fact, I've sent cold e-mails and have had nice responses to it. In fact, I already have some informal Zoom calls set up. And while I think this is great, I have no clue what should I do or say in these meetings. Does anyone have some advice to give me?