emeraldsapphire

Yep going nuts even though I know it's still early. Heard from POI at top choice this past week that he has been lobbying for me all break and that everyone he's heard responses from has been enthusiastic about my application. Said that he and several faculty are excited about me coming and mentioned "if (when!) you are offered admission." And another prof there said via email this week that he is excited about working with me. Which of course all sounds great. But I applied to two different programs there (Duke PhD and ThD) and POI didn't say which one to expect to hear from, though I let him know my preference if adcomm asked him to put me in one or the other. So I'm freaking out about landing in my preferred one, and also can't stop thinking about the off chance that he says all this and I get my hopes up and then for some reason don't get an offer. I feel like I have 98% certainty but it's that 2% that will nag me for the next however long until they release decisions. I'm hoping at the earliest week after next maybe? At the longest maybe a month. And @theologizing77congrats on Vanderbilt interview! I applied there but haven't heard anything so I'm guessing I've struck out on that one.

I'm at Yale currently (at master's level). A lot of the profs are cross listed in History and Religious Studies and RLST might have more spots this year, I don't know. As another poster said, things have been tight there in History lately; last cycle, for example, no one in early modern or early America got admitted. I think things are tight again this cycle too. As for timing, I think they might not make any moves until early February. One of the profs here told me yesterday that had I applied to Yale, I'd have to wait until early Feb to hear any news. (I didn't apply to Yale fwiw). Also, if you happen to be in early modern, I can talk in more detail.

@BalkanItinerantand @Imperator Totius Hispaniae Congrats! And thanks for the info, @BalkanItinerant. Had mine with Berkeley today too. Very fun conversation...definitely did not feel like an interview. So we're basically in at one of the top 5 History departments in the country - crazy!!

@Imperator Totius HispaniaeYou too -- bonne chance! Let's debrief on here next week and anxiously overthink together! (Anyone else welcome too...)

@Imperator Totius Hispaniae Idk. I only heard from my POI tonight (probably a difference in subfield) and just emailed him back to say I'm free all day Monday.

Great question. I still need to find a way to concisely state my research interests verbally. (My parents asked me about my current master's thesis tonight at dinner and I started rambling). So that needs work. And think about how my work overlaps with POI's/other people in my subfield and how Berkeley could be a place for me to grow in my chosen area. And I think most of all, rehearse how I plan to sound enthusiastic about Berkeley. (It's hard when there's so many programs and/or funding opportunities I haven't heard back from to be able to rank choices yet). But I know the whole thing will be a no-go if I sound indecisive. Realllllly hoping POI doesn't press me on the "What's your top choice?" question or the "If we admit you, will you for sure come?" Because at the moment, I honestly have no idea. (Have gotten into 3 UK schools, but no word on funding yet). How are you prepping?

Maybe we'll all be fellow cohort members instead! My guess is they're probably not admitting more than one person per subfield? I know my POI said in an earlier email that they'll be admitting a VERY small number this year, so I was totally not expecting to even get an interview/second look!

Lol probably just personality difference! I also met my POI at the AHA 5 years ago when he came to my paper and introduced himself afterward so we're not *total* strangers. Not sure if that has anything to do with it. Although I wonder if our zoom sessions are structured differently? Because it sounds like you'll have more than one person in on yours? Whereas mine sounds like it will *just* be my POI? I mean, I know we can overthink these things to death, but maybe yours is actually a better sign? As in, multiple people are willing to spend time talking with you? Idk. My POI said he "utterly disapproves of judging candidates by conversation rather than written work" but then says "But I was told to speak to you, so that's what I need to do." So who knows! I'm in early modern Europe. So at least we're not one another's direct competition! Cheers! ?

Just got an email from POI at Berkeley today to set up a zoom chat next week. He didn't call it an interview so I can't tell if this is just a formality before being admitted or if I'm actually competing against others, i.e. if each POI is "having chats" with more people than the dept can admit and then they plan to narrow things down. His email contained the words "we are working to identify the shortlist, and we are very interested in admitting you." Then he goes on to apologize for the procedural requirement to do a zoom call and says "I promise you that I am already a fan of your application and will be supporting your candidacy regardless, so there's nothing to be nervous about. Really I think the point is just to make sure that you are still interested in Berkeley, and for us to get to know each other a little, so that I have more ammunition to convince my colleagues of how great you are." Was this more or less the tone of your POI exchange, Imperator? Or anyone else who's heard from Berkeley?

Anyone planning on going to New Orleans next weekend? I'm torn. Last year was the first year I'd missed in 5 years of the AHA and, while like many of us I have a love/hate relationship with academic conferences, I do miss seeing a lot of people I only see at the AHA. But on the other hand, Omicron case numbers just keep climbing. I know everyone will be required to show proof of vaccination there, but factoring in the travel to get there AND the fact of how common breakthrough cases are among the vaccinated, I'm reconsidering.

Yeah, UChicago is definitely a competitive envrionment. No doubt there. 2008...wow!

Have gotten 3 out of 3 UK admits. No word on funding though. (Not getting my hopes up). Anyone else applying to the UK system this cycle?

UChicago. Broader training, more well known in the States, and may be more marketable if you want a job in American academia one day. Would also offer more teaching experience.

I'd generally say shorter is better. Reviewers are already reading way too many of these. (I say this as I'm freaking out about my own WS...)

Yes, this is definitely something you should address. Otherwise, it will look like a huge red flag if you say nothing in the statement.

I don't have an answer, but I found that really strange on an application for another UK university I'm applying to. Like, really? People don't waive their rights and they just read their own letters? Bizarre to me. My guess, though, is that no, they wouldn't contact them, but rather would take the letter as sufficient. Which is, again, bizarre if they're not confidential.

sacklunch, Do you think there will be fewer applicants because people anticipate admissions being competitive? Or for other reasons?

Many of you may have seen this circulating around the internet a few years ago re: the differences between American and British recommendation letters (https://www.google.com/amp/s/mashable.com/article/letters-of-rec-americans-brits%3famp) Does anyone have opinions on/experiences with navigating this? Can a terse British letter hurt a graduate application to a U.S. program?

This week has been intense prepping for the Dec 1 deadlines. Not helped by the fact of knowing admissions are going to be ultra competitive this year. I've heard a rumor that a lot of departments are aiming to only take around 4-5 new admits total? ?