Beek2023

I'm not applying this year, but has anyone been affected by what's happening at Penn and other schools cutting PhD enrollment? :( https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/06/us/politics/trump-university-funding-grad-student-cuts.html

Hi all, I’ve been taking a break from applications to build my museum career (best of luck to those currently in the thick of it!). I’ll be applying again next year though, and I’m having trouble narrowing down my research interests to produce a digestible dissertation idea or even to choose professors I’d like to work with. Probably owing to working in a museum, my research interests are much broader than when I last applied, and I can’t really find any specific throughline. I’m interested in the 18th century to mid-20th; American, German, British, south Asian; prints, drawings, architecture & design; women’s artistic labor, art as nation building, artists’ materials, ecocriticism, romanticism, modernism, the Bauhaus, etc. I’ve done work on several of these topics, although some remain unexplored from a research/writing point of view. All this is to say, to those with wide-ranging interests and experience, how did you narrow them down when application time came? Did you develop different dissertation ideas for different departments based on faculty? How baked of an idea are you even expected to have in your application? Thanks in advance for any wisdom!

I think most places have only recently started reading applications (I don’t think many schools would start on apps before the end of the fall semester). So I definitely wouldn’t be worried about not hearing about interviews yet—my guess is that places will start reaching out for that in February.

Any insights on what a school might be looking for with this question? Any tips on what to talk about, or avoid? I'm thinking of writing about my real world work experience and my advocacy in it (no crazy impressive activism or anything), my undergraduate studies being in a different (but related) field, and my hobby of playing music. But that all seems a little bland...any insight is much appreciated!

People say the SOP is one of THE most important parts of my application, and I already have recommenders asking me to send mine. I feel like there is some key to writing them that I'm just not getting... Right now I'm following these guidelines: Please upload a statement of 500-1,000 words explaining why you are applying to [school] for graduate study. Describe your research interests and preparation for your intended field(s) of study, including prior research and other relevant experiences. Explain how the faculty, research, and resources at [school] would contribute to your future goals. How do I not make this sound like a boring ass cover letter? I'm so nervous about writing it "wrong" or writing a boring SOP that makes the committee's eyes glaze over. Any help at all, or any current PhD students willing to privately share their SOP with me, would be SO appreciated. Thanks in advance!!!

Thank you so much for your feedback, I really appreciate it! Do you have any tips on how to have an outstanding SOP? I've started drafting mine and I feel a little at a loss, like there's some secret to writing it that I just don't know about.

My area of interest is european/American modernism. Thank you for the detailed response!

Someone told me recently that the Williams/Clark program is the "gold standard" of MA programs if you want to become a curator (of historic/modern art) without a PhD. Does anyone know of any other cream-of-the-crop MA programs for those seeking curatorial careers? I have heard all about the "cash cow" programs like at UChicago, so now I'm wary of MA's in general. I'm primarily interested in pursuing a PhD, but just in case that doesn't work out I want to apply to a few strong MA programs as well. Thank you for any insight!

Not sure where to post this so I posted it here and Q&A (please let me know if that's not allowed!) I graduated with a B.A. in History (Art history minor) in 2020, and am interested in going right to a PhD in 2023. The long-term goal is a museum curatorial career. For a little background info, I went to an Ivy League undergrad and my GPA was 3.93. In terms of research experience, I did original archival research in early American history from sophomore fall to when I graduated as part of an independent research group; I published a paper on 20th century nationalism in an undergraduate history journal; and I wrote an honors thesis in History on modern art and national identity. After I graduated, I completed a fellowship at a museum that resulted in a research paper and a talk at the museum. I have spoken casually at a few conferences on my early American research, and besides the undergrad journal I will soon have an exhibition catalogue to put on my C.V. from my fellowship (I secured the image rights). Now, I'm working at an entry-level Communications position at a small museum. I also won a few prizes for my research/writing in undergrad and was part of a small undergraduate research forum. That all being said, what do you think are my chances of getting into a top-ranked Art History PhD program with just a B.A. (and a B.A. in History to boot)? I'm looking mostly at Ivy Leagues so far (Yale is a top choice). While I'm also interested in state schools, all the ones I've looked at say a Master's is required for admission. Any advice is super appreciated. I don't really have anyone in my life who's gotten a PhD (besides old, busy college professors) so I'm a little lost. Thank you so much in advance!