Henry Hudson

SFU often does this. Some people who were there longer than I was have told me that the U does this to try to get people to commit before they can get potentially better offers elsewhere. I do not know this for a fact, however, but given my own experience with the admin, I would not doubt it too much. But since you say UBC does this too, it may well be one of those areas where some provincial practices are out of step with everyone else. I myself have come to this conclusion, if I were starting all over again: Both UBC and SFU draw from many international applicants, and are well integrated into general North American standards and practices. They know full well about the April standard, yet still put forward their own February deadlines. Therefore, there is nothing ethically unsound with telling them yes but still potentially accepting elsewhere and backing out later. Accepted applicants in my own department have done so, and the departments, while disappointed, are probably used to it. So if I was you, I would not internalize the blame for a situation BC unfairly places on applicants. Keep all your options open. Tell them 'yes' but see what else comes in before actually ruling anyone else out.

Congrats again! Let's see... you have been accepted at one school I previously applied to but did not get into (MI State), one great school that aligns with a lot of my interests but not all are in History (UC Davis), and one school I had thought about applying to before I did my MA (Minn). I'm starting to get jealous. But on the off-chance that we both wind up at SUNY Albany, I'll let you buy me a tea to make up for it.

game on!

Congratulations, ashiepoo72! I've considered Davis at times, too. But most people I wanted to work with were actually in other departments.

Drug cartel

The more advance notice, the better they can handle the transition. It happens. They know that. You can do your part by keeping them in the loop and making good notes for your successor to help give the best continuity for your students, the prof, and your replacement.

Connie Booth

yes, congratulations to new admits!

I ditto that. Good luck to all! Except those stealing 'my' spot in programs I have applied to. It feels good to have app season over and done with.

I take it the U system is showing a reminder sent? And that any reminders you sent were through the U system, not a regular email? Some U portals allow this, but not all, that's why I ask. your writer will not likely get annoyed at you for an automated reminder from the U. it is possible to annoy a writer (I seem to have done that once). Your situation seems like it could be interpreted a number of ways.

I was going to apply to York but wound up not. I am told that the Ontario limitation on non-Canadians that was in place a couple of years ago has been lifted.

Got my Rutgers app in last week with a few days to spare (deadline: today). One recommender still hasn't sent hers in, and one U transcript still not received (same U, by coincidence). I did what I could. Time to move on to the second app.

university-specific ones might be your best bet.

it does not seem like an insurmountable change. I have an additional thought, but will PM you.

If can depend on where you are looking to do a PhD. In the US, many programs are set up for people to get an MA en route to the PhD, so already having a semi-related MA is not necessarily a hinderance and can still be a help (especially if you would have a teaching comp field in Middle Eastern History). In Canada, it might be a problem, but that can be addressed to your potential supervisor (whom you should line up before applying). I know one person who switched areas (a bigger switch than yours) and it was strongly suggested to do a second MA; in Canada the MA is pretty much always a separate program, unlike the US. In the UK, your PhD as I understand it is almost entirely research-oriented, and thus should not be a problem. I only have a smattering of knowledge about European programs, but from what I have read, it doesn't seem like it would be a huge obstacle in Euro programs i have read up on (mostly Scandinavian, but also Benelux and a few others). And I have no idea how Israel works it.

Hello all- I have an MA and BA n History but am now thinking of switching to Sociology for a PhD. I would be staying with the general research area I pursued in History, but applying Sociology approaches seems like a logical progression of my most recent work. Can anyone who has moved from academic History into Sociology offer any advice on such a transition? I have friends who have gone the other way, from Sociology into History, and have heard some of their thoughts, but thoughts and experiences from people heading the other way would be most appreciated. Thanks.

I did that and no one looked at a thing. And made a file of receipts for all major purchases of things coming back with me. But I guess it doesn't hurt to have it handy.

Thanks, czesc. I am rather disappointed, too, and have been considering saying 'screw it' to do a MLIS or something instead. My prior good fortune on apps is not holding this year, and I am quite frustrated. But I shall take some time before making a proper decision.

Seems to depend on the school. The two I am waiting on, based upon prior years, seem to do 3-8 days of acceptances in February, then a bunch of rejections in March, and then the occasional late acceptance thereafter which I assume are waitlisters. So I interpret no acceptance or rejection as waitlist.

Anyone want to claim the Rutgers acceptance? Two listed, but it looks like a duplicate post.

Closest Aldi's is in Plattsburgh, NY, which is a generally an hour away by car (depending on the ferry schedule. and the ferry doesn't make the trip cost-effective). No Save-A-Lot up there. Price Chopper is based out of Upstate NY, so I'm not surprised you haven't heard of it. Hannaford/Shop n Save is slightly pricier, but has much better selections. The New England chain Shaw's should be in Burlington, too, as I recall. There are lots of organic foods and co-ops around. This may help: http://www.examiner.com/article/top-5-grocery-budget-countdown-for-burlington-vt-city-market Burlington is a vibrant small-medium sized city with lots to offer, and one of the places I would live, all things being equal. I have been there a lot, but never lived there, so there is a limit to what I can advise.

not being from your part of the world, I don't know what those abbreviations are. All i can do is suggest listing all the pros and cons, take some time to dwell on them, and then doing the coin flip - while the coin is still in the air, listen to your gut reaction as to which one you are deep down hoping for.

you definitely want to have a more specific idea, both to seek supervisors but also to write a killer app statement. You can change/modify as needed once you are in, but by showing you have a concrete idea from the start will go a long way. As the others suggest, find an area in need of more detail: find specific emigrants/immigrants to focus upon, find a gap in the scholarship or a historiographical problem to address, apply theory in a different way... find some way to stand out and above the pack. Sit down with your current profs and get feedback from them. Examine the most recent scholarship and pay attention to trends and disagreements. try to get to a conference as specific as possible toward your interests. you have a good general starting point, but by pinning down a more specific area early on, you can better find THE supervisor and program for you, prepare a better application, and have a fairly solid proposal from the outset of your grad studies.

yes, it prolongs the agony, but don't give up hope!

will i get accepted at either of my last two choices? very likely. will I hear back from one of them today?" my answer is no. Will I hear tomorrow? hazy. try again later.