history_PhD

Another rejection here; I'm not terribly upset because I knew that the odds were incredibly low.

So, is Yale your top choice?

Sigh, still quiet. On the bright side, I got a revise and resubmit for my article; my professors are happy about this and think that I have a really good chance of publishing it. The recommendation was to add more diversity in the primary sources, which I am accomplishing by going through ~20 years of a local ethnic newspaper. Thanks, interlibrary loan!

I'll try to keep fingers crossed for both of us. I wish I could feel more optimistic, but oh well.

I'm still waiting on this one, but someone I know was accepted. Funding decisions don't go out until March, I think. They are reviewing the applications in segments.

Also haven't heard yet; it's incredibly frustrating! I've been talking to my professors about this, and they keep telling me that it is still early. Of course, they don't know about the others who have already been accepted.

Under the guise of creating a scrapbook of my college years, I have been reading my old papers. Some, especially the first-year English papers, are horrendous. My history ones though, for the most part, are surprisingly good. While a fun distraction, making said scrapbook is also helpful in that it allows me to keep all of my old assignments and syllabi together, which could potentially be helpful at a later date (read: when/if I become a graduate instructor and later professor). I have boxes of old school-related materials, and as I am a packrat, I am generally unable to throw anything away.

Ah, but does anyone want to call Yale?

Congratulations! You must be absolutely thrilled!

My one suggestion is to make sure that you are really familiar with the Chicago Manual of Style and Strunk & White's Elements of Style, if you are not already. As a tutor, I work with a lot of international students, and their biggest challenges stem from writing. But definitely don't worry about an accent or English-speaking skills. All of the international students I've worked with tend to criticize their own English abilities when no criticism is merited.

A couple of questions first: What humanities field? Are you prepared for an advanced humanities degree since your undergraduate degree will be in psychology, and by your own admission, did not require much writing? Your writing sample does not have to be a paper from a class, but it would probably be better for you if the paper was a class assignment. Would it be possible to take an upper-level course in the humanities field you want to study further? Pick an advanced class that aligns with what you want to study; I would think that you would have to write a longer paper in a class like that. This would produce a paper that aligns with your research interests, and you would have outside validation about its quality. You might also consider an independent study with a professor in your field of interest.

I had a dream that I got a big envelope from Stanford. When I opened it, the only thing inside was a flyer. I was incredibly angry and woke up immediately after. As soon as I awoke, I realized that I didn't even apply to Stanford!

I do remember this story; of course, his scholarship was at fault. He made up records! His is a cautionary tale in the perils of falsifying/ conjuring evidence.

As far as vanity projects go, views on Black Codes in the South restricting gun ownership in light of the Second Amendment; given the emphasis on this amendment now, it would be interesting to see if 19th c. individuals cited it. Also perhaps entrepreneurism during the Great Depression; we have a tendency to focus either on Wall Street or FDR's projects during the Depression, but I would think that there is some middle class scholarship that is just waiting to be done! For the book-- my dissertation, which will potentially be on racial and possibly gender aspects of Reconstruction.

Thanks! Camaraderie is lovely! I predict a Madison acceptance in someone's future. Sorry Rustin, I can't predict yours; you've not mentioned where you are applying! My soothsaying skills can only go so far. . . .

I saw that. There's also another UNC acceptance. I'm starting to feel very unloved; maybe my parents were wrong-- I'm not special at all.

Not okay. I'm pretty sure this is a universal also. Your cover letter should mention that the article is not under consideration in other journals.

Obviously late to the game, but one of my professors mentioned, in passing, that he and other professors refuse to write letters if applicants don't waive their right.

Interesting topic. Have you looked to see if Jewish newspapers have anything on this?

So, I'm working on an abstract (first ever!) for a history conference in my state that will be held in April. The abstract is on the paper I submitted for my writing sample, and the conference would be a condensed version of said paper. I also recently submitted the longer paper to a respected lower-level history journal in my state, upon the recommendation of my professor. By the time I find out about the status of any of these activities, it will be too late to send in an updated CV, of course. What academic activities has everyone else been up to? I feel like there needs to be a non-acceptance related thread right now.

Congratulations! You should give us more details!

Where can you check the application status on Boston University's website?

Oh, I know! I've already looked at the past results for the schools that I applied to. Not yet obsessed enough to put the dates in my calendar yet. . . .

Very cool! Congrats!

The thought that news is imminent is rather unsettling, isn't it?