Bukharan

Is anyone else waiting for that? http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools As of now, the new ranking (the old ranking is three years old?) is being released in 40 minutes. Not that rankings really matter, of course.

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I don't think you can lose anything by including it. You can only gain something. I'd say go for it! A couple of my programmes did not require a CV (or even a writing sample) - and UNLESS it was clearly specified on their website NOT to send any unrequested materials, I sent to them everything I had.

I think School A sounds amazing. Honestly. As you said, it is a small department with more opportunities for you to shine as a TA and interact closely with the faculty, AND it specializes in exactly what you are interested in. Just think about it this way: what if you did not get that waitlist for an MA programme. You would be pretty happy with School A AND full funding it provides, right? Choice really doesn't help sometimes. It is a tough decision. I am not in Philosophy so maybe I don't know what I am talking about.

I applied to both schools as well. Let me see... When the decision at UCLA is made, they send you this generic link: http://www.gdnet.ucla.edu/gasaa/admissions/applicat.htm There is a 'Decision Status' section there. All you need to log in and see the coveted decisions is your e-mail. As for Columbia, they send you this link: https://app.applyyourself.com/?id=col-gas They also enclose a PIN number in the e-mail (but you know it anyway since it is given to you when you apply); you use the PIN and password to log in and see the decision. I hope this helps! The very best with your applications!

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You are right that it is very competitive these days. Our field - extremely competitive. What they were doing in Chicago over the last couple of years is actually cutting down the number of Ph.D. admits in Middle Eastern History to make our field 'healthier' (and this information actually came to me from a senior professor in UChicago). Chicago is one of the very best places in the world to study the Ottomans. I mean ... it is Harvard and Chicago for the Ottomans - the big two. (Right? Everyone, right?) So if you accept that Masters degree, yes, it will be awesome and a great asset for applying to Ph.D. Your professors are right about funding, of course - it is expensive. Fully-funded Masters in our field are very rare though. If this is your only offer AND you are totally committed to this ambition of becoming a historian - then, perhaps, you should go for it. But, perhaps, I am talking rubbish - you need many different opinions on this. This is a big decision you are making.

I am heading to Stanford. It was my top choice when I was applying because of the faculty fit and (call me shallow but I spent almost a quarter of a century in Northern Europe so it's important) THE SUN, and I am so very happy to have an offer from them. It is hard to reject Oxford as I also ditched a Masters offer from Cambridge last year for a better-funded offer elsewhere. Oxbridge is an old dream but it is not happening I guess... oh wait, postdocs are becoming a slave requirement for humanities Ph.Ds now, so who knows... I can't wait to cross the Atlantic in September!

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Perhaps, you could write a professionally-looking supplement to your transcript, describing what each course actually was. I would emphasize: as professionally looking as possible: good stylistics, good design, good paper, and signed/stamped by your undergraduate institution. You could send that supplement to adcoms asap if your application is already submitted. All the best!

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I haven't done it myself but I think it is a very good idea. Go for it!

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Does the two-year rule apply to all countries? Will you all have to go back home for 2 years after completing a Ph.D.? Sadly, I totally forgot about Fulbright grants when I applied. Well... the application deadline was so well in advance that I wouldn't have made it anyway. It is a great opportunity though! Good luck to you all: getting in and making the best choice!

Congratulations!

It was MESAAS. I think the fact that you were not rejected with the first group is a good sign. All the best to those of you (alyanumbers, Selim III, wannabee, Bunter, others) who are still waiting!

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