Nikki

I submitted the last of my online applications and mailed the remaining supporting documents yesterday! Applications = done!

I've submitted 8/9 online apps and I'm picking up my last few LORs on Wednesday. I still need to finish editing the extra writing sample I need for one school and an SOP fit paragraph for another.

I'm applying to 9 schools this time (8 PhD and 1 MA).

For GA Tech financial aid question: Maybe they want you to mention skills that relate to GA, RA, or TA positions? Something along the lines of previous teaching, tutoring, or research experience?

The "fit" paragraph should include all the reasons why that school is the best fit for you: - professors whose research interests fit yours - courses offered - research opportunities (institutes, libraries, etc) - location (if helpful in terms of research opportunities) Hope that helps a little!

I bet you've got more experience than you think. Maybe you need to set it up differently? My CV is broken down into the following sections: Education Research Presentations Curriculum and Instruction Relevant Coursework Languages Memberships

I'm also applying again this year and when I emailed the profs again I mentioned that I was reapplying again this year and that I was still very interested in the program. If it was a prof I had a lot of contact with (or they were helpful after the fact in telling me how to improve my applications)then I mentioned that I appreciated the assistance. Most of the profs emailed back saying they remembered me and that they looked forward to reading my apps this year.

I put together a packet for my LOR writers that included: transcripts, CV, writing sample, list of universities and how to submit the letters, and an explanation of my research interests.

I had that problem too - I ended up just requesting them by phone.

I'm reapplying this year after 100% rejections last year. I've added at least 4 additional schools to the list and already emailed profs at the new schools. Now for the schools I'm reapplying to.... I emailed all the schools/profs to see what I could do to improve my application after the rejections, so now I'm not sure how to go about contacting them now. Do I ignore that fact that I applied last year and send an email with my info, interests, etc? Or should I mention that I am reapplying and add in what I have done to improve my apps?

I got a few detailed responses (info about the program, asking me questions, etc), a few short responses (apply early, space is limited, etc), and one I had to email twice to get a one line response. Overall I think the strategy was good. It showed them that I had done my homework, gave them a little background, and gave me the chance to see who was able to take new students.

I think I memorized more, but it's a crap shoot either way. The first time I took the GRE I memorized fewer words, but saw more of the ones I learned on the test. The second time I memorized more, but saw less. I would just prepare as best you can in the amount of time you have.

The math section is horrible if you're not a math person, but with a little studying/reviewing I think you should be able to break 500 (I SUCK at math and even I got a 530).

I'm spending the summer "working" as a research assistant to gain some new skills and research experience in prepartion for the coming application cycle. I'm signed up to take a graduate class on war and revolution in the fall, but now I maybe have the opportunity to do some more research with a professor (or perhaps two). Unfortunetely, I can't do both because of my job, so I'm not sure which to pick. Should I stick with the grad class? Or should I do the research and get some additional experience?

Good point guys. I think you're right - I'll wait and apply for fall 2010. I was originally signed up for a grad history course for the fall, but now I may have the opportunity to do some research with a prof during the fall instead. Any thoughts on which would be better?

North Texas has a late application deadline (July 15) and while it is still possible to apply and maybe get in, there isn't any funding left for this year. If accepted I can apply for funding for the next year and beyond. I really want to apply and not have to wait another whole year to do so, but I'm not sure if its a good idea to take out 22,000 in loans when I could apply in the fall and have a chance at funding. Thoughts?

Why not apply to some MA and some PhD? Or mostly MA with just one or two PhD? You shouldn't limit yourself just because you think you might not get in.

I hadn't looked at North Texas before, but it looks pretty good! Thanks for the suggestion!

Yeah, the only real additions are Texas, Kansas, Glasgow, and East Carolina. The problem I'm having with making a new list is that there aren't that many military history programs out there (I'm looking for programs that have military history as a major field with numerous courses). I am still looking though, so I'm sure the list will evolve over the coming months.

I've been expanding my list from last year and so far I've got: Military History (PhD): Ohio State, Temple, Duke, Chapel Hill, George Washington, Texas A&M, Kansas State Martime Studies (MA): East Carolina War Studies (MA): University of Glasgow

I think the paper I chose was good otherwise, so I may stick with it and just revise the hell out of it. When I look back at it, there were a lot of primary sources used, they were just found within secondary sources (ex: a copy of Bayeux Tapestry printed within a book on the Norman Conquest). Now that I have some contacts at the University I graduated from (I'm taking a grad class in the fall and doing summer research), I'll see if someone can look it over and give me some feedback. I've been emailing with the departments, ad coms of the schools I applied to last time and so far it looks like the thing that killed my applications was my SOP. I think I'm going to scrap the old one and start over. It needs more concrete research interests, methods, background, etc.

A good SOP takes a LONG time to write. It needs a few drafts, then to be read by a few people (profs, etc), then revised again, then set aside for a while, then revised again.

Mine needs to be more specific as far as research interests and experience, but also needs to show how I fit with the department as a whole.

I briefly explained my background, my research interests, mentioned an article/book by the prof that I had read and how our research interests overlapped, which program/year I was applying, and asked if he/she was taking on graduate students.

Last time I applied to only 5 schools, so this time around I'm applying to 9 schools (7 Phd programs and 2 masters programs).