barricades

It's interesting, because it's a really slow week compared to previous years... A few acceptances here and there, but no large flow of rejections.

Why do you say that?

One thing I'm primarily concerned with is methodological approaches. Some of the PAs I've contacted at less prestigious schools are just as big in their fields as those in the Ivies. But some at the Ivies seem to be more "conservative" or "traditional" in their approaches to history. So I'll have to balance that all out when thinking about where to accept (of course, putting the carriage in front of the horses here. Who knows where and if I'll be accepted!).

Congrats rbatzell and Rustin! Rustin, do you mind me asking what's your field of study?

Yale is up. American history. Any news on Europeanists? And Congrats!

Also, one of my letter writers called my potential adviser at Yale, which got my hopes up. But he also told me said person said that funds had been cut, which means a small cohort. He said probably only a couple for European history (that's what I assumed anyway, since the phrasing was a little vague).

It's a schizophrenic situation. I hate when the weekends are coming up, because I know I won't be getting any news those two days. But then again, when they do arrive, I feel so much better, because it just leaves my head. Then Monday arrives.

Judging by the results from last year and the year before that, we should be hearing from Berkeley around next week... *fingers crossed*

Bitting my nails. Definitely one of my top three. As good old Clay Davis would say: "Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeit..." But congrats!

So, to keep people posted. Earlier this week USC sent out offers to fly students in for a campus visit. I'm assuming they sent it to most of — if not all — the first batch of admits, since the date is in early March and they want an answer ASAP. Best of luck!

So, I'm assuming that by the tone of the posts it has now truly begun?

"So... what is his focus? And can he live and work anywhere longer than 6 months/1 year?"

Not beginning the process sooner and being nervous about getting in touch with potential advisers and asking them straight on if they were taking anyone and if they thought we would be a good fit. I remember I had a catastrophic phone conversation with one PA at one of my top choices which still haunts me.

The wait is getting ridiculous. I'm constantly checking my emails, and calling my voicemail to see if any messages have been left (I'm out of the country). These are going to be the longest two months....

Congrats! I applied to UNC also, modern European history too, but with a focus on France. It was my earliest deadline, so hopefully I'll hear from them soon. Did you hear back by email, site update, letter or call?

I do think that school name plays a role, but not as important as a role as what you are able to accomplish and develop with the resources available to you at your undergraduate institution. That's where the letters, sop, writing sample and, to a certain extent, CV, come in. Numerous factors play a role in deciding where you attend your undergraduate career (finances, maturity, chance, family, etc) and I think committees are aware of that and don't pigeonhole an applicant's capacity based on their undergraduate institution. Of course, some undergraduate programs are more rigorous and structured than others, but as a student you do have some degree of autonomy to make your education as rigorous as you want. At my school, for example, a history major could coast through the program easily. There were tons of those. But there were those who used the resources made available to them by the university, who didn't an easy load filled with lower-level classes, who took the extra time to apply for undergraduate grants, who wrote a thesis (not required). I think committees are aware that just because you graduated from a less than prestigious school doesn't mean that you're not "Ivy League" or whatever else material. And the other way around, too. Just because you graduated from Yale doesn't mean you will do well in graduate school.

Hi guys. I just saw that this has caused somewhat of a stir. I posted the result up. I was really surprised when I got the email, since I wasn't expecting anything until at least mid-February. Anyway, it's pretty much what I put up in the information. The email isn't from any professor I have been in touch with (I only introduced myself by email to a couple of professors at the school before applying, and didn't sustain an ongoing dialogue with either). It reads that I've been admitted. However, the notice can only be made official once I get a letter from the university. It also talks about financial support and visiting the school, but nothing really detailed. I'm thrilled, of course, but now I've become anxious about hearing from other schools whereas before I had kind of let it slip my mind! Hope that clears things up, and good luck to everyone!

I agree. At a first sight it appears that the logical conclusion to a "postmodern" approach to (and interpretation of) history is fatalism and meaninglessness. But I think that one can realize that the value in the writing of history isn't in uncovering some kind of truth (big or small "t") but in the act of interpreting, which is what helps produce meaning. I think that most historians I admire have that kind of outlook. And I think it somehow acknowledges the complicated position of the historian in contemporary society (in many ways a powerless, yet powerful figure).

Well, I ran into this forum only after sending off all my applications, so I might as well get involved during the stressful period of waiiiiiiiting.... Anyway. Field: Modern French History — I'm interested in urban history, intellectual history and the relationship between literature and history, and the intersections between all these areas. I'm also drawn to the methodological and theoretical aspects of historiography, such as what differentiates writing history from writing literature, and what are the potentials and risks of using literature as archive. Schools (it's a ridiculously tough list, I know): Berkeley USC UCLA Michigan Chicago Columbia NYU Yale Princeton Harvard Brown Cornell UNC Undergrad: Flagship State University GPA Overall: 3.83 GPA Major: 4.0 Honors program. Departmental honors (involved writing an honors thesis). Graduated with Distinction. GRE: Verbal: 730 Quant: 740 AW: 5.5 Extras: I conducted archival research in France for my honors thesis (received an undergraduate research grant for it). I am advanced in French (I was a French minor) and I am a native speaker of another European language besides English (although not quite pertinent to my field of study). Phi Beta Kappa I have a few awards under my belt (outstanding honors thesis, outstanding graduating minor in French, several journalism scholarships and awards). I interned at a couple of high profile places (large media company that, according to the stereotype, every professor loves, and pretty prominent and academically oriented publisher). Hopefully that will catch some professor's eye in a good way I think my recommendations are pretty good. One of them is from my thesis coordinator and closest adviser. He's not tenured yet, but I think he wrote a strong and passionate letter on my behalf. The same can be said about a French literature professor who's kind of a big shot (and a distinguished professor in the university). I changed the third letter writer depending on the school. I'm mostly worried about my SoP. I'm afraid I don't have a narrow enough research interest (although I met with some professors at some of these schools who said they actually discouraged students from applying with to narrow an interest. Yay). I begin my letter with a relatively long anecdote (for those schools who allowed 1000 words or more), which I think may go either way. Finally, I did talk to some potential advisers, and some conversations went well, and others not so well (I'm really awkward and insecure, especially over the phone). I'm afraid I didn't ask the right questions, and I didn't ask anyone directly if they would be able to advise me, since that seems a tad presumptuous.