Safferz

Indeed we are I applied to 9 (8 American schools and our alum), which nearly killed me last semester with my full course load and other commitments. It's tempting to say in hindsight that I applied to too many, but I had no idea at the time that I'd receive offers from my top choices and rejections from schools that I didn't really want to go to but applied to anyway thinking they were 'safer' bets than the Ivies. It really is a crapshoot, so my suggestion is to do your research, select programs that are a good intellectual fit for your work (not only in terms of faculty and department strength, but finding a vibrant African studies environment across departments that you'll thrive in), and only apply to programs that you want to attend. Don't apply to X University because you know they have a larger incoming cohort, or because their admissions process seems to be less competitive than X Elite U. I'm not sure I believe "safety schools" exist -- you just have to put together the strongest application possible, and hope that what you have to offer matches up with the needs of the department/subfield for that particular year. This year Harvard wanted a student doing gender in the 20th century Horn, next year they may decide they've had enough of modern Africa and admit someone doing precolonial West Africa. I don't know too much about history of science programs, but I did notice a large contingent of history of science prospective students at Yale, and a crazy amount of current grad students in the history department at Columbia (including an African history student I met) were doing work related to science or public health. Two history of science prospective students I met at Yale and again at Columbia were both planning to accept Columbia's offer. As you research programs to apply to, you'd want to look closely at how these programs are structured (autonomous or within history departments, whether they integrate faculty across disciplines and institutes at the university interested in the history of science, whether you'll be trained in general historical methods alongside history of science methodologies, etc) and whether there are advantages to enrolling in a 'regular' history PhD program over a specialized history of science PhD, if that's what the program awards. Contacting professors is useful for determining whether a prof will be on leave, retiring soon or just not taking on students for one reason or another, but I don't think it's necessary and it certainly won't give you an edge during the application process. I was accepted to schools where I didn't contact professors at all or had my emails ignored completely (including the school I'm heading to), and rejected from schools with POIs I contacted ahead of time, including one that I've met in person. You just don't know what the department is looking for that year, or what the applicant pool you're competing against has to offer. Your focus as an applicant should be what's in your control, which is putting together a great application.

Congrats, TMP! I'm so glad to hear that you've made a decision that you're truly happy with, and I wish you all the best at OSU.

Someone specializing in North Africa/Middle East history can probably give you the best suggestions for general histories, so here are some books that come to mind that deal with Islam in Africa and Muslim women in North Africa/Middle East: Saba Mahmood, Politics of Piety: The Islamic Revival and the Feminist Subject Leila Ahmed, Women and Gender in Islam: The Historical Roots of a Modern Debate Leila Ahmed, A Quiet Revolution: The Veil's Resurgence from the Middle East to America Lila Abu-Lughod, Remaking Women: Feminism and Modernity in the Middle East Janice Boddy, Civilizing Women: British Crusades in the Sudan Randall Pouwels, Horn and Crescent: Cultural Change and Traditional Islam on the East African Coast, 800-1900 Randall Pouwels & Nehemia Levtzion (eds), History of Islam in Africa B.G. Martin, Muslim Brotherhoods in Nineteenth Century Africa David Robinson, Muslim Societies in African History

Thanks pudewen and TMP! Really helpful advice. I'll start with an intro course in the fall and figure out how to spend summer 2013 in Italy

How are you all planning to learn your new language(s)? Will you enroll in courses during grad school, study abroad? I've never actually had to *study* a language before (what I know I've learned growing up), so I'm wondering what the best approach would be for learning Italian, which is the missing piece for my research.

Great list, I've read quite a few of these. Robin Kelley may just be my favourite historian

German annieca, kotov, Kelkel, Ganymede18, grlu0701 Spanish annieca, crazedandinfused, Ganymede18, grlu0701 (kind of), CageFree, StrangeLight French theregalrenegade, Ganymede18, CageFree (reading, can speak a bit), StrangeLight, Safferz (Franglais) Hebrew uhohlemonster, crazedandinfused (ktzat) Italian Latin Kelkel, Ganymede18 Greek Ganymede18 (New Testament) Russian Polish runaway Romanian kotov Japanese kyjin Portuguese CageFree (reading), StrangeLight (reading, swearing) Hungarian StrangeLight (swearing only) Somali Safferz Arabic Safferz (reading) I plan to learn Italian, and perhaps Amharic if I decide to learn a second African language for my research.

They were talking about planetary history at Harvard

Hoping to find a studio or 1br within walking distance of Harvard that's cheaper than Harvard housing rates (~$1300+ for a studio!). Any suggestions on where to look? I'm planning to start a language class in the summer school before I begin in September, so I'll need to be there end of June.

I'm also planning to start an intensive language course in mid-June. I think current PhD students can speak to your issue about summer reading, but I'm thinking about this summer as the last 'free' summer I'll have for years so I'm leaving the reading lists for the actual program This summer will be language prep and getting settled in a new city (and country!) for me.

I went for business casual at all my visits, so heels, dress pants, nice blouse, cardigan/sweater. A lot of people were dressed like me, others went with jeans and 'regular' outfits. So when my feet were KILLING me after all the walking on the first day of my last visit, I didn't hesitate to wear what I wore traveling for the second day -- skinny jeans tucked into knee-high riding boots, a long sleeved tee and a beanie hat to hide my messy curls

Thanks guys! I'm going to sit on it a few days before officially accepting the offer, but I really loved it there and think it's a great fit for me. Best of luck to all of you still making decisions, it really is a difficult process!

Just got back from my last campus visit, and my decision is made. Harvard it is!

Can you be more specific about your offers? It's difficult to offer advice when it all depends on the schools you're comparing, and your subfield. I don't think Canadian vs. American PhD is what you should be thinking about, but the strengths of these particular programs for the work you'd like to do. Funding is an important consideration, too.

It was more than 215 pages, wasn't it?

I don't plan to accept the offer until after my visit later this week, but I just tried this link and it worked just fine. After putting my email and password in, it gave me preliminary questions to answer but I'm going to wait a week or two before filling out the form.

Congrats!!!!!! Such great news! Congrats to everyone who has received good news over the last week, I haven't checked in as much because I've also been visiting schools. Back home for a few days until I'm off again

I was about to say "I guess we'll have to agree to disagree, friend" -- then I remembered the on South Park

C'mon now, Reasonable Doubt is one of the greatest hip hop albums ever! Don't make me post another track... Aight, I had to. Exhibit B, which also includes a flawless sampling of Ahmad Jamal's "Pastures." HE IS A GENIUS!

Alright, I've tried to avoid jumping back into the conversation in defense of the 2000s, but the Jay-Z/Ja Rule comment just crossed the line I'm not his biggest fan but I think Jay's place as one of the greatest rappers in the industry is indisputable. And on a personal level, I was bumpin' Roc Boys among other songs all week after I got into my programs The horns are GLORIOUS.

Aww I'm sorry, is it a fear of flying or are you just nervous about doing it on your own? Flying is a lot safer than driving if you look at the statistics, so try your best to think about it rationally. You'll do great

I agree! I can't really offer useful advice to the OP since it's an issue I'm currently struggling with (narrowed down to two options at this stage, but visiting three), except to go with your gut. The visits make all the difference for getting a feel for the program and department as a whole beyond what appeals to you on paper. I'm just wrapping up my first visit, and I really had no idea I'd like this place as much as I do and things just clicked with the two POIs I had the opportunity to meet. I would also look at what's there for you outside of the history department, what resources are available at the school for you to draw on for your research and which school appeals to you for its intellectual community across the disciplines in your areas of interest. The city you'll be spending the next 5+ years of your life in is another important consideration.

It's definitely intimidating, but remember that you're in and that this professor is interested and impressed by *you*! And he/she is taking the time to talk and answer your questions about the program because the department agrees that you would be a great addition to their intellectual community. It helps you feel less small

Yes, you win! I actually have no historical memory of the 1990s because I was so young, anything significant that happened internationally during those years I've only learned about as history much later. The war in Iraq started a few days after my 13th birthday!

Which reminds me -- shoutout to Virmundi, Agora and the lurker I met (who didn't even tell me his username ) in New Haven this week!