Hashem1

What is the fellowship you're referring to?

It looks like the program that accepted me (history phd program on the west coast) is requesting a final transcript from my UG degree-granting institution so that they know I graduated (I think?). The problem is that the final transcript (hard copy) is A LOT different than the unofficial transcript I uploaded for my application (it doesn't list out the transfer coursework like the unofficial transcript did); I had no idea about this until today when I saw the hard copy version. I'm worried that the final (hard copy) transcript will be scrutinized, compared to the unofficial transcript on my application, and might cause alarm because not all the coursework is listed on there. Am I freaking out about nothing. Any thoughts?

I'm applying in yet another round of applications to PhD programs in NELC this fall. I've been struggling with whether to include mention of my "diversity" in the SOP and other places in the app. The problem is, I'm not exactly sure what counts as diversity and if it really even matters in admissions. I'm half Brazilian (my mother is from Sao Paulo), I speak remedial Brazilian Portugese; my father is from an Arab country (although I believe this counts as "White/Caucasian" in most apps?), I can understand formal Arabic at an advanced level. I'm also an older, "mature," non-traditional student, in my 30s (!), having somewhat recently graduated with a BA (3.98 GPA) in the honors program at a top 20 public institution, 2 honors theses, etc. Would most graduate programs in the humanities, NELC and related disciplines (History, Religious Studies, Classics, et al) in particular, consider me to be a "minority" candidate? It seems like the more competitive (top-20) programs have a strict focus on gender and ethnicity in their diversity recruitment (and, neither Brazilian/Argentinian/Chilean nor Arab ethnicities are given minority status). Furthermore, if I'm half Brazilian, can I even claim to be "hispanic"? Thank you.

To be honest, your inclusion of "African American," to make the situation you describe seem even more scary, really put me off; I just glanced over the rest.

No, 30 applied, unsure how many were actually accepted.

I'm in the process of looking at and, I hope, eventually applying to grad programs in medieval middle eastern studies (or history, religion, et al). One of my top picks is Oxford. The major draw back with Oxford, like any other international school, is the price tag; it's possible, but I wouldn't be able to stay in Oxfordshire for the duration of the MPhil and DPhil (i.e., 5 years). However, I was looking over Oxford's residency requirements and it looks like I only have to live in Oxfordshire (and within a certain radius from the University at that) for three years; two years for the MPhil (=MA) and one year during the three to four year-long DPhil (=PhD), assuming I were to transition directly from the MPhil to the DPhil. Does this mean that I can return to the US and complete my DPhil at "home" (with the 2-3 years remaining)? It would save a TREMENDOUS amount of money on college fees (these are additional to the normal University tuition and fees) and living costs, and I could continue research at Yale or Harvard, etc. (I live in New England), as a visiting research student. Is this kind of flexibility allowed with schools that have such residency requirements?

I do feel it's an important work (the treatise contains key info on Mu'tazili historiography), but at the same time I'm not even a grad student yet – what academic publishing company would ever offer a deal to an undergrad publishing (in the humanities, I mean)? I don't think it's ever been done, especially in this field, and I wouldn't hold out, hoping that I'm some exception. What I'm thinking about doing is publishing the work (and people would essentially be forced to deal with it, despite it being printed by Lulu.com), and just not include it on my CV...at least not yet. I'd also just post it all on the internet – something that's bound to happen eventually, whether I like it or not – but I would like some credit for all the hours I've put into it.

Is it OK to publish a work (in this case, an English translation of a medieval Arabic treatise) prior to grad school? I'll have nearly completed this translation, parts of which I've used for my senior honors thesis, by next year; I've had several native speakers of Arabic (almost all professors) review and edit the translation. In this case, I'd have to publish the work through a print-on-demand method (e.g., Lulu.com) or through a publisher in Egypt (this particular publishing company is well-respected in the country, although, like Lulu.com, it would be considered "self-publishing"). I realize that while it may be considered a faux pas to publish before grad school (maybe even during grad school?), it also seems like this is important information that scholars and lay people alike could benefit greatly from - and without waiting years for me to finish grad school and have an academic publisher (in the West) decide to print my translation (and thereby "certify" it?). At the same time, I don't want to run the risk of people (adcoms) thinking I'm brash or overconfident and creating a bad reputation for myself.

Q: Is it OK to publish a work (in this case, an English translation of a medieval Arabic treatise) prior to grad school? I'll have nearly completed this translation, parts of which I've used for my senior honors thesis, by next year; I've had several native speakers of Arabic (almost all professors) review and edit the translation. In this case, I'd have to publish the work through a print-on-demand method (e.g., Lulu.com) or through a publisher in Egypt (this particular publishing company is well-respected in the country, although, like Lulu.com, it would still be considered "self-publishing"). I realize that while it may be considered a faux pas to publish before grad school (maybe even during grad school?), it also seems like this is important information that scholars and lay people alike could benefit greatly from - and without waiting years for me to finish grad school and have an academic publisher (in the West) decide to print my translation (and thereby "certify" it?). At the same time, I don't want to run the risk of people (adcoms) thinking I'm brash or overconfident and creating a bad reputation for myself.

Although my degree is in Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies (minor in Middle East Studies), I'm interested in the MPhil in Islamic History and/or MSt in Oriental Studies at Oxford (I have the equivalent of five years of Classical Arabic, and my interest is mainly in the Graeco Arabic translation movement). Does anyone out there have advice for a person (like me) who's applying to a program/field (and at a UK institution) just slightly outside of what they did for their undergrad?

How difficult is admissions into Oxford, generally? Are admissions based on purely academic criteria (e.g., GPA, languages, etc.) or does your undergrad (or former grad) school's pedigree come into play?