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I would disagree slightly with StrangeLight's argument that a PhD program won't take you seriously if you don't get a funded MA. While I too would generally advise against going into debt, I did my MA unfunded (for several complicated, long-winded reasons) and it wasn't too bad financially since I relied on Pell Grants for my undergrad. Long story short, I was accepted into 5 different PhD programs - including two top tier schools. During all of my visits, professors told me over and over that my determination and dedication to getting my MA was a very real factor in all of my acceptances.

Congrats radagast! I'll see you in Ann Arbor!

Hi Bimmerman, Oddly enough, the biking trails were also a concern of mine when considering my move to AA. I found a great website about nearby trails: http://www.a2skiclub.org/biking/

LoL Cyborges...best post on this forum ever. I don't actually have any answers for you, but I just wanted to say hello to a fellow incoming historian. We must have met at the prospective students weekend. I just accepted my offer yesterday! Cheers and good luck on the house hunting!

Congratulations Trinoide! That's excellent news. It's a great program and I wish you the best!

GREAT point about networking. Many people do not want to admit it, but it is a small world in the history departments. 2 of the 4 schools I've been accepted to have professors who are friends/colleagues of professors I currently work under.

I would say, most importantly....BREATHE. Sometimes when I'm presenting, I forget to breathe and then my voice quivers. I've presented enough times now that it's not an issue, but it used to be pretty bad. On a totally random side note, I love PAT conferences. I presented my senior thesis at a regional conference and it literally changed my life. I had planned on pursuing a Library Science degree (for practicality purposes), but it turned out that I won the Best Overall Paper Award (I was an undergrad and I beat all the grad students)! Long story short - the hosting university encouraged me to apply to its MA program - 2 years later I have 4 acceptances to PhD programs!

I have been accepted at UMass, but I'm turning it down - perhaps good news for you!!

I definitely wouldn't take it personal. I applied to twelve schools and got rejected by seven of them. I keep thinking, "What if I had only applied to those seven?" Seems like a numbers game to me. Good luck to you. I've heard Memphis is an awesome town.

Congrats to you on UPenn! Great choice!

Well, it's been a long, grueling, torturous process, but now it's all over. All my decisions are in. Thanks God it's over! Since the "So, it's Begun" thread is pretty lengthy, I think we should start a new one to report the outcomes of this crazy process. I applied to 12 schools: Rejections: Yale, Brown, WashU, Indiana, Rutgers, Minnesota, William and Mary Wait listed: Maryland Accepted: Michigan, Penn State, Umass-Amherst, and SUNY-Binghamtom Decision: Between Michigan and Penn State

Yes, I received an email from UMD about an hour ago and an email from Indiana about three hours ago. Good Luck!!

and now I've just been waitlisted at University of Maryland...1 more to go and this whole thing is over and I can make a decision.

Just received a rejection from Indiana. Standard form letter. So, good luck to everyone else! So here's where I stand - Acceptances: 4 Rejections: 6 Still Waiting: 2

I wouldn't be nervous. You're already accepted! Congrats! It is the school's job now to convince you that you should accept their offer. I have one visit under my belt so far and one of the million things I looked for was camaraderie. I don't want to go to a school where I feel like I have to fight for my position everyday. It's also a good idea to ask other grad students about the particulars - teaching load, summer opportunities, places to live. POI's - for me, just having an intellectual conversation with them in person I think reveals quite a bit. Mainly, you will be able to tell if your pursuits and approaches mesh well. I would also suggest making appointments with other faculty that may be interested in working with you if your school is open to that. Good Luck!