samarkand

I think the statistic is that 60% of Cambridgians don't have a car, the most in the nation. I know probably one or two people that have a car - public trans/walking/biking here are fabulous, so you really don't need one at all.

Also note that Harvard's coursework is 2 years 4 courses a semester. Most students continue to take or audit courses after the first two years. Princeton's program is not lightweight IMO. Just look at the people who've graduated from Princeton NELC in the past 10 years and what they're doing.

By the way, you shouldn't compare Shamsy to Kadi. Sure it's one human for another - but Shamsy is just starting out whereas Kadi had years and years of experience and formed the program as it now exists at Chicago. It's not about the number of people that can aid your work (although that's important too) but about how much each individual encompasses in terms of knowledge and experience.

Mimuichi, The truth is that whatever choice you make will be a good one. Princeton is fantastic for several reasons - three hour long seminars (yes, this is a good thing), the way the library is organized (specifically Islamic studies books - most are on the shelf, unlike at Harvard, where most are in the depository), faculty, no teaching requirements (you can focus on research and teach on the side if you'd like), etc. These are all major positives and I would encourage you to take Princeton seriously. As for Harvard, it's a great institution to be at, for all the reasons mentioned in my previous post. Don't fret too much about advisors - the reality is that much of the work will be done on your own wherever you go anyway, your advisor is there just to guide you, and at all three institutions you will likely work with several figures, although one will eventually be classified as your 'primary advisor' for administrative purposes. Islamic studies is peculiar in that regards - there is no one professor that can offer you all you need in terms of training because its such a variegated and vast field, that in order to get general training in Islamic studies you will necessarily have to work with several people. If I were you I would be choosing between Princeton and Harvard. There are pros and cons to each, but your choice will likely depend on what exactly you're looking for - not in terms of advisor, but general training (each school has a particular inclination as I'm sure you've realized) and desired lifestyle. If you have more questions, please feel free to message me.

Harvard is a great place to pursue graduate studies in Islamic studies for a number of reasons. First off, three preeminent and well-cultivated professors are here teaching in the field you're interested in - Baber Johansen, Shahab Ahmed and Khaled el-Rouayheb. In addition there are a number of other professors both at Harvard and at surrounding schools that can aid your work although their research isn't directly or fully related. Secondly, Harvard's resources are unmatched by any school. This is known - books, manuscripts, money, etc are overwhelmingly present here in a capacity that no other school provides. Thirdly, Harvard's name holds a huge weight. In the future when you're applying to jobs it's possible that the name alone will get you into places. That's not to say that research, publications, etc aren't important. They are very important of course, but graduating from Harvard will likely have a great impact on your job prospects. Fourthly, the intellectual milieu here is awesome - visiting professors constantly in and out, ten plus lectures a day in your field and others, very bright students, etc. All in all, Harvard is a great place to pursue NELC graduate studies. If you have specific questions please do ask.

Michigan notified me last year in late February. They usually are among the earliest to notify. No news is probably bad news at this point. They also notify waitlisters early.

Harvard NELC has informed accepted candidates to the PhD already. Or at least they've sent out acceptances by now (might still be in the mail for some).

seems like UM already had its first round of interviews. hope they went superbly!

hey everyone - the lack of posts probably has something to do with the late creation of the thread. someone should have started a Near Eastern Studies 2012 thread back in December. Harvard had its faculty meeting last week to discuss applications. good luck!

Hi maryamv, Your list of schools is a good start. It all depends on your precise research interests and the professors you'd like to work with. You'll want to apply to the universities where these professors teach. PhD programs in the Humanities are usually funded either by research assistantship or TAship. There is funding for MA programs but it's less available, especially as an international student. Stanford's program is especially good for foundational/early Islamic Studies. The GRE is usually required for admission, its weight is really dependent on each university, the applications they get, and how selective they are in that particular year. I would say the most important aspects of the application are the statement of purpose and writing sample. You'll want to really spend some time writing up both in order to excel in admissions. If you have any more specific questions, I'd be happy to reply.

That's incredibly exciting Bukharan! You will love it there in the Bay.

I think you have a chance. MA programs differ from doctoral ones in that their requirements are more lenient. If you're able to get first year Arabic under your belt by the end of this academic year, and then perhaps take second year intensive during the summer (either at a western university or a program in the ME), then your chances will rise quite a bit (depending on other things as well) for admission this academic year or next. Remember that you'll be competing with applicants fluent in Arabic (there are many that apply from the ME - those trained at AUB/AUC are especially susceptible), so you'll want to do the utmost to distinguish yourself from them - usually this is done by showcasing language skills, which I think you do have. Being fluent in three modern European languages is good. Also remember that admission is dependent on the department you're interested in applying to and the professor(s) you want to work with. Are you applying to Middle Eastern Studies or a department of interdisciplinary leaning to the ME (polisci, econ, etc)? Does your potential adviser work with Arabic, or another language? These are important questions to ask, because they will determine how far you need to be in your linguistic capabilities to fluidly engage with both the department and the professor. I would recommend at this point enrolling in first year Arabic. Second, do some more research and see what the departments require. Third, contact some professors, let them know of your great interest, and see if they're accepting students from your particular background. Don't be too clear as to your negatives though (that you don't speak a ME language) - you should always emphasize your positives, because that's what you want them to remember. Hope that helps, and good luck!

It's all about how you explain and frame your research experience and background. If you can do this craftily (of course with some substance and letters to back it up), then you will raise your chances of acceptance. What I've learned from this past cycle is that the most important facet of the application is showing how your interests match those of your potential adviser(s). As for AUB, if you've already gained as much as you can out of that institution in the way of courses and professor interaction, then I would warn against enrolling there for another year or two. You can always pursue research in Beirut through a fellowship or scholarship given by your Masters university. The key is to not waste time or money - anyone is capable of getting funded if they look for the right sources and apply early enough, especially in the humanities. Perhaps you should think of applying to PhD programs, where you're much more likely to be funded, either through a research assistantship or TAship.

I would say definitely University of Chicago - with Franklin Lewis being there, it's an excellent place to do Ottoman studies. I would also say the University of California (Berkeley and otherwise). Beshara Doumani is at Berkeley, and I hear Davis has a nascent program in Turkish Studies. One of my friends is starting there, but in History. Another has worked with Professor Doumani for quite some time, on the history of Ottoman legalism. He's seemed to fare quite well. If you'd like, message me your email and I'll get you into contact with them.

I don't think we can generalize in answer to your question. It's up to you to determine whether or not you're ready to move onto the doctoral track. Knowing that research experience and language accumulation are essential, you should be continuously preparing yourself for the obstacles that can potentially obstruct your path to the PhD. You're not expected to be fully, completely, and overwhelmingly sure of your interests as a doctoral student, nor are you expected to enter in knowing the title of your dissertation. But you are expected to have a general idea of the time period, subject, and subfield you are most interested in pursuing. Keep in mind that there's always leeway to switch over into another field. Remember, it's all a process. Be a go-getter as a Masters student - set up appointments with your professors before the semester commences, work tirelessly to produce great research papers, do well in your classes - by doing all this, you'll set yourself up quite well to not only get accepted into a fantastic doctoral program, but also to succeed in one.

Nothing is particularly "looked down upon" by NES admissions. You constitute a package as an applicant, and professors might see your attainment of a JD as a welcome addition to their interdisciplinary program. They might also see it as a hindrance, but this is all dependent on the person who ends up examining your app. Languages play a major role in admissions, this is certain. You're expected to enter the program able to read in the languages of the discipline - otherwise professors know that you'll spend most of your time linguistically occupied, rather than being theoretically occupied - and distractions such as these are never welcome in programs that promise to produce stellar theoretical (and of course philological - but this assumes prior knowledge of language) scholars. Now your GRE and GPA should be the last thing on your mind, since it seems that both are good. Focus on the more important aspects of the app - your writing sample, proposal, and CV. These are the most important items. As for schools to look into, that is for you to research and figure out. I'm very bothered by the amount of applicants on this forum that continuously ask for potential schools. As a potential doctoral or masters student, one should have the skills and forethought to research and answer these questions alone. As for programs being rarely funded, that's false. As a PhD student in the humanities, you should be fully funded. This isn't the case for Masters however.

Salwa, Middle Eastern finance is a hugely multifarious field. Harvard has the Islamic Finance Project, and Columbia is known to have a good emerging program in Middle East economics, through SIPA. You will have to do your own research as to the particular programs and professors that interest you.

hopefulJD, You can apply to PhD programs in your last academic year, for entrance the following academic year. This is the usual route taken by MA students interested in continuing onto the PhD.

SamAli, It's not unusual that professors seem willing to work with you. Professors tend to encourage everyone to apply for a variety of reasons - more applicants allow them to be more selective, plus the financial benefits of application fees. They may be sincere and really want to work with you, but this doesn't mean you're for sure "in." There are professors who will even reject their own MA students applying to the PhD track, while having beforehand assured them of their acceptance. This should motivate you to really perfect your application. It's always good to have contacted them though, they will hopefully remember you once it comes time to look over the pool of applicants. Keep in mind that it's ultimately professors who accept students, not a committee or school. Professors work in conjunction with the departmental admissions committee, but they are the ones ultimately deciding, based on the similitude of the student's interests to their line of work. As for potential schools to apply to, this is all based on your specific interests. Which professors work in your field and interest you in a variety of ways? The schools where they teach should be the schools you're applying to. The job market in NES is constricted, as it is in academia in general. Keep in mind there are more and more adjunct positions and less and less tenured ones (http://www.mindingth...valued_phd.html). It's a very feeble time to be a graduate student, pursuing a career in academia. But you can do it, don't be discouraged!

Since Harvard receives so many applications, I doubt the committee would take extra time to examine your writing sample. If its "optional" however, I think it would be beneficial to include it, but don't expect them to examine it in detail - maybe they'll take a look at the first page and deem it a good or not so good indication of your fit with the program. If its inclusion in your app isn't optional, then just abide by that and don't send it.

To be honest, I don't think your chances are very high. I don't mean to be negative, but I know many native Arabic speakers who applied to programs all around and received outright rejections from all. I even know one girl who's very accomplished, published a translation from Arabic to English, and was still only accepted into Columbia's Masters program, not the PhD. Especially if you have no background in MES, and are weak in writing/reading Arabic, it's going to be difficult. Universities want to see your interests reflected in your coursework - if your interests lie in Middle Eastern finance or economics, then perhaps that makes sense and your chances rise - but without some formal training in the discipline, and more importantly in written Arabic, it's going to be difficult. This is just my opinion, from my experience, so please don't take it as discouragement. As for professional opportunities, there are some depending on what exactly you'd like to teach and where. But the salary isn't high, especially if you end up receiving no financial aid and take out a $30 to $50 thousand loan to fund your Masters education that you'll have to eventually pay.

NES programs are methodologically different from other programs. While training in history, polisci, anthropology can no doubt aid you, many of the subjects that form NES can't be pigeonholed into the theories you've learned from these disciplines. As for marketability, depends on what you're shooting at, but I know many students and professors alike, who after having gotten their PhDs from NES, went on to teach in Classics, Religion, and the like - but of course these disciplines are wary of outsiders so it's tough. If you get a PhD in NES, I would say expect to teach in NES if you are lucky enough to get a job or a similarly minded disciplined - religion, classics, MES, etc. You should peruse the NES forums on here for more info.