borderlands

Just FYI the Jacob K. Javits fellowship was cut this year for 2012-2013 academic year. Ford Predoctoral Fellowship might be an option for some applicants. Also, even if the programs you are applying to offer full funding it is important that you apply for grants, fellowships etc. In the long run these help distinguish competitive applicants to other programs. Last thought, one might be able to negotiate or even (depending on the situation) combine fellowship funding along with program funding for a higher package.

I'm guessing that you are considering programs outside of Southern California? If so, then there a couple of other programs to consider: Vanderbilt University as a whole has a very strong Latin American history program, although, I'm not sure if they have a specialist in Argentina. Columbia University has Jose Moya who specializes in Argentine history. U of Connecticut will have Mark A. Healey who previously taught at UC Berkeley and recently wrote The Ruins of the New Argentina. There are, of course, other programs with strong Latin American history programs but few with Argentine specialist. UC Davis is also another option Charles Walker might be a person of interest. One serious concern, though, is the writing sample: whether you will be submitting something new or your previous thesis which focuses on a different field. It is not uncommon to have graduate students switching topics or even fields. Strong Ph.D. applicants tend to have previous experience in courses, writing in their area of interest and a strong writing sample. I would try to get in contact with professor's you are interested in working with and let them know your situation of switching areas. Your gpa seems to be of slight concern also, but you should still apply to PhD history programs along with MA programs. Some programs particularly like applicants with teaching experience.

As Henry Hudson suggested, there is no substantive money in academic writing for articles or books. There is some money in textbook publishing particularly if it's for a major publisher who's been contracted for California or Texas k-12 standards. I believe there might be more substantive money outside of an academic press e.g., Norton and Vintage. Some historians do publish with these presses but it is typically after tenure (having published at least one or two with peer-reviewed academic press) has been secured and with a broader much larger audience in mind. Alan Taylor has written a couple books for Vintage that are really good. It is rare to have an academic press best seller. Probably the most recent best-seller would be Eric Foner's The Fiery Trial published by W. W. Norton & Company.

1. Regarding standardized testing, as well as for inquiries/concerns about the GPA--you will be competing from the best of the best--thus it is a given that test scores and grades are high. Of course, not one single factor is a "make or break" but it's the whole package that seals the deal (that includes funding discresions as well). Personally, I would place a much greater emphasis on the quality of the writing sample, particularly for historians more than any of the two factors aforementioned. 2. I would question your statement that race, gender, and sexuality is "more popular" than labor, religion and political movements. To be sure, there has been and continues to grow an interest in these latter topics. Your question about faculty "fit" is an important concern but it varies from one graduate history program to another. At UC Berkeley applicants are admitted without having a direct advisor, the strongest applicants of each field is admitted, although faculty must show some interest in possibly working with you. At the U of Michigan there must be a faculty member who is interested in working with you and whom the selection committee agrees with for one to be admitted. More to the grain, it is important for one to draw connections in the statement of purpose between your writing sample and research interest to a couple of faculty members (preferably tenured) current research interests and projects. The clearer that you draw these lines, not just with one professor's work and interests but at least two or three, then the greater of a chance of you being admitted. 3. The last commentator gave a good answer. Best of luck!

I would not draw such a quick line between history and poli sci by methodological approach of qualitative or quantitative approach. I believe that one should "count if you can" with the research topic and should be done whenever possible. Historians use statistics when possible to support an argument whether it's census data, unemployment, labor ... etc. The archive can be used in interesting ways as well to note the number of court cases and litigation for x or y; make an argument that x or y was or was not prominent at such a studied time. I believe the large distinction has to do with poli sci's relevancy of the subject matter to today, theoretical models, and implications it has on the future. Historians are not so much concerned with the future (although we do care) and more conservatively most historians do not work with anything that has occurred in the last ten years. While we are concerned with the larger picture, at least for general/ introductory courses, the best historical work has to do with nuance and seeing history not so much for its outcome but for "the what if's" and the possibilities of a given situation without knowing the future. Of course, not all of us are going to agree on what the exact cut-offs make or do not make history; this is open to discussion and dialogue. There are some interesting works on this if you are interested e.g. Peter Novik's That Noble Dream, Collinwood's The Idea of History, and more recently, Kerwin Klein's History & Theory. Nationalism can be and is studied in history whether we think of it through Benedict Anderson's "imagined communities" or something that is real. The important thing is that you offer a solid writing sample in this topic--through a thesis under the supervision of a historian and that you contact faculty that might be interested in your research before you apply. Best of luck aspiringhistorian!

If you are considering Canada, I would look into Simon Fraser University in British Columbia. Particularly, Jennifer Spear who published Race, Sex, and Social Order in Early New Orleans, while it may not be the south east it definitely contains racial/ethnic, sex, and gender comparative history. Julianna Barr, at the University of Florida, is doing some really interesting SW Native American history, which might be of interest. There is also Ned Blackhawk at Yale both in the history and American Studies Ph.D. programs (although his focus is more on Native American history). I would also look into University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill as well as Vanderbilt University, particularly, Daniel Usner.

Recent article, "The Professor and the Pornographer," from the chronicle of higher education about tenure-track positions and alternatives, "My adviser, Alan Brink­ley, joked that I was proof that it was now easier to get a TV show than a tenure-track job." http://chronicle.com/article/The-Professorthe/127629/

First of all, not all History programs are under the division of the humanities some schools consider it under the social sciences e.g. UC Berkeley, U of Chicago, as well as others. While the humanities, overall, seem to be in decline with budget cuts, I believe, history as field is in a better position than newer programs such as American Studies, Ethnic Studies, Gender & Women Studies as well as languages. This is not to put these programs down but rather what we are seeing being cut at major public universities (like UC Berkeley through "operation excellence" and others) as well as at some private institutions. We cannot control the market for professorial jobs but we can take control over what we do. Publishing articles as well as presenting in conferences can make a huge difference in distinguishing scholars even if one does not come from a top ten program. Ultimately, one can underperform or outgrow at any graduate program. As well as going beyond one single subfield to mastering two fields and perhaps a comparative understanding as well. Promoting one's self as an international scholar presenting in conferences in Europe as well as Latin America and other places in multiple languages can take you and your scholarship beyond the United States. We may not be able to get rid of elitism but if you see yourself as a historian and do it at all costs hopefully you'll succeed.

Why rankings matter? I found this article this morning and I thought about our discussion: if and when rankings matter. This article, although five years old, is quite revealing of aspects of top ranking history programs. Simply food for thought. http://www.historians.org/perspectives/issues/2005/0510/0510new2.cfm

I also just submitted my application for graduate housing. My first choice was a two bedroom but well see how it turns out. I'm planning to move in a month before the Autumn quarter begins. Is anyone planning to move out Hide Park during the summer?

That is wonderful news! Congrats!

If you want to take serious the offer from the U of Florida they absolutely need to provide you with an "official admittance" letter as well as an official funding letter. Do not make the mistake of accepting offers based on unofficial emails or over the phone! Thus contact U of Florida immediately via phone or email and tell them you will not consider their offer until you have these documents. The only way to know how TA and RA at A&M works is to ask the department on the availablity of these positions. Some programs directly place their graduate students in their department courses while others, if limited, ask the graduate student to find these on their own. Depending upon the school this can be a fairly easy process or a difficult one--contact current graduate students in the department to see how this has worked out for them. At this point, I believe, the Texas A&M is the most solid offer in your hands.

@sidiosquiere Congrats on making a decision! Unfortunately, rankings do matter however there is nothing you or anyone else can do about it and that is the reality. Some programs have greater strenghts in some areas than others but more importantly its about knowing where you will be most productive in what kind of program. Smaller graduate programs seem so much more committed to their graduate students than well established programs. Wish you nothing but the best! borderlands

I would send an email letting them know that you have accepted an offer elsewhere. You do not have to let them know where but sometimes they do ask, if they are unaware of where you have gotten accepted and/ or other schools you are considering. Thank them for their time and perhaps include reasons why you denied their offer, of course this is optional. I sent a personal email to each faculty I met up with and included "I hope that this decision does not curtail any possibility of future research or collaboration." Most will understand particularly when it comes to declining decisions based on structural issues such as funding and other resources.

As soon as I took a decision, I let the other graduate programs know where I was going. If you are not taking their offer serious then decline it!