[Type of Language Proficiency Required]

Language requirements for americanists depends on the program.  Many schools have eliminated them completely. 

 

The modern langauge requirements for Americanists at my program are French, German, or Spanish.  Two passages of longer than 500 words, one with and one without a dictionary, 45minutes each passage.  Test may be taken as many times as you need to pass, but must pass before your comprehensive exams.  No one can remember anyone being sent packing for failing this requirement.

 

The bitch in my program is that everyone needs to pass in either French or German, even those who have to pass in both modern and classical chinese. 

 

Well, that doesn't sound too bad. Getting a reading handle on French isn't the hardest. But yeah, sucks for the non-Americanists.

[Type of Language Proficiency Required]

If you're doing U.S. history, do you just get the pick of a modern language? Any idea what's the norm?

[Fall 2013 Applicants?]

University of Oklahoma blowing up apparently.

 

Is the end of the week a popular time to get news? I hope so.

 

And look, it's almost February. It's about to get crazy.

[New York, NY]

Is it actually possible to live in NYC on a grad student stipend?

[Fall 2013 Applicants?]

Do you know if they're doing one for every potential admit?

Can't say for sure, but I gather that the graduate coordinator is working through a long list.

[Fall 2013 Applicants?]

Penn is still making phone calls for Skype interviews today.

[Fall 2013 Applicants?]

Penn interview was me. I can't offer much information and I'm not sure what to expect. What could they be looking for in skype interviews?

[Fall 2013 Applicants?]

Are there many of you who are in/applied to PhD programs without an MA? I'm a couple of years out of college and I'm applying to mostly PhD programs (one MA). That seems a little uncommon around here? I wonder how adversely I should expect that to effect my results.

[Fall 2013 Applicants?]

JHU acceptance was me. I am thrilled because this means I am going to go get my PhD after all! As I said in the results note -- it was an informal email from a POI who had received word I was admitted. She also mentioned everything official was coming next week, so fret not (although ok, it's hard not to) if you haven't heard yet.

 

Awesome. Thanks for keeping us up to date. And congratulations. It's all down hill from here (well, at least as far as the application process goes!)

[Fall 2013 Applicants?]

Ahhhh...Johns Hopkins up on the board. I'm not feeling nervous or anything.

[Fall 2013 Applicants?]

Things are getting exciting. Or something very nearly like that. I'm having a hard time doing little else but check my e-mail. These are not productive days.

[Fall 2013 Applicants?]

Just a head's up, POI at Johns Hopkins says decisions will go out around the end of January, if anyone else here applied. Fingers crossed!

Thanks for the info!

[Fall 2013 Applicants?]

Like a lot of people around here, I finally finished my last application. It sure is good to be done. I feel like I have no idea what to expect.

 

I wonder, is there a good reason to contact any POI's after you've submitted your application?

[What are You Currently Reading?]

I love being able to pick and choose what stands out to me as interesting reading. Right now:

The True and Only Heaven: Progress and Its Critics, by Christopher Lasch

Growing Up Absurd, by Paul Goodman

Roll, Jordan, Roll, by Eugene Genovese

The Spirit of Early Christian Thought, by Robert Louis Wilken

[Fall 2013 Applicants?]

Just finished my 8th application out of twelve. Two more are due by the 15th and the other two on January 4.

When I started working on parts of my application back in July, I knew this process would require time/effort, but I don't think realized what an emotional roller coaster it would eventually be. I can be in the middle of finishing a statement of purpose and feel on top of the world and once I submit it I lose all confidence. I hope graduate school is better than applying to graduate school!

[Fall 2013 Applicants?]

Whoo. 5 of 12 completed. I'll be happy to get these done. Must stay motivated...

[Third party LOR services or individual forms]

Thanks for the replies.

I agree about not using a common service. Moving forward.

[Third party LOR services or individual forms]

Has anyone made successful use of a third party service for letters of recommendation?

I'm a little worried about having my professors submit 12 different recommendation forms. Not that my referees are unreliable, but that's a lot of e-mails and links and forms to keep track of. What if spam filters pick them up? But I'm also not sure if there are any third party services that actually work well.

[Fall 2013 Applicants?]

Hey guys,

I finished my undergrad about a year ago and I'm hoping to apply to Masters and PhD programs this coming season. I have a Bachelors in History and Classical Languages from a state university (8 semesters Latin, 5 semesters Greek, 4 French, learning to read German). 3.89 (Summa cum laude). GRE: v167/q150.

I have a honors thesis that I think needs a lot of work to turn into a writing sample. I'm having a hard time knowing what I should expect from myself for the writing sample.

I'm interested in Late Antique history, particularly patristic literature and early Christian studies. I'm also interested in economic and social history and interdisciplinary work with scientific research, a la Michael McCormick, Walter Scheidel, etc in the same period.

Looking into these programs: Classics at University of Chicago, Princeton, Stanford, Washington University in St. Louis, Penn. I'm also looking at History programs at Harvard, UVA, Notre Dame, Michigan, and UW. And Early Christian Studies at Notre Dame and CUA. Obviously I need to narrow this list down and work on some second tier, third tier schools.

That's all for now. I'm going to try to stick around and stay in touch as things progress.

Cheers.

[What language?]

I finished undergrad a year ago and hope to apply this coming season for fall 2013 history/classics programs focusing on late antique religion, particularly early christianity

For the time being, I'm planning on taking some language classes. I have already taken 8 semesters of Latin, 5 semesters of Classical Greek, and 4 semesters of French. I'm thinking about a few options: taking more French, taking beginning German, or taking beginning Arabic.

I'd appreciate any advice/comments/questions. Thanks!

[Chances?]

I'm interested in my chances for applying to top tier Classics and History PhD/MA programs and curious what anyone might think.

I graduated in May 2011 from a pretty good state school and have been out of school working at a warehouse and probably will for most of 2012.

Bachelor of Arts: History, Classical Languages

GPA: 3.89

GRE: 168v, 148v, 5 writing

4 Semesters of French, 6 semesters of Classical Greek, 8 semesters of Latin

Graduated Summa, Phi Beta Kappa

Outgoing senior award from Classics department, and outstanding humanities senior from college

I'm confident about 3 letters of recommendation from classics profs and a history prof. I have a 25-page writing sample on religion in late Roman North Africa, but it needs some work.

I want to study Late Antiquity/Early Medieval period, particularly religious history.

I feel good about the work that I've done, such as it is. I just wonder how my degree from a state school that's not well known for ancient history will hurt me. I also don't know how taking two years off from school will look. I do know I need to invest some serious time in maintaining/improving my language skills in the mean time.

Any thoughts would be welcome!

[ND Early Christian Studies]

Has anyone heard news from the Early Christian Studies program at Notre Dame? I'm anxiously awaiting news. Based on news from previous years, this is about the time that they send notifications.