lyonessrampant

Yeah, the extracurriculars and volunteering really don't help much. What Two Espressos is doing is a good action plan, though I'd add submitting to undergrad journals. Conference presentations really do help, especially if they are larger conferences. As others have said, start specializing now in your subfield. Read journals relevant to your interest areas and books written by people with whom you would like to work. Here's a biggie: GET YOUR LANGUAGES STARTED (if you haven't already). If you're looking at Medieval or Renaissance, you need Latin. Most programs want two languages, and showing competency when applying is a great idea.

A friend of mine got accepted at UTA with something like a score in the 20th percentile on the subject test. I think that you should probably take it so you have more school options to look at, but as others have said, it isn't the be-all-end-all of the application.

Hmm. . I've heard the exact opposite about attaching your CV to the initial email. I think this may be something that is more field specific. I know that in the sciences not only is it common but expected that you would email POIs and that you'd attach more info about yourself like a CV. However, it is far less common to contact POIs in the humanities, and if you do email them first, I believe it is much more accepted that you see if they want to engage in an email conversation before you email them something like your CV.

Because it means less individualized attention from the prof, the likely intermediary of a TA, and less student attention overall. That's why I went to a private school, but there were wil be those who disagree, so let them SPEAK!

Appreciate the humor but be careful as some people will take offense and think this is serious.

I know that U of Chicago and Duke also do not require the test. I know there are lots of other programs as well, just ones I remember noticing when I was applying.

You have to check with the programs you are applying to. Some schools will only take one complete test, so they might take a higher verbal and a 0 or whatever on the quant. Some schools will let you take the highest score on each section no matter whether you got it on multiple versions of the test. In short, email the grad sec or DGS and ask their GRE test report policy.

Yeah, most of the schools I applied to required it, but maybe more schools are changing to not require it. I would just say that if you're choosing not to take it, make sure to check very closely that all the schools you are applying to don't require it.

Well, it has a super early deadline (Dec 1) so don't procrastinate! Feel free to PM me and I'll share my SOP with you, in case that might help. I'll know more once I start, but my funding package is great and everyone was super nice. Language background is pretty highly valued there. . .they are pretty strong in critical theory but have a heavy emphasis on intellectual history and close reading. Umm. . .I definitely got the impression that Medieval and early modern (my area) were sort of the bread and butter, but that could just have been the bias of my field and what I was looking for while visiting. Anyway, any specific questions you can think of, I'd be happy to share! I chose between a few schools to go to UMN, and I'm SO excited to start! Best of luck to you!

Definitely. Also, most schools will take test scores after the deadline. A lot of them say this on their website, or you can find out by emailing the program.

Most schools will take test scores after the deadline for the application. Generally, the subject test is offered in both October and November, and you can take it either date and have your scores on time. As for the general test, you can usually take it through November dates and have the scores be accepted. With the new format, that may affect that timeline. If you're worried, email the grad secretary at the programs you're applying to and ask them about when they want the test scores.

Since I'm English not history, I'm not in a great place to make program recommendations. The history forum will be a better place for that, especially once you say what subfields you are interested in. However, you can start by looking at history rankings in US News and World Report (or some other ranking) just to get an idea of what programs are out there. Then you can go to the program webpages and find out if they offer an MA, if they provide funding, and what admission requirements are. In English most of the funded MA programs are at schools ranked lower (like around 100 or so) or schools that don't offer a Ph.D. That's fine, as a funded MA at a lower-ranked school is generally better than an unfunded MA at a highly ranked school. You'll get some graduate research experience, build your CV, have another arena to get a GPA, and make professional contacts. As for grad life, well, I was really busy because my MA was an accelerated one-year program. I did coursework, wrote a thesis, and did not teach. My MA was partially funded, and if I knew then what I do now, I probably would have applied to a lot more MA programs (I actually didn't apply to any). However, I did work from home some and I enjoyed myself. I worked out regularly, went to social events, and explored the city of Chicago. I expect my Ph.D. experience to be a bit less hectic. We'll see this fall! Do your best with your remaining time and focus on, like grapefruit said, making history a part of your life. That work, dedication, and enthusiasm will pay off!

At my program I've been told that you can do an RA in addition to teaching a class or in addition to your fellowship, so I think it is okay. . .Who knows about your program, but given the response of the second prof, it seems like it isn't out of the ordinary. I'd be upfront with the prof you're doing the long-term project with. As long as he knows that his RA is the priority and the other prof is fine if you need to quit working for her if you get too busy, I'd think you're fine.

Oh and start work on your languages now! If you are ancient to early modern history, you need Latin and at least one other language. Pick related to your subfield.

It certainly isn't the end of the road. When you apply for history programs, you report what your GPA is for history only as well as your cumulative GPA. What is your history GPA? Keep that up as high as you can, and address the science thing briefly in your SOP. Also, when you do get to the application stage, apply to MA as well as Ph.D. programs. You may need to go do the MA, get really good grades there, and show that you have the stamina and academic rigor for the Ph.D. As for things to do now, well, I'm not in your field, but this is pretty general advice: -try to TA or RA for a professor, even just helping him/her with research (paid or not) -join history organizations -attend history conferences and apply to present as well, especially at undergraduate conferences -look for undergrad history journals you can submit your work to -build strong relationships with professors (go to their office hours, speak up in class, work hard on your papers, etc.) -start trying to figure out your subfield now -read journals in your area so you are aware of current conversations and scholarship -start studying for the GRE and the subject test for history (is there one?). A high GRE score can offset your GPA. I'm in English, my major GPA was 3.9 as was my MA GPA. My overall GPA (I was English/chemistry) was 3.7. I think, though, that this doesn't really matter. You have to focus on the next couple of years and start putting things into place for graduate work in history, if that's what you want to do. You can make it work!

I wouldn't waste money on those services. I think most of them are scams. Professors and academics are of much more use to you. Have your undergrad profs read and comment on your SOP. PM it to people who offer on here. Does your undergrad have a writing center? Take your SOP there if so.

Especially for the MA, follow the money. A funded or partially funded MA from a less prestigious school is far better than an MA from a fancy school that you pay for.

Not my field but generally, yes, first person is fine. I'd avoid a lot of personal anecdotes. Only include ones relevant to your stated research interests. Of course, in teaching, I would imagine there would be more personal information than my field, but I think you still need to say why grad school is right for you, what your research interests are, what work you've done that has prepared you for grad school (Teach for America, lots of teaching experience, professional organization activity, etc., I'd think for your field), and then why each school you are applying to is a good fit (professors, resources, specific things about the program). Good luck!

Hi! I too am the first in my family to go to college, get an MA, and now go for a Ph.D. I've made a lot of mistakes along the way and so wish I knew then what I know now, but c'est la vie, no? You'll be able to help your students and kids (if you have them) A LOT more because of your experiences Anyway, some programs just won't reply to requests for feedback. When I asked in the past I emailed the DGS and explained that I would really appreciate any responses on the weaker components of my application. I kept the email short and to the point, and some schools never replied at all. If you've already done this with all the schools you've applied to, then that's all you can do. Next steps! What kind of feedback have you gotten from poets who read your work? The best thing you can do is circulate your poetry to as many poets as possible and get their responses. Revise based on those responses. Perhaps contact some professors you really want to work with at schools you are applying to. I would email them saying you like their work and ask a question about their work. This might help you get your foot in the door. Also, get as many people as possible to read your statement of purpose. Tailor it to each school. If you want,I'd be happy to read it and provide any recommendations I might have. Just PM me and I'll give you my email address. What are your GRE scores? If you think you might be able to boost your verbal score, maybe do that. This is the least important part of your app, though, so don't spend a ton of time and money you don't have here. What schools are you applying to? Do you think all of your LORs were strongly positive? If not, is there someone you could ask to replace one of those writers? Anyway, best of luck!

Yeah, definitely ask for feedback. It may be that other aspects of your application (SOP, GRE scores, LORs, etc.) were what made the difference. However, I would at least revise my writing sample, if not replace it entirely. There is likely some tweaking you can do to make it stronger. Edited to add that unless you have an MA, you may want to add some MFA programs to your list. Ph.D. programs are super competitive, so having some Ph.D. applications and MFA applications may give you some more options.

I worked while I was doing my MA. I worked about 20 hours a week and it was a compressed MA into a year. I was almost always studying, working, or reading/writing. I needed the money, so I made it work. That said, my job was super flexible. I worked from home when it was best for my schedule. That made it a lot easier for me to work. You may find that an inflexible schedule just prevents you from working. If you're going on for a Ph.D., your MA grades and work matter a great deal; don't compromise that to make a few hundred bucks. My advice would be to try it for the first month or so of the semester. If it isn't working, quit your job and get more loan money. Perhaps you'll be able to make it work. I'm also planning on working about 10 hours a week during my Ph.D., but again, it is work from home and flexible (I coach a collegiate speech and debate team), so the nature of the work may make that more feasible for me than someone who has to be at a specific place for a specific time.

Check out the hapax legomenon website: http://lasr.cs.ucla.edu/alison/hapaxlegomena/index.html This has a bunch of flash cards you can use. There are theory questions. Basically, they'll have a short reading of a text and you identify the school of theory. It's very simple theory and very obvious, heavy-handed readings, so don't overthink it. There will be passage identification questions. Chaucer and Beowolf usually make an appearance. Early modern texts are pretty big too, Shakespeare, Spenser, Sidney, Milton, Marlowe (just the big hitters usually). Gray's Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard is historically popular. There are also more reading comprehension questions than there were previously, so if you have an older test prep book, those practice tests will have more passage identification and less comprehension questions. That can throw off your time management in the test. However, I would recommend getting some prep books. I found them useful. Also, most importantly, try not to freak out! I'm usually a good test taker and was scoring 98-99% on practice tests before I took the actual test, but I had a bit of a panic attack and ended up in the 92%. Just try to do some meditation or something before you take it because you can never prepare perfectly for this thing and you might get thrown by a series of unfamiliar questions at first, BUT odds are really high you'll know lots of other ones. You don't have to score anywhere near perfectly to get a high score, so don't fret if you hit a rough spot early on. Also, use process of elimination, BUT if you can't get it down to two options you feel pretty confident about, I'd leave it blank given the point penalty for wrong answers. Good luck!

Just echoing everyone else! Absolutely do not retake the GRE. Those are amazing scores, and especially as an international student, the super excellent Verbal score far, far overshadows the AW. I'm sure you're going to be a very competitive applicant! Good luck!

I wouldn't worry about the deadlines. Most schools will still take the November subject test and that comes out way past Dec 1. Good luck!

Oh! Well, that changes things. There is a difference between your overall GPA and your major GPA. What is your GPA for only your English major? Also, is your GPA for the last two years of college a lot higher? That all matters. In fact, a lot of applications ask for all of those GPAs. If they don't, you might mention in your SOP that (if) your major GPA is a lot higher than your overall GPA.