CageFree

Someone in my cohort transferred from an ethnic studies PhD (same school) to History as he saw that his interests aligned better with history. I would suggest that you look at the availability of resources (including human) as a whole, rather than just one person to work with... especially if you're thinking of doing something interdisciplinary.

Awwww.. shucks! Don't get me wrong, teaching was a great career path for me and I don't regret it one bit. I am very happy that I took the time off and learned HOW to teach, mentor and, in some cases, inspire. I just wasn't meant to be a lifer. And thanks! I am very happy. UCD is a perfect fit for my interests and for my personality. Plus, I'm already a UC product and there is a certain comfort that comes with familiarity (such as the quarter system). And, I get to stay in my beloved California. No offense to people in other states, but my biased opinion is that California IS the greatest and most beautiful state.

I'm leaving a (not-so lucrative, but tenured) career in education for a PhD and you know what? I'm scared out of my wits. That's just the plain truth. What if it doesn't pan out? What if I hate it? What if I flunk out? I keep thinking about the fact that I'm taking a 40K pay cut and have bills to pay (luckily, I will be married by the time I start and can rely on him for support), and that I'm in my mid-30s and will be hanging out with a bunch of people a decade younger. But you know what else? I am happy with the decision I made because I too feel I'm going through the motions at my current job. It feels like a shoe two sizes too small (hence, my nickname). I need intellectual stimulation, and I miss having the time to read things I'm actually interested in. I miss doing research. As far as finding time to apply, you just do. I had the summer off and was recovering from surgery so I had plenty of time to research schools, study for the GRE and work on my SOP, but the bulk of the writing (SOP and revising my writing sample) was done while I was working full time, coaching an academic team by myself plus running two clubs, and doing the bulk of my wedding planning. I was working on the writing sample at lunch and at break, showing bits and pieces to my student-teacher (who was not teaching anything at the time) and getting his feedback, during quizzes and tests... just carving out whatever little bit of time I had. It got done. I came out 15 lbs. heavier from eating junk, with twice as much gray hair, and knowing myself a heck of a lot better. I put it off way too long... and would have continued putting it off if my fiance hadn't talked some sense into me and told me to just go for it. I kept finding reasons why it was not the right time... you know, there's never a "right" time. In 5 years I'll still be 40; the difference is whether I'll be here, wasting away and wishing I were somewhere else, or there and finishing my first book. The choice is a no-brainer for me.

Yep! I'm interested in social and political history in the 1980s and 1990s.

Nah. I got into a couple of great programs, with full funding, and I only have a B.A. from a decade ago. Your writing sample and letters of rec carry a LOT of weight... the feedback I've gotten is that my letters were incredibly strong, and so was my writing sample. No mention about my SOP but I imagine I did ok there too.

I can only speak of my experience at Davis, which is incredibly laid-back, even by California standards. Although I had with me a set of business-casual clothes and shoes, we were told that there was no need for any formality at any event. We did a lot of walking (around the town as well as the school) so comfortable shoes are a must; I would not wear heels just to look "the part." At this point, they are selling the school to you so don't worry about being "interviewed," unless you're going to a place where you haven't been formally admitted yet. A nice top with jeans and flats would most likely be appropriate.

PhD- History Arizona: dukelover50 Brown: Attia, Ganymede18 (partner), virmundi Cambridge: superfluousflo Columbia: Cpetersen, Safferz Harvard: Safferz Illinois-UC: Gene Parmesan, R_Escobar Illinois-Chicago: crazedandinfused Johns Hopkins: Pugsley87 Michigan State: Cranston Minnesota: remenis, WendyDarling Northwestern: Ganymede18 (partner), genesisy, goldielocks Nebraska: R_Escobar, grlu0701 NYU: Sequi001, uhohlemonster Ohio State: iamincontrolhere-haig, ticklemepink Oxford: alleykat Penn: Safferz, runner09, Pugsley87 Pitt: teachgrad/CageFree Princeton: easybreesy9, maeisenb, Roxelana, Safferz Rutgers: goldielocks SUNY-Binghamton: alleykat SUNY-Buffalo: goldielocks, Veilside1, wikichic SUNY- Stonybrook: abacab44, always sunny, crazedandinfused Temple University: crazedandinfused, alleykat, superrockr1 Virginia: cupoftea_andasitdown UC- Berkeley: Astarabadi, CPetersen, telemaque UC- Davis: teachgrad/CageFree UC-Riverside: teachgrad/CageFree UC- SB: virmundi University of Exeter: Lureynol University of Chicago: Attia, calamari19, Sequi001 University of Miami: sandyvanb UNC- CH: cupoftea_andasitdown USC: CPetersen, virmundi UT- Austin: emerald54 University of Washington: Gene Parmesan UW- Madison: Attia, emerald54, hopin’-n-prayin’, RevolutionBlues, sequi001, telemaque, ticklemepink Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL): taybaxter, goldielocks Yale: Agora, Safferz, telemaque, virmundi, zb642 PhD- Other Harvard (AmCiv): CPetersen Kansas (AMST): Gene Parmesan Purdue (AMST): Gene Parmesan SUNY- Buffalo (AMST): R_Escobar UC- Davis (Cultural Studies): genesisy UC- Irvine (Culture & Theory): genesisy UC- SB (Classics): Attia MA- History Cambridge: Lureynol Chicago: uhohlemonster Fordham: qbluecheers Indiana: GloFish Louisiana State: grlu0701 Miami U.: Kelkel Northern Illinois: Cranston Tel Aviv University: uhohlemonster Texas Tech: grlu0701 UMass-Amherst: crazedandinfused SUNY-Binghamton: Kelkel UT- Dallas: Kelkel West Virginia: grlu0701 William and Mary: historyguy12485

I spent the weekend at UC Davis (it was recruitment weekend but I used it to get to know the people in my field). Woke up this morning to an admission from UC Riverside and a fellowship... I thought I'd withdrawn the application. Anyway, I LOVED Davis and I absolutely love the people in my field. I got to meet with my adviser for an hour one-on-one, and the other professors as well as current students were very welcoming. I also met a couple of GC lurkers, one of whom lives in the same town as me and has already decided to attend as well. Good luck to everyone else still making decisions!

Wow. I'm actually kind of glad I got rejected from Wisconsin... I don't understand why they would admit people and then deny funding, especially for out-of-state applicants who just won't be able to afford the tuition.

CONGRATULATIONS!

I just wanted to thank everyone for their support this year. Like goldie, I too am done with the process, and wish everyone who is still waiting for results the best of luck.

Someone just posted a Pitt acceptance.

Or about the documentary they saw on the History channel. Or, they start talking about the area of history they like to read said books about (usually, WWII military history).

Wow, I had a lot of catching up to do! My fiance and I drove up to Davis this weekend (we're in Southern California) on our own, just to check out the area, and we got to visit the school a bit too. I am going up again next weekend for the official visit. Congrats on all of the good news... Twist of Fate, sandyvb, crazedandinfused, and everyone else.

Congrats!

I think you may be underselling yourself. I have a hard time believing not one professor remembers you! I just got into two great Ph.D. programs with letters of rec from professors that had not seen or heard of me... since 2000. In a different field from what I'm pursuing now. Since you don't have history background, then you really should consider the Master's route to see if you even like the field itself. If you come from a foreign policy background, a history Ph.D. is not going to give you foundation knowledge for foreign policy. In History (like in most academic fields) grad school is about knowing more and more about less and less. To me, it sounds like your goals are more aligned with graduate work in Poli Sci, but with a heavy emphasis in history. Just my two cents.

This. Give yourself the time to think about it carefully; don't rush your decision.

I think it is important to distinguish between programs that admit you to the M.A. with a chance of moving on to a Ph.D. (such as Pittsburgh or UWashington), versus being admitted into a terminal M.A. program only. In the former, the M.A. and Ph.D. are one track... success in the M.A. determines whether you'll be admitted into the Ph.D.. In the latter, it seems to be separate tracks with different requirements.

Find out whether you need to have a big-name school (i.e. Ivy, etc.) in order to get into your career, or whether a Ph.D. from a well-respected program is enough. I would probably lookinto Poli Sci/International Relations programs as well as History; there can be some definite overlap for your goals. Interdisciplinary studies are "hot" right now. I'll likely be working with a Poli Sci professor since my field is transitional justice... I definitely need some of that background. Re: admissions, your chances of getting into a History Ph.D. will depend on whether you have coursework in History and can show evidence of being able to do history work. It may be that you'll need to do a History M.A. (funded, even) and then go for a Ph.D. in History, depending on your record. Ever done historical research?

Yay!!!

Prestige + fit + atmosphere.

(Channeling inner lame teenager): Eminem FTW! (/off Teenager).

So funny to see so many "late Gen-Xers" hiding among the sea of millennials.

He sampled Kashmir?!?!?!?!?!?! Is NOTHING sacred anymore? What's next, sample Bridge Over Troubled Water? Yesterday? Smells Like Teen Spirit?

I love Polly. Don't ask me why. I also love About a Girl.