CageFree

Have any of you considered writing an entirely new paper for the writing sample? I wrote a thesis on Late Antiquity back in 2000. I think I've grown as a writer and thinker since then, and I don't think that thesis represents what I am capable of doing now. I am switching to an entirely new field in which I have no coursework (and therefore no papers), even though I have a lot of knowledge. I also have been completely out of practice since then. Would it be best to just really polish my old thesis (which is longer than most samples anyway), or to write a new research paper (not a thesis, something I would have done for a class, maybe) in my new field? The sample is very important in my situation. Thanks!

Thank you. That's one real source of concern for me as well... lack of coursework in the field. It doesn't mean lack of knowledge, however. As far as my writing sample, I am not sure it's so realistic to write a small thesis on a topic of interest. The professors I have spoken to said it should not worry me because it is common. I have very definite ideas of where I want to go with the topic, as I have a personal connection to it, and for my secondary field, I will do US History/Political Science, directly relating to foreign policy to Latin America. Again, not so much coursework, but I have taught post-civil war U.S. history AND government at the secondary level for the past 5 years. I am trying to figure out whether/how I can incorporate these thoughts into my statement of purpose.

Strategy really is a HUGE part of it. Things like... formulating an answer in your own head before you look at the choices (for example, for sentence completion). Not second-guessing yourself. Eliminating choices based on educated guesses or because they don't match what you came up with. That's just a little of it. Also, if you have an Android phone, there's a Kaplan GRE app for vocab that's FREE.

Sounds like you answered your own question. Don't second guess yourself... cardinal rule of standardized tests. Just curious, and trying to help: Have you ever taken a class on STRATEGY? Not studying material, but HOW to approach these things?

Hey, a lot of people get major test anxiety with standardized tests. It's pretty normal! That said, someone said your verbal score is awfully low for an English major and I agree. If I were you, I'd take a practice test for the new GRE and see where I score. THEN, I'd focus on improving those skills. When it comes to test-taking, it's really about knowing where your strategy is failing... what kinds of mistakes you are making. Maybe there's a type of question that you just have a really tough time with! Maybe you're approaching questions incorrectly. Standardized tests are about learning to think like the test makers. It's a game.

Oh, the rivalry is definitely... something. Funny thing? My fiance is a Trojan (USC). It's rather interesting. At any rate, I've had people on here tell me that I can apply to a Ph.D. program... and looking at the things I've done, plus some things that do make me stand out (8 years of secondary teaching experience that includes AP AND teaching fields outside of anything I've focused on... my background in modern U.S. is actually pretty good right now, and I teach political science/government); I have family heritage directly related to the area AND events I want to research, plus I've lived in the country in question and speak/read the language... I am gonna try for a couple of "reach" schools and see what happens. Your story really irked me because I ran into that same BS when first got back here after 11 years. I was in high school. I had been a stellar student back "home," and wanted to get into advanced classes in fields that I didn't need strong English for (like physics), to strengthen my college applications. Now, I wanted to go to UCLA since I was a little kid... my parents made sure I could do it However, my counselor took one look at my transcripts (12-13 subjects per year. School over there is TOUGH.) and said... "honey, a school like UCLA is impossible for you. It's very hard to get in and you don't have the education. It says you have three years of biology, and physics but... they don't do physics down there like we do here.... I can't put you in any of those classes. You should focus on trying to find a job first... maybe try a trade, (like... get this.... COSMETOLOGY. Really! She said that!) Then you can try a community college and maybe you can try to transfer to a university like Cal State Dominguez.... but UCLA? That's really not realistic for you." And then she put me in "fundamentals of physics and chemistry." I had three years of each discipline in my pocket and here I was, hanging out with all of the potheads and dumb surfers. I sure showed her! I took my SATs, wrote a good essay, and got into every school I applied to. And that's when I learned that NO ONE gets to tell me that I can't do something. If I want it, I can make it happen. As for the job market... I did the predictable thing and became a teacher. I've always wanted to teach. I still do I just learned how to be a TEACHER. But my first job out of college was in a purchasing department for a small corporation

One more thing. Subbing is good as a way to make some extra cash AND to get your name out there... if you want to teach in that district. Sub experience does NOT come in handy to get the hang of teaching though.. in fact, it's sometimes counterproductive. Just a little anecdote... I had the opportunity to take one of two student teachers two years ago. One had years of subbing experience and was getting a master's plus credential. After meeting her, I knew my kids would eat her alive, so I turned her down (and took the other student). It turns out she was incredibly rude and could not bond with them... she reverted to her "sub" routine... referrals and detentions, and tried to order them (seniors) around. The student teacher I took had the chance to develop her own management style (albeit with a LOT of guidance from me... she struggled at first), and is a FANTASTIC sub... can't get a job

Hi! I am a Social Science teacher in California - just finished my 7th year yay! I teach in a suburban district... we've had it better than most with the budget situation. Just some practical advice from someone in the trenches... History/social science is not a field in demand. There's a TON of us. We're lucky to find jobs. It pays to be competitive, but you're going to really need to learn to sell YOURSELF. Having a master's can be a double-edged sword.. just throwing that out there. Getting a master's means higher pay. But districts are strapped for cash and often are not willing to pay a rookie for the master's... so it can hurt your chances in a lot of areas. Although I've been teaching for so many years, this is the first time I've EVER heard of a Masters of Teaching... I read up on it and it sounds like a good program... but I am not sure how different it is from a M.Ed in terms of reputation. Furthermore, principals will be impressed by your letters of rec from master teachers, and academic record (and depending on the school, where you went for your undergrad)... for the master's, honestly, they won't care that your masters in TEACHING is from a top university. M.Eds, for example, are not valued that much in the teaching world... people work hard for them, but they won't convince a principal to hire you unless your other credentials are up to par.. A masters in your subject area will impress more, and is more likely to get you those higher-level kids (AP/IB/Honors/Gate). Another thing is, if you do decide to go for it... only apply for programs in states where you want to teach. Credentials are not interchangeable from state to state... California is one of the most "transferable" credentials because we have to jump through SO many hoops... but some states will require that you recertify in their state by taking additional coursework, EVEN IF you have a MAT. If you want to teach in Illinois (like, say, Chicago Public Schools, or CPS), then by all means, go there... but don't spend a ton of money on out of state tuition. It's not going to pay off. State schools are nothing to scoff at... they are designed, for one thing, to prepare teachers. That's why they offer credential programs. The California State system, for example, was created for that purpose, while the UC was for research. Anyway, I'm not trying to discourage you if this is what you really want... but I want to make sure you think of all of these things before making a decision that might end up being costly and that you agonize over. It's the teacher in me, I guess

Look, some thought the response was inappropriate, some just focused on what you were asking (myself included). You did not ignite any racial debate... please feel free to ask questions. For what it's worth, if being African-American is a part of your identity, then that's just so. Being Argentinian AND American is my identity and you bet it shapes my research interests! I certainly plan to to mention this as part of the reason why my topic interests me so much... the events I want to research feature prominently in my family history and into my own life. I didn't just arrive to that idea out of the blue. Identity is about how you see yourself and what your own experience and relationship is to the world.

Hi all I am trying to find some programs in Latin American History and was hoping to get some feedback about the following schools/programs that I'm looking into, if you know anything. If you haven't read my other thread, I'm coming in from Ancient/Late Antiquity. Some stats: BA UCLA, 3.7 upper division/major - graduated in 2000. Overall was 3.1 because of a failed calculus class as an engineering major. Wrote an honors thesis in L.A. and was an undergrad research assistant for my thesis advisor (who is writing me a letter I believe will be very strong). Have a teaching credential, had a 3.7 GPA in that. Been teaching for 8 years. I'm 34. Have not taken the GRE yet but I have a very good track record with standardized testing - I should do well. Native-level fluency in Argentinian Spanish - I lived there for 11 years (moved as a child, came back as a teen). My interest is in modern Argentina so I really would prefer to work with an Argentinist. I have a very good reason, I think, for switching fields, and I know exactly what I want to work on. Obviously, my writing and letters will weigh very heavily. I originally planned to do a M.A. part-time but I can't find people anywhere near my field in any school around here that offers one, so I guess I will be quitting my job no matter what. Now, as far as programs: UC Riverside - in the other thread someone was very encouraging about it. There is someone there in my field, and same period of interest. Downside? He has two other students right now in Argentina, including one that got in this year. Did encourage me to apply. UC San Diego UC Irvine (I would probably stick with the MA part-time if I went there) UConn Ohio State Any other suggestions, if I'm reaching too high (and I probably am)?

Thank you so very much for the encouragement. I needed to make sure I could stack up well... I felt I had a strong background, but sometimes looking at you relative youngin's (lol, makes me sound like an old fart) with your 3.9/4.0 GPAs (because you did it right, went for History and never looked back), I look at myself and think... geez, if only I had gotten an A- in ______ instead of a B+, or an A instead of an A-. Sad, isn't it?

Thank you all for the advice you've given so far. Keep it coming! Good news first: I spoke to my strongest recommender and she said she will absolutely support me with a letter in this new field. Phew! She suggested I speak to a professor at UCLA, even though they don't currently have any Argentinists. I've been corresponding with him. I did contact UCI and though they don't have an Argentinist, there is an Intercampus Exchange program among the UCs. I'm still waiting to hear back. I contacted UC Riverside and there is a professor there who is a PERFECT match for me. Argentina, Dirty War era... Dr. James Brennan. I researched him, and he's published... a few books, lots of book reviews. There is no one else in the field in all of the UC. He wrote me a very nice e-mail. Bad news: I contacted CSU Long Beach and they will not take anyone in Latin America because their two LA professors are on leave. CSU Fullerton has only one real tenured faculty in the field, not even closely aligned to what I'm interested in, and they do not have any type of reciprocity with the UCs. So, here's my dilemma: Both professors, at UCR and UCLA, discouraged me from doing the M.A. first. Brennan said that I would have good funding at UCR.. and it IS cheap to live out there. Both CSUs near me are out. UCI is the only one to offer a terminal M.A., and part-time, but the requirements to get in are probably not too different from the PhD and I'll have to self-fund - the money I make in teaching will disappear in paying fees, books, and my sanity. I hadn't considered doing a Ph.D. first really. I'm a non-traditional student (34 right now), with 8 years of secondary teaching experience including AP classes, a B.A. from 2000 in a different field of History, a 3.1 overall GPA (with a 3.7 junior/senior years and a 3.74 in my credential program). I only have two academic references (excellent ones, but still only two) and as many professional ones as I want, since I've been teaching all these years. My principal wrote me a GLOWING letter. I have native-level fluency in Spanish (both reading and writing - I lived in Argentina for a number of years). Would any decent Ph.D. program take someone like me, assuming my writing sample and Statement of Purpose are stellar, and my GRE scores are high? UCR would probably be a good place for me for a number of reasons... I like the campus, my sister is now going there. I'd stay close to my family in L.A., my fiance (husband by then) will likely be working and making money in the area. We have no kids or any plans for any. Is it a bad idea to go there, even though there is a good professor for me to work with, there are other professors in Latin America, and therefore would be a good fit for me? But I worry about whether it's the reputation of the PROGRAM, or the reputation of your advisors in your chosen field, that should be a priority. I'm also considering UC San Diego. Don't know much about their program except that it is good, and that they have a professor who specializes in the Southern Cone (Chile, mostly).

Oh, I understand that. My thesis is what will make me or break me. But considering how shoddy my overall GPA was due to my... runs in with engineering, so to speak... I feel like I need to make up for that deficiency. :/

There was a guy at UCI who did more Mediterranean, Thomas Sizgorich, but he passed away early this year

Which USC are you at? We might just be crosstown rivals I had a similar situation... started out in engineering, did very poorly (failed a calc class twice, had Cs in everything else), so I switched out and chose history. My first three major classes were in the B range - all lower division; partly because I was overcoming the rest of a language barrier, partly because I'd never been trained as a historian - didn't know how to write research papers, for example. Then I took a lower division seminar and the lightbulb went on... that's what I wanted to do. From that point forward, I kicked major behind... one year I actually had no grade lower than an A- for any quarter. Because of a couple of B+ here and there, I ended up with a 3.64 in major, 3.7 in the last 60 units.. even though I graduated with a 3.1, thanks to the F that I could never have removed. I also wrote an honors thesis. I;m a non-traditional student; I took a decade off, and have been teaching. With a very high GRE, and with recent letters of rec from professors I worked with 11 years ago, I could get into a fairly competitive Ph.D. program but I want the best. So I'm just going to get into a terminal MA program, do a master's thesis, get a very high GPA (hopefully a 4), and with letters of rec I should be competitive to go just about anywhere. I highly doubt that admissions people are going to look at an F in multivariable integral calc right before an obvious switch as an undergrad, ignore the rest of what I've done since, and say... "nope, not good enough. Failed a calc class and couldn't pass it the second time. Off with her head!" In fact, UCLA told me not to worry about that. So.. my advice is, work your BUTT off to get As in the rest of your history classes. DO a thesis and complete it no matter what... even if you need to take an extension. Choose a field where you already know the language, or start taking that language NOW. Your final GPA will not be great... but it will be better than mine. Get into a good MA program where you can be near or at the top of the class, write an excellent thesis, get published. You will then be able to get that Ph.D. that your advisor says is out of your league. Yeah, it will take work. But you CAN do it.

Hi everyone I have a few questions but I wanted to give a little background before asking. Sorry, it's a short novel. :/ I live in Southern California and am looking to start a M.A. program in Fall of 2012. I have a BA in history, and my research was rather narrow as I intended to go to grad school in Late Antiquity. I even did a thesis. My family is from Latin America and I lived there for about 11 years, growing up. Over the years I've become a lot closer to my parents' culture and history, and frankly I am a lot more interested in that area of research than I am in Late Antiquity - I have not really kept up with scholarship in that field. Also, I've been teaching high school for a number of years, and my interests have switched to things like Political Science; political history would be something I'd be very interested in. The thing is, I have ZERO coursework in Latin American history. I did 11 years of school, including half my high school career, over there, so I learned a lot of the "official" version of the history of my parents' country. My letters of rec are very strong in LATE ANTIQUITY. But I've been having a very tough time trying to narrow down an area of Late Antiquity to focus on, and I think it comes down to a lack of interest. I could keep it as a secondary field, but I don't want to do research in that field. Another consideration (small, but it's there) is the dearth of programs and professors in Late Antiquity in my area; I am not currently able or willing to travel, so I'm only looking at a terminal M.A., to later apply to programs in a different part of the country (or at the very least, up to Berkeley). The three schools that are within range for me are: UC Irvine, CSU Fullerton, CSU Long Beach. So... my questions are as follows. 1) Should I address the reason for a switch of field in my SOP, or wait until I'm in before announcing it? 2) Should I ask my recommenders to write with no specific field in mind? One thinks I'm really going to stay in this field because at the time I spoke to her, that was my intention. I don't know how to even address that, but I really need HER letter in particular. 3) For the writing sample, my thesis was in Late Antiquity. Should I write a new document, doing some basic research in the field I'm looking into, to show my current skills and interests? 4) UCI has the best reputation, but their program isn't as well tailored to what I want to do as the one at CSU Long Beach, or even CSU Fullerton. Will it hurt my chances of getting into a top Ph.D. program if I go and bust my butt at a CSU, as opposed to UCI? Any advice or feedback is most humbly appreciated. Teacher4MA

Hi My undergraduate area of interest (and topic of my honors thesis) was Late Antiquity; I am now looking to go back for a MA 12 years after the BA, and spoke a while back to my old thesis advisor. She told me that finding jobs in LA is extremely difficult here in the US and that I should be prepared for that; tenure track, in particular, will be very difficult. If your thing really is Late Antiquity, you might want to look into Princeton (Peter Brown), University of Michigan (Raymond Van Dam) in addition to the ones you looked at. As far as UCLA... Claudia Rapp is now teaching at the University of Vienna... permanently. She was the heart of Late Antiquity at UCLA. I don't know if there's anyone left, certainly not anyone of her caliber.