holdon

Sounds reasonable. However, also bear in mind that you could do a shorter PhD program in policy/dev/ir etc in the UK for example. It would take a minimum of three years there. Why don't you think about doing a history research Master's in the UK, like a two year MPHIL to see if you like it?

I've just reread my posts/ and realized that I'm going crazy. Crazedandinfused, sorry I look like a diva. But I guess I'm still super-worried. The application process has definitely made me a (more) horrible person...

I really think you should do the Policy PhD! You could take History/Near Eastern Studies MA courses anyway. And you'd be much more marketable in the long run.

I didn't and I'm sorry, for saying the bit about him/her not contributing.

SapperDaddy: have you actually posted something on this thread that relates its original intent?

Look, the diving bits have no place here. Neither of them have bothered to share their profiles as per the thread's original intent. Yet they come here to talk diving. Their irrelevant posts irritate me when I come here to try and find some information relating to the profiles of other applicants. And Sigaba, don't suppose that everybody in the world, let alone on this site, would agree that people who signed up to fight in illegal and wicked wars is deserving, automatically, of respect.

I blow off steam by imagining your wealthy parents faces after hearing you've been lost at sea/eaten by a tiger shark/got the bends. And what is a "sapper"? No, what's a sapperdaddy?

Hey can you guys please not do this diving thing here. It makes the second page look ridiculous compared with the first. We're supposed to be talking about our credentials/results, not some self-indulgent rich kid's sport.

Why would you do a PhD in history? You should apply for a Policy PhD or a development PhD. Apply to places like Harvard kennedy, Princeton WWS, Columbia SIPA or overseas. For development PhDs! A history Phd will be of absolutely no help in the field. And don't say "transferable skill" or I will say "hand me a dagger"

I've been using the site a lot, and I think it's not fair to do so without contributing my 1/2 cent. Others who are lurking should do likewise. You're a bad person if you don't share any information but gorge on the generosity of others. You bastards. Undergrad Institution: Columbia Senior Thesis: Yes, it was on postcolonial poetry in India... Honors Program: No. Major(s): English Minor(s): History GPA in Major: 3.8 Overall GPA: 3.8 Position in Class: Relatively high MA Institution: MPP, Harvard Kennedy School Thesis: No Major: Policy GPA: None, but poor grades Position in Class: No formal rankings but quite low. Type of Student: Handsome is as handsome does. GRE Scores (old version): Q: 60% V: 96% W: 6.0 Research Experience: Some papers at college, thesis. But not that substantial. Awards/Honors/Recognitions: One. Not that significant. Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Yes, I worked at an NGO before returning to grad school. Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: Have a sexy voice, but interviews haven't really happened for me. Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: For the places that ask about it, growing up poor and gay. Applying to Where: Yale, Berkeley, Columbia, Harvard, NYU, UCLA Research Interests & Areas of Focus: Comparative LGBT history. Languages: German (speaking: good, reading: good, writing: good). Dutch. Poor. Spanish. Basic. Letters of Recommendation: 3 people from undergrad who probably forget/hate me. Statement of Purpose: It was alright, but not great. I'm not sure I should be applying this year/at all. Writing Sample: It got an A, but I'm not sure how good it was. Was a history paper. Not related to my proposed topic. Communication with POIs: I communicated with them, most were "interested" blablabla. That's fascinating. But none wanted to talk. Nobody ever just wants to talk. Lessons Learned from Application Process: You don't learn lessons until these things are over. It would feel like I was cursing my application to say anything remotely constructive about it all until after I've got the hatchet/got waitlisted/got in.

Thanks guys. IT's like a hangover, you just have to vomit to feel better. That's right, just get it all up, there, there aspirin plop plop fizz fizz. Repeat.

I'm totally freaked at this stage. Losing sleep, as Berkeley deadline approaches tomorrow. Am sending in a writing sample that is not on my research subject and have hours to cut it from 18 to 10 pages. Those bastards. Those Californian creeps. Also their "up close and personal statement" like what is that even about?! Who reads that? I can't sleep; I can't eat; I can't feel. Yes this process is killing me. No, it's not a breeze, a cakewalk, or "not-as-bad-as-I-thought" I've worked really hard for months and now I'm totally having a cardiac arrest inches from the finish line. Yes I had time to write this annoying post in the middle of the tempest, but isn't anybody else out there totally crumbling right now?

Thanks, very helpful people I'm agonizing a bit as it's so close and i just CANNOT seem to churn out something right, particularly given that my paper and SOP are becoming sorta indistinguishable apart from the word limits!!

The paper i wrote was on environmental history of Latin America in the 19th century, whereas I want to switch to Sexuality in Modern Europe!20th Oh sorry not to be clearer! The paper I have written is on

Hey! Another history paper!

Can anybody help me out on this following: I have writing samples that are not related to my field of study. Since applications are mostly due in the next two weeks, is it worth trying to finish up the field related writing sample or should I just go ahead with ones that are graded well but unrelated? Thanks