Hi All,
I've been reading TGC for a few weeks now, and I'm hoping to get advice from people that have already gone through the application process. Currently I am undergraduate student researching graduate programs strong in late Modern German history. While I have a list of potential POIs and schools, I'm looking for suggestions for programs that fund MAs. Ideally I will be attending in the Fall 2013 or Fall 2014 semester.
I'm interested in pursuing an MA before applying for any PhD programs because I think it will strengthen my applications. I've identified the weaker points in my application:
1. Low(ish) UG gpa: I think my gpa will be around a 3.5 when I graduate. My history gpa is higher than that. I know my graduating gpa should meet the minimum for admissions, but I'm hoping a better gpa in an MA program will boost my application.
2. Language skills: I'm currently studying German. By the time I graduate, I will have two years of study completed. To be blunt, learning German hasn't been the easiest! I'd like to develop my German skills a bit more before applying for a PhD. I've also studied Italian in the past but it's very rusty.
3. Lack of research: I've taken several upper divisional courses that have required short research papers. I've worked with translated primary source resources. By the time I graduate I'll have several short research papers (10-15 pages) and a seminar paper (20-25 pages). From what I've read, completing an MA thesis will ease me into researching and give me time to develop my language skills.
Any thoughts on this? My one concern with doing an MA first is funding. I understand that funding is fairly limited for MA students. This forum has been a huge already in my search in finding funded programs, so thank you!
This is the list I've come up with so far: SUNY Binghamton, Bowling Green, Kent State, UT-Knoxville, Vermont, Central Michigan, University of Akron, Northern Illinois, and Maryland.
Have I missed any glaringly obvious choices? Please feel free to chime in if I have. Any advice at all would be very much appreciated. Thank you!
edited to add: I have done some general searched on past threads already. I know there was a post about funded MAs just down the page but I didn't see many programs strong in German history.
