GuitarSlayer

Yeah, Northwestern's got me waiting too. According to last year, the slew of results came in February 4thish. So /pace

Now Northwestern rejections are starting to come out, and eeeep. Ohio State also began acceptances/rejections, and radio silence. Hurry up so I can move on with my life! XD

I was actually looking into the UC schools, and one of my professors has a friend out there. Supposedly, funding is ridiculously tight this year -- he actually discouraged me from applying (which isn't a problem, since I wasn't looking that way) because of the funding issues they're having even with their current students. So definitely don't take this rejection too badly -- it's not you, it's the piggy bank.

Cookies and condolences to all the Berkley apps -- I loaded up the screen for history and just gaped at the results. I know this is probably a silly thing, but I am sort of annoyed that my super early acceptance happened...because now I'm just waaaiiiiiting for everything else while one offer is dangling front of me. It's hard not to bite. Even without funding. >< I know I'm not under any pressure to accept yet, especially since they haven't finalized any financial help yet, but....now it's a matter of waiting weeks before I can make a real decision. I hate not making decisions -- a state of limbo drives me crackers. I'm trying to write my thesis right now, but gaaaahhh the f5 button is not my friend.

I'm one of those people who likes shopping and plotting deals, so each acceptance lets me shop for apartments/houses in the area of the school, hehe.

Finally got my letter from York, yay!! My only problem is that they have my research topic listed as something related to what I want to do, but not actually what I want to do...... should I email the professor and ask? I've never indicated that that was what I wanted to do.

ROFL, I was about to post the same thing, VT. XD Jeez. That's my #1, so I'll be on pins and needles until I know.

If everyone did that, the office would be swamped. I would only call if it was March/April and no word. Or if there was a major scholarship deadline where you HAD to know whether you were admitted.

I actually like lurking around here. I am not the only person losing my mind over this, and that breeds a sense of comradeship and not being alone, haha.

I used Barons briefly to cram math tricks the night before, but what helped me best was reading some Shakespeare. Not joking -- the Bard was more helpful than a test prep book. Then again, I took the old test, so dunno how it is now.

Could it have been a private heads up from the POI? That's my situation at the moment -- haven't heard a peep from the school itself, but I know I'm in via my lord and master. So admits may not officially be out, but someone's POI is excited. Just putting that out there. Please continue breathing XD

I did a research trip over the last three weeks as part of my MA (went fab!), and to kill time on the trains, I managed to read all of Les Miserables. I really do love this book, on the third read through. I can only do it once every 5 years though -- it is huge and sprawling, but Hugo really knows how to tie bows and give you happy feelings while at the same time ripping your heart out. Also -- I like the new movie more now because I realize/remember that any changes they made to the movie were reversions to the book!

(reloads OSU page) "Under consideration" x_X Even though York UK says the same thing, I got a private email from the head financial aid officer and my POI -- I'm in! So at least this season isn't one big goose egg.

Excluding those you mentioned, I think you'll probably grab 3, possibly 4. After you do the Oxford clinical, I think the world will open up a bit further. Also, did those schools make it clear that interviews = acceptance? Or are they for those they are undecided about? You might be a sure shot -- I don't want to get your hopes up, but they may have made a snap decision on you and are doing interviews for those they aren't quite set on. History: MA, 3.93 avg. with minor in anthro (4.0 avg there) GRE (old) 790, 740, 5 (170 and 169, I think, on the new scale) State school for master's, no name for undergrad, but 2 years study abroad Funded research trip this January 3 LOR, sterling Novel topic, which I am aware could work for or against. Schools applied: Northwestern, Fordham, Toronto, Ohio State, U of Michigan (History and Anthro program), York UK, Oxford UK, Yale

Normally I would say to stay away from "studies" degrees (Medieval Studies, Renaissance Studies, etc). However, with the History of Sci Tech, I would make an exception. There are several excellent and well-respected programs that I am aware of, and even while doing a general history course, I've run into sci tech professors and authors in one way or another. I wouldn't write it off so quickly. Certainly look at Harvard's program.

I have been to York before -- I lived in London for 2 years, so I did some traveling to visit a friend who attended there for a year. It is super quiet, but I can dig it. With the National Rail system, I can get anywhere I want within a few hours, if I really want some action. I'm not much of a partier anyway -- think crazy cat lady with a Julie Child streak. XD I'm currently done with everything minus Oxford's 1000-word research proposal. I'm trying to expand it without sounding like I'm BSing, but it's getting difficult.

Guess that makes me Queen Blasphemer with my minor in anthro XD

Bumping, since we're hitting the deadzone between apps and new semester! Inventing Wyatt Earp by Allen Barra. My guilty pleasure as a medievalist is Doc Holliday XD

I actually came onto the forum tonight see if I could track down some advice on the research proposal -- 350 words to summarize what you plan to do after your thesis (which I haven't started throwing down yet, but will do so shortly). Good Lord, haha. I also just nixed CUNY from the running. $125 app fee for them to tell me to a) get all my transcripts sent to my house; b ) put them in a big envelope with my GREs and writing sample and other support docs; c) oh, and also acquire written confirmation from a person in the language department that I am competent (never mind the fact the transcript says that I tested out of 4 semesters of both German and Spanish); d) mail it to them at my expense. REALLY!? The only bright side to that is the endless amounts of hilarity in attempting to text the boyfriend about this with the iPhone's overzealous autocorrecting of "CUNY."

Well. Keep calm and carry on, I suppose. I'll get a job teaching community college with my master's, work on some articles and attend conferences.. and if necessary, go back to the 9-5 as I was before. Until it's a done deal, you can't panic. Random, wacky stuff happens in the world of academia.

As I mentioned to my friends, I've officially hit the "hyperventilating into a paper bag" stage of PhD apps. Applied to Northwestern, Fordham, Yale, Ohio State, and UMich's Doctoral Program in History and Anthropology (yep, all one program). Will apply to York (UK), Oxford, CUNY, and Toronto in the coming weeks. I still need to write the research prospectus for the abroad schools (I'm an American), but I have the grunt work already done.

I've talked to a few POIs already, and, in my experience, they would rather have you solid in one other language -- preferably your 'backbone' -- and also the language of the geographical area you want to cover. For example, I've been asked about my working knowledge of Latin, German, and French directly as a potential history PhD with a cert/focus in medieval history. They definitely want Latin, but if you're better at German or French, that's not a downside. On the other hand, if you're doing Napoleonic France, for example, French is required flat out, because it's the language of diplomacy and the geographic area you're covering. As TMP has said, it depends on who you're working with now and who you will be working with in the future that really makes these reqs stringent or not. But use your common sense. It's better to be an overachiever than not; I'm personally going by Harvard's requirement of reading ability in at least 2 languages. Unless it's Latin, I'd shoot for basic "I can get around the city without ending up in a landfill or the redlight district" speaking competency.

One of my professors indicated to me that his biggest regret was doing his BA,and MA enroute to PhD all in one place. When you do that, either you have no diversity in your thought, having been shaped by the same people over the course of 10-15 years, or you are perceived as such. Variety is good, so don't worry about having an MA before entering a PhD program. Also, keep in mind that if you have your MA and your first round of PhD apps don't go well, you do have more career options during your gap year than if you only had your BA.

As everyone has said above, find someone more supportive and don't bother getting a letter of rec from this character. What you lack in one area can be made up for in others -- as you said, you have time to raise your GPA anyway.

Thanks for your response, remenis. I'll take you up on that offer