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I'm at UCLA's East Asian Studies MA program. If that's the one you are on the fence about, feel free to shoot me an email. I'd be happy to answer questions!

I'm actually Japanese history, more so focused on cultural and media, but pop into Interdisciplinary Studies, there is an Asian Studies thread each application year, if you want to chat with people interested in similar programs. Maybe they can be more useful. As for a review, since I'm interested in Japanese history, I really don't have the know how for Chinese history programs off the top of my head. However, this is how I've gauged programs from a Japanese history prospective. Compare faculty (how many in your field? what are their primary interests? 17th century or earlier?) and comparing program strengths (smaller classes? diverse courses? more language options? strong, competitive in Asian history?). A lot of schools have a page full of "what they are looking for" or "what the program is." Those can tell if you pretty easily if you would fit with the program or if the program even matches what your goals are. I scratched University of Michigan, University of Chicago, and Duke off my list that way. No wasted money on programs that just would not have faculty or programs suited to me. Another great way to get your schools shortened is by talking to your People of Interest (POI). Send an email, set up a phone call, and talk about the program. I scratched three off last year, because faculty member was moving/full/retiring. Another two I scratched after a phone call. As for competitive programs, well, in Asian fields, I find it is normally bigger schools that most people know the names of, i.e. Yale, Princeton, Harvard, Berkeley, etc. that have these kinds of programs. Smaller schools you can rank based off of faculty. If there's only one or two Asian historians, then maybe the program is not good. Be honest when you contact your POI about your goals, because half of the people you talk to will give you the "don't go into history" speech and a POI will tell you if your goals won't be met by going to his program. (It happened to me. xd) Lastly, I saw that you want to apply to a lot of places, which I understand spreading the net far. Just remember to stay organized and personalized. You don't want School X to hear about how you love qualities A, B & C, which are at another school. Ya know?

All of my programs were vastly different in length, and each of them will say so under their prospective student section. The maximum range went from 5 pages at one program to another's "no limit." As for topic: I chose something similar but not quite what I want to do as my writing sample, because it was an excerpt from my undergraduate thesis and showed a lot of the critical analysis I had done. However, this year I do not intend on using the same writing sample and, in fact, want to tailor my writing samples to each program. This is because I'm going to be hopping between History PhD programs and a lot of interdisciplinary East Asian programs, so I want to make sure that my capabilities are clear to the committee. (: The point is: what do you think is your absolute best work? Off topic? Prove how it relates to what you are now and the positives.

I definitely agree. As someone who is interested in cultural history revolving around media and race & gender studies, I tend to fall into a few different niche programs, which span from History to East Asian Languages & Cultures. LoRs are all about saying, "I like this person, and I think they will succeed, because x, y, and z." I feel like our SOP is more for where our research is going and the value of that research is judged by the application committee, but for quality of an applicant that can't be determined by writing sample or SOP, then LoR offers a bit of insight. Bonus points, if famous of if someone on the committee knows them. Speaking of SOP I feel so much better about this application cycle's version that while not finished at all I definitely know what I want to do 300% more than what I thought was specific last year.

1. What program are you applying to (MA/PhD/Other)? My problem is that I'm so interested in media studies in relation to modern Japan that I bump around through programs, trying to ensure that the program and the faculty would be a good fit, and it'll be East Asian Studies [or insert interdisciplinary program name] and some History PhD programs that work well with my interests. 2. Where are you applying or thinking of applying? My list fluctuates for PhD programs on a daily basis, but I want to finalize by early September. I know I will apply to History (PhD) at UCLA, History (PhD) at UW-Madison, and University of Minnesota (Asian Literature, Cultures and Media). The rest are too uncertain as of right now. 3. Background information (undergrad, major, etcetc) History and Japanese Language and Culture, undergraduate. East Asian studies, MA (earning currently). 4. Fun fact unrelated to grad school Hm, I'm bad at thinking of these things... but I'm a big fan of a South Korean variety show called Running Man. It's a semi-fun fact? (; Good luck to everyone!

Fun! I loved talking to the professors in the program. It seemed like a good environment. So you should have lots of fun there. Good luck apartment hunting!

I'm in the market actually for a roommate. I'll send you an email, and maybe we'd be interested in the same kind of thing? If anyone else is looking and is interested, I'd love to have you email me as well.

That is very cool. I will have to see where I'm at after the move to Los Angeles financially speaking, of course. But that would be amazingly fun. I've only been to the American Historical Association conference, where there were a few Asian enthusiasts, but not many at all. Plus, I've never been to Philadelphia!

Thanks. (; Maybe all of us someday can meet each other at a conference. I only know of history conference, but if there are any that come up in Asian studies, I would be very much interested in attending. (:

I have an adviser who constantly reminds me of this. Take every conference you can speak at or attend, and network like its your best friend. Every time I talk to this professor about something he knows someone in the field or an editor at a publishing house, et cetera. Networking is just a huge part of academia. How else do you think Dr. X did a co-edit on Book Y with Dr. X? They happened to know each other from a conference or university. These kind of things can give you a huge boost in the end. I think you also have to have a real understanding on your part what you want. Do you want to eventually be head of a department or running an institute at the university? Teaching only? Then doing all the work you need to do for your CV that makes you a worthwhile candidate. But that's just my two cents. (;

I can understand your dilemma. (; If you go, I'll definitely meet you though. Apparently there is a "planned" cohort of 10.

I haven't heard a thing about a grad orientation, but I know my department is small and interdisciplinary, so it's less likely that there will be one for its department if it's by department. I did quick search of UCLA's website but found nothing regarding an orientation for graduate students except for one made for specifically international graduate students. Anyways, has anyone else figured out where they are living? I'm choosing off campus housing. Pricing is just so much cheaper, and I intend to bus to school, with the full knowledge that I will be getting up and leaving my house way earlier than my classes start.

Ack. Technically it's a two year program, and it's the East Asian Studies program. But after talking to the adviser for the program, I discovered that some incoming students can complete the program within a year's time. The graduating requirements is having three years of an Asian language and nine courses that match requirements. I've already done three years of Japanese, so I've satisfied that. And since UCLA is on a quarter system, it is perfectly do-able to have 3 courses for the 3 quarters in the year. Meaning 9 courses completed in a year. So anyways, it's two years, but apparently students are accepted who do complete the program within a year. I'd be very interested to know if you are thinking of the same program and if you go! Oh, and you should call the program adviser like I did. She was very helpful, and I think she works very hard to make sure her "students" are taken care of. I was sort of surprised by it. Last but not least, I'm going to go and officially accept UCLA today. (; And start stressing over the fact that I'm still going to be part of the application cycle this upcoming fall.

There is a grad student housing, and because I'm out of state, I'm from what I understand guarantee a spot. I did the math though, and it'd save me a bit if I was off campus even though I'd be there for just a year. Plus, parking is expensive! Somewhere around 250 for each quarter. So I think off campus near a bus route, and I will plan to take the bus very early before class. And I've been to LA once before. It was only for a day; I've spent more time in San Francisco and San Diego. But I think it'd be exciting to live in LA. I love being in big cities, and the middle sized city I'm in now just seems dull.

We may! I talked to the offices today about the program and found out with my background the two year program can easily be one year. And they offered me more money. Not full still since I'm out of state, but it's a good money offer. Now I'm almost full steam ahead. I want to run a few things by my adviser, who has been such a huge aid for me this year. But I'd be excited to see you in LA. You nervous about moving there and finding a place? I'm actually considering on campus. The difference is bare-able enough that it might be worth it, though I thought I'd never do a dorm again. /: