CrazyCatLady80

Haven't been around the past couple of weeks, because I have been majorly depressed. It is a very long story and extremely difficult to explain over the internet, but my advisor changed my grade from an A to a B without notifying me. This lowers my GPA from a 3.82 to a 3.74. I could complain all day about this, but right now I am trying to figure out what I should do and move on. Do you think this would seriously hurt my chances for getting into a PhD program? I am trying to change my advisor, but I might be stuck with him, because the other person in my field is retiring. The rest of my application should be pretty strong, but I feel this ruins any chance I had at getting into a top program. For the record, the paper that he hated is probably going to be published.

Forgot to say congrats!! My brain is fried after reviewing stats all morning. Sorry.

It is dishonest, but I did have a professor I was working with as an archivist suggest it to me. I couldn't do it....not too good in the lying department.

Annieca - you probably already know this, but getting into a MLS program, even with the MA, isn't too difficult. I got into all the schools for my MLS with my crappy undergrad grades. Granted....this was ten years, but I don't think things have changed. I am sure you will get into these programs without any problem. Are you planning on being an archivist? I did that for five years. Loved it, but it wasn't for me.

This thread is stressing me out and my application season isn't till next year.....lol

I need to write a 5-page letter for a fellowship that is due next week. I have never written a letter for a fellowship. I have written little short letters for scholarships, but nothing major. Does anyone have any suggestions or, better yet, might be willing to share one theirs with me? What I am really struggling with how to structure it.

That is why I never read anything after I submitted it. If I catch a mistake, I beat myself up and the next thing I know I can't get out bed.

Curious to know how you guys studied for the GRE? Did you use any test prep programs? If so, which ones? Do you recommend it?

My advisors only tell people to get a PhD if they want to teach at the college level. If you are interested in doing non-academic work, you are better off going for your MA. Personally, I would say apply for a MA program. After a year and if you cannot imagine life without getting a PhD, go for it.

Thinking about everyone. Surprised UCI came out so early.

What I read changes almost every day, but I thought I would put in a plug for Michael Patrick MacDonald's All Souls: A Family Story from Southie. It is not a "history book," but rather a memoir, which I consider a "fun book." I am really enjoying it and undergrads love it. I think this paired with memoir on the Civil Rights Movement would be perfect for a survey course. Plus, the author is teaching at my grad school this semester and I'm taking his course on Northern Ireland so I feel that I should put it a plug.

I have been in two graduate programs. Half the time I feel like I am a total idiot, the other half I believe I am the only smart person on this entire planet. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle. Good luck!

One idea is that you go for a MA. Finish that up and go from there.

I believe UC Davis is really good for environmental history. You also may want to check out Berkeley, Wisconsin, and Michigan.

I really don't want to bring it up in my LORs, because I have a lot of explaining to do already with my undergrad grades. One of my LORs will address those issues. I don't want people coming away with the fact that I seem to have a lot of issues.

I am not applying this year. Next fall will be application time.

I know Berkeley has oral exams. A colleague of mine told me about it a couple of months back. Can't remember all the details, but it seemed like it is an excellent approach to the exams.

I know a little bit of French and Pig Latin.

Hey Everyone - Haven't been around lately. I have been having some health problems this semester and I am stressing out over my GPA. I am worried that it will end up being a little over 3.7 instead of 3.8. Am I just being a silly perfectionist worrying about this issue?

I did my undergrad at Sonoma State. I don't know anything about that program, but it is a nice school. Very beautiful area. In fact, if I get into Berkeley, I would love to move back there, but it is a little bit too far.

Even thinking about a Plan B is scary. Honestly, I really don't know what I would if I wasn't accepted into a PhD program. Prior to grad school, I was an archivist for five years. For a variety of reasons, it did not work out. I was working mostly temp and part time jobs. I wasn't happy. I have a MLS so I guess I could go more the librarian route, but honestly it will be difficult getting a job after being out the field for so long. The idea of having two master degrees, can't find any work, and still living at home is absolutely petrifying. That is why I feel like I have one shot at this and I better do it right.

Honestly, you do not have a very good chance of getting into a PhD program. You don't have the research skills nor (and this is a guess here) the languages. However, you probably have a very good shot at getting into a MA program. Do your homework and apply to several programs. Ideally, location should not factor into the decision, but you may not have that luxury. I know I didn't. Get into a MA program, take classes in several fields (very important, because you might that you like someone else more), learn how to do primary source research, pick up a language(s), and then, if you are still interested, apply for a PhD. It is a less direct route, but extremely common among grad students, especially those who didn't major in field (including myself). I would also strongly advise doing your research on what getting a PhD in history exactly entails. I highly recommend picking up a copy of Graduate Study for the 21st Century by Gregory Colon Semenza. He is very (sometimes painfully) honest about what it is like to be in a PhD program. You will work very long hours and get paid close to nothing. Once you are finished and have the degree, you have around a 50/50 chance of getting a job. You really shouldn't go for the PhD unless you can't imagine being happy doing anything else with your life. If you want to just study history for fun, I recommend just getting a MA.

I am in the process of contacting graduate students at some of my top programs to see what they think of their program and any recommendations in the application process. Several have suggested that I contact the POIs now (or maybe toward the middle of October when things have quieted down a bit). Do you think that is a good idea? Is it better to wait till I am actually working on the applications? Part of me thinks it might be better when I am finished up with this article that will be my writing sample so I can have a clearer idea of my research interests?

STF has a good point. I do tend to be a realist and a cynic. I also know several people who decided to apply for PhD programs for the hell of it and managed to get into some top schools. However, I still say those are the exceptions.

I totally agree with Shep. I also think a lot of students have no idea what they know what they are getting themselves into. I am not saying this is the case with people on Grad Cafe. Most people here are very well informed. I know several students in my program that want to go for a PhD, but haven't done any conferences, networked with anyone outside the school, etc. In fact, one student who is applying this year hasn't even started working on his application. He told me that his personal statement will just take a day or two to write. His first choice is Berkeley. Good luck with that.