Any advice?

[J.R. Wilheim]

I'm interested in applying to history PhD programs in the fall of next year, as I am expecting to finish my current master's (in education, not in history) in the spring.

I have a 3.4 GPA from an excellent school--I'm worried this is a little low, but my grades junior and senior year were much better and my low GPA mostly reflects a rocky first year in college. I got 670 Math/700 verbal on my GRE when I took it about 2 years ago.

So...I'm interested in working in comparative slavery, with a worldwide perspective. Currently, I'm sitting in on a course on this at my school (not for credit) and getting advice from a professor here who has been very helpful. My writing sample will probably be something I work on with her in my spare time, rather than something I wrote and was graded on for a regular class. Will this necessarily be an issue?

I'm just starting to look into PhD programs in this field, and am particularly interested in programs at Johns Hopkins and the University of Maryland. I'm also trying to find some less competitive schools, because the idea of applying only to schools that enroll only 1 out of 20 applicants is more than a bit duanting. Does anyone know of some good, lesser-ranked programs? Again, I'm only just starting to do research on specific programs.

I would appreciate any advice anyone can offer. Thanks!

[dflanagan]

University of Rochester is good in African-American studies and history, so I'd check that out. So is Ohio State, from what I understand. Don't worry too much about your GPA, mine was 3.46 (likewise from a top undergrad school) when I applied and while I didn't hit it out of the park I do have a funded offer from a place that I'm genuinely excited about (Brandeis) and a wait-list, plus MA offers from Chicago and NYU. The one place where I got a funded offer was the place with the best faculty fit- it was easy to tell from the beginning of my correspondence with my potential advisor that he was genuinely interested in the same things that I was. That overcame any GPA problem I might have had (I likewise had a weak freshman year and have improved since). Your GRE scores are definitely strong enough. Good luck starting your search! Definitely take a close look at the individual faculty members in your subfield at each place. Find at least two places outside of the top 25 that you would be happy to attend, because the process is such a crap shoot that even those places aren't a sure thing.

[TMP]

Sorry to be blunt but walk away NOW. Do not apply for Fall 2011. As long this economy is still jobless in the fall, people are going to keep on applying to graduate schools and schools will keep their money purses' strings tight. You haven't read all of History 2010 thread and threads relating to "should I take this offer or not?" in THIS forum, do so. Even if I don't get in anywhere this round, I'm going to apply for fall 2012 when I hope the economy will improve by then (Well the President's gotta do something before the elections...). Unless the unemployment rate plummets by November and donors are willing to write out bigger checks because of a bear market, I'm waiting. I'm going to find things to do that I like to do to occupy my time. I've got time.

But if you're going to ignore my first advice, then at least read the next:

I am finishing up my MA at the moment. I SO wish that I had waited until my thesis was absolutely in tip-top shape instead of being a pretty good finished product (quality of what I'd hand in for a grade) as it is now. You should absolutely use your thesis for a writing sample, not a class paper, because it shows YOUR ideas, YOUR approach, and YOUR writing. It shows more about you as a researcher and a writer than an assigned class paper that is done in shorter amount of time with limited resources.

And UR is not a good place for history, especially at graduate level. Take a look at their course offerings. If you get a sick feeling in your stomach as you look, you don't want to apply there. There is a dearth of opportunities in that department. Also UR pours more resources into its science and hard social science programs.

I don't mean to discourage you from applying to PhD programs but just want you to see the big picture out there. As one PA said, "Make sure you come here with wide-open eyes. The job market sucks." I said to him, "That's okay. I've got other plans for my Ph.D. and this is what I'm thinking and why...." Then he said, "Glad that you thought this through."

[deuterides]

I have to affirm everything above. This year is fairly cutthroat in terms of funded offers, not funding the first year, kicking people down to unfunded MAs, etc and that's just for those who got in. Major programs like Texas and Maryland took what amounts to a pittance and other schools simply just took those that they absolutely could fund (I received an email from one of my rejections telling me that they would have admitted me but only had the money to fund 4 (!) people so that was all they were taking. Given that alot of the stimulus money that will be funding this year's cohort won't be there next year, be prepared for what will amount to probably the roughest year ever in terms of the ratio between applications and offers. Unless there is a paradigmic shift in the way that schools admit and train PhD students, I don't see how the current model is sustainable given the economic climate, and let's be honest, the economy won't be drastically better next year- that would require major shifts accross the macro-economy.

So, my point is, that by all means pursue admission next year, but be prepared for to apply to schools that you never thought you would and get offers without funding, as well as do alot of due dilligence about where you have a good chance of getting into.

[Sparky]

Your master's is in education? Do you have a BA in history and have you taken grad-level history classes? If not, I highly, highly recommend going for an MA in history before applying to PhD programs. Don't waste your time in area studies or other "cognate fields." I know what it says on history departments' websites about the value of other subjects' approaches and trying to recruit applicants with backgrounds in other fields. But look. I'm coming out of an MA program in historical theology, whose PhD grads often get jobs in full-blown history departments. When I contacted history departments to ask if my lack of a strict history backgroud would be a problem, professors at several schools were kind enough to tell me that yes, it would be. Even though the official word was otherwise. At one history department to which I did apply, I was assured it was not a problem...but when I inquired about my rejection, "lack of adequate history preparation" was the reason given.

You have to prove to top programs that you are a dedicated historian, I think. Whether this is through an MA, or through taking a year off and taking upper-level history classes as a non-degree seeking student is your choice (although you may be able to find funding for the former). But coming from another subject, you will face an uphill battle in this regard.

And keep in mind that I am one of the successful, unbitter, SUPREMELY LUCKY ones this year!

On a happier note, check out Emory. They're strong in transatlantic history, African-American, and African history. One good way to look for programs is to look at who writes the journal articles and books you use in your research. Where do those scholars teach? A significant part of getting in is the nebulous criterion known as "fit", which primarily means that the school has a faculty member (or more than one) who works in your field. So that's crucial. (The greatest part of getting in, and if this year can be taken as a portent for the future, of getting funding, is luck. So, uh, start looking for four-leaf clovers now, 'cause you're going to need as many as you can find).

[Victorianna]

I would also like to add my 2 cents:

I cannot emphasize enough how important fit is when considering what PhD programs to apply to. Read the literature in your field that you admire and prepare to apply to the schools those faculty teach at. Do not allow the flashy names to distract you from finding proper fit. This may lead you to apply to schools you never thought you would apply to, but if you are serious about your work you will need to go where the stars in your subfield are.

This has helped me immensely during this extremely competitive application round.

[J.R. Wilheim]

Thanks for all of the great advice!

My B.A. was a double concentration in religion and history. The particular subfield I want to go into, however, isn't really what I studied as an undergraduate. I'm sitting in on a course (not for credit) right now, and the professor has agreed to let me write a paper for it that I will use as my writing sample. So I have some background in history but not the specific area I'm most interested in going into.

[heu mihi]

I'm going to repeat what a lot of people have said. Did you major in history in undergrad? Did you write a thesis? Honestly, if the answer is no to the latter, I would recommend doing an MA first as well. I'm coming straight out of undergrad (graduated '09), having completed a 70 page honors thesis which I defended for High Honors, with a very high GPA, good GRE scores, several awards, strong recommendations, and competency in all three languages I would need for grad school. And I got into one school, out of eight. The odds are extremely rough. And like others have said, fit is EVERYTHING. The two schools I got into and waitlisted at were absolute perfect fits, and I think that's the reason I got noticed there. My research was about as close as you can get to that of my potential advisors at those schools.

You also need to be really, really sure this is what you want to do. Which is why I would recommend an MA, particularly if you have no experience with graduate level classes or executing a large independent research project. There is a HUGE difference between enjoying your undergrad history classes and reading about history, and becoming a professional historian.

That being said, I would recommend checking out Northwestern. I know nothing about your area of study, but I'm attending Northwestern in the fall and I know they have a really strong program in African American and African Diaspora History. Also, they seem to have responded to the recession much, much better than a lot of schools. They still admitted the same number of students as usual (~30), all fully funded for 5 years, and from speaking to people in the department it seems like there is still plenty of money to go around. It seems like funding issues have been the reason so many of us have gotten so many rejections this year.

[StrangeLight]

man... this thread is depressing.

so many of these posters were so positive back in january. i know this is a hard time for people, but i do have to smirk a bit at the accusations by a few people (none in this thread, mind you) that all the people who were rejected or bumped to MAs last year were simply unprepared slackers.

anyway, let me assure the OP... admissions will be very tough next year. FIT, as others have said, is most important. if you want to study comparative slavery, i suggest applying to programs where you have someone that specializes in the southern US, someone who specializes in african (preferably west african) history, AND someone who studies slavery in latin america or the caribbean (look for cubanists, brazilianists, or specialists of the french or english caribbean). with three people on the faculty, all from different regional specialties but with a similar thematic concentration, you will be a very attractive candidate.

it can be difficult to find schools with that mix of professors in the faculty. that's how you'll narrow down your list of places to apply to. don't just apply to "top programs" unless the fit is perfect, you'll be throwing your money away. apply to places where it seems glaringly obvious that your interests are ideal for their program. michigan might be some place to look into (they have rebecca scott, who does comparative history of slavery in cuba and louisiana, among other things, and she's both an amazing scholar and a lovely, genuine person). there are other places that fit, i'm sure, and you'll find them. but be picky. with the way admissions have been going, you'll need at least 2 or 3 people on staff to fight for you to get one of the very few funded spots.

i'd probably refrain from applying to places that are strong only in african-american history. if you want to do comparative slavery, you'll need a school that also has strength in the caribbean, in africa, and (even better!) in atlantic/maritime history.

also, as others have noted, funding is scarce and there's no telling if next year will be better or worse than this year. this doesn't mean you have to go unfunded. look for external sources for funding. fulbrights, FLAS, mellons. i don't know the list of external fellowships well myself because i'm canadian and not eligible for most of the ones you'd be applying for, but you can definitely find your own funding. and if you're applying to schools with some funding (1 year, 4 years, 5 years, whatever) already secured, then you will be a VERY attractive candidate. if they don't have to give you a stipend and only need to cover your tuition, many places will be willing to take you on.

[dflanagan]

man... this thread is depressing.

so many of these posters were so positive back in january. i know this is a hard time for people, but i do have to smirk a bit at the accusations by a few people (none in this thread, mind you) that all the people who were rejected or bumped to MAs last year were simply unprepared slackers.

anyway, let me assure the OP... admissions will be very tough next year. FIT, as others have said, is most important. if you want to study comparative slavery, i suggest applying to programs where you have someone that specializes in the southern US, someone who specializes in african (preferably west african) history, AND someone who studies slavery in latin america or the caribbean (look for cubanists, brazilianists, or specialists of the french or english caribbean). with three people on the faculty, all from different regional specialties but with a similar thematic concentration, you will be a very attractive candidate.

it can be difficult to find schools with that mix of professors in the faculty. that's how you'll narrow down your list of places to apply to. don't just apply to "top programs" unless the fit is perfect, you'll be throwing your money away. apply to places where it seems glaringly obvious that your interests are ideal for their program. michigan might be some place to look into (they have rebecca scott, who does comparative history of slavery in cuba and louisiana, among other things, and she's both an amazing scholar and a lovely, genuine person). there are other places that fit, i'm sure, and you'll find them. but be picky. with the way admissions have been going, you'll need at least 2 or 3 people on staff to fight for you to get one of the very few funded spots.

i'd probably refrain from applying to places that are strong only in african-american history. if you want to do comparative slavery, you'll need a school that also has strength in the caribbean, in africa, and (even better!) in atlantic/maritime history.

also, as others have noted, funding is scarce and there's no telling if next year will be better or worse than this year. this doesn't mean you have to go unfunded. look for external sources for funding. fulbrights, FLAS, mellons. i don't know the list of external fellowships well myself because i'm canadian and not eligible for most of the ones you'd be applying for, but you can definitely find your own funding. and if you're applying to schools with some funding (1 year, 4 years, 5 years, whatever) already secured, then you will be a VERY attractive candidate. if they don't have to give you a stipend and only need to cover your tuition, many places will be willing to take you on.

I may have been too positive in my first response! haha. I agree with most of what's being said here, in terms of the insane nature of the competition for just a few spots (my advisors, like many other people's, were sure I'd have a few choices and were surprised to learn otherwise). Fit is definitely the most important part, as well as a strong and focused background in history. I've known one person who I was fairly certain had her PhD from Rochester in African American history, and was a finalist for a tenure-track job at Wesleyan so... it varies from person to person, but yes, Rochester is not a tip-top program and if you can you should try to go somewhere better. Transatlantic and transnational focus is important, as well as strengths in varied areas. This might limit you to larger universities with large and varied faculties. Apply widely, but selectively. Don't just apply to three or four places, but don't apply places that lack the requisite fit. Your SOP is key as well, make sure you make your case to each department individually, emphasizing the things that make their department in particular a good fit. I understand the pessimism on this thread, this has been a difficult and (for many) disappointing year in grad school admissions. Brandeis, where I'll probably be next year, cut admission to all 19 of its doctoral programs in half this year. In history, two programs merged into one and instead of each accepting five funded candidates, the new combined program took five altogether. That said, if you have the right fit and a good dose of luck it can still be done. It might take more than one try, lots of applications, etc. but I don't want to tell everyone to abandon their academic ambitions like the proverbial sinking ship. By the way, the Brandeis programs that combined were in American and comparative history, but while the program is strong in comparative European history it's not worth applying to for Africa or Latin America. Good luck to all!

[amercanist]

I don't know if I can offer any advice that other posters have not already given. Since you are at least a year out, I would start contacting faculty at perspective schools. Don't know what school to start with? Take a look at some books you've read in your perspective field, at what schools do those historians teach (For instance, while I do not know much about your field, I think Marcus Rediker -Penn?- is a giant in that field and would be on my short list)? Make a list of these historians and contact them by email, introduce yourself, tell them your interests, etc., see who replies to your inquiries (not all of em will). Start there. Then, begin to email grad students within that department, they will be able to give you the low-down on profs, funding, etc. Finally, I guess my last piece of advice would be to not sell yourself short. If you think you have the chops to get into a PhD program, apply, and see what happens. Good luck!

**edited for clarity, it's 2:34am

Edited March 19, 2010 by amercanist

[StrangeLight]

prof. rediker is currently at pitt, not penn, but he'll be moving to brown next year, so if you do want to work with him, brown's where you should look. he doesn't exactly do comparative slavery. he studies slave ships and is currently working on a book on the amistad rebellion. all of his advisees at pitt have worked on seafaring (pirates, merchant sailors, navies, etc.) but that isn't to say he would be unwilling to advise on comparative slavery.

[subrosa]

Hi! I think there are a lot of good points here to ponder already, but I'd just like to chirp in with a reminder NOT to dismiss area studies MA programs, as some have suggested above. Don't diss the area studies MA programs, yo! They can be tremendously helpful in providing solid training and time to hone your skills and vision.

Next cycle of History PhD admissions will be hard, unless there is a miracle boom, because even the best-endowed departments have already decided to cut down on admissions. And then who knows after that? A masters could really enhance your profile. Just be sure to take as many history courses as you can handle, and work as hard as you can, especially at identifying major unanswered questions in your field and finding that particular niche that only you can fill.

I had next to no undergraduate background in "pure" history, did an area studies MA (with lots of history and very little sleep), and got into 2 out of 3 tip-top history PhD programs this year. It's not impossible.

Good Luck!

Edited March 22, 2010 by subrosa