Let's get this history party started!

[kotov]

Field: Modern Europe -> Eastern Europe -> Holocaust/Genocide Studies

I applied to:

Ph.D.

Clark (Holocaust/Genocide Studies)

Indiana-Bloomington (Eastern Europe/Romania)

Central Michigan (Modern Europe, Germany/Holocaust or Russia)

South Carolina (Modern Europe, Russia/USSR)

Auburn (Europe after 1789, Russia)

Georgia Tech (History of Science and Technology) - Mom, who didn't go to college, insisted.

M.A.

Northwest Missouri State (Accepted)

Eastern Michigan

North Texas

Youngstown State (Holocaust Studies)

Ball State

Louisiana Tech

UG at Auburn (I know, blech, I was originally an Actuarial Science major)

UG Thesis: "Liars, Lamenters, Leaders: The Holodomor in American Media" (uber-corny, I know)

GPA: 3.50, Major GPA: 3.88, Minor GPA (English): 4.0

GRE: V: 650 Q: 700 AW: 5.5

Qualifications:

Finished UG in 3 years (as if anyone cares)

Honors program

Had a paper published/ used by my professor while she was teaching a course (Holocaust denial law in Romania)

Recommendation from a pretty well-respected professor in Russian history

Hopefully going to intern this summer at the Holocaust museum in Atlanta

Phi Alpha Theta

I speak Romanian, I guess that's unique?

Involved with genocide-related social activism (to a limited extent)

aka I'm not getting in even to a low-tier Ph.D. program.

Edited January 5, 2011 by kotov

[GeekGirl]

I'm getting the feeling that I probably did not apply to enough schools...but anyway, applying for South Asian history.

Applied to:

Princeton

Chicago

Harvard

Columbia

Tufts (maybe - app not due until Jan. 15th)

GPA: 3.93

Maj: 4.0

MA: n/a - no results until June.

GRE: 650 v, 740m, 5 writing.

Waiting sucks - BLERG.

I'm a Tufts Grad majored in History excellent program . . . I encourage you to apply! Although to be honest I'm not sure who the faculty are who specialize in SE Asia . . . graduated five years ago though, so many faculty I had left. These are some that remain that I recommend highly.

Gary Leupp (Japan)

Peter Winn (Latin America)

Daniel Mulholland (Russia)

all amazing . . .

[Jeppe]

I'm late to the party, but I'll join in anyways.

Field:

Early Modern Atlantic/Imperial History

Schools:

Chicago

Columbia

Harvard

NYU

Yale

Background:

B.Sc. in Political Science, a couple of years of work experience in international affairs, and currently finishing up a two-year MA degree in European Studies.

Good luck everyone! Don't let the anxiety get to you

[♀HealthMatters]

After reading all of these schools, I feel like I shouldn't have even applied! But, it is far too late for that. I am applying for Modern (20c) US, focusing on cultural, women/gender/sexuality, political history. I applied to:

 

- Temple U

- Brandeis

- UT, Knoxville

- WashU

- Syracuse

- UConn

- Alabama

- U Mass, Amherst

- Florida

- Iowa

- Auburn

- LSU

- American

- George Mason

[HistoryGrizzly]

Applied to following schools for 20th C American, focus on Af-Am history, urban, labor history, and red scare Cold War history.

PhD

Michigan (top choice because of professors and proximity to family)

UChicago

Northwestern

Penn

Indiana U

Illinois

Rutgers - New Brunswick

Ohio State

MA

Nebraska-Lincoln (only because UNL won't let you apply for a PhD without an MA)

UG Double major in History and English, PolySci Minor, American Studies Concentration

GPA: 3.59 Major: 3.8 (for history)

GRE: V:690 Q:600 A: 5.0 (am I the only one who scored higher on V than Q?)

Extras: University-wide Undergrad of the year.

National Phi Alpha Theta paper prize runner-up.

Smattering of other awards and honors societies.

[datroy]

Applied:

Oxford - Rejected

Wisconsin - Rejected

OSU - Accepted

UNC

Duke

UVA

Texas A&M

Harvard

Yale

Focus area is somewhere between Early American and military - namely how the micro-dynamics of guerrilla warfare (interactions between resistance elements and local populations) in the Carolinas and Georgia affected the ability of the British to implement their "Southern strategy"

Already have an MA in international relations (GPA: 3.68, Honors Thesis) and about 6 years working/consulting for Defense Department and other areas of USG.

GREs: V 690; Q 750; Analytical/Writing 5.5

Edited February 2, 2011 by datroy

[breakfast]

After reading all of these schools, I feel like I shouldn't have even applied! But, it is far too late for that.

I wouldn't worry about it. One of the biggest faults I think this history forum suffers from is a lack of institutional diversity. Sometimes it seems like people forget that great advisors and programs exist outside of the Ivies or "top-10 programs." It looks like you have some great programs on your list. Good luck with your applications!

[sidiosquiere]

Quick question - do OSU and UIUC have excellent History programs? Even if they don't have a top faculty member in my field there (middle east), would getting a degree from either of these universities be respected - provided I write an excellent dissertation? Thanks!

[thepoorstockinger]

Quick question - do OSU and UIUC have excellent History programs? Even if they don't have a top faculty member in my field there (middle east), would getting a degree from either of these universities be respected - provided I write an excellent dissertation? Thanks!

I have no idea what the strength of UIUC's Middle East historians but they have a number of world class American historians and is generally considered to be one of the better department for American history. They also have one of the largest research libraries in the US.

[DrOrpheus]

My area is Classical Greece/Macedonia, focusing on warfare and the politics thereof. I only applied to two schools (see below, long story as some of you know) and am pretty sure I've already been rejected by one but it's so early that I'd like to give it a week or two before I call them.

Anywho, here's my abysmal stats:

Overall GPA: 3.32 (History, Classics minor)

Major GPA: 4.0 (History)

GRE: 620V, 570Q, 4.0AW / 610V, 580Q, 4.5AW

...and a crapload of W's on my transcript due to a campus violence incident and mental health issues (now under control)

Extras, to make up for my numbers:

- Departmental scholarship for outstanding female senior (it's sponsored by the local Women's Auxiliary)

- Directed research on Severan coinage

- Archaeological fieldwork in VA (UG sponsored)

- Reading ability in German, Latin, Classical Greek

- Presented at last year's Phi Alpha Theta regional conference, have been invited to present at three more conferences this spring.

I'm not so sure I'm getting into the other program either at this rate. I think my issues are low overall GPA, the W's (I've tried to make up as many as I can), and the crap GRE score. I guess I should start studying to retake the GRE again for next year? *sigh*

[historyhopeful]

I'm interested in early modern European religious history, particularly Jewish-Christian intellectual intersections.

Graduated summa cum laude from an Ivy with 3.94 GPA.

Majored in history, minored in religion. Phi Beta Kappa, dep't history honors.

Currently work in a museum as an educator/researcher. GRE: V:670, Q:520, AW: 5.5.

Fluent in Hebrew, read Aramaic/Syriac, French, Russian. Taking Latin currently.

Applied to:

Yale

UPenn

Columbia

Princeton

OSU

Austin

Rutgers

Yeshiva

Thus far, I've been admitted to OSU (with possibility of University Fellowship, pretty exciting! Full funding without any TA responsibilities, if I'm reading correctly.) Waiting anxiously on the others. Though I know Yale won't come until next week at the earliest, still checking my email furiously and carrying my cell on me at all times.

[qbtacoma]

Congratulations, historyhopeful!

[Hopefulhistoryapplicant]

Hi Everyone.

I have been reading the History forums on a daily basis, but have not yet posted anything.. I promise I am not a total freak! Its probably just a sign of my anxiousness.. I notice that many people have impeccable records, so I am posting this for those of you, who like me feel that your qualifications aren't quite brilliant, yet still really really want to do a Graduate Programme in History.

So here goes: Applying for early modern Iberian and Atlantic History, with a specific focus on cultural exchange between black slave and liberto communities, processes of integration and marginalisation, and European expansion. As a secondary subject I am looking to focus on medieval Islamic social and cultural history, with a view to also studying the Islamic cultural and intellectual remnants in early modern Iberia. I completed a BA in History in the UK and received a First Class Honours, which depending on who you ask, can be between a 3.3 and 4.00 GPA (ridiculous isn't it!). I also received a University prize for my dissertation, which was a comparative analysis of black African religious confraternities XV-XVIII in the Iberian Peninsular, focusing on social and cultural history. While completing my dissertation I was invited to become a collaborator on a research project with a University in Spain. I am bilingual in Spanish and English and advanced in French. Planning to take Latin and Arabic too. I have a lot of University level teaching experience - I was a Teaching Fellow of English for Academic Purposes and Academic Study Skills in the language department at a UK University. And now the really bad part : GRE V 500, M 530 and writing 4.5 (ouch!! - I didn't have enough time to retake the test). On the up side, I have a very solid personal statement and good LOR's, I'm an international applicant (could be helpful) and my writing sample is the dissertation discussed above. Because of my horrendous GRE's, I'm sure that I probably won't get offered a place anywhere this year, so this is most likely going to be my first round of applications.

I have Applied for:

funding for an MA History at my current UK institution

Princeton

Austin, Texas,

Duke

Columbia

Good luck to everyone!

[USUKHFfan]

The First Class Honours degree, in my (albeit limited experience) is considered equivalent to a Summa cum Laude, so I don't see why they would downgrade that. As for the GRE scores, with history programmes they are honestly reviewed with a big grain of salt. Generally-speaking, if one's score is abnormally higher or lower than the average, they might take a second look, but overall they don't factor much in the admissions process. It is much more important to have outstanding grades, LORs, and accomplishments.

That's at least what my POIs have discussed with me.

Which British institution did you complete your BA at (if I might ask)?

Edited February 3, 2011 by USUKHFfan

[Hopefulhistoryapplicant]

The First Class Honours degree, in my (albeit limited experience) is considered equivalent to a Summa cum Laude, so I don't see why they would downgrade that. As for the GRE scores, with history programmes they are honestly reviewed with a big grain of salt. Generally-speaking, if one's score is abnormally higher or lower than the average, they might take a second look, but overall they don't factor much in the admissions process. It is much more important to have outstanding grades, LORs, and accomplishments.

That's at least what my POIs have discussed with me.

Which British institution did you complete your BA at (if I might ask)?

Hello USUKHFfan! How are you? I went to Queen Mary, University of London - not very well known, but they have excellent History Department. From your name, I'm guessing that you are a fellow islander? Where did you study? Thanks for your encouragement! I remember a few months after I had just finished the slog of applications, telling an American acquaintance where I had applied to etc, and he looked at me with great pity and said "honey with those GRE scores... I don't want to be mean, but it's going to be very difficult..." I know he is only one person who probably knows nothing, but it makes you feel really shoddy about the whole thing - especially after the monumentous effort to get all the applications in... I had never heard of Summa cum Laude, but after quick google, I am very pleased with your suggestion that my grades are equivalent to that! According to UCL first class = 4.00 GPA (at least according to Wikipedia..), however, with some schools, such as Duke, they ask you to add up and divide the module results in such a way that I ended up with a 3.2/3.3. Also there is an online grade conversion website which Duke suggested that int applicants use, which also concurs that my grades were in the low 3 of GPA.. All very confusing and irritating to say the least!

Anyway, for the moment, as much as I promise myself that I will receive four rejections, I can't help but spend most of my days refreshing my inbox... very sad! How are you holding up? Where did you apply?

[historyguy12485]

I guess I'll go... I'm new here. I see there are several early Americanists as well, feel free to pm me I would love to talk about research areas in depth.

My field of research is colonial America social and cultural history. Specifically whiteness studies and identity construction, and the role that music played in delineating (and more often not delineating) those boundaries.

UG Major: History

Minor: Music History

GPA: 3.86

Major GPA: 3.85

Took the GRE yesterday so I haven't gotten the writing score back. V 620 Q 650

Extras:

Member of Phi Alpha Theta - presenting a paper at the Phi Alpha Theta Regional Conference at Villanova University in April on the conception of property (legally recognized whiteness) in 18th c. America.

Work as interpretive tour guide and educator at Colonial PA Plantation, an 18th c. living history museum.

Volunteer at Chester County Historical Society

Summer 2011 Internship at Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in the Public History and Military Programs Deparments

Accomplished musican, piano teacher

Conversationally fluent in French

Programs I am interested in:

W&M (History and AMS)

UVA

UNC

UMICH

Johns Hopkins

Univ of MD

Rutgers

Univ of Miss

GWU

American

Univ of DE

I know this is a long list but you have to cast a wide net right?

I'm honestly not that confident in my GRE score although I know everyone says it doesn't matter. I know my LOR will be strong and I'm working on putting my SOP together now with the help of a few mentors of mine. This entire process is absolutely the most stressful thing I've ever done, although I'm sure graduate school will have plenty of stress on its own!

ETA: Not sure if this will have much impact on an application, but I will be working for a 2012 presidential campaign as well. I am not yet at liberty to say who exactly though, since it is not official.

Edited February 4, 2011 by historyguy12485

[amberanna]

I just joined in the hopes that I wasn't alone in my freaking out...I'm glad I'm not, but this is so not fun for any of us, is it!?!

Okay, so I'm doing Early Modern European history, with a focus on England/Great Britain and images of power.

I went to a tiny undergrad, but I'm an MA student in an okay program (with full funding and teaching experience!) so my list is a little high-shooting:

Vanderbilt

Emory

Duke (already rejected)

Indiana

Rutgers

My numbers:

Undergrad - 3.7 GPA, 3.9 in history

Grad - 3.96 GPA

GRE - 660 v, 580 q, 6.0 writing

I'm also president of Phi Alpha Theta, treasurer of GHA, and had a paper published in an online journal last year. And, as far as I know, I had EPIC letters of recommendation (people like me...I have no idea why most of the time, but I accept it).

Here's hoping!

[TaraDanielle]

My focus is medieval Middle Eastern history, particularly that of Greater Syria.

Applied:

Harvard

Pennsylvania

Chicago

NYU

Michigan

UCLA

Stats:

Undergrad majors - Arabic and History, Minor - Persian

Overall GPA - 3.97, Major GPA - 4.0

GRE - 710v, 630q, 4.5w

Ugh, this waiting game is the worst...

[Hoopskirt Historian]

In all honesty, after reading the number of other posters, I'm terrified that I wasted my time applying to PhD programs.

I know numbers aren't everything and the uber subjective parts of the application play a large part, but it's such an unnerving process, I'm just ready to know.

For information sake - I'm a 19th century American historian with a focus on gender and social history, through the lens of material culture (in particular clothing).

I applied to three D.C schools in hopes that I could use all the museums in the area, since my MA is in Public History - I still like the idea of reaching out to the public. My fourth school, South Carolina sent out some acceptances today and I didn't hear anything, so I'm slightly frightened by that prospect.

Oh well - all we can do now is pray.

[qbtacoma]

In all honesty, after reading the number of other posters, I'm terrified that I wasted my time applying to PhD programs.

I know numbers aren't everything and the uber subjective parts of the application play a large part, but it's such an unnerving process, I'm just ready to know.

For information sake - I'm a 19th century American historian with a focus on gender and social history, through the lens of material culture (in particular clothing).

I applied to three D.C schools in hopes that I could use all the museums in the area, since my MA is in Public History - I still like the idea of reaching out to the public. My fourth school, South Carolina sent out some acceptances today and I didn't hear anything, so I'm slightly frightened by that prospect.

Oh well - all we can do now is pray.

Welcome! Your screen name is amazing.

Honestly? For myself, I'm not worried about my numbers so much as my age. I don't feel like I've done very much at all yet and I feel at a disadvantage to people who have had longer to do everything.

[Hoopskirt Historian]

Welcome! Your screen name is amazing.

Honestly? For myself, I'm not worried about my numbers so much as my age. I don't feel like I've done very much at all yet and I feel at a disadvantage to people who have had longer to do everything.

Thank you

I understand that feeling, completely. It's a huge stress when comparing yourself to others who look so fantastic on here. These forums are both a blessing and a curse.

[DrOrpheus]

Honestly? For myself, I'm not worried about my numbers so much as my age. I don't feel like I've done very much at all yet and I feel at a disadvantage to people who have had longer to do everything.

I have the opposite problem; you'd think that taking FOURTEEN years to complete my BA would have given me plenty of time to do outside things like fieldwork, etc. but no. I did not have stellar numbers, just barely made the minimum cutoff for the grad schools I applied to. I did have excellent letters though, and am taking an MA offer from my UG institution with the intent of kicking ass, taking names, and watching the fully-funded PhD offers from all the ivies flood my mailbox in about 3 years. OK, that last bit is pure bull, but I think my approach (getting my MA at my UG school) is prudent and will offset my wacky UG transcript (5, count 'em, FIVE major changes, 6 W's, an entire semester of F's, and a transfer to boot) and non-traditional status. On paper, I look like a huge risk but my UG faculty know that isn't the case. It won't be funded for the first year (I wasn't offered a TA position) but I'm grateful that they're giving me the opportunity.

Anyway...my point is: don't sweat your age, as long as you show maturity in your work your letters and other supporting materials will show that. I think that is a big factor that many overlook when it comes to getting into a graduate program. Best of luck!

(my numbers are here somewhere...but if you're wondering: GPA 3.3 overall/4.0 major; GRE 620V 570Q 4.5AW; one season fieldwork, one presentation, membership/officer positions in several student & national orgs. Like I said, not stellar.)

[Iknownothing]

Hi Hoopskirt,

I am also a 19th/20th century Americanist with a focus on gender. I wouldn't worry about the numbers. They are important, but not critical. I think your writing sample and LOR's are most important. I just returned from a recruitment weekend and one of the professors told me that the writing sample was the first thing all of the faculty read. So far, I've received two offers and four rejections and I feel, at this point, it is mostly about fit, financials, and luck. So, good luck!

In all honesty, after reading the number of other posters, I'm terrified that I wasted my time applying to PhD programs.

I know numbers aren't everything and the uber subjective parts of the application play a large part, but it's such an unnerving process, I'm just ready to know.

For information sake - I'm a 19th century American historian with a focus on gender and social history, through the lens of material culture (in particular clothing).

I applied to three D.C schools in hopes that I could use all the museums in the area, since my MA is in Public History - I still like the idea of reaching out to the public. My fourth school, South Carolina sent out some acceptances today and I didn't hear anything, so I'm slightly frightened by that prospect.

Oh well - all we can do now is pray.

[Hoopskirt Historian]

Hi Hoopskirt,

I am also a 19th/20th century Americanist with a focus on gender. I wouldn't worry about the numbers. They are important, but not critical. I think your writing sample and LOR's are most important. I just returned from a recruitment weekend and one of the professors told me that the writing sample was the first thing all of the faculty read. So far, I've received two offers and four rejections and I feel, at this point, it is mostly about fit, financials, and luck. So, good luck!

Thank you! Good luck to you as well - and congratulations on your two offers, that's fantastic!

I feel fairly confident about my SOP, LOR, and writing sample - but again, when your fate is in the hands of others (and you're one of 100 applicants) my confidence doesn't stick around too long.

I'd definitely agree about the fit, which is why I only applied to four programs, they were truly the best fits I could find. I spoke with the DGS and my desired advising professors at each school, all of whom agreed I fit well within the lines of what the departments had to offer - so that did make me feel good.

Like always, fingers crossed!