Any advice for an UG Senior?

[redparis6]

Hi! I am an Art History major graduating in May 2012 from a mid-sized public school and completely unsure of what my next step should be concerning grad school. I'm interested in getting a PhD (to research or teach) eventually, but I'm not convinced I have the grades/recs to get into a good program at the current moment.

I have a 3.5 GPA overall and a 3.6 in Art History. I am currently writing an Honors Thesis (my school does not require a Senior Thesis; this is elective) and though it is not required to graduate, I took a graduate seminar my junior year (I am currently enrolled in 2 more for this year). I had an internship at a NYC contemporary art gallery over the summer and am currently volunteering at our local art museum. I am also a tutor at my school's Writing Center. As far as languages, I am a French minor and studied abroad in Paris last semester, so I believe I have one language completely taken care of. I will take the GRE in October.

My recs would most likely come from 2 Art History profs and possibly the director of the Writing Center (who is also a Writing professor).

My main question is: Is my application too weak to even bother applying to PhD programs? Should I stick to MA programs and see where I can go from there? Should I take a year off so that my senior year classes count in my GPA and it is therefore higher and my recs stronger?

Any schools I should look at that are less selective but still respected? Very generally, I am interested in women in Medieval art (my thesis is on Sainte Genevieve of Paris) so I am looking for professors who specialize in Medieval/early Renaissance with an emphasis on gender and women. I would prefer to stay in the North-east but will consider anywhere in the US.

[losemygrip]

It's always worth a try. The overall GPA wouldn't matter so much if you had just made all A grades in art history. You have an interesting background. I'd say you're a good example of someone for whom getting great GRE scores could really help.

I don't think the writing center person is necessarily a bad choice, if they can write you a really good letter that addresses your academic skills. Do you have a favorite French professor? I used a French professor as a recommender; he knew me and my abilities really well.

You're probably going to have to get your recommenders to address the issue of the less-than-stellar GPA. Might need to address that in your statement as well.

[Herbie]

Hi! I am an Art History major graduating in May 2012 from a mid-sized public school and completely unsure of what my next step should be concerning grad school. I'm interested in getting a PhD (to research or teach) eventually, but I'm not convinced I have the grades/recs to get into a good program at the current moment.

Redparis6, you sound fairly ambivalent in this paragraph. It goes without saying that obtaining a PhD requires long term commitments, so I would suggest you sit down to create a more definitive idea of what you prefer in your short term to long term goals. I had have a serious case of impostor syndrome, because I similarly believed my grads were subpar. Then, somehow Gandalf resurrected like the great Jean Grey Phoenix after fighting Balrog of Moria and blessed me with several acceptances! I do believe I applied to good programs, though this is subjectively dependent on my research topic.

My main question is: Is my application too weak to even bother applying to PhD programs? Should I stick to MA programs and see where I can go from there? Should I take a year off so that my senior year classes count in my GPA and it is therefore higher and my recs stronger?

*I* definitely can't answer the first question. I'd also rather not speculate and let your mind roam on the endless possibilities that'll plague you while waiting on admission decisions. Based on my own experience, however, I'm convinced that there exists no beautiful formula for a strong application. Attention for a strong application should certainly be invested in the letters of recommendation, writing sample, statement of purpose, and background in the field as opposed to numerics. I'm also convinced that the actual number for the GRE doesn't matter as much as the percentile.

It's pretty illogical to take a year off from school simply because of transcripts, so no you should not. Many schools require final transcripts prior to course registration, etc. Though, thinking on it now -- if you expect significantly better grades your senior year, or course credit from an internship, etc. it would be a wise decision to take a year off. During this free time, perhaps you can do things you'd believe would strengthen your application even more. I would also suggest that the letters of rec come solely from art history faculty, or perhaps one could come from an interdisciplinary study in direct relation to your research interests and the field.

It's a decision that takes some time, so don't fret. Do realize that if you opt for a Master's, that funding is typically scarce compared to PhDs.

[tendaysleft]

In my understanding, unless your grades are abysmal, there are always ways to work around grades that are "just okay" when applying to graduate school. There's actually a really great book that addresses this topic called "Graduate School: Winning Strategies for Getting In With or Without Excellent Grades" by David Mumby. It's like 10 years old or something, so it has some outdated advice about filling out paper applications and that kind of thing (and some advice about "personalizing" your essays that seems contrary to what I've been told) but overall it's pretty helpful. (And when you're freaking out about your chances, it can be pretty soothing to read!)

[redparis6]

Thank you all for your replies and advice, your insight has definitely given me a better sense of how I can better prepare myself for applications and the fact that I need a concrete plan before I can consider anything further. My school is heavily focused on science and engineering and as I've come to learn opportunities for Art History students are scarce. Seeing all of the students who have been able to publish and participate in other art-related activities has been pretty daunting to read!

This forum is such an excellent and encouraging resource for UGs like myself who are working with very little guidance so thank you again for sharing your experiences and expertise!