Fall 2013 Applicants?

[LeatherElbows]

I hear you about the post-mortem focus woes, czesc. Most programs only admit 1 Japan focus and that's on a good year. The whole system conjures up a rather perverse version of Aladdin in which some poor history PhD applicant is rubbing a lamp asking what year holds the highest proportion of favorable region admits. (The genie did not answer 2013.)

[TMP]

Sure, it's nice.  But the reality is that the market is demanding and desiring a diverse set of teaching abilities so you might as well have them under your belt.  You do learn a lot along the way by sitting in the class and working with the professor to prepare discussion sections.  Generally, if you have a minor field interest, it's all perfectly good enough.  In my program, most people will teach in their major field and do some courses in their minor fields.

 

Yes, undergraduates would appreciate your knowledge in lower level courses.  But it's only in upper level courses where your specialized knowledge is really needed.  While I haven't actually TA-ed yet, I have sat in a lower level undergrad course and it's incredible how the students lack basic knowledge that a smart grad student who can digest a chapter in a textbook can just give a lecture...and the students would be perfectly satisfied.

 

Don't worry about it, csezc.  Programs know what they need and do think ahead a bit for teaching needs.

[czesc]

Yes, undergraduates would appreciate your knowledge in lower level courses.  But it's only in upper level courses where your specialized knowledge is really needed.  While I haven't actually TA-ed yet, I have sat in a lower level undergrad course and it's incredible how the students lack basic knowledge that a smart grad student who can digest a chapter in a textbook can just give a lecture...and the students would be perfectly satisfied.

 

I suppose that's true. It's been awhile since undergrad but I remember a lot of students could barely pass a map quiz, and this was at a very good college.

[TMP]

I suppose that's true. It's been awhile since undergrad but I remember a lot of students could barely pass a map quiz, and this was at a very good college.

My point exactly.     If you can barely pass a map quiz, you aren't going to understand what happened in terms of invasions and relationships between monarchies and nation-states that complicated European history.

[BerenErchamion]

 UCR responded super late for my PhD app last year. My guess is that the MA takes longer b/c they want to see how many PhD students they have first.

 

I received a Ph.D. acceptance in mid-January, much earlier than I heard back from any of the other seven programs to which I applied.

 

If your second sentence is true, then I have to admit that I might be one of the ones responsible for History Time's wait.  UCR is my #2 choice, and I'm still waiting to hear back from my #1 ((T)OSU) before I tell UCR my decision.

[annieca]

Waiting for funding news...always the best part of the application season I think.

[CrazyCatLady80]

Does anyone know whats up with UCSB? Im getting nervous because I have to make a decision by the 1st for one of my schools I got into and I still haven't heard from them.  

 

Someone I know in my grad program heard she was accepted last week. Hope this helps. 

[kyjin]

Still in the weird limbo state: I'm accepted to USC, but still don't have my funding package. (Know it's 5 years guaranteed, and I have the base number, but no official.)  And no news from the Michigan waitlist, which I don't have much hope out for, but won't take my name off just in case... Part of me just wants to accept my offer and be done with it. I visited and loved the program, but there's still the "what if" going around. Plus money. Bleh.

[Laguna Niguel]

Do you all let your POI know when you accept an offer from a different school, or do you just let the DGS know?

[New England Nat]

You should let the graduate administrator know, and any PoI you had direct contact with.

[Zephyr99]

Anyone know when George Washington's accepted student visiting weekend was?

[History Time]

I received a Ph.D. acceptance in mid-January, much earlier than I heard back from any of the other seven programs to which I applied.

 

If your second sentence is true, then I have to admit that I might be one of the ones responsible for History Time's wait.  UCR is my #2 choice, and I'm still waiting to hear back from my #1 ((T)OSU) before I tell UCR my decision.

 

Maybe, but I applied for the MA program.

[BerenErchamion]

Maybe, but I applied for the MA program.

 

Indeed, and what was (speculatively) suggested was that perhaps the reason MA admission notices were delayed was because they were first waiting to see how many new Ph.D. students they would have, to give themselves an idea of how many MA slots they might have open.

 

So if that is true (big "if"), and if a number of Ph.D. admits are delaying their decision (as I am; I obviously can't speak to whether others are or not), then that might conceivably explain the delay in getting back to you on your MA application.

 

Again, this is all speculative, but it's a not-unreasonable possibility.

[vtstevie]

Just got my official rejection from UC Davis. After having come to grips with not getting in there, they took so long to reject me that I started to have hope again, so this feels a little worse than my last couple rejections. The letter listed my letters of recommendation as not being competitive enough, which was a bit of a shock as all my writers seemed enthusiastic about recommending me, AND the DGS and I had an email exchange where he complimented the quality of my app. So I don't really know what to think right now!

[westcoag]

Here's yet another plea from a sad waitlisted soul. If you were accepted to Ohio State but aren't going to go there, please please please officially reject the offer.

[gagozapalka]

What I heard about OSU admissions is that it does not necessarily mean you are waitlisted if you have not heard anything from them yet. They prepared a list and they are waiting for additional budgetary info before they announce these admission decisions. In other words, even if you are accepted, you are not going to hear from them until they are able to offer you a fellowship or TA'ship together with that acceptance.

[Wicked_Problem]

Just got my official rejection from UC Davis. After having come to grips with not getting in there, they took so long to reject me that I started to have hope again, so this feels a little worse than my last couple rejections. The letter listed my letters of recommendation as not being competitive enough, which was a bit of a shock as all my writers seemed enthusiastic about recommending me, AND the DGS and I had an email exchange where he complimented the quality of my app. So I don't really know what to think right now!

I am shocked that a program would give any kind of (negative) individual feedback on any official basis, like in a letter. Generic and distant is the rule. I'm not saying that's a bad thing -- we all want the feedback -- but surprising nonetheless.

[Wicked_Problem]

Just got my official rejection from UC Davis. After having come to grips with not getting in there, they took so long to reject me that I started to have hope again, so this feels a little worse than my last couple rejections.

Tem-ple. Tem-ple. TEM-PLE. TEM-PLE!

[vtstevie]

Aaaand I'm done with this phase of the process. Just got my rejection from U Maine - a little surprised, as my MA advisers all told me to consider it a safety school, but there are so many factors in the process that nothing should be a surprise (or everything).

 

So, how about that funding news wait, eh?

[Andean Pat]

Just got my official rejection from UC Davis. After having come to grips with not getting in there, they took so long to reject me that I started to have hope again, so this feels a little worse than my last couple rejections. The letter listed my letters of recommendation as not being competitive enough, which was a bit of a shock as all my writers seemed enthusiastic about recommending me, AND the DGS and I had an email exchange where he complimented the quality of my app. So I don't really know what to think right now!

 

stevie, then Temple it is???? I hope you are glad! 

 

I know a rejection is NEVER good news, no matter how low in your list a school was. But as many people said here (and it was useful for me), it only takes one acceptance. You are in the place you are supposed to be I understand how you feel, believe me, but things do happen for a reason, and you must know you DID everything you could and a rejection DOES NOT mean it was not enough. It only means that you are truly truly wanted elsewhere and you'll have an excellent career. I am writing so fast I think I may have switched to Spanglish, forgive me!!!!!!!

 

All the best!!!!!!!

[Wicked_Problem]

Aaaand I'm done with this phase of the process. Just got my rejection from U Maine - a little surprised, as my MA advisers all told me to consider it a safety school, but there are so many factors in the process that nothing should be a surprise (or everything).   So, how about that funding news wait, eh?

It only takes one, and for you, it's the right one.

[annieca]

So, opinion question for y'all -

 

I received a letter (PDF) from Maryland saying I was accepted to the SLIS Department and the Archives Specialization. They said it would only be official when I heard from the Graduate School (a formality I assume) and that if I didn't hear back in a timely manner, I should contact them.

 

The question is... what's a timely manner? It'll be a week tomorrow since I got the letter. I know that's probably early to contact them, but I want to find out about funding as soon as possible and I think I can only do that through their portal which I can't register on until I'm officially accepted.... 

 

Ah, bureaucracy, thy name is graduate school admissions!

[Wicked_Problem]

So, opinion question for y'all -   I received a letter (PDF) from Maryland saying I was accepted to the SLIS Department and the Archives Specialization. They said it would only be official when I heard from the Graduate School (a formality I assume) and that if I didn't hear back in a timely manner, I should contact them.   The question is... what's a timely manner? It'll be a week tomorrow since I got the letter. I know that's probably early to contact them, but I want to find out about funding as soon as possible and I think I can only do that through their portal which I can't register on until I'm officially accepted....    Ah, bureaucracy, thy name is graduate school admissions!

In my case the graduate school letter was available via the website where I originally submitted. That may not apply to you, but...

[CageFree]

Just got my official rejection from UC Davis. After having come to grips with not getting in there, they took so long to reject me that I started to have hope again, so this feels a little worse than my last couple rejections. The letter listed my letters of recommendation as not being competitive enough, which was a bit of a shock as all my writers seemed enthusiastic about recommending me, AND the DGS and I had an email exchange where he complimented the quality of my app. So I don't really know what to think right now!

 

I wouldn't put too much stock on what was on the letter. The DGS wouldn't have lied to you about the quality of your app. I think they are required to put "something" in there, based on what I've seen on the results boards... people with 4.0s being told their GPA wasn't competitive enough? 

[vtstevie]

Thanks everyone - I e-mailed my recommenders to tell them I heard from all my schools and mentioned the Davis thing and they seemed confused and stressed the positivity of their letters, so CageFree, you're probably right.

 

As far as whether Temple is the place or not, that all depends on funding and the DGS there told me to wait until late April for word on that so I'll just be hanging around here until then I guess!

 

Annieca, I'd say if you're contacting administration officials, a week is not too early at all. You're in and accepted (most likely) and it's not like you need to make an impression on this particular crowd anymore (i.e. the graduate school office workers), so e-mail them after a week!