Have a BS in Psychology but considering pursuing my passion for history... help!

[angela638x]

Hi there,

My name is Angela and I graduated from Northeastern University with a BS in Psychology in 2010. I have been gainfully employed in the field for years - this is the only path I've ever really explored ever since I was about 17 years old. I am now 24.

Recently I thought I wanted to be an RN so I could make more money in the field, but now I'm realizing I'm really not that passionate about psychology/medicine anymore. It doesn't excite me; it feels burdensome.

I am NOT good at science/math and my transcript reflects it. My strong suits are writing/English (I have never gotten less than an A- in any related course and test above average in them) and my true interest lies in history (specifically Tudor England); I read and write voraciously and have done so on this topic for years. I even took a course at Oxford on Elizabeth I just because I could.

I dream of being able to study this area of history and make a career out of it, but I don't know how. I have NO connections in this world so when it comes to references for graduate school? I have none. I don't even know if a place would take me because my undergrad/work experience is vastly different from history. I'm also aware that the careers in these types of fields are hard to come by but I'm not willing to let go of the dream just yet.

Has anyone ever done anything even remotely similar to this? Or have any advice as to what I should do? Please!! Thank you so much in advance.

[thedig13]

Hi there,

My name is Angela and I graduated from Northeastern University with a BS in Psychology in 2010. I have been gainfully employed in the field for years - this is the only path I've ever really explored ever since I was about 17 years old. I am now 24.

Recently I thought I wanted to be an RN so I could make more money in the field, but now I'm realizing I'm really not that passionate about psychology/medicine anymore. It doesn't excite me; it feels burdensome.

I am NOT good at science/math and my transcript reflects it. My strong suits are writing/English (I have never gotten less than an A- in any related course and test above average in them) and my true interest lies in history (specifically Tudor England); I read and write voraciously and have done so on this topic for years. I even took a course at Oxford on Elizabeth I just because I could.

I dream of being able to study this area of history and make a career out of it, but I don't know how. I have NO connections in this world so when it comes to references for graduate school? I have none. I don't even know if a place would take me because my undergrad/work experience is vastly different from history. I'm also aware that the careers in these types of fields are hard to come by but I'm not willing to let go of the dream just yet.

Has anyone ever done anything even remotely similar to this? Or have any advice as to what I should do? Please!! Thank you so much in advance.

From your post, it seems that you're new to TGC, so let me be the first to say welcome to our community.

To answer your question, transitioning from one discipline to another is fairly common between undergrad work and grad school. It's not the norm, but it's hardly rare. Most here (including myself) will encourage you to try for a Master's degree in History before moving onto a PhD program. They're generally easier to get into, and will enable you to refine your historical interests, get some writing and coursework under your belt, and network with prospective LOR-writers, which will strengthen your eventual application into PhD programs. Also, Master's programs are a great way to get your feet wet within the field. Many prospects enter a doctoral program with all of the enthusiasm and energy in the world and are absolutely floored by the rigorous demands of the system. Graduate-level work in a Master's program will give you a chance to figure out exactly what kind of stuff you'll be doing for the next six years and to decide whether it's really a commitment that you're prepared to make.

By the way, some schools actually encourage "real-world" work experience, so that may be an advantage in your favor.

Two other thoughts: First, history isn't necessarily a rigid, set-in-stone field. There are creative ways to combine history with other disciplines. For instance, a professor in my own department wrote her dissertation on the insane asylums of 19th-century Germany. If your specific interests deal with the history of psychological disorders in Medieval England or perhaps some sort of undiagnosed condition that Henry VIII may have had (or something of that nature), then your psychology degree may be a great way to market yourself as a viable candidate in that field. It makes sense; you can't be a competent Medical Historian if you know nothing about Medicine. If this isn't the case, then (obviously) don't lie about it just to get in, but it's a thought.

Finally, languages are a great way to (partially) make up for a lack of extensive coursework in the topic (and are critical regardless). Many candidates end up dropping out because they have to pick up languages as they go and no professor wants to teach Spanish instead of history. For a late medieval/early modern historian such as yourself, I'd train myself in French and German and maybe Latin to enhance my application.

Edited June 23, 2012 by thedig13

[New England Nat]

I'm going to agree with all of thedig's recommendations about a masters, so consider those seconded.

I would also assure you that a lot of undergraduate history majors discover that graduate level history is a very different thing than what they did even in their upper level undergraduate classes. I'm not a huge fan of this book as light reading, but you should take a glance through Peter Novak's That Noble Dream: The 'Objectivity Question' and the American Historical Profession. It ends in a moment 20 years ago that is very particular, but it is an excellent introduction to the way in which the historical profession changes over time.

[Sigaba]

Peter Novak's That Noble Dream: The 'Objectivity Question' and the American Historical Profession. It ends in a moment 20 years ago that is very particular, but it is an excellent introduction to the way in which the historical profession changes over time.

A work that may more accessible is Higham's History: Professional Scholarship in America (1989).

In either case, I also recommend that you find a book that explores the "state of the art" in your broadly defined fields of interest. Ideally, this work will have bibliographic essays that will help you wet your feet and whet your appetite for the study of academic history. From there, start developing a provisional list of topics that interest you and historians that inspire you. Start doing research and reading on their careers and their work.

Meanwhile, continue to work on your ability to write and to think like a historian. Maybe write five hundred word essays on Novick (or Higham or who ever) as well the "state of the art" books you find. Maybe write longer pieces from books you pick to read from the bibliographic essays (3-5 pages if you're going to write on one book, a bit longer if you're going to write on two). Consult the reviews in academic journals for format and content.

Concurrently, start working on your mindset. Going to graduate school is about embracing the suck. During your experience in the private sector, you've probably had your share of soul killing days. In graduate school, these days will be different because you'll have fewer opportunities and resources to depressurize. For example, in the private sector, there are certain words and phrases that you can use to tell a boss to f himself. He is unlikely to care that much as long as the work gets done his way. In the Ivory Tower, you use the corresponding words and phrases at your own peril and also graduate school is more process oriented.

As a part of working on your mindset, you might want to look at your personal relationships (social, familial, and romantic). Studying history is going to change you. If you do the work the right way, you are going to look at the world and yourself differently. This new mindset might impact your relationships for better and for worse.

Somewhere along the line, you may want to doing some research and writing on a topic of interest. If you want good preparation for the graduate student experience, design a project that would take at least two months and then give yourself a fortnight to do it. The two week interval you pick to do this project should overlap with other commitments--especially ones that are equally important or more rewarding.

Finally, start working on your intellectual and psychological endurance. The pressures of the Ivory Tower are very different than those of the private sector. In the private sector, eventually, even the most complex projects and difficult clients end up being shrinking reflections on the rear view mirror. In the Ivory Tower, you'll be driving towards these objects as they race towards you head on.

Welcome to the gradcafe.

[New England Nat]

A work that may more accessible is Higham's History: Professional Scholarship in America (1989).

In either case, I also recommend that you find a book that explores the "state of the art" in your broadly defined fields of interest.

This only applies to Americanists but the Eric Foner edited American History Now is extremely good.

[Sigaba]

This only applies to Americanists but the Eric Foner edited American History Now is extremely good.

I'd have preferred the inclusion of essays on military and naval history.

But I'm not bitter.

[New England Nat]

I'd have preferred the inclusion of essays on military and naval history.

But I'm not bitter.

I think we've had this conversation about our mutal bitterness before.

(says another military historian)

[Sigaba]

NEN--

Check your PMs, please.

[jamc8383]

Sorry, a little tardy on catching this one. I have actually been in this exact position. I did my undergraduate work in International Business and Italian, had been doing "real work" for about 6 years and, having gone to a huge university, had zero reliable academic references to call on. Definitely an MA program is the way to go. Instead of applying to the program outright I enrolled in an area university's "extended learning" program which allowed me to take upper division history courses, prove myself in the classroom and work with some great professors in the field that could then write LORs when I applied officially to the MA program. Most universities have this kind of program in which you can just take some courses without actually being admitted to the university. It was exactly what I needed to get my foot in the door. I took a couple semesters of classes while working full-time and then applied and was accepted to the masters program. Next year I'm applying for phD programs. What's important is not to think of the time doing the MA as lost time. Many phD programs will excuse a year of coursework if you have an MA and for me (and probably you) with no prior background in the study of history, it's allowed me to develop some killer writing samples, secure some amazing recommendations, and generally make myself a more desirable candidate for phD programs. Hope this helps!