Harvard Celtic Studies PHD

[Katia_chan]

So the skinny is: I usually kind of think of myself as a...level 2 applicant.  I apply in the middle of the road, and have one (more than average) crapshoot reach school every year, just to keep things interesting.

 

But after a visit to Boston this summer, and after falling in love with certain aspects of the city (I found a real working print shop run on an 18th C printing press, and it just went down hill from there), I decided to look at PHD programs in the area.  Besides showing me that Boston has a depressing lack of medieval faculty, it also lead me to...Harvard.  I'd heard of their Celtic studies program before, but had never really checked it out.  And then I did, and it was, sort of... so much of what I'd been looking for in a program.  It's not easy to find a place to study medieval Welsh, surprise surprise.

 

So to get to the actual point...does anyone have any advice about applying to a program where I'm already feeling about a thousand miles out of my league?  I made a shot at UPenn before, and failed, but I didn't "care" about it as much as I care about this program.  And if there's anyone who knows anything, or knows what I can read, or...whatever, I'd love to go in to the process as armed for battle as I can.  If your advice includes "just don't apply you money-wasting idiot," that's okay too.  I'm starry-eyed, but I'm occasionally capable of being a realist.  This will be my 3rd round of applications, so I'm not exactly bubbling over with cockiness.

 

Thanks for any advice.

[BunnyWantsaPhD]

I think there's a difference between applying to Harvard because it's Harvard and applying there because you think you're a good fit. I remember when someone posted on here about how they didn't get why Columbia was such a big deal--they couldn't see anything interesting in the faculty etc. That was really eye-opening because they're my number one place in terms of fit. So, it really made it clear to me how much fit really is a "thing." (if that makes sense). I feel the same way you do about Columbia; I don't know if I can get in, but I'm going to try. So, I say go for it--you don't want to regret never knowing if you could have made it. Obviously, apply to a range of schools as well. 

 

Well...wait. I don't know about how I feel about applying for a "range" of schools. I think I say that it's good advice because it keeps getting perpetuated that it is, but the thing is that you either fit their program or you don't. Obviously at some point you have to be realistic in terms of GRE scores, GPA, etc etc., but fit matters the most. That's my two cents and I'm sticking to it! ; )

[dr. t]

What do you want to know?

[Katia_chan]

I...don't even know at this point.  Just, I guess, if there are any tips for how to stand out when there is no way I feel like I can compete with the "usual" ivy-league applicants.  I am floundering so far out of my depth, but I don't want it to just be a "what the hell" application, because it looks like such a wonderful program.

 

You look like you navigated the process quite well; I stand in awe of your academics (and just in case the internet makes me sound like a jerk I mean that with absolutely no sarcasm. You are living the dream).

 

I just don't want to commit a   major flub...and I'm crazily insecure.

[dr. t]

I...don't even know at this point.  Just, I guess, if there are any tips for how to stand out when there is no way I feel like I can compete with the "usual" ivy-league applicants.  I am floundering so far out of my depth, but I don't want it to just be a "what the hell" application, because it looks like such a wonderful program.

 

You look like you navigated the process quite well; I stand in awe of your academics (and just in case the internet makes me sound like a jerk I mean that with absolutely no sarcasm. You are living the dream).

 

I just don't want to commit a   major flub...and I'm crazily insecure.

Aww, you make me blush! I'll save this for my next round of PHD apps because God knows I'll need it then 

 

I'll run the general thought by some Celtic friends and see what they say. Based on what I know generally about programs which require lots of languages, linguistic skill can be a pretty big deciding factor early on. I'm sure they list somewhere what the Celtic dept specifically looks for, and I am fairly confident in saying that they will get enough qualified candidates with those skills that not having them would be Not A Good Sign.

 

That said, I'm a strong proponent of making an attempt at something you want, no matter the reach. What you try shouldn't depend on whether or not you think you will succeed, but rather what you want to do (note: do not apply this principle to things like jumping over a crevasse). Heck, I was told by one current PhD student that he app'd to something like 10 schools and got into 2, one of which was Harvard.

 

The one caveat I would give is to have a firm idea of what you would want to do with the program.

[Marie-Luise]

I...don't even know at this point.  Just, I guess, if there are any tips for how to stand out when there is no way I feel like I can compete with the "usual" ivy-league applicants.  I am floundering so far out of my depth, but I don't want it to just be a "what the hell" application, because it looks like such a wonderful program.

 

You look like you navigated the process quite well; I stand in awe of your academics (and just in case the internet makes me sound like a jerk I mean that with absolutely no sarcasm. You are living the dream).

 

I just don't want to commit a   major flub...and I'm crazily insecure.

 

Katia_chan,

 

I have several friends in that department. Just send me a message with your questions. I can help you get in touch with faculty. I also did medieval Welsh and am doing a PhD in Celtic, so I can also help you with subject matter.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Marie