"Program resource limitations" meaning?

[History_fan123]

Last year when I applied to grad school the main reason I was not accepted (at least on the letter) was do to "program resource limitations".  What does this actually mean?  I applied for history but with the specialization program in public history.  The public history track needed 12 more credits/different classes/different professors than the regular masters in history.

 

From what I have gathered it seems that the limitations is that they didn't have the funding to warrant the program for the future academic year.  Am I correct in this thought?

 

I will be retaking the GRE to try and increase my scores,regardless, but should I apply to this program again?  Or should I "play safe" and just apply for the generic master's in history rather than a specialized/narrower program?

 

Thanks for any information!

[TakeruK]

In many cases, the limiting factor on how many new students a program can accept is because they only have a limited amount of money and time to fund and supervise students. So this sounds like a polite way to say, "Sorry, there were more qualified applicants than you this year so we accepted them instead." Many programs will also give you further feedback on your application if you ask, so that might be a good idea to judge whether or not you should apply again. As for generic masters vs. specialized program maybe some historians here can better answer that!

[Sigaba]

The answer you received may also be cover for an ongoing struggle within the department over the value/utility of public history vs other fields.

Have you had the opportunity to do research on the faculty members?

Also, is retaking the GRE the best use of your time, or might you be better off reworking your SOP and your writing sample?

[MikKar]

Basically : they didn't have any money to support you.

[juilletmercredi]

That sounds like a fancy way of saying "no money."  If this is an MA program, that could mean various things: maybe some professors are leaving or are not teaching some of the public history courses necessary; maybe they are downsizing the program because they don't have the money to pay for the resources all the students need.  Maybe they need the money to pay for a new program staff member.  It could, as has already been pointed out, be a vague reference to an ongoing debate over whether to continue even offering the public history specialization there.  It's hard to tell from the outside.

 

If this program really appeals to you, then go ahead and reapply this year.  If you do get accepted, then you can visit and/or investigate the stability of the program.

[History_fan123]

Thanks for the answers, I have sent some inquiries to the school to find enrollment information for the general history program and if possible the specialized tracks.  I have also asked about a certificate they offer to graduate students for museum studies with the completion of 5 classes.  So it may be that I will just have to apply to the general program and the certificate instead of the specialized tract.

 

Thanks again