Two Quick Questions

[Beeeeeen]

Hi! So I am prospective fall 2014 applicant with an interest in 19th century American politics and racial violence. I just have two quick questions about the admissions process for whomever can help me.

 

1.) To what extent does outside writing experience enhance my application? I have recently had some experience doing some non-professional writing for a few local magazines and websites.

 

2.) Do programs put more emphasis on a major GPA as opposed to an overall GPA? I have a 3.75 overall average which is fairly strong (I think), but my in-major GPA is even stronger at around a 3.83. Will the slight increase really matter in the long run?

 

Thanks Guys,

Beeeeeen

 

[spellbanisher]

1. I doubt it. Grad programs don't generally care about non-related extracurriculars. If you can relate your writing to your interests/abilities/goals as a professional historian, then it might be of some benefit. If the program only asks for a statement of purpose, I would not include any extraneous extracurriculars. If it asks for a statement of purpose and a personal history statement, I would include the extracurriculars in the personal history.

 

2. Most grad programs will only care about your major GPA, and they'll care even more for your GPA in upper division history classes.

Edited May 17, 2014 by spellbanisher

[biisis]

1) Marginally? Perhaps more so if it pertains to your field in some description. It's worth including in your CV, but probably doesn't merit that much.

 

2) Yep, strong emphasis on major GPA, with a particular focus on your performance in the last two years of your degree.

 

Good luck!

[TMP]

Agreed with above.  ECs do not matter.  You can demonstrate the strength of your writing in the statement of purpose (SoP) and writing sample.

 

They'll pay most attention to your grades in  your history courses.

[awells27]

Agreed with above.  ECs do not matter.  You can demonstrate the strength of your writing in the statement of purpose (SoP) and writing sample.

 

They'll pay most attention to your grades in  your history courses.

Agreed.  Whatever outside writing experience one has can easily be deflated by a poor writing sample, or one that does not fit the intended faculty adviser.  Knowledge of your POI's work, and a writing sample that relates to it and adds something meaningful to the scholarly conversation, will mean much more.  The SOP must be a slam dunk in relation to your fit in the intended program.  When I went to my new grad student orientation, we were told that once the strongest apps in terms of merit (GRE scores, GPA, LORs, etc) had been determined, the acceptances for each concentration ultimately came down to fit.  This makes sense in retrospect, as my new faculty adviser is addressing most of the historical questions I have in terms of late ancient Jewish history.  My rejected applications also now make sense, as my interests were just not the right match for 5 years.

Edited May 19, 2014 by awells27

[C&C]

1. I agree with spellbanisher. If you feel that this writing has helped you with history...play it up! Just make sure it is well-connected to your goals as a history student in your SOP.

 

2. I had the same GPA scenario, and it worked out just fine. From my own experience, my campus visits and writing sample were just as important as my GPA (which was very competitive). It's important for potential departments to get a good sense of you as more than a set of numbers.

 

Best of luck!