Josh J. Posted January 17, 2015 Posted January 17, 2015 Hello Everyone, Just curious who is applying to Yale, and what you wish to study there? I am interested in Late 19th/Early 20th Century American History, specifically the social and religious history of World War I.
Deadwing0608 Posted January 18, 2015 Posted January 18, 2015 Hi! I am also applying to Yale. It's my epic reach. I am interested in post-World War II American history, particularly labor, migration, and refugee resettlement. Anyone know anything about the Yale interview process?
elinen Posted January 18, 2015 Posted January 18, 2015 (edited) Hi! I also applied to Yale. Interested in the Cold War, transnational history, European-Latin American connections, solidarity movements. I'm not sure how the interview process works, I'm from Europe so I doubt they will call me for an interview.. Edited January 18, 2015 by Eline
Aubstopper Posted January 18, 2015 Posted January 18, 2015 I've applied to Yale, but in the Religious Studies department (essentially because that department was a better fit than history). As it happens, I'm familiar with the admissions process for both religious studies and history -- I have a former colleague from my time at UofC who is now in the History department over there and I spoke to 4 professors, including the Religious Studies chair. The way it works is on professorial nomination. The professor or professors you proposed to work with nominate you for admission, then your application goes to an adcom and is ranked against other candidates. What seemed to be most important was language preparation, your writing sample (the book review for history as well), a clear SOP, and the recs. The MOST important thing they look for is candidate "fit." Then there's the whole thing about subfields within the department. At least for the Religious Studies program (and I know the history program has subfields, but I'm unsure if they do admissions exactly like this), the way admissions is set up makes for unsuccessful applicants who want to do cross-disciplinary work. They evaluate by subfield and want approximately 1-2 people from each subfield making it 10-12 total, or something like 22 total for history. The university requires interviews for all departments and those seem to be send out between nowish and early February. Josh J. and potsupotsu 2
Josh J. Posted January 19, 2015 Author Posted January 19, 2015 Thanks for the insight. Are you doing religious history, Aubstopper? If so, what area? I am in the American Religious History masters program at Vanderbilt right now, in the Divinity School. I'd rather have the PhD in history than religion though, so I applied to the history department.
Aubstopper Posted January 19, 2015 Posted January 19, 2015 I do Modern Jewish Intellectual History, though I'm by no means a "pure historian." I'm interested in taking the retrospective and examining the political/philosophical implications of the present (more of a political philosopher). I am applying to one history program, but that's more so because there's a professor who does the same things as me who happens to be in a history department. A History PhD is probably more marketable but us humanities people obviously aren't in this for the money
disposableheroes Posted January 20, 2015 Posted January 20, 2015 I applied to Yale as well. I am interested in Sports in Latin America. Originally I was more interested in doing indigenous rebellions (the base of my M.A. thesis) but that topic does not seem like a good fit at Yale.
ForlornHope Posted January 20, 2015 Posted January 20, 2015 I have applied with the intent of pursuing a PhD in medieval history. I've noticed, for better or for worse, that such applicants rare to many programs. I'm hoping it means less competition for me, and less for the general applicant pool, as well! And yes, the brief interaction with the faculty at Yale that I have had focused on "fit," so I can second the Aubstopper's response.
navyblackmaroon Posted January 21, 2015 Posted January 21, 2015 I also applied to Yale. I do urban history of modern Latin America, specifically Mexico since 1940. I think I can fit in the department, but that's for the committee/POI to decide.
northsouthinstitute Posted January 21, 2015 Posted January 21, 2015 I applied to Yale as well, in Middle East history. We'll see what happens. With the book review there are so many variables in the application. Is Yale's the only history department that does interviews?
Josh J. Posted January 21, 2015 Author Posted January 21, 2015 Looking at the results search, it looks like Harvard, Emory, Penn, UMich, and others also do interviews. I see two interviews posted for Yale so far. I've not heard from there yet. Has anyone here been contacted for an interview?
DartmouthTrav Posted January 23, 2015 Posted January 23, 2015 I'm also awaiting word on PhD app. I applied to Renaissance / History so things may be a bit different I hear. From the looks of previous year results, decisions went out (in the affirmative) around 20th February. Rejections seemed to come out afterward. I am chomping at the bit to know. I met with Head of Grad Studies and another relevant faculty member, had numerous emails and phone conversations. This is my second attempt at admissions. Last year I was denied at Yale but I gained admission to Oxford ....which was strange to say... I chose to not go to Ox due to extreme expense with children. So, this year I really hope it works out at Yale. Any thoughts as to the process for Renaissance / History (combined PhD) would be greatly appreciated. Feel free to follow on Twitter as well. (@travisshores1) Josh J. 1
paulxobear Posted January 23, 2015 Posted January 23, 2015 Congratulations to those of you who have received interview emails! If you don't mind to share, are your interviews with the POI only or you will meet other people in the department such as the Department Chair and the DGS? Are the interviews in person or by Skype or phone? Thank you for sharing and congrats again! Josh J. 1
Annalistasaxo89 Posted January 24, 2015 Posted January 24, 2015 I applied to Yale's Medieval Studies program, having missed the deadline for history by literally a minute. Does any one know if due to the later deadline the Medieval Studies Program sends out their decisions at a latter date?
paulxobear Posted January 30, 2015 Posted January 30, 2015 I just got the Yale admission! So happy! ashiepoo72 and L13 2
Josh J. Posted January 30, 2015 Author Posted January 30, 2015 Paulxobear, Congratulations! I bet you are excited! Did you receive an interview request from them?
paulxobear Posted January 30, 2015 Posted January 30, 2015 (edited) Paulxobear, Congratulations! I bet you are excited! Did you receive an interview request from them? Thank you Josh! No I didn't receive an interview request. The email arrived at my inbox less than an hour ago. But it is not official, as it states. Campus visit is March 1-3. Edited January 30, 2015 by paulxobear
northsouthinstitute Posted January 31, 2015 Posted January 31, 2015 Congrats to everyone who got offers! Is it true, as someone said in the results search, that all of Yale's PhD offers have been sent?
dr. t Posted January 31, 2015 Posted January 31, 2015 It's usually a batch process. There may be waitlist stragglers.
Orangutan_Conservation Posted February 2, 2015 Posted February 2, 2015 Thank you Josh! No I didn't receive an interview request. The email arrived at my inbox less than an hour ago. But it is not official, as it states. Campus visit is March 1-3. I'll see you there! Well, at least I hope I will. I was planning on going abroad for some language training at that time, but I really want to meet some professors and the other admitees. Have you received the "detailed" letter on funding and teaching requirements? I'm still waiting on it, but (I think) they said we may need to wait until the 20th.
paulxobear Posted February 2, 2015 Posted February 2, 2015 No I haven't. But the website says teaching for 4 semesters. What's your area of research? Mine is Central-East Asia cross cultural exchange
Orangutan_Conservation Posted February 2, 2015 Posted February 2, 2015 (edited) No I haven't. But the website says teaching for 4 semesters. What's your area of research? Mine is Central-East Asia cross cultural exchange Yes, I think my advisor recommended teaching during the third and fifth years. Central Asia? That's actually not far from my focus. At the moment, I'm deciding between Iran-Caucasus-Russia or Iran-Central Asia. Do you work with any Central Asian languages? Edited February 2, 2015 by Orangutan_Conservation
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