Advice for a Prospective Grad Student

[Way Out East]

I have been lurking on this site for a while and decided to make an account hoping that some users may have advice for an undergraduate who is planning on applying to Phd programs in the future.

 

I am a junior at a large, high ranked (top 100) public university in the Northeast US. I am a dual major in both History and Political Science with a minor in International Studies. I have a 3.95 GPA and a 3.93 History GPA. I feel my GPA should be competitive for top programs, but have seen on here that GPA does not appear to be on the same level as other factors (writing samples, department fit). I am planning on applying to Phd programs next fall, and was wondering what advice you may have for enhancing my application before I start applying. I am worried that if I don't get into an elite program, my future job prospects are not going to be as positive as I would like.

 

The field I would be looking to pursue is US Political History, with the majority of my focus being between the Civil War and the Second World War.Specifically, the history of political parties, the effect of immigration on politics, and radical politics in the US. I am also fascinated by US-Russian relations but I feel that would be more of a minor field than a primary one. I plan on doing a Senior Honor Thesis next academic year on a yet to be determined topic related to the political environment in the US during one of the Roosevelt administrations. I believe I would have 1 exceptionally strong LOR but am a little concerned about the other two I would need. Would it hurt me to use a lecturer whose more of an adviser than an instructor? The University is so big and "industrial" (as one of my professors put it) that I've had a tough time making connections with faculty. I've tried to improve this during the last few months but have found many of the professors I have taken courses with have not been the friendliest people and seem to rather not have students at their office hours. 

 

Any suggestions on departments, resume boosters, networking, or anything else you deem important would be welcomed.

 

Thanks! I also apologize if I violated any forum rules by giving such a long spiel. 

[HIMJoel]

Apply to a Psychology program, my advice would be, to not ever ask the question "Where do I apply?" but it is better to ask "To whom , do I apply?". Find someone you would be happy working with for five or so years. And EMAIL them before you apply asking if they are taking grad students. This will get your name on the radar. It will also help with fit. Also taylor your research to fit those who you want to work with, or find an angle that fits theirs, and write about that in your personal statement. 

[ashiepoo72]

You might want to peek at a recent thread called "Advice for Undergraduate Preparation," which gave lots of useful advice. I get that you're nearing the end of your undergrad career, but I'd give you the same advice as someone at the beginning.

Languages. If you want to look at immigration, language is relevant. Also, many US historians get away with not knowing a bunch of languages, but knowing one or more relevant ones makes you more competitive when you apply to grad programs and to jobs later on.

Get in contact with 2 more profs. You have 2 years to build good relationships. You need to use those. Weak LORs can be--and often are--the death knell of applications. Find people who you've taken a class with, try to take another. Go to their office hours to talk about research and grad school.

Since you have a narrower area of interest, read the literature for your field. Get acquainted with the historiography and major debates. Try to write your senior thesis within these debates.

GRE--it's not the end all be all of your application, but take it seriously. If I was in your position, Id start seriously practicing vocabulary and, if I didn't already, reading journals in my field and high-brow mags like the New Yorker. I also read the NY Review of Books for fun. The Economist is another good one. These publications are generally well-written, and nothing prepares you for reading comprehension on the GRE like actual reading comprehension.

I'm sure I missed a ton, but if I was to go back and do it over these would be the main things I would take with me. As it is, I opted to take an MA before applying to PhD programs. I don't regret it one bit. I was a much more thoughtful applicant because of my year off and MA experience. If your first PhD application season is a wash, I would definitely consider an MA/year off/year abroad/etc.

EDIT: I just want to comment on the tailoring your interests to fit the programs that the above commenter mentioned. I disagree with this to an extent. Very little tailoring of my interests occurred because I carefully chose programs that could already support my research. Yes, look into programs and find what resources they have to offer you and put those in your SOP. Look for methodological strengths perhaps, or if they have certain research centers or archival collections. Maybe the school is close to a certain state archive. That's how I tailored my SOP. I wouldn't, however, dream of altering my research interests to appeal to a program unless that alteration was honest to my interests. I found plenty of programs that could support my research as is by spending a ton of time and contacting a ton of scholars at a ton of places.

Edited January 30, 2015 by ashiepoo72

[c m]

I think the previous two posters have great advice and what I was going to share.  Just want to add a bit based on my own experience.

 

For strong LORs, definitely engage with more faculty but try to do so than merely in the classroom.  A good LOR can still be bad if it is written in generic language.  You want to select people, if possible, that can truly comment and recommend you in a very complete way.  For example, two core writers for me: one was my undergraduate advisor with whom I met with every semester to discuss courses, took courses with her, included in my thesis writing process, and attended local conferences/exhibitions she recommended and she often saw me doing so.  The other was a one time professor turned mentor and reader for my paper, and a relationship I have continued even after my graduation.  These two already had a lot of information they could use and, I can confidently say, were invested in my continued success.  So when selecting LORs, think about who can do that for you.  Also tailor your LORs to the program (if and when you have options to choose).  For example, if I had faculty that had strong connects to the POI I was interested in, I selected that person.  And for another program, I needed to truly demonstrate my commitment to queer theory and selected the advisor I sought out from outside of my department.

 

I also wouldn't say tailor your interests, but what was recommended to me and what I found helpful, was be confident in your SOP writing.  Realistically, everyone knows that your final project is likely to change from undergrad through your PhD process.  But proposing a project that you are passionate about and reflects your knowledge of the literature in the field of your interest.  Also, say why that school is best for achieving your goal -- this takes research! For me, I mentioned specific archives, galleries, and proximities in addition to faculty that would be important to reaching my research goals.  Truly and thoroughly answer why a program would be ideal in the pursuit of your goals beyond it being a top program -- because there should be much more behind that.  And know your POI's work and be able to reference it and respond to it.  I did a lot of, "I appreciate this idea x and believe you can expand it to y, which is how I propose getting to my underlying idea of z in my research ambitions etc."  And also, and I know this is a lot to pack in, for art history and I am just assuming history is similar, be able to talk about your methodology.

 

One thing for the writing sample that my advisor recommended (paraphrasing here): if you have an acknowledgement section, be sure that you acknowledge within it your recommenders as this will further strengthen their ability to comment on you.  For me, I was able to do this as all those that I chose to write on my behalf were very integral to my writing sample with the exception of one recommender for one program and for personal ethical issues, I did not include him.  But if you can, I would say make sure they are there.

 

POIs -- going to repeat that this is much more important than an elite program by itself.  While going to an elite program will help you, especially in the humanities, if you choose a program over the POIs there, that might work against you in the long run.  Find POIs that will be invested in your research, are well known for your area of scholarship, and have a commitment to helping their students in the long run.  Getting a degree in the humanities, from anywhere, is not a guarantee of a job in the long run. It is highly competitive, so try to study with people that will help you get where you want because they are well connected in the area you want to study.  I personally had mixed results with emailing in advance, but I do think it helps.  I also went to visit a program before I submitted the application and I was accepted into that program without an interview.  So pre-application contact is important, but don't be discouraged if you don't hear back the first time or promptly -- faculty are busy people.

 

And as for GREs and GPAs -- like everyone said, not end all, be alls.  But I like to think of them as benchmarks.  Your GPA is strong and I would strive to achieve a GRE score that fits the programs, which you can ask in advance to see what you should be aiming for.  For me, looking for art history programs, verbal was far more important than quant and I focused my attention there a la the suggestions of ashiepoo.

 

Good luck!

 

EDIT: Networking tip that worked pretty well for me -- look at any major paper you have worked on (thesis for example) and go straight to your bibliography.  Where are the people you cited working?  Whose arguments were you really engaged with?  This is a great place to start -- and email those people!  I made a great relationship with a professor at NU who has become a fantastic partner because I emailed him, said his ideas in x paper really structured my own in y paper.  He ended up reading my paper, giving suggestions, and has kept in contact and wrote an informal email on my behalf to the department I was applying to (unsolicited).  I have found that (at least art historians) are very responsive when you say you read their work and that you were engaged with it.  Great way to network.

Edited January 30, 2015 by c m

[Way Out East]

You might want to peek at a recent thread called "Advice for Undergraduate Preparation," which gave lots of useful advice. I get that you're nearing the end of your undergrad career, but I'd give you the same advice as someone at the beginning.

Languages. If you want to look at immigration, language is relevant. Also, many US historians get away with not knowing a bunch of languages, but knowing one or more relevant ones makes you more competitive when you apply to grad programs and to jobs later on.

Get in contact with 2 more profs. You have 2 years to build good relationships. You need to use those. Weak LORs can be--and often are--the death knell of applications. Find people who you've taken a class with, try to take another. Go to their office hours to talk about research and grad school.

Since you have a narrower area of interest, read the literature for your field. Get acquainted with the historiography and major debates. Try to write your senior thesis within these debates.

GRE--it's not the end all be all of your application, but take it seriously. If I was in your position, Id start seriously practicing vocabulary and, if I didn't already, reading journals in my field and high-brow mags like the New Yorker. I also read the NY Review of Books for fun. The Economist is another good one. These publications are generally well-written, and nothing prepares you for reading comprehension on the GRE like actual reading comprehension.

I'm sure I missed a ton, but if I was to go back and do it over these would be the main things I would take with me. As it is, I opted to take an MA before applying to PhD programs. I don't regret it one bit. I was a much more thoughtful applicant because of my year off and MA experience. If your first PhD application season is a wash, I would definitely consider an MA/year off/year abroad/etc.

EDIT: I just want to comment on the tailoring your interests to fit the programs that the above commenter mentioned. I disagree with this to an extent. Very little tailoring of my interests occurred because I carefully chose programs that could already support my research. Yes, look into programs and find what resources they have to offer you and put those in your SOP. Look for methodological strengths perhaps, or if they have certain research centers or archival collections. Maybe the school is close to a certain state archive. That's how I tailored my SOP. I wouldn't, however, dream of altering my research interests to appeal to a program unless that alteration was honest to my interests. I found plenty of programs that could support my research as is by spending a ton of time and contacting a ton of scholars at a ton of places.

Thank you very much for the advice. I know some Italian, but I would not dream of calling myself fluent. I can almost read it without issue, speaking is another story. I want to learn Russian, but finding the time and the right medium to do so has been a challenge. I'm hoping a couple of classes that I have just begun will yield a LOR writer. One is a research heavy, 15 student seminar where I should have ample ability to interact with the professor. 

 

I've picked up Allan Brinkley's Voices of Protest, and he would be a dream POI, but I highly doubt he would be taking on grad students, especially on a topic he seems to have drifted away from. I have done some research on departments, but that was when I thought I'd be looking more at diplomatic history than political history. Thanks for the publications advice. 

[Way Out East]

I think the previous two posters have great advice and what I was going to share.  Just want to add a bit based on my own experience.

 

For strong LORs, definitely engage with more faculty but try to do so than merely in the classroom.  A good LOR can still be bad if it is written in generic language.  You want to select people, if possible, that can truly comment and recommend you in a very complete way.  For example, two core writers for me: one was my undergraduate advisor with whom I met with every semester to discuss courses, took courses with her, included in my thesis writing process, and attended local conferences/exhibitions she recommended and she often saw me doing so.  The other was a one time professor turned mentor and reader for my paper, and a relationship I have continued even after my graduation.  These two already had a lot of information they could use and, I can confidently say, were invested in my continued success.  So when selecting LORs, think about who can do that for you.  Also tailor your LORs to the program (if and when you have options to choose).  For example, if I had faculty that had strong connects to the POI I was interested in, I selected that person.  And for another program, I needed to truly demonstrate my commitment to queer theory and selected the advisor I sought out from outside of my department.

 

I also wouldn't say tailor your interests, but what was recommended to me and what I found helpful, was be confident in your SOP writing.  Realistically, everyone knows that your final project is likely to change from undergrad through your PhD process.  But proposing a project that you are passionate about and reflects your knowledge of the literature in the field of your interest.  Also, say why that school is best for achieving your goal -- this takes research! For me, I mentioned specific archives, galleries, and proximities in addition to faculty that would be important to reaching my research goals.  Truly and thoroughly answer why a program would be ideal in the pursuit of your goals beyond it being a top program -- because there should be much more behind that.  And know your POI's work and be able to reference it and respond to it.  I did a lot of, "I appreciate this idea x and believe you can expand it to y, which is how I propose getting to my underlying idea of z in my research ambitions etc."  And also, and I know this is a lot to pack in, for art history and I am just assuming history is similar, be able to talk about your methodology.

 

One thing for the writing sample that my advisor recommended (paraphrasing here): if you have an acknowledgement section, be sure that you acknowledge within it your recommenders as this will further strengthen their ability to comment on you.  For me, I was able to do this as all those that I chose to write on my behalf were very integral to my writing sample with the exception of one recommender for one program and for personal ethical issues, I did not include him.  But if you can, I would say make sure they are there.

 

POIs -- going to repeat that this is much more important than an elite program by itself.  While going to an elite program will help you, especially in the humanities, if you choose a program over the POIs there, that might work against you in the long run.  Find POIs that will be invested in your research, are well known for your area of scholarship, and have a commitment to helping their students in the long run.  Getting a degree in the humanities, from anywhere, is not a guarantee of a job in the long run. It is highly competitive, so try to study with people that will help you get where you want because they are well connected in the area you want to study.  I personally had mixed results with emailing in advance, but I do think it helps.  I also went to visit a program before I submitted the application and I was accepted into that program without an interview.  So pre-application contact is important, but don't be discouraged if you don't hear back the first time or promptly -- faculty are busy people.

 

And as for GREs and GPAs -- like everyone said, not end all, be alls.  But I like to think of them as benchmarks.  Your GPA is strong and I would strive to achieve a GRE score that fits the programs, which you can ask in advance to see what you should be aiming for.  For me, looking for art history programs, verbal was far more important than quant and I focused my attention there a la the suggestions of ashiepoo.

 

Good luck!

 

EDIT: Networking tip that worked pretty well for me -- look at any major paper you have worked on (thesis for example) and go straight to your bibliography.  Where are the people you cited working?  Whose arguments were you really engaged with?  This is a great place to start -- and email those people!  I made a great relationship with a professor at NU who has become a fantastic partner because I emailed him, said his ideas in x paper really structured my own in y paper.  He ended up reading my paper, giving suggestions, and has kept in contact and wrote an informal email on my behalf to the department I was applying to (unsolicited).  I have found that (at least art historians) are very responsive when you say you read their work and that you were engaged with it.  Great way to network.

Thank you! The networking tip is definitely one I am going to look into. I have contacted one or two sources in the past, but should try to get back to that.

Edited January 30, 2015 by Way Out East