PhD Program Advice

[jryaraghi]

Hey everyone,

So I'm currently enrolled at Sotheby's Institute of Art in the Contemporary Art Masters program. I've decided that the commercial side is not for me and that I want to go on to get a PhD. I'm thinking of either sticking to American post-war or contemporary Middle Eastern.

I've spoken with my professors and advisors and they all believe I would do exceptionally well in a PhD program and have suggested that I try and get curatorial internships/research assistant jobs while I'm finishing up my Masters at SIA in order to make a stronger case for myself when applying to programs. I've been looking at the Whitney and Guggenheim so far. 

Any suggestions of programs / advice on the application process? Any and all information would be so so appreciated! 

[brown_eyed_girl]

I think you'll have a hard time finding an advisor if you do contemporary Middle Eastern. Not impossible, but there aren't many professors who focus on that specifically and most of the ones who do are junior scholars at smaller programs. Of course, it's possible that you could apply to work with a modernist and focus on the Middle East in your own work, but I'd aim for a program where you at least have close access to someone who is familiar with the region, and access to interdisciplinary courses. It's an area that is very rich and in need of research, though, and it doesn't have the issue of over-saturation that post war American Art does. (Others may be able to better address the challenges of applying as a American modernist, but I'm sure you know that it's a very popular area and therefore competitive.) 

I'd encourage you to start researching faculty you'd be interested in working with and making contacts with them to get a read on whether they think the issues you're interested in would be viable to pursue in a PhD, whether they're taking new students, and whether you're a good fit with them. This goes for any direction you're interested in - and hopefully chatting with some professors will help you figure out if there's a direction you feel more strongly about or are better equipped for.  

As for general advice about applying, I'm not sure where to start other than to say that building research experience and relevant language skills are good overall ways to go in terms of improving your profile. Anything else you're wondering about specifically? 

 

Edited November 4, 2015 by brown_eyed_girl

[jryaraghi]

24 minutes ago, brown_eyed_girl said:

I think you'll have a hard time finding an advisor if you do contemporary Middle Eastern. Not impossible, but there aren't many professors who focus on that specifically and most of the ones who do are junior scholars at smaller programs. Of course, it's possible that you could apply to work with a modernist and focus on the Middle East in your own work, but I'd aim for a program where you at least have close access to someone who is familiar with the region, and access to interdisciplinary courses. It's an area that is very rich and in need of research, though, and it doesn't have the issue of over-saturation that post war American Art does. (Others may be able to better address the challenges of applying as a American modernist, but I'm sure you know that it's a very popular area and therefore competitive.) 

I'd encourage you to start researching faculty you'd be interested in working with and making contacts with them to get a read on whether they think the issues you're interested in would be viable to pursue in a PhD, whether they're taking new students, and whether you're a good fit with them. This goes for any direction you're interested in - and hopefully chatting with some professors will help you figure out if there's a direction you feel more strongly about or are better equipped for.  

As for general advice about applying, I'm not sure where to start other than to say that building research experience and relevant language skills are good overall ways to go in terms of improving your profile. Anything else you're wondering about specifically? 

 

I definitely agree and that's what some of my professors have been telling me, that the best option would be to find a modernist I'm particularly interested in and specialize in middle eastern art, focusing on that in my own work. I am fluent in Farsi, both verbally and written so I think that will be beneficial for my application. 

I've been looking into the work of professors at Columbia and UPenn who I find particularly interesting and have noticed that there are other professors who work in the Islamic art fields whose works are also very interesting. I get a little nervous at the thought of reaching out to these professors, mostly in fear that they'll flat out reject even the conversation (which I obviously need to get over). 

Do you have any advice on how I should go about building up my research experience? The director of my program has said she would inform me of any research opportunities with any of the professors in the program, but I've been wondering how I could do this outside my institution. A friend of mine who is at CUNY doing her PhD in the interwar period has advised that curatorial internships are the best way to do this- do you agree? Also, I know SIA doesn't appear much on this forum probably because it's not a traditional program so I can never gage how SIA is received in the academic community, but do you think a Masters from SIA will be just as helpful for my application as a more traditionally recognized program? 

[condivi]

2 hours ago, jryaraghi said:

I've been looking into the work of professors at Columbia and UPenn who I find particularly interesting and have noticed that there are other professors who work in the Islamic art fields whose works are also very interesting. I get a little nervous at the thought of reaching out to these professors, mostly in fear that they'll flat out reject even the conversation (which I obviously need to get over). 

A lot of professors have a policy of not meeting with students until they are admitted, so don't take it personally if they do not respond to your enquires. It's worth writing to them, but don't write them off if you don't hear back.

[theartman1193]

I had some very delightful and helpful phone calls with professors before I applied. Definitely with a shot at! It can also give you a chance to "feel out" the department's ethos. Have you looked at MIT?

[jryaraghi]

4 hours ago, theartman1193 said:

I had some very delightful and helpful phone calls with professors before I applied. Definitely with a shot at! It can also give you a chance to "feel out" the department's ethos. Have you looked at MIT?

I'm definitely going to give it a shot! Yes actually one of my professors recommended that I look into the program so I've been doing quite a bit of research on MIT. Do you have any opinion on the program?

[theartman1193]

They seem to be placing nicely!

[Joan Callamezzo]

You will definitely want to look into the Aga Khan program at both Harvard and MIT. I think they are the best/only places to study modern/contemporary middle east arch. 

[rbakshi]

There's Susan Babaie at the Courtauld Institute of Art. Avinoam Shalem and Zainab Bahrani at Columbia University could also be possible advisors. Anneka Lenssen at the University of California, Berkeley, is a recent hire and an excellent advisor for this area, incidentally she graduated from MIT.

Hope this helps.

Edited November 5, 2015 by rbakshi

[jryaraghi]

On November 5, 2015 at 12:47:27 AM, rbakshi said:

There's Susan Babaie at the Courtauld Institute of Art. Avinoam Shalem and Zainab Bahrani at Columbia University could also be possible advisors. Anneka Lenssen at the University of California, Berkeley, is a recent hire and an excellent advisor for this area, incidentally she graduated from MIT.

Hope this helps.

Thank you so much! Unforutantely the Courtauld is just not possible for me- I'm really looking for U.S. programs but I've read upon her and she's fascinating. Also, I really wanted to be able to work/study in London this summer (as it may be my last opportunity to) and am wondering what you think of reaching out to a professor like Sussan Babaie to see if she's doing research that she needs assistants for etc- do you think that's a good idea?

But this is a great point of reference for me- I've already looked into both Avinoam Shalem and Zainab Bahrani but haven't really done as much research as I need to. I'm going to do all the leg work on the other three professors today!

Edited November 9, 2015 by jryaraghi

[random_grad]

I agree with what has been said above, and also wanted to suggest the Aga Khan program at Harvard. imo a specialization in Middle Eastern would give you an advantage for future job prospects, as the field is currently branching out toward non-European arts. Positions listed often ask for double-specialty including non-Western art, and frankly, at this point there are very few people who can genuinely claim to have that. Your language knowledge will definitely help. You can frame it as double-specialty in European and Middle Eastern modernism and if a department does not have an art historian specializing in the Middle Eastern, mention in your SOP someone from a history department at the same university who knows that topic and who could serve on your committee. Or you can have a non-modernist specialist in Middle Eastern as primary advisor. Basically, when considering a dpt, think of the possible committee for your dissertation. Many professors are very open to other topics (you can check whether or not it is the case by looking at topics of their past students)

In terms of getting research assistant exp before applying, it certainly won't hurt but you should really focus on your writing sample. Research assistantships are not created equal: some are very in-depth and some are just paper pushing. From a CV it is impossible for the committee to tell what it was for you. It's the writing sample, your SOP (are you able to formulate a project), your reference letters and research-proposal-based awards which  , I think , really count.

 

Edited November 10, 2015 by random_grad

[jryaraghi]

On November 10, 2015 at 12:46:17 PM, random_grad said:

I agree with what has been said above, and also wanted to suggest the Aga Khan program at Harvard. imo a specialization in Middle Eastern would give you an advantage for future job prospects, as the field is currently branching out toward non-European arts. Positions listed often ask for double-specialty including non-Western art, and frankly, at this point there are very few people who can genuinely claim to have that. Your language knowledge will definitely help. You can frame it as double-specialty in European and Middle Eastern modernism and if a department does not have an art historian specializing in the Middle Eastern, mention in your SOP someone from a history department at the same university who knows that topic and who could serve on your committee. Or you can have a non-modernist specialist in Middle Eastern as primary advisor. Basically, when considering a dpt, think of the possible committee for your dissertation. Many professors are very open to other topics (you can check whether or not it is the case by looking at topics of their past students)

In terms of getting research assistant exp before applying, it certainly won't hurt but you should really focus on your writing sample. Research assistantships are not created equal: some are very in-depth and some are just paper pushing. From a CV it is impossible for the committee to tell what it was for you. It's the writing sample, your SOP (are you able to formulate a project), your reference letters and research-proposal-based awards which  , I think , really count.

 

I definitely am looking at the Aga Khan program but I have to be honest I am nervous about applying to all of these schools, seeing as the list is turning out to be Harvard, MIT, Stanford, UCLA/ Berkley, and Columbia. 

I have an opportunity in my masters program right now to do a research project (for a specific course) on exactly what I want to pursue for my phd, and then when I write my thesis I will have my writing sample in mind for that. You mentioned research-proposal-based awards, what do you mean by that? How do I do that? 

[random_grad]

3 hours ago, jryaraghi said:

research-proposal-based awards

Fulbright, SSHRC, DAAD - basically the awards which ask you for a research proposal as part of the application, as opposed to need-based awards or awards which are given out for academic merit post-factum by your own school without having to apply for them. I mean, it sure is great to have the latter on your application but it's even better to have the former. If it does not align with your career at this time, there is not much you can do, really.

 

3 hours ago, jryaraghi said:

I am nervous about applying to all of these schools, seeing as the list is turning out to be Harvard, MIT, Stanford, UCLA/ Berkley, and Columbia. 

Also add IFA.

The reason why these were listed is because that's the obvious choice that comes to mind. You might need to dig a bit deeper to find more programs. An easy way to do it is look at scholars who publish in your subfield and track where they're at. The hard way is to sift through all more-or-less major art history programs. I personally had to do just that for my subfield. It took me several months to narrow down the list of where to apply. Or you can just ask your professors if there is a listing of schools in your subfield(s) or come to them with a list and ask if you forgot anything.

 

[condivi]

8 hours ago, jryaraghi said:

I definitely am looking at the Aga Khan program but I have to be honest I am nervous about applying to all of these schools, seeing as the list is turning out to be Harvard, MIT, Stanford, UCLA/ Berkley, and Columbia. 

 

What's wrong with that? You should only be applying to the best schools. Getting in to a top school is the first--and easiest--step to getting a job at the end. If you can't manage that first step, you should think seriously about your plans. Don't be afraid to put yourself out there, and don't waste your time applying to schools with less than stellar placement records.

 

[jryaraghi]

1 minute ago, condivi said:

What's wrong with that? You should only be applying to the best schools. Getting in to a top school is the first--and easiest--step to getting a job at the end. If you can't manage that first step, you should think seriously about your plans. Don't be afraid to put yourself out there, and don't waste your time applying to schools with less than stellar placement records.

 

No I definitely agree with you and that's why these are the programs I have my heart set on rather than trying to find an easier way out. I am more than prepared to do the work to get into the best program I can and having you guys to drive that point home for me and reinforce my goals is extremely encouraging!