History Admissions 2008

[daydaydvd]

Oh well. FYI: Yale is up (check your email)

I got too.

[ver]

thanks for the post, ver. very informative.

glad to be of help. just wish i'd known this place earlier. good luck!

[Minnesotan]

Whether you agree with his tone or not, Rising is right about the GRE discussion needing to be moved. There's already a debate in both "Applications" and "Waiting It Out," if you want to continue those.

Let's try to keep all of this somewhat related to history admissions. It's getting very hard to recognize as a thread for that topic.

[NSGoddessQ]

FYI, I too was rejected from Yale. It may sound sour grapes-y, but I'm really not that bummed. I'm going to figure that if I'm doing good work *somewhere*, people will be interested. That place doesn't have to be Yale or any other Ivy. The fact that they made a choice about me means that I didn't have to make a choice about them -- and now I don't have to negotiate New Haven's real estate prices!

That being said, major 'grats to those who were accepted -- hold your head up high!

[scirefaciat]

hey all,

I've just been told that the UT admissions committee met on Monday (11th) to begin reviewing applications -- so, possibly in the next week or so?

just passing it along from who_got_in. :wink:

[Cornell07]

Have good weekend everyone! I suspect that few if any people will recieve any sort of formal notification over the weekend, so enjoy not needing to frantically check your email for a few days.

[AMC]

hey all,

I've just been told that the UT admissions committee met on Monday (11th) to begin reviewing applications -- so, possibly in the next week or so?

just passing it along from who_got_in. :wink:

You were right! I read this and checked my e-mail and someone from the department notified me of the acceptance. Funding info is not availiable, but I wish everyone who applied the BEST OF LUCK!!!

[scirefaciat]

Congratulations!

Do you mind telling us what your field is? Im...freaking out a little here.

[AMC]

To answer both your questions:

1. It was an e-mail from the graduate coordinator. I checked my online application and there was no status change.

2. My field is Labor History.

Thanks for the congrats. I understand your freaking out. The waiting is agonizing and I am still in the same boat for other programs as well.

What are your fields???

[Minnesotan]

Have good weekend everyone! I suspect that few if any people will recieve any sort of formal notification over the weekend, so enjoy not needing to frantically check your email for a few days.

Yeah. I didn't apply to UCLA, so the rejectionbots at 2am PST on a Saturday don't scare me!

[scirefaciat]

Hey AMC,

I'm european history with my eye on the medieval studies program.

I'm guessing they probably won't start officially notifying people until next week, but who knows.

For myself, i am increasingly pessimistic.

[crauson]

Well, I was reviewing a statement of purpose for one of my earliest applications and I realized I had an extra "that" in my final sentence (which sneaked it's way in because a prof recommended at the last minute that I alter it slightly). Way to leave a good impression, eh? In my defense, I was in the middle of finals at the time in addition to submitting my senior honors thesis and two other apps.

Anyway, I was wondering if anybody has caught a little mistake like that after they submitted their app, but been admitted anyway? Anyone with a story of hope?

[AMC]

For myself, i am increasingly pessimistic.

No! Don't lose hope. Its WAY too soon. I'm still in the same boat, as I haven't heard from many other programs as of yet.

[Minnesotan]

Yeah. All I've seen is one rejection (and no acceptances) so far. It's too early to throw in the towel, quite yet!

(Although I really, really hope it's better than two years ago, when I didn't get my first acceptance until the middle of March!)

[jaw17]

Do most departments have Monday off for President's Day, or is it fair game for more acceptances/rejections?

[jaw17]

Well, so much for the long weekend hypothesis. My husband just received the following email from a Georgetown professor: "I do not have your phone number, so can you call me at xxx-xxx-xxxx. I have some good news for you!"

I can only take that to mean one thing. Unfortunately, though, said husband is currently off ice climbing until Monday...

Actually, on second thought it could mean two things - this prof wrote all of his LORs, so in addition to/instead of a likely G-Town acceptance it's also possible that he had heard promising news from colleagues at the other schools where husband applied.

Stupid ice climbing - the suspense is killing me!

[representation]

Well, so much for the long weekend hypothesis. My husband just received the following email from a Georgetown professor: "I do not have your phone number, so can you call me at xxx-xxx-xxxx. I have some good news for you!"

I can only take that to mean one thing. Unfortunately, though, said husband is currently off ice climbing until Monday...

Actually, on second thought it could mean two things - this prof wrote all of his LORs, so in addition to/instead of a likely G-Town acceptance it's also possible that he had heard promising news from colleagues at the other schools where husband applied.

Stupid ice climbing - the suspense is killing me!

Let me give you the good news then. I also received an e-mail from a Georgetown professor earlier today, who told me that I was admitted to the Phd program on a full fellowship. Therefore I anticipate that the very good news that's in store for your husband must in all likelihood be an offer of admission, most probably including a full fellowship.

I hope this helps, and congratulations to your husband.

[jaw17]

Thanks for the inside info! What is your subfield? (Husband's is Soviet/Central Asian history.)

I'd also be curious to know whether you think you'll end up at G-Town and what "full funding" actually looks like in $$$ terms, if that's not too intrusive. Where else are you waiting to hear from?

And don't forget to post over on the results board to satisfy the curiosity/stoke the anxiety of all the historians who aren't haunting the boards :wink:

[Minnesotan]

I'll take acceptances on Saturdays, Sundays, Presidents' Days - you name it! Just send me some. =)

[jaw17]

With husband out of town, I have far too much alone time on my hands to agonize over his admissions prospects. (My own are in limbo following an interview at UPenn last week and an outstanding email to the program administrator at Harvard.) So I figure now is the perfect time to pose a few questions about the history process that have been nagging at me:

1) What is the relative importance of the application materials? Much of the discussion here seems to be focused on GPA/GRE and the SoP, but I had previously been under the impression that a primary source-based writing sample was actually the most important factor. Is that true, and where do LoRs fit in?

2) Does eligibility for FLAS funds appreciably increase the odds of admission? It stands to reason that a department could much more easily admit an additional student at the margins if the bill doesn't come out of their own budget.

3) How much does the overall department ranking matter (for placements, etc.) vs. work with specific scholars? I am particularly interested in the case of Georgetown, which is ranked below most of the other programs discussed here, presumably because of its relatively weak American history field. Is it still regarded on the lower end of the spectrum in, say, Russian or Asian fields?

4) Where else have people heard from? Go ahead, I warmly invite you to crush my hopes and dreams - better that than the suspense! So far, hubby has just heard from Georgetown (accepted), and based on the results boards I am assuming that "no news is bad news" as far as Stanford and Harvard. But what about Princeton, UPenn, Columbia, NYU, UMich and/or Washington - any word?

[Minnesotan]

I didn't apply, but there has been a lot of Michigan talk at the LJ community.

As for the grad materials, I would take the easy (and unhelpful) way out and say it's the whole package that matters. We've had some heated debates here about the importance of various aspects of an application, especially GPA and GRE scores. What it seems like to me is that the GPA and GRE get your foot in the door, or at least prevent you from getting clear-cut with the other deadwood in the initial screening process. Once that's done, then I am betting the statement (and your fit, which this should address), writing sample, and recommendations are much more important.

The thing is, this is not a consistent or explicable process from day one. To say "x is always more important than y" is to invite the universe to prove you wrong. Obviously the overall strong applicant, who fits well with the program and a specific advisor, is going to do well. From there, who knows? The process often feels like a crap shoot.

I would write more, but my green tea has for some reason developed a fishy flavor, and I need to go brew something else. I really hope my gf didn't wash this cup with something nasty.

[amanda1655]

I think the Michigan thread is actually about Michigan State. It's rather confusing because within the thread the posters use the terms Michigan and Michigan State interchangeably, which they're not. At least in sports, UMich is called Michigan. I have a theory, though, that there is a gremlin who lives on the site and changes small details to drive applicants crazy. He only changes small things like capital letters on schools, deleting words like "the" from college's names, and slightly changing the name of the program you applied to. Seriously, though, who got the short stick of editing Wolverine Access to check for small errors? And, why have they had to do it at least six different times?

I wouldn't worry too much about Harvard. ONE person has heard. They just send out official notices through the mail, and we don't know where the person lives. If he lives in Boston, it could be a few days before anyone in California or the Northwest hears.

As far as NYU goes, someone posted that they had spoken with the graduate school secretary who told them that the interview notices have went out. BUT, so far no one on gradcafe, livejournal, or applycorner has received one. The secretary also said that not receiving is not a rejection, nor is receiving an acceptance. Some people have even suggested that if you are applying to a field with a joint program, like Irish history, Middle Eastern languages, etc. you won't receive one at all.

[nomadism]

1) What is the relative importance of the application materials? Much of the discussion here seems to be focused on GPA/GRE and the SoP, but I had previously been under the impression that a primary source-based writing sample was actually the most important factor. Is that true, and where do LoRs fit in?

4) Where else have people heard from? Go ahead, I warmly invite you to crush my hopes and dreams - better that than the suspense! So far, hubby has just heard from Georgetown (accepted), and based on the results boards I am assuming that "no news is bad news" as far as Stanford and Harvard. But what about Princeton, UPenn, Columbia, NYU, UMich and/or Washington - any word?

With my limited experience, I'll try to answer what I can.

1. When I contacted a Prof. at Yale, asking for advice on the application procedures, her short reply was an emphasis on "essays". I know it's ambiguous, it might mean the SOP, the WS, or a separate book review that was requested on the application material (only found on Yale), but at least she didn't say anything about "I expect at least bla bla bla on GRE" or anything like that.

In contrast, I remember that the homepage of the History department of Columbia said "WS are usually the most important factor in the final rounds" or something like that.

LOR, I guess nobody will know how decisive they can be, as nobody knows what their recommender wrote for themselves.

2. I've interviewed with a Prof at Princeton, but still, no further news or email after the interview last week. Also, I thinks this interview was more like an "English speaking test" for international applicants like me.

I've just heard from my friend that somebody he knew got into Columbia, but I've also read a post here and also heard from a grad. student at Columbia saying that there will be a final meeting on the 22nd. That grad student also told me that there had been some changes in the decision procedure this year, so it's being slowed down compared to last year. So, I guess we can still keep our hope.

I've also replied for UMich@AA, but not a single word after an email telling me that they had received all of my application materials.

I guess that all I can share. Oh, and for UCLA applicants, I did post that I got good news from the Prof. I had in mind, but he said that official notification will come out in one or two weeks, and there has been no further words after that. FYI.

[Minnesotan]

I think the Michigan thread is actually about Michigan State. It's rather confusing because within the thread the posters use the terms Michigan and Michigan State interchangeably

It's likely the same idiots who call Madison UWM. That's Milwaukee, r-tards!

[dmh26]

Hey now! I am the MSU acceptance and I am pretty sure I said Michigan State or MSU each time...lol And even specified I didn't apply to UMich. 8)