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Posted by JonHecht (Member # 9712) on :
 
Since Rival made a grad school support thread, how about one for those of us applying to grad school? I know that I'm not the only one doing it this year (or next year).

I'll start: jeez, these application forms are tedious. I'm trying to take care of at least two or three a day so that I can just focus on fixing up my writing sample and personal statements. I just made a list of the deadlines of every school, who I want to work with, and why I want to work with them. ::phew::
 

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Posted by King of Men (Member # 6684) on :
 
Hmmf. When I was an undergraduate with ambitions of getting an actual education, we had a work ethic. We really applied ourselves! Yes, sir, no form was too formless for us then. Not like the undergraduates of today. Back then we considered ourselves lucky to get paper forms to fill out! You lot have it soft, with your pens that don't have to be replaced every six months and, um, paper that... paper... Ok, ok, filling out forms doesn't change that much from one decade to the next.
 

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Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
 
There are now web-based services that let you enter your personal information once, then submit it to multiple schools via their application process with only minor edits necessary to accomodate their custom questions and/or requirements.
 

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Posted by JonHecht (Member # 9712) on :
 
This personal statement is also quite the pain.
 

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Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
I have my own check list. Nothing is due for a month yet, but I want it all submitted in two weeks. I need to:

1. Finish emailing strangers at various universities to ask if they are taking grad students next year.
2. Finish editing the writing sample.
3. Finish the personal statement (well, the template, really there will be ten versions of it since all grad schools ask for different things)
4. Send remaining GRE scores.
5. Send transcripts.
6. Actually fill out and send applications.
7. Get information to my recommenders so they can send their information in.

And of course somewhere in there I need to finish actually making a list of the schools I'm applying to. Right now it's a hazy list of about a dozen that I want to winnow a tiny bit.

I feel confident that it's all very doable in the time frame I've allotted myself. I'm not sure if it's doable without acquiring an ulcer, however.
 

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Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :
 
Put the recommendation stuff at the top of your list. Some of the professors will forget for a while, and the more time you give them, with plenty of follow-up, the more likely they will actually get it in.
 

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Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
 
fugu13 could not be more right. Put the recommendation stuff at the top and start ASAP.

My professors, despite assuring me they would get to it right away, stalled and procrastinated to the point that the director of the program I was entering actually allowed me entry to the program without the recommendations.

They arrived after I began classes.
 

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Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
I'm in constant contact with them, and I have a two week window. One of them has already warned me that he'll be out of town until the end of the month, and he'll do it when he gets back. He retired last year anyway, so, I'm not worried about his time. My lead recommender I'm pretty tight with, so I'm not worried about him. My third recommender I've been emailing every few days to make sure he's still in the loop. They definitely haven't forgotten. I pester too much for that to happen.
 

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Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
I got my official GRE scores today. A 690 verbal is the 97th percentile. It still boggles my mind that there's a 110 point difference in the THREE percent points above me. With that kind of variation, how much more valuable is it really to get an 800 versus a 750? I ended up with a 5.0 analytical. I was actually hoping for higher than that, but there's nothing wrong with a 5.

::goes back to editing writing sample::
 

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Posted by CT (Member # 8342) on :
 
Lyrhawn, I'm sure you did this, but just for all those seeking recommendations:

It's hard to get busy people to get them out, so make it easy. You can ask in person, but always follow up by email immediately (if the person does email -- hard copies if not) identifying yourself, the dates you worked with the person, and the details of the position you are applying for. The latter should include a brief explanation of what you want out of the position and what you bring to it. Attach a curriculum vitae.

Always, always give specific information on where to send it, even if you think they know. You don't want it lost after you worked so hard for it.

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Speaking of which, it can be difficult to ask. for a recommendation. You may not be comfortable with the underlying context: i.e., "Praise me!?" Some are okay with asking, and some aren't. You also want to leave wiggle room so that someone who won't give a strong recommendation doesn't feel pressured to send wishy-washy or worse. Here are some ideas:

"I'm applying to xxxxx. Would you be in a position to write a strong recommendation for me?" or
"Have we worked together enough for you to write a good recommendation?" or
"Would you feel comfortable in writing a recommendation for me?"

etc.

Sometimes it helps to practice. Again, this may or may not be a hurdle for you. If it is, remember that writing letters of recommendation is part of the job description of anyone in positions of authority who works with students on a regular basis.

When you ask and the person says yes, immediately follow up with "I know everyone is so busy. Is is okay to follow up with you to see if it went out? How frequently would be okay, and what's the best way to do that?" Get it out of the way upfront, so that you can later say, "Hi, it's me. Just sending you that reminder we discussed" if need be. It's less awkward that way.
 

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Posted by CT (Member # 8342) on :
 
Well done, Lyrhawn.
 

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Posted by JonHecht (Member # 9712) on :
 
I just took a break from applications to write a referee report (rejection) and learned two things:

a) It was a complete waste of my time if I wanted to learn anything about philosophy.
and
b) So much utter sh*t is submitted to journals, that I feel less bad (not better, just less bad).

My writing sample is coming along and I fixed a problem with a proof to make it valid (oopsy), turns out I forgot to include the premise that I just assumed was there because it was at the foundation of my paper and my reductio was about it. Teehee. I also eliminated a rather embarrassing paragraph about naturalism. Aside from that, I've been getting fairly positive reviews from my profs about it.

The personal statement is another issue and I have no idea how to go about this properly. I want to do work on skepticism. I say this in my statement. But what I am submitting is not on skepticism. I have a paper on skepticism I could submit, but I am not comfortable doing so until I respond to some comments I received at a conference--in fact, half the comments were "Nice paper, but don't use it as your writing sample. It is just not appropriate for that." As such, I really don't want to use it as my writing sample. So at first I didn't say anything about it, but then one of my profs said that they'll wonder why I am not submitting my skepticism work if I want to work on skepticism. He said I ought to say that I would submit it, but I am not comfortable doing so until I respond to conference comments and can't do that right not because of application season taking all my time. I tried that, but then everyone else hates that because it sounds irrelevant/braggy. (i.e., I have this great paper, but I'm not going to show you guys because it's so secret and not ready.)

Not sure what to do.

Second to lastly, when are the GRE reports going up! Arghh.

Lastly, I contacted one of the journals I have a paper at and they said they heard back from one ref and not the other. Hurry up, man! It's been out for nearly 7 months now. If I get a CA or something, I'd like to put it on my CV for apps.
 

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Posted by kmbboots (Member # 8576) on :
 
To those of you asking for recommendations, I would suggest copying the email to the professor's assistant of secretary if there is one. And being really nice to that person.

I would also suggest email rather than phone unless you know that the professor prefers phone.

Please thoroughly check out the web site for the program if it is available. Don't just use the web site to find a phone number to call to ask questions which are answered on the site.

And, seriously, don't have your parents do all this for you. I am not alone in thinking that, by the time you are ready for grad school, mommy and daddy should leave this up to you.
 

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Posted by CT (Member # 8342) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by kmbboots:
To those of you asking for recommendations, I would suggest copying the email to the professor's assistant of secretary if there is one. And being really nice to that person.

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quote:

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And, seriously, don't have your parents do all this for you. I am not alone in thinking that, by the time you are ready for grad school, mommy and daddy should leave this up to you.

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Oh. My. God.

Nothing says "professionalism" like your Mommy doing your work for you.
 

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Posted by kmbboots (Member # 8576) on :
 
You would not believe the calls I get from parents.
 

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Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
I would!
 

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Posted by kmbboots (Member # 8576) on :
 
Yes, you would! Seriously folks, I know you want them out of your basement but, let your adult offspring research their own grad programs.

[ November 04, 2010, 03:31 PM: Message edited by: kmbboots ]
 

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Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
Jon - GRE scores don't go up officially for at least 14 days. I just got mine in the mail yesterday, and they were available online today. I took it 16 days ago.

The Department's secretary is Janet. I learned a long time ago that the administrative assistant is an excellent person to be on good terms with (and not just because my mother is an administrative assistant and told me to be nice).

And I cannot fathom a parent doing grad school application work for me. In part that's because my parents wouldn't know the first thing about applying to grad school. But more so, if you can't summon up the will to figure out the applications process, you probably shouldn't be in grad school at all.

I'll also add that a lot of school websites are woefully vague on a number of details. Professor bios only list vague general interests, fellowship terms and availability are not listed, university resources are sometimes listed, but often they aren't comprehensive, and if they are, they're in a totally different section of the website and require a lot of digging to find specifics on holdings. However, that doesn't excuse the people who skip right over the information that IS readily available.
 

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Posted by kmbboots (Member # 8576) on :
 
Exactly.

Edit to add: It is also helpful when calling a school that has more than one program to be specific about which program interests you. "Can you tell me about your program?" is an annoying question.
 

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Posted by JonHecht (Member # 9712) on :
 
Lyr: What I've been doing if there's a program that I know I want to apply to with great professors, but I'm not clear on the specifics of their works, is briefly skimming over abstracts of their recent work on google scholar. Sometimes their CVs are vague and paper titles aren't very helpful, but that should give you the gist of it. It's tedious for some 50-60 professors, but it's worth it.

Edit: Also, I'm not worried about letters. My department is small enough that one of my letter writers sent me a text message yesterday asking why I wasn't at a guest lecture on Tuesday.
 

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Posted by JonHecht (Member # 9712) on :
 
My personal statement template is done. Would anyone be willing to critique it?
 

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Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
Okay, so, I think that I've completed my list of schools to apply to:

Ohio State
Northwestern
University of Michigan
University of Chicago
University of Illinois
Penn
Rutgers
Indiana University
University of Nebraska-Lincoln


Eliminated at least temporarily from contention:
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Wayne State University (MA program)
Purdue University
Southern Illinois University
Penn State
Michigan State University

I wanted to come up with ten names, and Wayne State still might get an application sent their way if all the others reject me, which would be ten. The only other schools I want to apply to are even harder to get into than the ones I've already listed, so I didn't really see the point. Yale, Columbia, UCLA, and Stanford all have great history programs, but, if I can't get into the ones I'm applying to, I'd never get into those. And if I can get into the ones I'm applying to, then great, because they're fantastic programs!

Now I just need to finish editing my writing sample, and finish my personal statement (which is the only thing I'm really behind on).

I send out GRE scores tomorrow, and applications on Wednesday! It's getting real!
 

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Posted by JonHecht (Member # 9712) on :
 
Congrats, Lyr!

I guess it's time to do that, too. Following your lead and divided by rank:


MA: NIU, Milwaukee
1-10, NYU, Rutgers, MIT, Yale , University of Michigan, Princeton, Pitt , Chapel Hill, Berkeley, UCLA
11-20: UofA, Columbia
21-30: UM Amherst, UT Austin

I'll see what happens. The personal statement's more or less ready, but I just made a slight shift in my writing sample plan. I'm submitting two papers, but I decided on an alternate second one in place of the planned one. The first paper is highly analytic and the second shows off scholarship abilities.
 

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Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
I only see one problem with Lyr's list.

You should apply to UCLA. Not just because it's a great school, but because all of the rest of those schools are far away. Just think: sunshine! Today it's in the mid-70's . . . .
 

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Posted by kmbboots (Member # 8576) on :
 
And here (at a school that is on the list ) it is a glorious fall day. In the mid-sixties with a brilliant blue sky and the lake looking gorgeous framed by red and gold trees.
 

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Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
You know, weather was something I thought about. I looked hard at a lot of southern schools like Duke, UNC and U of T-Austin, but their programs were too weak in the area of history that I want to go into. And frankly, I think UCLA is too difficult to get into.

Still, there might be room for one last minute addition to my list. I don't think it's too ridiculous to have a list that has one school that (while also perfectly excellent) is about going to a nice place for a few years. I wish you could submit one application to the whole UC system. UC Santa Barbara has an excellent history program as well. You may have been kidding, but I'm going to serious consider one or two of the UC schools. I might do a little research tonight.
 

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Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Lyrhawn:
I wish you could submit one application to the whole UC system.

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You can't? At the undergrad level, you can't do anything else.

And yes, UCSB is also an excellent school. And I know people in the area, so I actually get over there every year or two.
 

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Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
I'll check, but at the graduate level I'm fairly certain that you have to apply to all the schools separately.
 

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Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
Quite likely there are huge differences between applying as an undergrad and a grad.
 

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Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
I've begun actually filling out applications! It's both exciting and mind numbing. Some of the schools use the same application service though, so a lot of my information is pre-filled in, which is nice.

I still need to finish my writing sample, and over the weekend I'll be working on my many varieties of personal statement, but I think I'm on pace to have submitted all the applications that are due on December 1 by Wednesday with two exceptions:

I'm still considering UC Santa Barbara, which also has a Dec 1 deadline, and a serious pain in the ass page limit for the writing sample. I mean seriously, 10 pages? That's a ridiculously low limit for a writing sample. I do have a writing sample that's around 12 pages that I might be able to trim a bit more, which would certainly be the easy route. I figure with how long it takes GRE scores to arrive, I have to decide to pull the trigger or not on UCSB in the next day or two.

I'm also considering the American Studies program at U of M, which has a due date of Dec 1. AMS makes me a little leery as far as getting a job post-grad, but, I'm an AMS concentration at my undergrad school, so, maybe.
 

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Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
Good luck!
 

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Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
First applications are away! In the nick of time, considering the due dates for my first three is Wednesday night. I still need to finish up my app for Northwestern, but after that, I'm a third done with the process.

Seems like every application had at least one major hiccup in the process. Ohio State has an online application process, which I completed, but when I got to the end, it said that I have to submit all the materials in paper form as well! Tomorrow I have to do that. UofM told me I had to write two different kinds of personal statement, but neglected to tell me that the biographical one had a short word limit, so after submitting the first one, I had to edit the second one, then I tried to splice the removed info into the first one and reupload it, but I'm not certain it worked, which sucks because it was an important section of my statement. I suppose in the end it won't be detrimental though, all the information is covered elsewhere.

I don't understand why this can't all be more straight forward. Northwestern has the best application yet.

I'm starting to get just a teeny, tiny bit excited about all this, assuming I didn't do all this work just to screw up the applications!
 

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Posted by CT (Member # 8342) on :
 
*smile

Be excited. You earned it, and it is an exciting time.
 

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Posted by EndlessBean (Member # 12100) on :
 
Are the majority of fans on this site of the age of those who would apply to Grad school? If so, what time did you guys become interested in OSC's books.?
 

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Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
Hit a hiccup last night when I applied to Northwestern. They charged me the application fee twice, so now I have a couple phone calls to make!

Endless - I think I first read Ender's game when I was 13 or 14. It wasn't until a couple years later that I started reading the rest of the books in the Ender series, and I was 20 I think when I first found my way to Hatrack.

In general I think the age range on Hatrack is pretty varied across the spectrum.
 

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Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
I just found out that Ohio State actually changed the address for their grad school admissions office at the last minute! Some time in the last week, either the entire office picked up and moved, or they finally got around to changing the address online, because the first set of transcripts I sent never arrived, and now I have to send another, past the due date, tomorrow.

I have to spend weeks assembling materials and looking up procedures for getting these damned things together, and they can't change a simple address?

Venting aside, with the exception of one last minute letter of rec I'm awaiting, my Michigan and Northwestern applications arrived safely, which is a huge relief since those are my top schools. Huzzah!
 

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Posted by JonHecht (Member # 9712) on :
 
Everything is submitted but I have two papers under review at journals and just submitted a third to a journal that responds incredibly quickly. If I am accepted to one of these journals, should I notify the admissions committee?
 

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Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
Most of the schools I'm applying to say that late materials will be added to the file, but they certainly aren't going to hold your file aside and wait for you to submit things past the deadline.

If I were you, I'd wait until you hear the confirmed news, then email or call the graduate coordinator for your program and tell him or her what happened, and what they think you should do. I'm betting they'll take it, but whether or not it makes an impact might come down to luck of the draw as to where you fall in the pile.
 

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Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
Bump!

It's been almost two months since the last post here and I thought if fellow appliers had results coming in or tales to tell, they could share here. I ended up getting all my applications in on time, and I submitted the last of them last week. The last one, for an MA program at Nebraska, is already under review, and I've been told that a decision should be forthcoming in the next week or so. Fast turnaround.

Sadly, the only deadline I really missed that I kind of wanted to hit was UCSB or UCLA. In hindsight I really wish I could have gotten to it in time, but there was just too much going on last semester, and they had one of the earlier due dates with the more onerous application requirements. If all this fails and I have to try again next year, UCLA or UCSB will certainly be on my list, and you never know, I might end up getting into an MA program instead of a PhD, and they'll still be a contender.

I should start hearing back from places in the next month. I've been spending my time going back and forth between being excited and nervous. I really just have no idea how this whole thing is going to shake out. I'm glad I have classes right now to distract me from the waiting. I'm actually about to get involved with a new research project that I'm excited about, as I've been away from research for far too long.

Here's hoping that next month doesn't show that all my efforts have been for nothing. Good luck to me!
 

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Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Lyrhawn:
Sadly, the only deadline I really missed that I kind of wanted to hit was UCSB or UCLA.

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Good luck anyway!
 

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Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
First rejection letter came back; Illinois.

Not a big deal, it wasn't high on my list. Never nice to be rejected though .

Add Northwestern to that list.

[ February 07, 2011, 02:29 AM: Message edited by: Lyrhawn ]
 

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Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
Ugh, anyone else with pending applications as depressed as I am?

I was fine when I got the rejection letters from Illinois and Northwestern, but there are rumblings that Penn, Indiana and OSU all have already sent out acceptance letter, and I sure as heck didn't get one.

I know it only takes one to say yes, but, most of the ones that are left are the hardest ones to crack. I'm officially sliding towards despair.

Time to start thinking contingency plans.
 

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Posted by JonHecht (Member # 9712) on :
 
Only one of the schools to which I applied has sent responses to anyone. Pitt sent out all their acceptances. A few people inquired and were told they were rejected. I inquired about the waitlist and was told that the list would be out in a week or two. I take this to mean that I have not yet been rejected (so I may make the waitlist!). Good enough for me. I'm just hoping that I, too, do not get shut out.

I'm sure that you'll be fine.
 

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Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
 
Not the same scale as what you guys are waiting for, but in my household we are anxiously awaiting scholarship award letters said to be out before March 13.

My daughter already has tuition paid for, but is waiting to see which school(s) will offer room and board as well on several competitive scholarships she has applied for.

She really, really, really wants to go only one place - but has a good backup plan if they don't come through.
 

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Posted by JonHecht (Member # 9712) on :
 
Woooh, I didn't get into any schools but I did receive something that bodes well. My supplementary writing sample just got an extremely positive R&R from a top political science journal. Phrases like "extremely interesting" about some arguments and "positively wonderful essay" for the overall and "readers much admired" for methods were used in the email. WOOOHOOOOO. I am so happy. I am so happy.

Edit: Apparently political scientists don't like the term "defeater" and think it sounds awkward and juvenile. I guess that describes philosophers.


Edit2: I regret, though, not using it as a supplementary sample everywhere. Particularly Michigan, which added a classical philosophy program (the topic of the paper) right after I submitted my app.

[ February 09, 2011, 01:59 PM: Message edited by: JonHecht ]
 

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Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
Congrats on that Jon.

I've decided that regardless of what happens with this process, I'm going to spend the Summer trying to get published. I should have three pretty solid research papers to try and do something with by April, so I'm going to start hitting journals and conferences to see if I can get my foot in the door somewhere. If my current application isn't good enough, I'll have to do something to spruce it up.

I still haven't heard back from anyone else, and I've been given reason to hope that the three schools I'd written off might not be as bad as I was thinking. I'm proceeding with guarded optimism.
 

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Posted by Strider (Member # 1807) on :
 
So on the advice of my professor, I ended up applying to schools this year (something I wasn't planning on doing). I had a very respectable paper that only needed some minor tweaking for submission, so I was able to put all my applications together and get them out last month in short order. I applied to a mix of PhD programs and MA programs. I'm hoping that I have enough under my belt that the MA programs are all "safe" and that I might get lucky with one of the PhD programs.

I hate the waiting game!
 

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Posted by steven (Member # 8099) on :
 
I can't imagine applying to more than 3 or 4 schools, tops. The thought of a couple of dozen separate applications does not sound like fun.
 

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Posted by Strider (Member # 1807) on :
 
Who applied to that many schools? I had eight for the record. Actually, maybe seven.
 

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Posted by JonHecht (Member # 9712) on :
 
16 here but one of them had a billing error and didn't go through.
 

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Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
9 for me. If I have to do this all over again, it'll probably be like 12. I'll cut out a couple of the PhD programs and add in a lot more masters programs. Problem is that once you get to schools that offer a terminal MA, you're already in the second tier. For history, all of the best programs, and a lot of the decent ones only offer a combined MA/PhD.
 

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Posted by Strider (Member # 1807) on :
 
Lyrhawn, it's not too late to apply to more MA programs. Most of their deadlines are later.
 

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Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
I'm looking into it. Part of me wanted to wait until I heard back from places. A few of the places I've looked at have rolling admissions, which makes me think my application will be a waste of money since I really can't go anywhere decent without funding, and funding decisions will have been made by now for a lot of the places I was considering.

I'm looking at a couple of really local places that I really don't want to go to, but it'd be a way to kill a year.

This is something that I'll probably look into a lot more closely when more rejection letters come flooding in.
 

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Posted by Dr Strangelove (Member # 8331) on :
 
For the record, Lyr, at FSU the funding decision won't be made until next Friday. Not that you applied here (we have a couple Latin Americanist's who do labor history!), but just sayin. I myself am eagerly awaiting the decision as to whether or not I got a coveted summer teaching position (complete with the all important summer tuition waiver). I am one of two people qualified to teach my class, but I think my chances are pretty good.
 

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Posted by JonHecht (Member # 9712) on :
 
Berkeley sent out acceptances and I was not among the recipients.

[ February 15, 2011, 12:06 AM: Message edited by: JonHecht ]
 

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Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
Got an email today from Nebraska saying I was recommended for admission.

Nothing to get excited about. It's not official, and no word on funding (which is vital, I probably won't even go without SOME sort of funding), it's my backup school, and it's an MA program, which means it was the easiest thing I applied for since most of them will take anyone who'll pay tuition.

I'm kind of pissed now though. My car broke down yesterday, and I had a dream of being accepted somewhere; two signs that I was SURE meant good news sometime in the next few days, and I wake up to finding out I probably got into my safety school. Not what I was hoping for. Wasted a perfectly good Ford Focus on this.
 

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Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
How is a car breaking down a sign of anything other than a hit on your wallet?
 

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Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
Last October after my car was smashed into and some stuff was stolen, I found out almost the next day that I'd won second place in a national research paper writing contest. A month later, when I was on my way to take my car in to get the window fixed, my engine exploded, and the next day I found out that I'd won my university's Undergraduate Distinguished Achievement Award (pretty snazzy around these parts).

Every time my car has been broken into or broken down in the last few months, I've gotten great news from school soon afterward. Plus when I got that national award, I actually had a dream the night before that I'd won second place.

I thought between my car breaking down and the dream I had the other night, great news was sure to come. I'm convinced that my car breaking down is now a good omen. But it looks like this is the good news. Sure, it's still good, but not great.
 

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Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
 

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Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
I'm three steps away from making a wish on a magic monkey's paw.

Clearly I've already abandoned the level of reason you're trying to apply.
 

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Posted by JonHecht (Member # 9712) on :
 
Right now I'm 0/3 with 13 left.
 

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Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Lyrhawn:
I'm three steps away from making a wish on a magic monkey's paw.

Clearly I've already abandoned the level of reason you're trying to apply.

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And yet you have refrained from requesting that people at Hatrack pray for you. I admire your restraint.
 

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Posted by JonHecht (Member # 9712) on :
 
U of Arizona sent out acceptances. I was, once again, not recipient. This is getting quite depressing.
 

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Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
You still have plenty of options left and it only takes one. You can't expect to get in everywhere.

Of course, when people tell me that after I get a rejection, I don't feel any better, but it's the standard issue advice. Also, are your schools sending out staggered letters? Many of my schools have already sent out letters to the top students, but there's still a list of finalists that they haven't made a decision on yet, but still have a chance for admission.

If the rejection letters have gone out and you haven't gotten one, there's still a chance.
 

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Posted by Destineer (Member # 821) on :
 
Arizona rejected me as well, Jon. Hang in there.
 

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Posted by JonHecht (Member # 9712) on :
 
Thanks guys. We'll see what happens.

Edit: And that actually makes me feel a lot better, Destineer.

Edit2: The real thing is that I thought I was a much stronger candidate, based on what my professors all said. I guess I'm not as a strong a candidate as I thought.
 

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Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
I've taken everything I've ever been told with a huge grain of salt. But you have to look at it this way as well: Pretty much every professor I've corresponded with in the last month has warned me that regardless of my personal credentials, this is maybe the worst year to apply for a PhD program in the last couple decades. Between the economy, the major cutbacks to the humanities, and the overwhelming boom in the sheer number of applicants, even the most qualified applicants are going to have serious competition. And it's only made worse by the fact that you're likely competing with a large crowd of masters students who are transferring (I cant remember if you're doing the PhD route, but even worse if that's the case).

My main professor at my undergrad school that I've been sort of taking my cues from told me that 20 years ago I'd have been a sure thing almost anywhere, but it's a different world out there. He also told me that I was a serious candidate, but that a lot of it was going to come down to a lucky break. It realistic advice and I appreciate it, and every prof that I emailed during the pre-admissions time said it was a tough year for everyone.

A lot of it isn't your fault, or has nothing to do with you being strong or not.

For myself personally, I found out that I made it past the first cut at Indiana, but there are still a few dozen of us competing for the less than 10 spots that remain, so while the odds are improved, it's still very difficult, and I'm barely even taking that as good news.
 

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Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :
 
I have a phone interview with Northern Arizona University tomorrow. I didn't even know they did phone interviews for grad school. Anyone have any advice?
 

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Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
No advice from me, just good wishes. Good luck!
 

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Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
I've heard of both phone and Skype interviews even. I've never been in one, but from what I've heard, it can often be just a casual conversation where they want to get to know you better than your application can tell.

Good luck!
 

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Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :
 
Thanks! I feel like it went pretty well. I've only heard back from one other school so far, and I was rejected. But they said at the end of the call that they're very interested in me, so obviously that's encouraging.
 

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Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
Just got a phone call from the graduate chair of the history program at Nebraska. Funded offer for their MA program in history.

I'm very excited.
 

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Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
 
Congrats! Is that at Omaha or Lincoln?
 

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Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
Jonathon, that does sound encouraging.

Congrats, Lyr!
 

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Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :
 
Congrats, Lyrhawn!

And good luck to everyone else who's still waiting to hear back from schools.
 

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Posted by JonHecht (Member # 9712) on :
 
Congrats, Lyr! You're the first Hatrack admit of the season.
 

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Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
Thanks for the congrats, all.

It's Nebraska-Lincoln.

It was a surreal conversation with the grad chair. I was in the middle of reading the email from the department letting me know that I'd officially gotten in when my phone rang. I saw the area code (definitely not from around here) and thought maybe it was from a college I'd applied to. It was the grad chair who was nice and complimentary (which was really flattering, I actually felt like I was being courted in some way, which is new for me), and he called not only to congratulate me on acceptance but to offer funding, which blew my mind.

From everything I've heard, getting a funded MA in the humanities is even harder than getting a funded PhD, because all the money goes to the PhD students, but I knew there were a few TA spots open, and luckily I got one.

They offered to fly me out there in April for the big graduate program thing that they put on. My mom's first question when I told her was, "yeah but, you're still waiting to hear from other places right, places closer to home? Hm?" That reminded me that I really might be moving to Nebraska!. Normally that might fill me with dread, but right now I'm just excited for the adventure, and it's only two years before I apply to another PhD program.

And of course, I still might hear back from another school with good news, so there are still balls in the air. It's a huge relief though to know I'll still be in school next year, and I won't have to go bankrupt to do it!

Huzzah!
 

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Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Lyrhawn:
I actually felt like I was being courted in some way

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They want to fly you out for an event and are funding you -- you ARE being courted.

Enjoy!
 

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Posted by airmanfour (Member # 6111) on :
 
Congrats, Lyr!
 

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Posted by Dr Strangelove (Member # 8331) on :
 
Wow Lyr, that's amazing! Congrats!
 

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Posted by JonHecht (Member # 9712) on :
 
Got into NIU MA program and am in top 5 waitlist for funding. They have an incredibly good placement record for people going on to phd programs.
 

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Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
Congrats Jon! I hope things break your way for funding. You're going to love the weather.

On my front, it looks like Michigan made a lot of offers today and I didn't get a phone call. Not surprising, but a little sad since it was my first choice, the fit was so good, and it would have been close to home. Oh well.
 

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Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
 
Congratulations to both of you! That is fantastic news.


 

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Posted by JonHecht (Member # 9712) on :
 
Michigan, UMass, and UCLA sent out acceptances. It looks like I'll probably be going to an MA program (or Fulbright then MA) next year.

Edit: What's really frustrating is that in light of my GPA, I'm not even sure I got I made it past the first round cut off at any of these places. I wish I knew how I could have made my application stronger.

Edit2: Mich sent out their waitlists. Also didn't receive that.

[ February 23, 2011, 10:51 PM: Message edited by: JonHecht ]
 

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Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
Lots of people have differing opinions on etiquette regarding contacting grad chairs to ask about your rejection, but so long as you word it right, I don't think there's anything wrong with it.

Someone linked me to a thread on another board where professors were throwing a major tantrum over students who email them or show up in person to complain about being rejected, but it seems that the majority of their complaints were about people who never had any business applying to grad school.

I think you're within your rights to email a chair and say something to effect of "Hello. I recently received a rejection letter from your program, and I'm wondering if you could provide me with some constructive criticism. I'm not here to complain about your decision, for while I'm disappointed, I'm far more interested in knowing what I can do next year to improve my chances for admission."

Some places probably won't like that, but some are perfectly willing to explain the problem with your application, or at least explain their process so you know if your GPA cut you before you even made it to the committee for review. It could also be that you sailed through with flying colors but the larger powers that be axed you for a GPA, so you might have been fine. There's really no way to know, but from what you've told me, your GPA, when combined with your other numbers, shouldn't have been enough to cut you in the first round.

If I had to guess, I'd say that a lot of your problem is that you applied to a lot of really good schools, and you're competing not only with other talented undergrads, but probably a lot of MA students who want to get their PhD but have an extra couple years of experience (and likely publications) over you. That's a lot of what I ran into this year, and I think a big part of why the only place I am accepted to is Nebraska is because it's an MA program that I'm only competing with other undergrads for (that and it's not a top history program, sadly).

Michigan had me pretty sad too. My Penn rejection letter came in my email on Monday. I wasn't too broken up about it since it was probably never going to happen anyway, but Michigan was really my top choice, even if it was just as unlikely. But oh well, in two years I'll apply to Michigan again with an MA under my belt. I think where you get your PhD, when it comes to the job market, is likely going to prove more valuable than where you got your MA.

Besides, you still have other schools to hear from!
 

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Posted by JonHecht (Member # 9712) on :
 
And like that, the only schools left to send notices are NYU and Rutgers. Thus far, I have not been admitted to any PhD programs. On the upside, I started learning Greek and have been working on a paper on how counterfactual semantics informs certain accounts of knowhow. On the downside, both these efforts are hindered by the fact that since I graduated, I lack access to both a library and articles that require library membership.
 

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Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
 
When I applied with just a B.A., I applied to both Ph.D. and M.A. programs. I was rejected from every Ph.D. program; I was accepted to every M.A. program, one with full funding.

Y'all's experiences make me wonder if giving PhD program preference to those who already have M.A. degrees is the norm now.
 

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Posted by JonHecht (Member # 9712) on :
 
I've heard that a few programs, Rutgers included, are reserving at least half their spots for MA students.
 

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Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
History programs lately have been moving towards a "funding for all" way of doing things, so they accept far fewer, but everyone gets a full ride, and most of those spots go to MA students. This is making things a little tricky since the best programs don't even offer a terminal masters, only a combined program, so you either need to be the best BA student in the country, or get an MA from a lesser program. That's fine with me I suppose, but I might have applied differently had I known that in November.

There's also far, far less funding available for MA students. PhD students are getting a better chance of funding as the years go on, and Masters students less so. I got lucky as all get out.
 

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Posted by JonHecht (Member # 9712) on :
 
Having been universally rejected from by PhD programs, I'll assume my writing sample wasn't as good as I had thought. No big deal--I'll work on it for next time.

Well, Lyrhawn, let's have fun applying again after our profiles have improved!
 

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Posted by Destineer (Member # 821) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by JonHecht:
Having been universally rejected from by PhD programs, I'll assume my writing sample wasn't as good as I had thought. No big deal--I'll work on it for next time.

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quote:

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Originally posted by JonHecht:
Having been universally rejected from by PhD programs, I'll assume my writing sample wasn't as good as I had thought. No big deal--I'll work on it for next time.

Well, Lyrhawn, let's have fun applying again after our profiles have improved!

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Indeed! I really do wish I had applied to more MA programs, and the more I've been thinking about it lately, the more I'm excited to only do my MA now, rather than the whole package. I think I'll emerge in two years as a much stronger candidate for the PhD than I am now.
 

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Posted by Strider (Member # 1807) on :
 
Lyr, I ended up adding two more MA programs the other week. I got rejected from Upenn, but the professor I had been conversing with there emailed me that she had been really enthusiastic about my application but that there were just too many applicants, and not enough spots (140 applicants, 6 spots) (and my background is suboptimal). She wrote to a few friends of hers at these MA programs asking them to take a look at my application. If I can get funding at any of the MA programs I applied to that would actually be optimal, as you say, I'd emerge in two years an extremely strong candidate. As it is, I think any of the PhD programs that I still do have a shot at currently, are not really high on my list of places I'd like to be. But if it came down to a funded PhD program at mediocre school or an unfunded MA program at a strong program, I'm not sure I could justify the mass amount of loans I'd have to take on.
 

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Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
I'd have to really think about it I end up getting a funded PhD offer from one of my three remaining schools. If it's from Rutgers, it's a no brainer, I'll go. If it's from Ohio State or Indiana, I might go. I can't help but wonder if I could get into a better school than those last two once I have an MA, but, on the other hand, it might be just plain stupid to turn down a funded PhD offer at a perfectly good, but not fantastic, school.

It seems unlikely that I'll have to worry about making that decision since I have yet to be accepted to a PhD program, but, it would cause me grief. Most everyone I've talked to in my department at school has said to go where the money is. Unless you're going into some high paying field, it's not worth taking on a massive amount of debt just to get through an MA. So if the only funding I end up being offered is the money at Nebraska, then I'll go there. It's a perfectly fine school to get an MA at, and if I can get in good with some of the big names there, I can step up to bigger things.

It's riskier from a career standpoint, but almost 100% safe financially.
 

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Posted by Tstorm (Member # 1871) on :
 
Congrats to everyone seeing success in this thread. I just wanted to pop in and off verbal support. And I wanted to add, that I can't believe you're having this much trouble. Ya'll are a lot more intelligent and capable than some of the individuals I've recently met who have masters and doctorate degrees.


Lyrhawn, no matter what my opinion of UNL's athletic endeavors, I think their academic programs are quite worthy of respect. Though I'm a Kansas guy through-and-through, I have a few connections to the Lincoln area. Good luck!
 

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Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 

quote:

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And I wanted to add, that I can't believe you're having this much trouble. Ya'll are a lot more intelligent and capable than some of the individuals I've recently met who have masters and doctorate degrees.

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quote:

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Lyrhawn, no matter what my opinion of UNL's athletic endeavors, I think their academic programs are quite worthy of respect. Though I'm a Kansas guy through-and-through, I have a few connections to the Lincoln area. Good luck!

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quote:

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Originally posted by Lyrhawn:
depending where on the list I actually am, which they wouldn't tell me.

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Some schools have, by policy, no order to their lists.

Others just won't tell you.
 

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Posted by Strider (Member # 1807) on :
 
Well...just talked to one of the PhD programs, and I'm at least still be actively considered.
 

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Posted by Strider (Member # 1807) on :
 
So I've officially been accepted to the University of Texas El Paso, and it's funded (tuition only), which is pretty awesome! I'm not exactly ecstatic about the location, but hey, it's funded MA work.

I still have a few schools I have yet to hear back from, but I imagine my chances are pretty small, so while I haven't officially accepted, it's looking like Texas is in my future.
 

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Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
Congrats! Looks like this year's grad application class at Hatrack did well for themselves!
 

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Posted by JonHecht (Member # 9712) on :
 
And it looks like we'll all have to go through this again in 2 years!
 

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Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
See you both in Fall 2012 for the next application process! I'm considering taking a gap year between my MA and my PhD, but that's a bridge I'll cross when I get to it.
 

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