History PhD and reputation (tiers)

ticklemepink
Mon, 02 Mar 2009 23:56:34 +0000

If you are desperate to go, do try to have a school where you are definitely competitive at where most history phds wannabes don’t apply like UMiami as StrangeLight did. Otherwise, apply only to places where you think you can be happy for 5 years. Apply to your dream programs. Apply to programs where there are profs who might be interested in your project ideas. Do not be afraid to consider a second round of applications. Whatever you do, do not pay a penny for your PhD. Even if they accept you with funding, inquire about it but if the department can’t give you a straight answer, walk away. Walk away from any unfunded acceptances, no ands, ifs, or buts. My friend did just that in her first round of application and now she’s in second and she received 2 full funding offers and two other acceptances with funding pending.

10 schools is a bit excessive. Aim for 7 to 8. If you have time to write another SOP and the money for another application, then great. Your SOP is very important so you want to take the time make it really, really, really good and slightly customized for each program instead of generalizing it.

Just have a Plan B ready once you’ve finished sending in those applications. Consider spending some time in Germany THIS summer. Languages are extremely important and to be considered for German history, you’ll pretty much need to be fluent, especially in written German. You can just do that by taking German this summer, particularly in Germany or Austria.