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Preparing for Graduate School
Do you hope to pursue a Ph.D. and an academic career? Or have you set your sights on an M.A. in a specialized field of history, or on a professional graduate program such as law, education, or divinity? In all cases, junior year is a good time to begin thinking seriously about graduate school. If you are a History or History/Social Science major, make an appointment with Dr. Melissa Harkrider, the department’s graduate school coordinator, to discuss general issues related to grad school planning. You should also talk with your faculty academic adviser and with any faculty members in the History Department who are specialists in your area of interest. Also talk with any seniors you know who are in the midst of grad school applications. Networking is one key to success in finding and being admitted to the best graduate program for you.
Rankings of History Graduate Programs in the U.S.
U.S. New & World Report publishes annual rankings of graduate programs, including those in history. Search on-line for America’s Best Graduate Schools, 2006 Edition. The rankings of top history departments can provide some general guidance, although departments vary widely in their specific areas of strength. One way to narrow your search is to investigate departments where faculty specialize in your area of interest. Or, if you are attracted to a specific history department, search for published writings by faculty to give you a better idea of their research focus. Your professors at Wheaton can also provide help in narrowing your search.
General Resources
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~danhorn/graduate.html
“Graduate Student Resources on the Web.” A fun, eclectic page maintained by a former University of Michigan grad student and now Ph.D., Dan Horn. It is an excellent source of links to helpful information and a good place to browse for students beginning to think about grad school.
http://www.sc.edu/career/pdf/gradschool.pdf
A .pdf file containing guidelines from the Career Center at the University of South Carolina regarding graduate school. Sections on “The Graduate School Application Process” and “Writing the Graduate School Essay” may be helpful.
http://educationusa.state.gov/graduate/admissions.htm
This site is maintained by the U.S. government primarily for students from other countries hoping to pursue graduate work in the United States. Even so, it contains useful information for all students in terms of questions to ask when considering graduate study, requirements and time tables.
The National Association of Graduate-Professional Students conducted a national survey of doctoral programs in 2000; participants were asked to assess the educational practices of their programs.
Two graduate students at Vanderbilt University wrote an article for Perspectives, the magazine of the American Historical Association: "Inscribing Your Future: The Trials and Tribulations of Applying to Graduate School" . It offers encouragement, cautions, and practical advice about surviving the transition between undergraduate and graduate school.
Thomas H. Benton, an English professor, wrote a series of articles with general graduate school advice. Posted on the Chronicle Career site are "So You Want to Go to Grad School?", "If You Must Go to Grad School ...," and "The 5 'Virtues' of Successful Graduate Students."
History Handbook Index
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