<p>After some research, I've made the decision that to successfully fulfill my career aspirations (museum curator), a Ph.D. in a related field will be the best route. Currently, I'm far from the application process (I'm a sophomore in college) but I don't think it's ever to early to think about the future. I was contemplating a Ph.D. in history or art history and therefore I have been researching the top schools in each field:</p>
<p>-Princeton
-Berkeley
-Stanford
-University of Chicago
-Columbia
-Etc.</p>
<p>My question is, what does it take to get into a school like Princeton or Columbia for a history major? Obviously good GRE scores are a must, as well as a stellar GPA, but how high? The only hard statistic that I could find was provided by Berkeley; they stated that incoming Ph.D. students entered with an average GPA of approximately 3.8. Is this a good gauge for other, similar schools? I.E. Princeton, Stanford. Also, how much is the student's entire GPA weighted as opposed to the GPA they have earned within their major? For example, a student has a 3.6 overall GPA but a 3.9 in their major. All things else good, would this student have a competitive GPA for these top schools?</p>
<p>Finally, is work experience weighed much, if any in the admissions process, even if its field-related (interning in a museum)?</p>
<p>Thanks for any help, it's really appreciated. I've attempted to discuss these topics with an advisor but haven't really gotten the answers I was looking for.</p>
<h1>1 Thing you should focus on right NOW is… learning French or German.</h1>
<p>Seriously. It will save you loads of trouble down the road because languages are right up there with writing sample, LORs, and statement of purpose (essay), followed by GPA, then followed by GRE scores… Work experience, if relevant, can count but it’s your research interests that the adcoms are most interested in. And how well you’ll fit in with the rest of the department.</p>
<p>Thanks for your response!</p>
<p>I agree about foreign languages. Unfortunately, I’m a bit behind in my core required classes at my current university because I am a transfer student and was victim to not everything transferring over very well. As a result of this, this year was/will be spent catching up on sciences/maths and not a language. My junior and senior years, however, I plan on learning at least one language, and I’ll probably do two.</p>
<p>How highly valued are letters of recommendation from alumni as opposed to non-alumni? For example, my favorite professor right now earned his doctorate at Princeton. Would a letter of recommendation from him hold more weight than a letter from a similarly accomplished professor who earned his/her degree elsewhere?</p>
<p>Ah, I can understand the transfer situation. I was in the same boat. Except I had to meet a lot of graduate requirements! (My previous school had no graduate requirements other than to take an intensive writing seminar). So yeah, that’s how I got behind languages as well. I also had other summer plans. So you might want look at how you use your summers too.</p>
<p>Alumni… supposedly it can matter in a way that the alumni knows the rigor of the graduate program and can speak that you are able to go through with it. The more recent, the better because of current connections. Name dropping definitely works, especially if you’re in contact with anyone on your professor’s dissertation committee.</p>
<p>But ultimately, the decision goes to the executive committee who looks at the final list of applicants recommended for admission.</p>