<p>This is a recent decision: I am planning to become a history professor, so I believe one thing I definitely need is to major in history. What are the above average schools for a history major and are there any good grad schools too? I live in NJ so I have easy admission to Rutgers; is it any good for me? Or are there better choices? Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>You do not need to plan for graduate school as a high school student. Although any reputable history program, high GPA, great GRE, and spectacular research will get you into a good graduate program. In the meantime, I suggest this:</p>
<p>[Why</a> you shouldn’t go to grad school in the humanities | Targuman](<a href=“http://targuman.org/blog/2009/01/26/why-you-shouldnt-go-to-grad-school-in-the-humanities/]Why”>http://targuman.org/blog/2009/01/26/why-you-shouldnt-go-to-grad-school-in-the-humanities/)</p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestion haha. I have two career suggestions in mind at the moment, both having to do with humanities and social studies. My weak point is in math and science so I can understand I’m at a disadvantage … I’ll think about it- thanks though :)</p>
<p>Doesn’t change the fact that a history degree is fabulous preparation for many professions. Do not be discouraged!</p>
<p>Rutgers has a very good History Dept. </p>
<p>Wisconsin’s is incredible too.</p>
<p>Princeton, Yale, UPenn, Georgetown</p>
<p>Stooge: I’m looking at many options but I’m trying to stay optimistic :]
And thanks- I was thinking of Rutgers but I wasn’t sure.</p>
<p>BananaSandwich15: To be honest, I think those colleges are out of my league. Thanks for suggesting though.</p>
<p>Any idiot can just respond to each and every thread suggesting Princeton, Yale, and Harvard.</p>
<p>To be honest though, history is an incredibly diverse field. Princeton isn’t going to know squat about Texas history, or Mexican-U.S. relations. That’s just something you’ll have to evaluate when it comes time to consider grad school. You will have participated in research projects and you’ll develop an obsession for a particular area in history. </p>
<p>It could be Texas history, or a specific president, or a specific thing like religion in history, etc. If you want to study Nixon, you probably want to go to UC-Berkeley. If you want to study old fashioned Texas history, probably want to go to Baylor or Texas A&M. If you want to study the history of Southern slavery, probably Ole Miss or Auburn would be where you wanna go.</p>
<p>If you’re looking at LACs, my friend, a history major, suggests Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington.</p>
<p>^^Oh thanks. i was only suggesting the highest ranked colleges for history majors. your logic is dumb. if you want to learn about texas history go to school in texas??? really?</p>
<p>op what do you consider “above average”</p>
<p>osucowboys: Oh I didn’t think about that. Thanks for pointing that out! I’m interested in Russian history though, if that says anything.</p>
<p>ImReachingForIt: I’m still looking into LACs, but tell your friend that I said thanks for the idea :D</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>You might want to look at schools that have a strong history department as well as an international relations department. Some of the courses may overlap and history should always be interdisciplinary. You might also want to look at schools that offer Russian language, since with Russian language comes Russian literature, usually (and obviously, you may or may not want to learn Russian).</p>
<p>You don’t need to go to college to study Russian relations. After all, Sarah Palin did not study Russia and she claims to be an expert on foreign relations…after all she can see Russia from her house in Alaska.</p>
<p>On a serious note…I checked and Bucknell and Indiana happen to be centers of Russian history research.</p>
<p>[Russian</a> History: Graduate Programs: Department of History: Indiana University](<a href=“http://www.indiana.edu/~histweb/grad/russian.shtml]Russian”>http://www.indiana.edu/~histweb/grad/russian.shtml)</p>
<p>[Russian</a> History || Bucknell University](<a href=“http://www.bucknell.edu/x17601.xml]Russian”>http://www.bucknell.edu/x17601.xml)</p>
<p>There is a LOT of Eastern European ethnicity in Chicago, too…so Chicago schools would be a likely goldmine for resources on Russian history.</p>
<p>applicannot: Alrighty ; thanks for the suggestion!
osucowboys: Haha well then again, it’s Sarah Palin. I’ll look into Bucknell & see how it is :D</p>
<p>Yeah, quality of overall program isn’t as important as having good professor/classes in your area of interest. </p>
<p>I’m obsessed with military history, but have fun finding a non-military college with good course selections in that field. If I could’ve found a good school with a strong military history program I probably would’ve majored in htat.</p>
<p>For Colonial and American History William & Mary is up there. All history in general too.</p>
<p>Laramie, nearly all top universities and LACs have strong history programs. You’re going about things backwards. I suggest you consider:</p>
<ul>
<li>Which part of the country (Midwest, Southeast, etc.)?</li>
<li>Public or private?</li>
<li>Coed or single-sex?</li>
<li>Rural, suburban, or urban?</li>
<li>Small (< 2000), medium (2000-10000), or large (10000+)?</li>
<li>Is cost an issue?</li>
<li>Do you want certain extracurricular activities, like a fencing team?</li>
<li>Popular Greek life or no Greek life?</li>
<li>Do you have special needs (LD, physically disabled, etc.)?</li>
<li>How selective do you want?</li>
</ul>
<p>Once you’ve chosen your criteria and have drawn up a list, start evaluating their programs. Since you are interested in graduate school, check out research options.</p>
<ul>
<li>Is a thesis required or encouraged?</li>
<li>Is funding available for summer research?</li>
<li>Does the department offer poster sessions for research, organize conferences, or provide funding for travel to conferences?</li>
</ul>
<p>
</p>
<p>…which she never said.</p>
<p>Anyways, back on topic, Wisconsin has a great history program. UNC-Chapel Hill is strong in history as well, but its forte is American History. I would recommend Georgetown and American for Russian History. Maybe Tufts too.</p>
<p>IBClass06: You’re completely right but I honestly have no preferences. Cost won’t be an issue, but all I’m looking at right now is the program. Everything else I can just adapt to. Whether it’s a big school or not shouldn’t be a problem. But thanks for your college evaluation questions; I really should’ve considered those first.</p>
<p>Cuse0507: Alrighty; I’ll look into Georgetown & American 
Thanks!</p>