<p>I am currently a high school senior, predicted to be valedictorian of my IB school. Admissions is not so what I am worrying myself over, so much as finding the right school, both culture wise and for academics. As stated in the title of the thread, I eventually plan on earning my doctorate in American history, and therefore, it is grad school that will eventually determine my fates, and for that part of my life, I would prefer to attend an HYP type school, but I do not think I want to attend one of those for my undergrad work (excluding Columbia, but I don't think I want to lock in there, since well, they're one of those institutions that takes pride in how many candidates they manage to refuse) just for reasons of my own reservations. What I am wondering is whether I should be looking at smaller Liberal Arts Colleges, since they just seem like wonderful places (Bowdoin in particular has charmed me) but they generally have smaller history departments. I know they regularly send grads to med, business, and law school at the elite schools but I am wondering whether or not I would look as good as a future applicant to a history department of an elite school, lets say Yale, if I am coming out of a smaller school like Bowdoin. Or would I be better suited heading to Michigan, Vandy, UChi, UNC, or Berkeley type school instead, with their gigantic departments? I really like the LACs, but I do not want to sacrifice my future to attend one. Any insights would be tremendously appreciated.</p>
<p>Check this out: [REED</a> COLLEGE PHD PRODUCTIVITY](<a href=“http://www.reed.edu/ir/phd.html]REED”>Doctoral Degree Productivity - Institutional Research - Reed College) Of the top 10 colleges sending students on to PhDs in history, all but 2 are LACs.</p>
<p>Yes, absolutely, you should consider LACs.
As PRJ points out, for per capita production of PhDs in history, 8 of the 10 top schools are LACs. The other 2 (Yale and Chicago) have the small average class sizes typical of LACs.</p>
<p>History departments don’t need expensive laboratories or big federal grants for ambitious experimental studies. So, some of the advantages of universities in the natural sciences don’t come into play for a history department. Some very distinguished professors of history and related fields (like Classics) have taught at LACs. Examples: Henry Steele Commager (Amherst) and Daniel Boorstin (Swarthmore).</p>
<p>By the way, the children of college professors choose to attend LACs at a much higher rate than the children of other parents. ([Where</a> Professors Send Their Children to College - CBS MoneyWatch.com](<a href=“MoneyWatch: Financial news, world finance and market news, your money, product recalls updated daily - CBS News”>MoneyWatch: Financial news, world finance and market news, your money, product recalls updated daily - CBS News))</p>
<p>An advantage of larger schools is their greater breadth and depth of coverage across many historic periods and places. However, for an undergrad, this isn’t too important unless you have interests in some fairly arcane areas. Any good LAC should have enough history and related courses to keep you busy for 4 years. </p>
<p>More significantly, a major research university with a huge library system has an advantage in attracting distinguished historians. For this reason, my first choice probably would be a selective research university with a good history department and strong undergraduate focus (i.e. many small discussion-based classes). My second choice would be a LAC. However, if you happen to have a strong personal preference for LACs, there is no reason not to put them at the top of your list.</p>
<p>Admission to a PhD program depends mostly on grades and recommendations. And you will do best academically in an environment that you most comfortable in. </p>
<p>The professors, themselves, are all graduates of the same programs that you’ll be looking at. At an LAC you will be able to forge a close relationship with your instructors so when the time comes for recommendations they will know you personally. They will make sure that you lay the foundation to get where you want to go, how to secure research projects and internships, how to apply for grants, how to craft application. The alumni/ae networks are widespread geographically and deeply supportive.</p>
<p>Of course, there are wonderful supportive professors at large and medium sized universities as well. You just have to be more assertive to get to them. The difference really lies with YOU: Which style of teaching, which academic – and social – environment suits YOU better?</p>
<p>I don’t know much about history at Bowdoin, but if you like the ambience you might also look at Amherst, Williams, Hamilton, Middlebury. Smith if you are female.</p>
<p>The one I’m most familiar with is Williams, which has a large and excellent history department with a wide range of courses – including American history – and a nurturing advisors. The tutorial program (two students/one professor) especially lends itself to the study of history. Top PhD admissions would definitely recognize Williams (and other academically rigorous LACs) as a source for well qualified candidates.</p>
<p>I often see the argument that you get the best of both worlds if you go to an LAC for undergrad. (with the attention from professors and no graduates to compete with for research positions) and a larger university of graduate work. I also was thinking about Williams when I read your post because of the tutorial and the great academic quality. But Bowdoin or Middlebury would also be excellent choices.</p>
<p>Thank you, you all have been incredibly helpful. With Williams I’m just a little worried about admissions, as my SATs are a little low (700,680,700) and I only have a 3.952 unweighted GPA (4.602 Weighted, but that may be lowered due to just the way my school weights IB courses) and I feel more comfortable with a Bowdoin since they have their whole SAT optional thing and I feel I interview well and (when not on an internet forum) can write a good essay. I really like what the LACs have to offer with the small campus/class size and personal contact with professors. On a personal note, I have Tourette’s and am sometimes prone to shaking and other tics, so I just feel more comfortable in a smaller setting with that for whatever reason. I just really like the LAC route as opposed to the Vandy, UChi, Berkeley one. Again, thank you all very much.</p>
<p>snowden, don’t stress over your SATI scores. Your grades, rank, recommendations, essays, ECs, diversity factors and personal life experience will be what will get you in. Of course, you should have a balanced list – reach/match/safety – however, with a 3.952 GPA in an IB program you could add a few very selectives as well.</p>
<p>Yes, I absolutely think an LAC is the perfect environment for a history student. The close contact with top notch professors is really valuable. My child is at a top LAC and has had the chance to do work for his favorite professor that will be very likely to help his career or graduate school chances in the future. For history, you want a lot of intensity, a lot of reading, a lot of challenging, a lot of talking. I think it would be unfortunate to have to sit in the back of a large classroom and never interact with your professors personally, no matter how great they are as lecturers. If you really want to see that kind of thing, you can always go on Openculture.com.</p>
<p>Don’t over-stress about getting into a super-selective LAC like Williams. Most of the top 50 or so LACs have the same small classes and similar academic programs. They all attract many students with good grades and test scores. Many professors at many of these schools got their PhDs from the same top research universities. Example: history professors at Kenyon, USNWR #32, earned doctorates from Emory, Columbia, Yale, Princeton, Penn, Harvard, Wisconsin, UVa, and TOSU. 13 history professors cover a population with only about 30 graduating history majors per year. So you should be able to form a relationship with a well-connected professor who can help you find your research niche and write a good LOR to a top graduate school.</p>
<p>I agree with what everyone else has said. I went to a small LAC. It was a great experience and prepared me well for graduate work in history.</p>
<p>My dau is majoring in an aspect of history at a great LAC and couldn’t be more satisfied with the academic quality and the contact with profs.
Yes, look at the actual course offerings- see how they interest you. Also check, as mentioned, the professors’ backgrounds and research interests. Also, though your focus is US, see who’s got the great study abroad programs and who offers corresponding finaid for these. </p>
<p>And, yes, what really matters is the strength of the grad program. Good luck.</p>
<p>Check out a recent article in the American Historical Society:
“A Grim Year on the Academic Job Market for Historians” by Robert Townsend</p>
<p>If you are interested in getting a PhD and competing for a university - because you will facing such a competitive job market if you get a PhD, you should look and see where those getting jobs are getting their degrees from, and what are the trends in terms of areas of research that is helping give some more of a competitive edge.</p>
<p>^too true. Know too many itinerant part-timers. Since there are so many American historians, you’ll want the right angle or combination of sub-specialties. What’s hot within the field morphs. You can get a read on that once you’re in college. And, yes, the best grad programs get the best interest, when hiring. The good news is the glut of great PhDs is what’s making some formerly lesser known LACs have great history depts today.</p>