New here - Sorry

Graduate School
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<p>OK, so I know I'm about to ask a serious of silly questions but I've only recently decided that I may want to apply to a History grad school program w/ the intention of teaching History -- I don't want my Ph.D though, so I assume I could be teaching in a high school or community college? (Is this right?)</p>

<p>Anyway, a few questions -- for one, do you think it's still possible to apply this cycle if I've only just decided what I want to do? I'm a senior in college. Ideally I would like to go to grad school next year (was planning on law school but am rethinking that decision). If it's too late for me to get everything together to apply this cycle, I may take a year off and then apply. </p>

<p>Secondly, are (history) grad school applications assessed on a rolling basis? I know law schools are. Or is it more like undergrad, when applications are all reviewed at the same time? </p>

<p>And finally, would anyone be able to give me any sort of guidance on what sorts of schools I could realistically be accepted at? I'm an undergrad now at UPenn with roughly a 3.7 GPA, a bit higher in my major (3.81). Since I've only recently decided to apply for non-law grad schools, I am gonna try to take the GRE soon. When is the latest I could take it to count for this cycle? Late November? And what sort of scores would give me a realistic chance for a "top school"? (As far as "soft" factors, they're mediocre -- I have leadership roles in 2 activities on campus, work experience over the summer and during the school year in areas unrelated to history, no real research experience except writing several research papers in history classes I've taken, and letters of recommendation would probably be good.) </p>

<p>I would REALLY appreciate any guidance you guys can give me! I had a breakdown today and just want to stay levelheaded about what my options here are. Thanks.</p>

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<p>Relax. You’re at Penn and in very good hands. The history department there is excellent and I would pose these questions to your professors.</p>

<p>Personally, I would take a year off to allow yourself do more research in the spring. For you though, what’s the rush to go?</p>

<p>Teaching professions, especially in history, is in very difficult right now. There are more applicants than open positions for history. Also you may want to just get a teaching certificate and get a job where the school will pay for your MA anyway.</p>

<p>Really, don’t go to graduate school just because you love history. Do it because you’re nuts enough to read the scholarship and nitpick the arguments and go into debt for that.</p>

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<p>Okay, thanks for the comment. To address your points:</p>

<p>1 - yes I definitely will speak to someone in the History department this week. I just wanted to pose this question here for now to see what people here thought and calm my nerves a bit.</p>

<p>2 - I’d rather not take a year off, but I’m not opposed to it either. Also, I don’t actually want to do research in history. I want to teach, and while research wouldn’t hurt, I know the vast majority of HS/CC history teachers haven’t done major research. I have to do a research project as a requirement for my major, but other than that I don’t want to pursue research in history.</p>

<p>3 - Thanks for the comforting fact about how awful jobs are right now, especially in History lol. But I’m trying to figure out what I actually want to do with my life, being a senior and all, and I’m pretty sure I know what it is. I’ve considered alternatives, and even if it’d be easier to land a job in those alternative fields, I don’t think I would much like the job. I just need to be honest with myself, in terms of my interests and goals, even if being “something else” would help me get a job more quickly.
And yeah, I thought about something less formal, like going to a local school on Long Island/NYC or taking night classes to get my MA or something (as many of my HS teachers did), but I don’t want to go into the job market right now, and I’d rather go to a good school (if possible) to get my MA, just as a buffer between now and getting a real job and to genuinely get a good education in history that would equip me well. Also, though I’m not exactly sure, but if I get into a “good school” for my MA, I imagine that wouldn’t hurt in this cutthroat job market, but that’s more of a superficial reason that people usually like not to mention :p. Just being real.</p>

<p>4 - I don’t really understand. I mean, I know you don’t need a MA to be a HS teacher, but it certainly can’t hurt, in terms of salary and distinguishing yourself. It seems like you’re assuming that all who go to grad school, at least for history/humanities, should want to be academics or scholars – I don’t want that (though I do like to “niptick the arguments” and analyze and Penn has really been a great place to do that). I simply want an MA so I can, well… be a more qualified teacher. Also, the debt thing isn’t a factor.</p>

<p>If anyone else has advice, feel free to chime in. I’m especially curious about how grad school (history) admissions work – it’s hard to find GRE ranges. For example, would a 1400 put me in range for a school like Penn?</p>

<p>Thanks :)</p>

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<p>You’re at Penn! Its terrific department should provide many of your questions and provide you with advice.</p>

<p>Don’t feel rushed into this process. Take your time. Try to find funded MA programs. Really determine if it’s worth going into debt for this if you need to take out loans. Apply for historical based internships to do in your year off. Why the rush?</p>

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<p>In many states, as strange as it sounds, you must have a degree in education to teach in a public school. A master’s degree only puts you at a higher pay scale, something not all districts are willing to hire at the entry level. In any case, you’ll have to be certified, so you’ll want to look into that process now if you want to teach in a public school system. The rules vary state-by-state, so make sure you prepare for the general areas you’d like to live in.</p>

<p>Private schools will hire you right out of Penn. They are also more likely to appreciate a master’s in history when hiring. However, the salary and benefits usually are not as good as those in a public school district. </p>

<p>A master’s degree will allow you to teach at a community college, although if there’s a glut of PhDs applying, then you’ll be at a disadvantage. </p>

<p>As for rolling admissions, it depends highly on the program. Most grad admissions committees will meet after they get a sizable amount of completed applications, but this could occur before or after the deadline. My advice is to get your applications in as soon as you can without rushing, although I wouldn’t worry if you just make the deadline.</p>

<p>But TMP is absolutely correct that your best resource is your professors. Your academic advisor should be able to help you select the programs that will best meet your needs. </p>

<p>As for the GRE, a lot of programs list October as the latest you should take it. I suggest you go to the websites of some of the schools on your preliminary list to see what they recommend.</p>