<p>Does anyone have information/insight on the future outlook for history graduates? Is it still worth it to pursue a PhD? </p>
<p>I ask because I am extremely passionate about history. I've taken many history courses at my undergrad institution, and I've loved it since I was a child. It enriches my life, and I cant imagine majoring in anything else. I am particularly interested in medieval Europe, as well as East Asia. </p>
<p>I understand the need to be realistic, however, and my family is pressuring me to keep history as a hobby and pursue business, law, or government work, which they believe is more stable and financially rewarding. Personally, I dont need to be rich; I pursue history for the love of it, not for the money. Yet, I do want to be able to pay bills, take care of my family, and not have to constantly worry about job stability.</p>
<p>Big number? GM emplys 210K people. So less than half of one percent of those working at GM are history majors. Now I’m sure its less bleak (marginally so) when one looks only at degree holders, but still the proof is in the pudding. Take a further look at the “Careers” that a history major can have:</p>
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<p>I would say one of those, would be specifically looking for your skills as a historian. Long story short, have an honest internal monologue with yourself about just where you’ll really be in 30 years with a PhD in history. If you are determined to continue studying, I would suggest getting a masters in history, and a PhD in something a bit more “useful”.</p>
<p>Any kind of statement like this will get your application in the rejection pile and not have professors take you seriously.</p>
<p>You really need to spend some time exploring research questions before you can think about seriously pursuing a PhD in history. You don’t get admitted based on the statement above but rather have interesting questions that haven’t been explored very well. It’s hard to do when you’re an undergraduate, which is why you should pursue a thesis and keep having conversations with your professors and read scholarly journals.</p>
<p>Not to mention that you need to have languages down pat. For East Asia, ideally you should have fluency in the primary language, or working knowledge of at least 2 languages.</p>
<p>There are options out there for anyone with a history PhD. Gaining a job as a professor is much more difficult than getting a job in the government, public history or anything outside of academia.</p>
<p>Well, Im not going to be applying for grad schools for another 4 semesters or so, and that was obviously not an explanation worthy of a personal statement. BUT, since we are on the topic, what would you say are strong foundations for personal statements? What really makes someone standout, as far as personal statements go? What really made (or will make) yours special, ticklemepink?</p>
<p>I am fluent in Chinese, Korean, English, I have 14 years of french and spanish, and I am currently in 300-level Latin. I’m not too worried about languages. I grew up in a multilingual household. </p>
<p>How would you guess the ratios of students graduating with PhDs compares to that of those actually finding jobs?</p>
<p>You still have ways to go. I would definitely suggest taking time off just not be a student. That’s why you said up there that you can’t imagine yourself doing anything else other than staying in academia. You haven’t tried for most part. The average age of entering PhD students in history tend to fall around 27-28 years old.</p>
<p>The problem with SOPs and writing sample is that other than assuring that they are perfectly free of writing errors and well-argued is that the admissions are very subjective. Nobody can guess what makes an excellent SOP better than another excellent SOP.</p>
<p>You can do internships in any place that involves history. You can work as a writing tutor (excellent writing is very important in admissions). Do some tutoring or think about TFA or teaching abroad or Peace Corps. Experience matters.</p>
<p>I’m in a similar situation as you. I’m current in my “gap period,” and find my interest in research an academia is as strong as I suspected it was. That being said, the job market for history PhD’s does appear to be horrible. I, however, would be content getting a history PhD, and if I only ended up as a community college professor or a history teacher, I’d be happy enough. Not sure I’m definitely going down that path, but it’s something to consider as a realistic option if academia doesn’t work out.</p>
<p>The job market in history was abysmal 10 years ago when I finished my Ph.D. It’s much, much worse now. The vast majority of history Ph.D.s will not find tenure-track employment at a 4-year institution or even at a community college. There are so many people who cobble together a miserable existence adjuncting at several colleges with no benefits.</p>
<p>That said, there are other things one can do. I did get a tenure-track job, only to decide that it wasn’t for me. I’m now quite happily employed by the feds. I know history Ph.D.s who are working in publishing, state government, museums, various digital humanities projects, and consulting. (Note, however, that most of these fields are not exactly thriving either)</p>
<p>My advice: As others have mentioned, take some time before heading to grad school. If you find employment that you love, great. If not, grad school will still be there. </p>
<p>Only enter a graduate program if you are fully funded. DO NOT take out loans for a graduate program in history. I cannot stress that enough.</p>
<p>Finally, really investigate future job prospects for history Ph.D.s, including the ever-increasing reliance on adjuncts at the expense of tenure-track lines. Do not believe anyone who tells you that things will really open up in about 5 years when baby boomers start retiring in large numbers. The AHA does analysis of the market (Perspectives is a good place to start), and there are other places to look as well. You may research all of this and decide you want to go ahead despite the truly horrible odds - I did - but at least you will go in with your eyes open.</p>
<p>Teaching at a finer Prep School should be an option for anyone who feels the pull to Grad School and wants a teaching career. Positions usually require a Masters and lately departments are hiring Ph.D.s; looks good in their faculty roster. The lifestyle can be excellent - Life of the mind, working with bright young people, no pressure to publish.</p>
<p>I like history. I would never and will never major in history. But I would watch a TV program on history and I would read a well-written historical fiction book. I know they’re the exception and not the rule, but there are historical presentations made by people like Newt Gingrich which are successful. Even he couldn’t find himself a tenure track position.</p>