<p>this is really long. --</p>
<p>I have some problems, and they're kind of stupid, but I have to resolve them before I can move on. and I'm not going to ask my undergrad mentor, cause he'll think I've lost it...</p>
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<li>so I'm thinking of applying to 15 schools. I don't have the money or the interest to apply to 15 schools, but I'm afraid I won't get into any programs. I need some way of whittling my list down, but all the programs I'm applying to are REALLY selective. In addition, I'm interested in a small part of a small field of history, but ONLY that part. Unfortunately, all the institutions with people of my specialty seem to be hotshot programs that get tons of applicants. so I can't apply to some less selective places even though I really want to. There's a lot of new work coming out in the area I like, but a lot of it is dissertations from recent doctorates from those institutions. There's no way they can advise me. Or they're scholars from the foriegn country I want to specialize in. or they teach at places that don't award history doctorates.</li>
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<p>my mentor only suggested notable places (as he came from such a school) and it's kind of flattering that he thinks I'm an excellent candidate but I'm going to be so sad/angry if I apply to six places and get admitted nowhere. I think I'm a solid candidate myself but not much more than that. I guess I could open up my focus a little bit but I really have no interest in related areas. I also have some emotional attachment to my area of study as it was my undergrad thesis topic, and it's little explored and I want to expand on it...</p>
<p>I know I could apply to a "_____ studies" program, but I don't do that interdisciplinary thing too well. :) I also cannot apply to any terminal MA programs or programs that do not offer significant financial support. I'm not willing to go into tons of debt for this.</p>
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<li>I know I could whittle the list down if I contacted the professors I am interested in working with, but I'm afraid of getting dismissed, or even worse, told they're going to retire or not taking on any advisees. I know I'm going to need to know that, but it would reduce my already slim chances if I have to throw out a lot of places. </li>
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<p>I also am uncomfortable sending unsolicited emails to academics. Part of it is that I'm shy, the other part is in the course of doing my undergrad research I was ignored a lot, or sent odd replies. I also got a lot of enthusiastic, helpful responses. But the bad impressions stuck with me...</p>
<p>PM me the details. I’m in history field and have a very good idea of what’s happening in terms of admissions. I may be able to help you whittle down a bit.</p>
<p>One of the things I’ve learned about going into academia is to develop a really tough skin. You can’t take everything personally, including ignored e-mails. Each professor has his or her own personality and work style. Some professors prefer to do more chatting over the phone and not e-mail at all. Others are happy to e-mail. Name-dropping usually works quite well in getting responses.</p>
<p>Even if the professors say that they are retiring or not taking new students, take advantage of the connection and ask for suggestions. Retiring professors will (should have at least) have students teaching elsewhere and can refer you to them, thus opening up a few more schools.</p>
<p>Eventually you are going have to accept the fact that A) given the heavy competition for history PhD programs and B) your sub-specialty you may not get in anywhere this coming year. The influx of application are actually filled with high quality people, not just people looking to get out of this horrible job market. Go into it with an open mind and a good fight, but don’t get emotionally attached. I applied to 5 schools this past round and got waitlisted at 2 and rejected at 3. I plan on re-applying with 7-9 schools in mind. My counterpart applied 2 years ago to 6 schools and did NOT get in anywhere except for 1 watilist. She re-applied this past year (with me, in similar field, fantastic.) and got into 4 out of 7. Who knows why.</p>
<p>That said, you DO need to open up your interests a bit more. Professors are NOT interested in seeing a dissertation topic in your statement. They want to see the kind of questions you have and your thoughts on them relating to a geographical or thematic topic. If you stick with what you’ve written above, you may not be viewed very positively. Professors would prefer to work with someone who is slightly unfocused than to work with narrowly focused students (as they tend to be… quite rigid with their course of study and difficult to work with).</p>
<p>If you have a good relationship with your undergraduate mentor, you should be allowed to freak out. I did it several times with my undergraduate adviser and she couldn’t care less because everyone is allow to freak out and she knew that I was generally mature anyway. I worried in front of my MA adviser (who’s a big shot) a bunch of times over admissions. She worried too but hoped for the best. All of my fretting never changed her opinion of me as a scholar who can produce terrific research. Even now, she still encourages me by e-mail. It’s really stressful just to keep everything from people you care about and look up to, because you know that they care about you and your successes. Better to share your concerns.</p>