<p>My daughter is interested in studying history, particularly 19th century American history. Her stats are quite good (2200SAT, weighted 4.5 gpa and good EC's) so she's got a shot at most schools including the ivys. I've heard that Yale has the best history department in the country, but it's probably a long shot. Can anyone suggest other schools with strong history departments, especially in American history. Thanks.</p>
<p>Most schools have good history programs becasue it is a mainstream field. Two large schools that come to mind and which I am personally familiar with are the University of Virginia, whic is very strong in early U.S. history and also strong in other areas of U.S. history, and the University of Wisonsin, which is strong in virtually all history. If she is interested in a large school she could check the USNWR graduate school rankings, which break history down into various sub-specialties and would at least indicate which schools will likely have the broadest range of offerings, published profressors, and the perhaps the strongest TAs. But lots of universities and LACs also have good history programs, often with a specialty that reflects one or two professors' interets. For a propsective history major i would say it is really more a matter of finding a school that fits in other ways because it is unlikely that she will find a a bad history deaprtment at a good school--the only issue is breadth and quantity of offerings..</p>
<p>I agree with mattmom. I would add that, in an un-obscure discipline, there are few less-obscure fields of inquiry than 19th Century American History. It is going to be a high institutional priority at every single self-regarding institution to have that covered, and covered well, and most of them succeed. Even the tech schools (although I wouldn't recommend them for a prospective history major). Furthermore, at every college to which your daughter might reasonably apply, history is likely to be a popular major, so there will be plenty of critical mass among the students and faculty.</p>
<p>Finally, you should recognize that there is a high degree of possibility that your fresh-out-of-APUSH 11th grader will find three or four other things to love in the next five years. Don't use strength of 19th Century American History faculty as your main criterion in choosing a college.</p>
<p>I'm a history major who transferred schools for history. Let me give you some tips for your D</p>
<p>1) Look at the faculty size and the range of research interest- how many professors are teachin US history, European history, Africa, Asia, South America, and Middle East... is one field overwhelming dominant? If so, then it's not a good department to work with- see #2 on why. Having a broad range of professors will allow your D to take a lot of classes and have a chance at learning about other fields. When I transferred in, I thought I'd do European history but I've had such excellent professors for US History that I switched fields though there were no shortage of European history professors.</p>
<p>2) Major requirements. Some schools will require a field concentration- generally makes up about 1/2 of the coursework, including seminar. Does she really want to spend that much time on that particular field? Sometime schools will allow her to design one of her own such as women's history or revolutionary history. See #3 on why it might be important that she should consider this reason seriously... Also, look at how many faculty members are on sabbatical each year- very important in being able to build relationships.</p>
<p>3) How many seminars are offered each year? Is there a good variety? Is there at least 2 seminars that interest her? Professors don't teach seminars very often because it's time consuming and very demanding (try grading 30-40 page papers, 12 of them within 3 weeks!!!). Maybe they do it every two years or so. Sometimes if there's one particular seminar that she'd really like to take, it can be a nerve-wrecking experience just hoping that it'll be offer for her junior/senior year. I remember that there was a seminar offered in the spring of my sophomore year that I really wanted to take with this particular professor and asked my advisor if that seminar would be offered in my senior year (this coming academic year) and she wasn't 100% positive. I felt nervous.... until I saw the course catalogue for this fall and that seminar would be offered- phew! Now I am very excited! Seminars are very important- time consuming, must be interested in this subject since the student will be doing a LOT of research and writing. And reading every week.</p>
<p>Those are the THREE major factors to take in account for undergraduate history experience. Additionally, give extra points to departments that require a seminar or a workshop to help students enhance their research and writing skills- will make them much better critical thinker and reader.</p>
<p>Some of the top undergrad history departments include Harvard, Colgate, NYU</p>
<p>Thanks all. You've been very helpful.</p>
<p>historydad, I'd agree with the posters that advise that there are MANY colleges and universities that have good history departments, and that 19C America is an especially popular field. Like English or biology, history is one of the backbones of a traditional liberal arts education and your daughter will find that quite a few schools have powerhouse departments.</p>
<p>Putting Yale to the side for a minute (a wonderful choice but so uber-selective that you almost have to put it in a class by itself) I would suggest that your daughter start with a wishlist based on fit: location, size, "personality" and environment etc. then backtrack to check out the history offerings. Once she's determined the characteristics that she's looking for she can parlay her ideal into similar schools in the reach/match/safety categories.</p>
<p>Course catalogs are on-line as are professors resumes. Spend some time looking through them and you will get a feel of the relative strength of the individual departments.</p>
<p>Good luck and let us know how she does.</p>
<p>Johns Hopkins has a great history department and faculty.</p>
<p>As others have said, LOTS of schools have strong history departments. Moreover, quite seriously, the difference between history departments at the undergraduate level is pretty insignificant. Most of the rankings are based on graduate programs and some of the criteria are genuinely irrelevant to undergraduates. And, unless your D is going to get a Ph.D.--and maybe not even then--the rankings are irrelevant. The typical employer pays more attention--if he pays attention at all--to the overall ranking of the school than to that of a particular department. </p>
<p>Let me tell you the bad news..if your D is a white or Asian kid with two college-educated parents from a high school in an affluent suburb of a major US city who is not a recruited athlete..she's got a very tough row to hoe. She's the equivalent of the soprano trying out for the high school musical. All the top schools aim for a "well rounded class" and there are a gazillion girls like your D aiming at the top colleges. Look at the published admission rates. Your D's chances--again assuming she's white or Asian, has two college-educated parents, and is neither a legacy nor a recruited athlete, are roughly 40% of that number.</p>
<p>Bowdoin, William & Mary</p>
<p>How about looking at some top LAC's such as Williams, Amherst, Swarthmore, Oberlin, Carleton... where the professors will be excellent, their ethic is towards teaching 18-year-olds as well as publishing, and she can begin working with them up-close starting as a freshman? I'm assuming she'd go on to a PhD so look at how many PhD's come from these LAC backgrounds. Critical thinking, seminar-size classes right from the beginning, academic TLC might be something valuable to her. But these must be weighed against the sheer number of course offerings at a larger university. In what setting does she learn best?</p>
<p>Rice's History department is large and strong. Much better than when I got my BA in History, and it was good then.</p>
<p>I was impressed with Columbia University's history program. They have specializations in U.S., European, World, and Ancient history. The school itself is difficult to get into, but your D's stats are impressive. The program has no trouble sending kids to grad school or law school, if that's a concern.</p>
<p>Take a look at this: <a href="http://www.historians.org/Perspectives/issues/2005/0509/0509new1.cfm%5B/url%5D">http://www.historians.org/Perspectives/issues/2005/0509/0509new1.cfm</a></p>
<p>I would agree with the W&M suggestion. Their U.S. history department is renown (would you expect any less of a school in Williamsburg? :)). It is also quite well-known and difficult to gain entrance to, especially for students who are not residents of VA. It would truly be a challenging school which would be a good fit academically for your daughter, and if you are a fish out of water when it comes to finaid, it will not break the pocket book for grad school prospects. Granted, I am a little biased because I am a graduate myself! I was an econ major and graduated with a job at a top consulting firm. </p>
<p>My own D was not interested in W&M however due to its size. It has a decent student population at ~ 11,000 undergrad (with small class sizes), but the city of Williamsburg is more conducive to studying than clubbing! She prefered the buzz of a big school - or at least a school in a big city.</p>
<p>limepopsicle: I believe W&M is around 6000 undergrad, not 11000. Like you, I'm an alumna who went there intending to major in History but wound up with an accounting degree. So far, I haven't been able to interest my teens in following me there:-(</p>