<p>I graduated in 2007 with a B.S. in History. I've decided on continuing my education and my goal is to go for my Phd but I have a couple problems/challenges and would love some advice on how to pursue my goals.</p>
<p>First, I have very average grades and GRE scores. I have a 3.27 GPA and a 3.38 for my major GPA. My GRE scores are 580V and 570Q (don't have the writing score back yet). While my GRE scores are low due to me never doing very well on standardized tests, my GPA is low due to me working 30 - 40+ hours all during college, due to zero financial support. Should I explain this on my application? I thought I would but I don't want to sound like I'm whining. </p>
<p>Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, I went to Tennessee Tech University - an engineering school more or less - and I've been told that graduate schools tend to be horribly pretentious and look down on smaller schools - and especially in my case one that is more focused on engineering than anything else. :(</p>
<p>Finally, I would love to major in world history with an emphasis in African studies although I haven't taken any classes in African history. I have been very involved in extracurricular activities involving West African art and culture but the school didn't offer any classes. Thus I really have very little experience in the field and my teachers aren't from it either.</p>
<p>So, what do you all think my chances are for graduate school? Should I attempt a Phd program or go for my Masters first? More importantly, what do you think I should emphasize on my application?
A positive is that I am willing to move just about anywhere, and I can get good LORs from my history teachers here.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!</p>
<p>Yours is a case in which the MA is without question your best option. Without any previous academic work in African studies, you will not be admitted to a PhD program in that area.</p>
<p>Research MA programs in History with appropriate faculty. I would also suggest retaking the GRE. </p>
<p>And in your statements of purpose, I suggest that you do not address your GPA directly -- there is too much risk that you will sound like you are making excuses. Instead, weave in the fact that you worked full-time throughout college in a different way.</p>
<p>If at all possible, find an MA program that will give you some funding. Also look into African Studies MAs. For a master's, a "studies" degree will not hurt you applying to PhD programs in history. African history is rather undersupplied in history (or at least more balanced), so it's a good choice!</p>
<p>Below is a list of African Studies programs. Many are competitive; some are not so much. I provided a diverse list in case others are interested, as well.</p>
<p>NYU: NYU</a> > Africana Studies > Graduate Program
Howard: Howard</a> University - Graduate School - Department of African Studies
UCLA: African</a> Studies at UCLA
UTexas: Center</a> for African and African-American Studies, University of Texas at Austin
MichState: African</a> Studies Center, Michigan State University<a href="not%20a%20separate%20degree,%20but%20you%20can%20get%20a%20specialization%20certificate,%20and%20there%20are%20lots%20of%20African-based%20classes%20here">/url</a>
UIUC: [url=<a href="http://www.afrst.uiuc.edu/%5DCenter">http://www.afrst.uiuc.edu/]Center</a> for African Studies | Home | Illinois
Penn: African</a> Studies Center, University of Pennsylvania<a href="similar%20set-up%20to%20MSU">/url</a>
Ohio U: [url=<a href="http://www.african.ohio.edu/%5DWelcome">http://www.african.ohio.edu/]Welcome</a> to the Center for African Studies
Yale: Yale</a> Council on African Studies
Northwestern: Northwestern</a> University Program of African Studies<a href="again,%20offers%20a%20certificate%20onto%20a%20history%20MA">/url</a>
Duke: [url=<a href="http://www.aas.duke.edu/aaas/%5DAfrican">http://www.aas.duke.edu/aaas/]African</a> & African American Studies<a href="certificate">/url</a>
SUNY Albany: [url=<a href="http://www.albany.edu/africana/index.html%5DDepartment">http://www.albany.edu/africana/index.html]Department</a> of Africana Studies Homepage
Cornell: WELCOME</a> TO AFRICANA STUDIES & RESEARCH CENTER CENTER @ CORNELL UNIVERSITY
Clark Atlanta: Untitled</a> Document
Florida International: African</a> New World Studies</p>
<p>Thanks for the help!
What is perhaps the best way to spend my free time in preparation for a history major in graduate school? I'm working on a reading list at the moment, but I was wondering if traveling, volunteer work, or beginning some sort of applicable language study would be worth my time as well. I'll be working to save up money but other than that I'm unsure as to the most practical use of my time. What do you think? At earliest I have a year before I actually would start graduate school so I am wondering what to do to prepare for it.</p>
<p>Linguistic preparation is paramount. No question. </p>
<p>Travel to Africa could be great for you in many ways (including languages).</p>
<p>Volunteering has absolutely no impact on graduate admissions.</p>
<p>Seconding the language study. Look at the websites of your target PhD programs to see what the require in the way of languages, and begin those right away. I suspect that for African history, you'll need to know the languages of whatever region you plan to study (as opposed to some other subfields that have a pretty well-defined list of required languages).</p>
<p>If you can fit in a bit of travel after you've done some language study, that would also be a good experience and boost your languages.</p>