<p>I am planning on apply to history PhD programs next year (I will be graduating spring of 2010) and have done quite a large amount of research up to this point. My question is, should I try to visit some of the schools that I am interested in this summer, or is it not worth visiting schools until you at least applied to them?</p>
<p>Another question I had (didn't want to make a separate thread for it) was should I contact professors at the schools I am interested in sometime in the near future, before applying? Or is that a taboo in the grad school application process?</p>
<p>I'm asking because I would like to receive some feedback about my interests and how they would translate into these specific programs.</p>
<p>Absolutely contact professors as early as possible. If it is not a pain in the ass you could definitely check out the areas and the schools that you are interested in, though once you apply, you might find that the schools will foot the bill to bring you out for an interview (I can’t say that for sure for humanities though). I also don’t know how things work in the humanities, but I applied to 9 places and it wouldn’t have been feasible to visit each of those (or any of those) before I knew I had a realistic shot at attending one.</p>
<p>I’d suggest that the OP contact the Directors of each program in which s/he may be interested in applying.</p>
<p>The DGS (Director of Graduate Studies) in the department can easily answer the OP’s question, and will also indicate whether relevant faculty would be open to contact. (Some disciplines – and some programs – are not as open to faculty contact prior to application as others.)</p>
<p>As to visiting: Again, contact the DGS of each program you hope to visit. The DGS may be able to help make arrangements. In my program, for example, my department would probably pay for a night in a local hotel. As DGS, I would also set up appointments with the appropriate faculty. There might be some resistance to meeting with someone so far prior to application, however.</p>
<p>Wait until the fall to do any contacts with the graduate school. I’m a little skeptical that you’re willing to consider applying for PhD programs next year now in the middle of the recession when the money is down everywhere. Programs are slashing the number of open spots that they offer each year (like Stanford went from 20 spots to about 12) or essentially not making more offers than the actual number of spots they can afford (like Michigan is making 18 offers instead of the usual 35 to be sure they’re not funding more than 18 new students). Really consider Plan B as well given that you’re coming straight out of undergraduate (History programs do look very favorably upon people who have MAs on their hand).</p>
<p>I agree with Prof X- there are some schools like Brandeis and Penn that are receptive to having students visit before application process, and some professors at others as well. Contact them first and get a feel for their interest in you. If they seem very interested, try getting a telephone conversation and let it be your “visit” until the application is submitted. Or if you live within reasonable distance, go visit. But don’t fly all over the country like you would do for undergraduate. NOT worth it given the odds of admissions.</p>
<p>I’m also in the humanities, and I found this to be a tough situation because if I had waited until I had been accepted to all of the places I applied (8 schools) I never would have had time to visit all of them. I ended up visiting one school the spring of my junior year, one school in the fall of my senior and getting paid to visit two of the schools I got accepted to in the spring of my senior year (during that trip I took myself to visit another school). The ones I didn’t visit were my ‘reach’ choices which I didn’t end up getting into, and my safety, so that was a good financial decision. But visiting the schools I did was absolutely the best decision ever. I think the school I visited early was surprised/impressed that I visited, and visiting before the application process definitely helped me with my application. I was also concerned that they would forget about me by the time application time rolled around, but that didn’t seem to be an issue.</p>
<p>For each visit I first contacted the professor I wanted to work with. We set up a date/time to meet, and then they referred me to the department secretary to set up meetings with the graduate director and other grad students. I don’t know if this was against protocol but it seemed to work just fine in my case. All of the professors replied right away - within hours - for which I was surprised and grateful.</p>
<p>Sorry to revive an old thread, but just wanted to make another comment that I just did this with one of my prospective schools. The faculty member I visited was very nice and showed me around his lab and gave me an informal presentation on all his research projects.</p>
<p>If I can afford it, I will probably visit one or two more schools over summer before apps.</p>
<p>I recently began contacting professors at various programs I am interested in and so far, the responses have been surprisingly positive!</p>
<p>A few professors informed me that my topic could be pursued at their respective schools but they will be retiring soon and would not take on more students. A few replied saying that my topic could work at their university, but recommended not to apply as there are much better “fits” for me with faculty that are more interested in my topic at other universities. A few professors gave me great advice in regards to other schools that I should look at. And finally, professors from my top two choice schools wrote back saying that my topic would be a great fit in their program and that I could definitely pursue it there, with their guidance. I will most likely be visiting one of those schools (Boston College) next month.</p>
<p>Remember, don’t get your hopes up too much! They still have other applicants as well to keep in mind and may find better students. For now, you just look good. Do take their advice seriously, especially if it’s the same thing again but… if advice conflicts, take them all with a grain of salt.</p>
<p>That’s great that you started receiving responses. This will help you narrow down your list of professors to apply to work for, and also in writing your statement of purpose to fit the program’s focus. It is about YOUR fit and interests too in this grad search.</p>
<p>ticklemepink, I don’t think this has anything with getting hopes up or looking good unless you are seriously interested in the professor’s work and begin to build a solid rapport.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice guys. I am not getting my hopes up too much, it’s just nice to hear back from professors at such schools, especially when they tell you that your interests could work in their department. Otherwise, I now need to find some more PhD programs and some MA programs.</p>
<p>Any advice on good MA programs in history, nothing in a big city though unless they offer funding?</p>
It is about YOUR fit and interests too in this grad search.</p>