delurking, 18th c history PhD...
So I've lurked here for almost a year now, but having gotten my GRE score report I've gotten up the nerve to join. Now I have a raft of questions, re: AWA score, recommendations, languages, suggestions for further action. I'm applying, next year, to PhD programs in 18th century European intellectual/cultural history.
1. So my GRE is 800v/770q/5.0. (Don't ask me how. The test I got was waaay easier than the Powerprep practice tests, and I can't believe it myself, barely being able to quantify my way out of a paper bag). But I've noticed that the average analytical writing score is always 5.5 at top programs (my top choices, probably long shots, are Princeton, Berkeley, UChicago)--will that hurt me? Given that Princeton History takes like 8% of applicants, they're probably looking for any way they can to weed people out, right? Is it worth retaking just that section?
2. I'm a double major in history and philosophy, and so I have a quandary with recommenders. One of them, a history prof, is a definite. The other two, though, are more of a problem. I've got a good relationship with one philosophy professor, probably the best-known person there, and she told me that a paper I wrote for her class was among the best in the department, inc. grad students. (I go to a mid-sized, mid-ranked Jesuit school in NY). I also have an English professor (18c lit) who seems to like me and is a nice guy in general, but he's a bit flaky when it comes to things like recs. Finally, I have another history professor, who I've worked closely with and who apparently tells other people about me--she's a been a constant and awesome presence in our history department for nigh on 50 years already, but no one outside of our school knows her, as far as I know, she's in medieval history, and I got a B+ in her class when I took it freshman year. Any tips on who I should choose?
3. I know English and Russian, pretty good French (studying abroad there this semester), very mediocre German, and minimal Latin. Should I invest time in improving the latter two, or is two languages enough?
4. I've got one conference presentation, another at the big national 18th century conference coming up in March, and possibly a publication later this year (not holding my breath, though). But they all have to do with colonial America, rather than Europe, as does my senior thesis and probably my writing sample. I've tried to spin this in my personal statement as a positive (this gives me more insight into the culture of the periphery, etc), but I don't know if this will actually help at all. Is there anything else I can do along these lines between now and December to make myself a better applicant?
Sorry about the rambling self-indulgence. I hope you all get in where you want to go!
1. So my GRE is 800v/770q/5.0. (Don't ask me how. The test I got was waaay easier than the Powerprep practice tests, and I can't believe it myself, barely being able to quantify my way out of a paper bag). But I've noticed that the average analytical writing score is always 5.5 at top programs (my top choices, probably long shots, are Princeton, Berkeley, UChicago)--will that hurt me? Given that Princeton History takes like 8% of applicants, they're probably looking for any way they can to weed people out, right? Is it worth retaking just that section?
2. I'm a double major in history and philosophy, and so I have a quandary with recommenders. One of them, a history prof, is a definite. The other two, though, are more of a problem. I've got a good relationship with one philosophy professor, probably the best-known person there, and she told me that a paper I wrote for her class was among the best in the department, inc. grad students. (I go to a mid-sized, mid-ranked Jesuit school in NY). I also have an English professor (18c lit) who seems to like me and is a nice guy in general, but he's a bit flaky when it comes to things like recs. Finally, I have another history professor, who I've worked closely with and who apparently tells other people about me--she's a been a constant and awesome presence in our history department for nigh on 50 years already, but no one outside of our school knows her, as far as I know, she's in medieval history, and I got a B+ in her class when I took it freshman year. Any tips on who I should choose?
3. I know English and Russian, pretty good French (studying abroad there this semester), very mediocre German, and minimal Latin. Should I invest time in improving the latter two, or is two languages enough?
4. I've got one conference presentation, another at the big national 18th century conference coming up in March, and possibly a publication later this year (not holding my breath, though). But they all have to do with colonial America, rather than Europe, as does my senior thesis and probably my writing sample. I've tried to spin this in my personal statement as a positive (this gives me more insight into the culture of the periphery, etc), but I don't know if this will actually help at all. Is there anything else I can do along these lines between now and December to make myself a better applicant?
Sorry about the rambling self-indulgence. I hope you all get in where you want to go!