next »

[nugget53]

I am currently researching  history doctoral programs (focus on East Asian History and specifically modern Korea) to apply to and I am just wondering if there are some notable programs out there that have congenial faculty and a friendly atmosphere. I have heard from some of my profs that certain programs have a hostile envionment due to competiton for funding and  that certain profs do not really care about their advisees. I want the exact opposite of that. I am looking at middle tier to public "Ivy" level schools that offer full funding to incoming PhD students. I am currently an MA student at a small state school.  Any recommendations in regards to hospitable history departments (focusing on world history) where people have had great experiences or know of certain depts. that are known for having a great student body and congenial faculty would be welcome?
(and Yes, I know that the job market for history PhDs is dismal and that the chances of me getting a tenure job is not high. I still want to pursue a PhD though)

[alleyoxenfree]

nugget53, I PMed you one suggestion.

[edmonddantes]

I'm in a related field and had a similar worry when applying to grad schools.

Unfortunately, I can't give you more specifics for History programs, but I can offer a suggestion.  If the program has one, read the "letter to potential graduate students."  In my related field at least, most schools post something along these lines on the graduate students page or in materials that the department sends out.  If the program prides itself on a collegial atmosphere then they'll likely say it.  Mine said something like "collegial yet rigorous discussions" and it wound up being true. 

Obviously some departments might just say this, but it's a place to start because you know that it is something they value enough to include in a one page summary of the program.

Good luck.

[history_grrrl]

OP: obviously a congenial atmosphere is ideal, but if you have any hope of getting a job in your field, you must work with people who are recognized experts in your subfield. Identify those people, find out where they teach, and investigate those programs. Be forewarned that some of those experts may not be personally kind and friendly. However, if you prove to be an impressive student, they may be willing to go the distance to help advance your career.

It's good that you're asking, in any case. I knew zip about grad school when I was applying, and believe me, ignorance was not bliss.

[ticklemepink]

I have thoughts but let me put it this way:

Would you still apply to those "less than ideal"/hostile programs?  If so and you do get in and not the "nice" programs, would you still pursue your PhD?

And you do need to aim as high as you can, even if the program appears to be a place where people  are very focused on their own academic success.  At the end, you're more likely to get a job than a lower-ranked but super nice program, at least from what I understand.

Apply where you can find faculty fit and then make those kind of decisions later when the cards fall.

[histchick]

If you can, visit the schools / potential advisors before you apply (or once you've gotten to a short list).  I did and my choice turned out to be a one. 

[snowbound]

You really shouldn't be deciding where to apply based on what programs have the highest niceness factor.  Other posters have pointed out the important considerations that should be guiding you.  At a later stage in the process--when you find yourself hopefully being able to choose between three or four excellent programs (excellent for what you want to do, not just generally excellent) that have accepted you--then come back and ask the fora-folk for opinions about congeniality, etc. at those specific institutions.

[in_vino_veritas]

Alas, in the current job market, seeking out a kinder gentler grad school does not seem to be the best move. I attended Herbert Spencer's Survival of the Fittest graduate school. Resources were scarce -- everything from office space, TA-ships, and faculty time. Like Spartan schoolboys, we were encouraged to steal food from our peers. The majority of grad students did not make it through the PhD process. Those of us that did have all found good solid career jobs. Everyone that was admitted to the program was highly intelligent, came with excellent letters of recommendation, and much potential. However, the process of culling the wolves from the sheep took its toll.

It is true, as has already remarked, that after grad school, one will have to contend with lots of nasty folks -- journal reviewers, department chairs, deans, snarky grad students, even maybe the cafeteria lady. Seek out the very best program with an excellent record of placing its students in tenure track positions. Don't allow someone to kill your career with misguided kindness.

[sugaree]

OP, you're going about this wrong. As history_grrrl astutely points out, you should be identifying scholars you want to work with (similar research interests, you admire their scholarship, big name in your chosen field, etc.) and then find out where they're at and apply to those schools.

To find out about the culture, once you've chosen programs to apply to (based on people you want to work with), talk to that person's advisees. Talk with other grad students in the program. Programs that may not have warm and fuzzy faculty sometimes have very supportive grad student cohorts (of course, sometimes they don't as well). Other grad students will give you the skinny on the department better than anonymous forum posters can, but also will likely tell you more about how it really is there than the faculty are likely to say or even know.

[nugget53]

I understand all of your recommendations and the  new way that I should go about searching programs. I just do not want to get stuck with an advisor from hell and six years of pain working with him/her.

[systeme_d_]

The way to avoid that, Nugget53, is to do your research, compose a list of appropriate advisors in your subfield, apply to those programs, and then when you have your acceptances in hand, ask your DGS which one (if any) of the folks in your area in those programs is a complete and utter jerk.  Also, ask current students in that program, particularly current advisees.

That's the way it's done, friend.  Now go do your research!

[samspade]

I understand all of your recommendations and the  new way that I should go about searching programs. I just do not want to get stuck with an advisor from hell and six years of pain working with him/her.

So what you saying is that you want someone who will hold your hand, tell you how smart you are and how much things will be better in the future? Because you sound like you want  a mom. An adviser who is not aftaid to deliver a swift kick in the rear every now and then is  good thing.

[scampster]

I understand all of your recommendations and the  new way that I should go about searching programs. I just do not want to get stuck with an advisor from hell and six years of pain working with him/her.

So what you saying is that you want someone who will hold your hand, tell you how smart you are and how much things will be better in the future? Because you sound like you want  a mom. An adviser who is not aftaid to deliver a swift kick in the rear every now and then is  good thing.

There are horrid advisors out there that aren't "horrible" because they are hard asses. I think the OP has valid concerns and isn't looking for a mom just because they would like to avoid that.

In any case, Systeme_D offers good suggestions for trying to divine that beforehand, but sometimes you won't hear about certain people before it is too late.

I'm not in history - are the OPs research interests so specific that there is no chance of a department big enough to have more than one faculty member who would be an appropriate advisor?

[samspade]

I understand all of your recommendations and the  new way that I should go about searching programs. I just do not want to get stuck with an advisor from hell and six years of pain working with him/her.

So what you saying is that you want someone who will hold your hand, tell you how smart you are and how much things will be better in the future? Because you sound like you want  a mom. An adviser who is not aftaid to deliver a swift kick in the rear every now and then is  good thing.

There are horrid advisors out there that aren't "horrible" because they are hard asses. I think the OP has valid concerns and isn't looking for a mom just because they would like to avoid that.

In any case, Systeme_D offers good suggestions for trying to divine that beforehand, but sometimes you won't hear about certain people before it is too late.

I'm not in history - are the OPs research interests so specific that there is no chance of a department big enough to have more than one faculty member who would be an appropriate advisor?

Depends on the field. I am in a field where most programs would only have one person in the field. at the PhD in history, you really are suppose to pick the school for the adviser, not just the program.

[watermarkup]

The OP has some valid concerns. There are programs out there who will treat their grad students like dirt from day 1, extract all the cheap teaching and unpaid extracurricular labor they can from them, and then spit them out without a degree if possible so that the program can boast of its high placement rate. Cool and efficient programs where you don't make friends for life are fine, if you get what you came for, but trying to avoid the abusive hellholes is really important to the future of your career.