• How are applications evaluated?
• How do I check the status of my application and ensure that it is complete?
• When will I be notified of your decision?

How are applications evaluated?

The department’s Graduate Committee consists of four history department faculty. Evaluation of files begins immediately after the application deadline. After the initial reading, any application that has been selected for a second reading will also be reviewed by potential advisors. In the final round of readings, Graduate Committee members use all the available information, including the comments of potential advisors, to rank all applicants. It is our department’s policy to award Graduate Employee positions to all those admitted into the PhD program. Any remaining positions are awarded to the top MA applicants in rank order.

Many factors are involved in evaluating applications, including grades, test scores, statements of purpose, writing samples, recommendations, and language skills. Another important consideration, especially at the PhD level, is the fit between the academic interests of an applicant and our available faculty members. Each year, we turn down excellent applicants because the fit is not good, potential advisors are unavailable, or we do not feel confident that a given student graduating from our program would be able to compete effectively in a tight academic job market.

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How do I check the status of my application and ensure that it is complete?

To check your application status, log back into your application using the original login and password you used when you applied. You will then be able to view the status of your application and see whether we have all your materials. Please keep in mind that we do not start opening transcripts and other mailed submissions until mid-October, so if you check your application status before that time, it may not yet reflect what we have received.

If after viewing the website you have questions about your application, please contact us.

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When will I be notified of your decision?

Admissions decisions are made as early as possible, generally by early February and applicants are informed shortly thereafter in writing. Applicants who have been accepted into the program will also be notified whether they were approved for funding or placed on a funding waiting list.

Applicants who have been offered funding must inform the History Department of their decision to accept or reject the offer by April 15 in compliance with the Council of Graduate Schools’ resolution on funding deadlines. Should an applicant with funding not accept the offer, the department will move down the waiting list to the next candidate.

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