Seize any opportunities to distinguish yourself as a history scholar, such as writing an honor’s thesis. If you choose a major outside of history, make sure to fit a number of history classes into your schedule regardless. It’s especially important to enroll in classes where you’ll be given the opportunity to conduct research with materials from other time periods. Plan your classes in a way that ensures that you’ll work with the same professors multiple times prior to your senior year. This makes it easier for them to write you convincing letters of reference.
For example, you may want to focus on the tiny details of people’s lives. Or, perhaps you’ll want to study life in a certain decade, like the 1950s.
Take the time to personalize your application essay. Get a recommendation letter from a teacher with whom you have good relations.
You can also narrow down your school choices by looking into the educational backgrounds of your favorite historians. It’s possible that one of your undergraduate professors might offer to contact another professor for you to inquire about a graduate program. If they offer to do this, be appreciative and accept their help. You’ll receive acceptance and financial offer letters from graduate schools in the mid-spring. Make sure to carefully read over any fine print involving fellowships or assistantships. [2] X Research source
Try to take courses both in your specific areas of historical interest and outside of them as well. This will give you a good foundation of information to use for teaching or research.
After you’ve passed, you enter a stage known as “ABD” or “All But Dissertation. ”
As you move through graduate school, you’ll have at least one faculty mentor or advisor who will supervise your research progress and offer professional advice. A master’s thesis is shorter than a dissertation. For example, a thesis might be 150 pages and a dissertation might be 250+ pages. As part of your thesis and dissertation research, you’ll usually need to visit archives and libraries. After you gather your research, then you’ll begin the writing process.
If you decide to work as a professor at a research university, expect a rigorous publication requirement amounting to one journal article every two years and a book every five or so. Be patient when trying to publish. You’ll likely get rejections, as well as opportunities to revise and resubmit.
If you have original historical research, go ahead and submit a proposal to present at a conference. You might want to start with a small, local group and work your way up to a national or international setting. Most conferences send out a Call for Papers (CFP) well in advance of the meeting date. The CFP will tell you how to submit your paper for consideration.
For example, the American Historical Association (AHA) is the go-to organization for most historians practicing in, or studying, the Americas. Be aware that many of these organizations require hefty membership fees. However, ask about educator, senior, or other discounts.
Try to keep your oral interview questions open-ended. You want to give your interviewee plenty of time to talk. For example, you might ask, “Do you remember how you felt at that moment?”
