Graduate Application FAQ's
When is the application deadline?
December 15
How many get accepted to your program?
We receive approximately 180 applications and accept about six students per year.
What funding do you offer?
We only admit students that we can fund. We typically guarantee a ten-month stipend for approximately $16,000 and we also cover 80% of insurance and a full tuition waiver for 5 years, with other competitive funding opportunities available.
Do you accept terminal MA students?
No, we only admit those students wishing to earn their PhD.
My recommenders have not received a form to submit their letter of recommendation. Why?
An email does not get sent out from the application system until you completely submit your application. Only at that point will your recommender receive their instructions for uploading their letter of recommendation.
Where should I mail my supplemental materials for my application?
Applicants and recommenders are asked to submit the application and supporting documents electronically. The only items the department wishes to receive in paper form are two (2) copies of official transcripts and GRE scores. All other items should be electronically uploaded to your electronic application.
Can I have a fourth person submit a letter of recommendation?
The application allows only three letters of recommendations to be uploaded, and we advise you to stay within this limit.
How do I apply for an assistantship?
The department only admits those students who we can fund, so there is no need to seperately apply for an assistantship. If you receive an offer of admission, a funding package will be included.
When do I have to make a decision about my offer?
April 15 is the deadline for admitted students to accept or decline. However, out of respect for many other outstanding students in our applicant pool to whom we have not yet been able to offer financial aid and reciprocating the respect we have shown you in making this offer, we ask you make every effort to notify us of your decision within 30 days of receipt the offer.
How do I apply for CAMS?
There is no need for a special CAMS application because all students pursuing fields in Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies are pursuing their primary degree in the History Department. If you think you will want to pursue the new History-CAMS dual-degree, you may indicate that in your statement of intent, but it is not necessary to do so.
What are the school codes for the GRE?
School Code: 2660; Dept Code 2799
Do I mail one copy of my official transcripts to the Graduate School?
No. Both copies of your official transcripts should be mailed directly to the department address below:
Penn State University
Department of History
Attn: Director of Graduate Studies
108 Weaver Building
University Park, PA 16802
Must I list faculty whose research is of interest to me?
Yes. We admit new students into the history program and not into the direct sponsorship of individual faculty. Nevertheless, we ask that applicants indicate on the application the faculty with whom they anticipate collaborating. Typically by the end of the first year, students will make the decision about whom they should select as their advisor.
What is the best way to find out if your program is for me?
Please visit our department webpage (www.history.psu.edu) and identify faculty member(s) whose interests parallel your own. Then, get in contact with those professors.
Do I have to introduce myself to faculty before my file is reviewed?
No, you are not required to contact faculty before the review. However, emailing, calling and otherwise contacting the professor(s) you hope to work with is heavily encouraged.
How does the admissions process work?
The Department has a recruitment and admissions committee that evaluates applications. This committee consists of representatives from each of the major fields of study offered by the department, plus the Director of Graduate Studies. In addition, an individual student's file will be passed on for comment to specific faculty members with whom the applicant is likely to study.
How important is my Statement of Intent?
In a word: very. The detail with which you describe your background, your plan of graduate coursework and research, and the faculty you intend on working with at Penn State all are taken extremely seriously and can make, or break, an application.
What is the purpose of the writing sample?
The writing sample should not only offer the admissions committee a sense of how well one writes, but also one's level of sophistication and familiarity with the specific historiographical trends.
What does the committee look for?
The committee, of course, takes test scores, recommendations, and GPA into account. In addition, in the past 5 years, most successful applicants score above 600 on the verbal (or 1300 combined), and have an undergraduate GPA of 3.5 or higher. But outstanding numbers do not necessarily guarantee admission, and neither do lower ones inevitably mean rejection.
The committee scrutinizes the Statement of Intent and the writing sample with special care. We are looking for evidence of intellectual engagement; openness to new ideas and methods; capacity for originality; and the ability to think critically and to write clearly. "Fit" with our areas of strength is important, too.
Where relevant, appropriate language preparation must be demonstrated.
Is the study of a previous foreign language necessary?
Language preparation sufficient to be able to pass a language proficiency exam relevant to one’s primary field of study by the 4th semester is required. Additional languages depending upon one’s area (particularly for ancient history and specialization in Asian history) are also extremely beneficial.
