A few questions about doing a Ph.D in history?

Question

So I'm a student at UCLA, junior, and I have a 4.00 gpa thus far. I am wondering what the breakdown is between the GRE score and the GPA when it comes to admissions decision. Which one do graduate school look at more? Does going to UCLA help me at all?

How long would it take me to get the Ph.D, assuming that I would be doing it PART TIME.

What's the market for history professors? Is it hard to find a job? (USA)

Answer 1

Schools will be impressed with a 4.0 from UCLA. The very best schools will want you to have a good GRE score (particularly on the verbal). SAT scores and GRE scores are highly correlated. I suspect that if you got into UCLA and have a 4.0 -- that you will have a decent verbal GRE score. You will certainly get into some PhD programs and with a good GRE, could get into some highly rated ones. For history, the math portion of the GRE probably isn't that important. You may have to take a subject matter test for history.

A PhD usually takes between four and six years. Those in the liberal arts usually take longer than those in the sciences. If you want to get a PhD, you should not go part time. You should get your PhD at the best school possible. The better schools will not accept part time students. But there is a better reason to go full time. At the better schools, PhD students get aid -- which includes tuition and a stipend. If you went part time, you would have to pay for tuition.

Now for the bad news -- the market for professors in the liberal arts is not so great You should talk with some of your history professors about it.

Finally -- some advice. Do not get a PhD unless you are driven to do research. The only good reason to get a PhD is because you can't not get it.