Unlike the many people you hear that say they knew they were PhD material early on, I need more time to figure that out. It is one thing to know you love history, but is an entirely different matter to make it your life. By my third year of undergrad I knew I wanted to get a history MA and perhaps even a doctorate. I obtained my MA within a year of obtaining my BA and was in need of a break from being a student. As a result, I spent the next two years as an adjunct instructor at my undergrad college. During that time I realized that military history was my field and that I was ready to become a student once more. I thoroughly enjoyed teaching it and was excited at the thought of expanding my knowledge through research at the PhD level.

What I wanted to study, as it does with everyone, dictated the universities I was interested in attending. Wanting to specialize in both American and European military history, coupled with who I wanted to study under, further reduced my program choices. A year prior to apply to any PhD program, I had the fortune of meeting and chatting with my soon-to-be advisor at a military history conference in Ontario, Canada. Future conversations with him and current USM grad students lead me to selecting USM. Many will tell you that you ought to choose a program based on the reputation of both the school and your future adviser. More importantly, the program should be strong in your desired field. USM is a rising star in the military history community, making my decision all the more sensible. To me, however, the person I wanted to study under was critical to the decision process. Having benefited from strong relationships with former advisors, I knew I need to something similar at the PhD level.

Funding should be the make or break factor when accepting an offer. If a program fails to deliver any funding, then the decision is easy: do not go. If you are offered solid funding (a tuition waiver, plus a stipend of some magnitude), then you should consider the offer very seriously. Do remember to factor in quality of your possible advisor as well as the reputation and abilities of the program. Together these three factors will help you choose a program that is serious about you, while placing yourself in an academic environment best suited to your interests.

A factor that many argue is important to the program selection process is the geographical location of the institution. Personally, I believe that the geographical location (i.e. North vs South) of a university is not crucial. The rational being that you are going to be spending most of the next four to six years indoors, knee deep in literature; so the amenities of the school’s surrounding environs fail in comparison to the quality of the programs faculty and funding. To that end, the physical location (i.e. urban vs. rural) of the school is important. Being married, the physical location of USM was discussed in relation to the job opportunities that might be available to my wife. In that instance, geography might be more important to your significant other than to yourself. Nevertheless, it does help to discuss what type of location would best suite the needs of both you and you’re loved one. Larger cities, in theory, afford ample employment opportunities. A small town setting might restrict the chances of your loved one gaining meaningful employment. To be blunt, the income generated by your partner can be significant in that it is an additional source of funding. Therefore the cost of living needs to be apart of the equation. Hopefully, your means of income are sufficient to cover living necessities.

Ultimately, I selected my program based on criteria I deemed the most essential to the selection process. On that note, picking a program is an extremely personal experience. Outside advice can point you in the proper direction, but it cannot choose a program for you. You are choosing to spend a considerable amount of time and effort at an university based upon the criteria you used during the selection period. So be true to yourself.

A reading system that has helped me, and probably countless others, is one that my undergraduate professors told me shortly before I headed off to graduate school. First and foremost, always read the preface and introduction. This is where the writer lays out his/her thesis and approach to the subject matter. Historiography will often be covered in the introduction, allowing one to see how the author fits into the appropriate history field. In some cases, the writer might discuss research methods and primary sources. I have read a few books where the historian professes their great research, only to discover weak arguments later on in the book.

Look through the table of contents and note the chapter headings. If the book is on the use of artillery during First World War, a chapter titled the “Allied use of indirect fire” might contain some of the authors most important analysis. By reading such chapters you insure that you will be familiar with the historians more profound arguments while skipping over less relevant chapters. Ultimately it is up to you to decided on which chapters are essential to understanding the author’s overall argument.

Be certain to look at the index and select some key terms most closely associated with the books topic. For example, if the book is on the end of the First World War, then it will help to locate terms such as Ferdinand Foch, Germany, Kaiserschlacht, and so on. Such terms are usually discussed in relation to much larger arguments being made by the writer. Key terms, on their own, will not help you understand the overall argument being made, rather they can lead to the pages where the writer is adding support to his/her argument. Granted that you have been successful in choosing essential chapters, the index will further enhance your focus on the crucial aspects of the work. Additionally, key terms can lead you to some great items of interest to use during a reading discussion group.

While the introduction helps one discern the writer’s main arguments and approach to the material, the conclusion will sum up all of the arguments and findings. The conclusion will cover how the historian perceives their work as a success, while stressing why the work is valuable. Combined with the passages you located via chapter headings and the index, it will be possible to make your own opinion of whether the work is of good academic value or if it suffers from some type of flaw.

None of what is read will matter if you can remember anything about it. Therefore, always take notes on what you read. Try to write notes that will allow you to maintain your steady reading pace. Your notes should emphasis important page numbers as well as instances where the writer makes a key statement. Refrain from the heavy highlighting of passages in the book. Heavy highlighting will hide good pieces of information within unimportant sentences.

Hopefully all that has been said will be of some use to those entering their first graduate seminar. Remember to relax and approach each book with these reading tips in mind.