The Ph.D. Program in History

at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York

GC Events

Upcoming Events at The Writing Center

 

The Academic Job Cover letter 

Friday, August 16 @ 4 PM; register here

The academic job cover letter is a crucial document in any candidate’s application material; often, it makes the first and most lasting impression on members of a search committee. In this webinar, participants will learn how to approach the writing of their cover letter in a way that makes a coherent and compelling argument about their suitability as a candidate rather than simply repeating information contained in their CV.

 

Applying for a PhD: The Statement of Purpose

Wednesday, August 21 @ 10 AM; register here

Among the documents one has to craft for a PhD application, the statement of purpose is one of the trickiest to get right. On the one hand, you need to demonstrate that you have some kind of research agenda already in mind. On the other hand, you aren’t a PhD student yet, so how are you supposed to know what you are going to research? This webinar helps participants understand the expectations of the readers they are writing for and how to strike a good balance between personal narrative and academic certainty.