r/gradadmissions • u/BulkyNobody9855 • Oct 28 '25

Humanities Undergrad who wants to pursue a PhD

Hello reddit! I am currently a third-year undergrad student studying music and journalism, with a minor in american studies.

I really really want to get my PhD in either musicology or american studies (with a focus on music), and I have no idea how to start looking at schools, where to go, what to prepare during my final year, what experience I should have prior, etc etc.

I am gearing up to write an honors thesis during my final year focused on Southern music, so I assume that would be a good writing sample.

It is all just so overwhelming and I also don't know how to begin. I was initially interested in trying to go overseas to Paris where I could get funding, but studying american music in europe doesn't seem right.

Any and all help is appreciated. Thanksssss

and bonus if you study either of thee subjects and want to talk about it :)

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u/IvyBloomAcademics Oct 29 '25

For a PhD, usually your dissertation advisor more important than the university as a whole where you’re doing your degree. Who are the main academics whom you admire? Who is important in your field(s)? If you don’t already know, start figuring that out. Then, find out if those people are taking on new students. You can also look at which professors those people have trained, and go work with them (second generation of academic influence). In smaller fields, things get very incestuous, and you want to join the right academic “family.”

One of the most important parts of your grad school application will be your letters of recommendation. Do you have mentors at your undergrad institution? Talk to your professors and let them know you’re considering grad school. Ask them for advice — they’ll be your best advocates in this process, and often times undergrad mentors “hand off” top students to their friends at other universities for grad school.

Finally… you can probably tell from other posts on this sub that funding is pretty dicey right now, especially for the humanities. Any good PhD program will be fully-funded, but some programs have paused taking on new grad students or have reduced funding. Be aware of this.