Three Grace Humanities Majors Excel in Graduate School

Grace humanities majors Sydney Victa, Mackenzie Moeller-Elmore, and Hannah Haber are now in graduate school, studying everything from law to Latin American history. Read on to hear what they have to say about humanities majors, postgraduate education, and advice for those considering either!

Sydney Victa (BA 24): University of Dayton School of Law

Major at Grace: Political science and French

What are you currently studying?

I am currently a J.D. candidate at the University of Dayton School of Law. I’m in the first year of a three-year program. 

Why did you choose to complete a humanities bachelor’s degree?

The Humanities Department gave me the freedom to discover what interested me by taking electives in many areas of study. Since entering law school, I have become increasingly grateful for the diverse electives offered through the humanities majors (I took everything from Irish Literature to Environmental Ethics!) as they rounded out my education and instilled a passion for lifelong learning.

What’s one thing that surprised you about grad school?

As a pre-law minor at Grace, I assumed that going to law school would be a narrow course of study. I was pleasantly surprised by the breadth of the law and the ability to concentrate my studies further in a particular area, such as intellectual property or immigration law. 

What advice would you give to students preparing for and applying to grad school?

Comparison is the thief of joy. While seeking out advice from others can be helpful, don’t let it discourage you by comparing your own application experience to someone else’s. Instead, find a trusted academic advisor at Grace who can help ensure you stay on track to meet your goals. If they are confident in your application, you should be too!

MacKenzie Moeller-Elmore (BA 20): University of California, Los Angeles

Major at Grace: History

What are you currently studying?

I’m in the Latin American History Department, specifically looking at the intersection of race, gender, and clothing in the Colonial Caribbean. I specifically work with French-language archival sources surrounding the clothing that enslaved women wore around the time of the Haitian Revolution.

Why did you choose to complete a humanities bachelor’s degree?

I was nervous about being able to find a job with a degree in history, but the Grace faculty was so helpful in guiding me through finding a career I am passionate about. Dr. Rich, Dr. Norris, and Dr. Burkholder helped me navigate graduate school applications and were so kind throughout the whole process.

What’s one thing that surprised you about grad school?

The way funding is set up in history Ph.D. programs. Many history Ph.D. programs fully fund their students, meaning that they pay their students a fellowship stipend while they study. I am so thankful that the history department pays me to study so I can focus on my classes and research. My program also has travel research funds, allowing me to travel to international archives and even a conference at which I will present this summer at Brown University.

What advice would you give to students preparing for and applying to grad school?

Focus on finding professors whose research interests align with your own. The best way to find a program that is a great fit for you is by building a relationship with the professor you will be working with.

The second piece of advice would be to be willing to step outside your comfort zone regarding location. I didn’t think we would ever move to LA, but God opened the door to UCLA with full funding and a great housing situation for me and my husband. I am so thankful we were willing to take the leap of faith and move to California. UCLA ended up being the perfect fit for me and my research.

Hannah Haber (BA 24): University of Wyoming

Major at Grace: English education and Spanish

What are you currently studying?

I am getting my MA in English (with concentrations in Literature and Rhetoric & Composition) along with a minor in International Studies; I am in my first year (of two) in graduate school at the University of Wyoming.

Why did you choose to complete a humanities bachelor’s degree?

I care deeply about cultural preservation, and honestly, I just love closely studying language in any capacity. Whether it’s foreign languages or literary study, I love interacting with the intricate, fascinating, and creative ways humans communicate with one another.

Continuing my scholarly pursuits in English specifically was instigated by the realization that being an English professor quite possibly might be one of the coolest jobs a person can have (as modeled by none other than Dr. Rich, of course).

I love literary study, and the skills it fosters translate well outside of academic contexts (critical thinking, close analysis, interpretative work, empathy, etc.). I want to foster those qualities in students someday, as it directly contributes to creating careful, mindful, and analytical individuals who engage meaningfully with the world. 

What’s one thing that surprised you about grad school?

The fact that I can get paid to go to grad school surprised me! I am currently in an era of my life where I am actively getting paid to do and study what I love! It’s amazing! 

Also, I’ve been amazed by the sheer number of opportunities available. I’m currently applying for various sources of research funding offered through the university to travel to Ireland and England this summer.

Grad school is so intellectually enriching. I thought it was going to be overwhelming and stressful. It can be, but generally, it’s been very manageable, and I have thoroughly enjoyed every course I’ve taken in the English Department. 

What advice would you give to students preparing for and applying to grad school?

First: Everything, literally everything, is in God’s hands. Do not be afraid of the unfamiliar if you are called to it.  In that vein, I moved to Wyoming at 22, not knowing a single soul in the entire state. Now, I cannot emphasize enough how much I love it here. Trusting God and consequently moving here is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. 

Second: Find a school that’s a good fit for your intellectual pursuits where you can thrive. Pay particular attention to who works for the department and if there’s anyone you can work with who is in line with your research interests. Find a school that offers resources and opportunities that will directly contribute to your intellectual enrichment and scholarly pursuits. 

Now, see for yourself what our humanities majors offer! Explore our Humanities majors and minors here.