History of Japan Episode 601 - On Grad School (w/Charlotte Lai!)
Oct 31, 2025
In this enlightening discussion, Charlotte Lai, a recent Oxford history graduate, dives into her experiences applying to graduate programs in the U.S. and U.K. She shares her unique research focus on Tokugawa whaling and valuable insights on choosing the right program, like Columbia’s deferred master's. Charlotte emphasizes the importance of matching with supervisors and securing strong references. She also provides encouragement for aspiring grad students about balancing ambition with practical backup plans—ideal for anyone curious about academia!
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From Rejection To Multiple Acceptances
- Charlotte failed to get into Oxford the first time and attended UCL before reapplying successfully.
- She later applied to multiple US programs and accepted Columbia's MA/MSc offer with a deferral for a gap year.
Undergrad Can Leave You Hungry For Research
- Charlotte felt undergrad left her wanting more intellectual depth and research time.
- Her dissertation on Tokugawa whaling convinced her to pursue further study in environmental and interdisciplinary history.
Keep Practical Backups While Chasing Research
- Keep backup plans and explore non-academic careers while pursuing academia.
- Charlotte applied to consulting, risk analysis, and law school to keep options open alongside research goals.
