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Thanks for the reply! I'm really relieved to hear that my discipline-switching isn't an uncommon experience. I think that what I'm going to do is address my withdrawal with a line or two (focusing on how my year away from academia amplified my resolve and desire to pursue graduate work, leading to my current program and the work I'm doing there). Hopefully, my recent academic record shows that I am dedicated to my studies, and my degree in Japanese linguistics has piqued my interest in linguistic phenomena in a wider context. It's all about focusing on the positives, right?

Hi, thank you for the reply. It's nice to meet someone who is also applying to some of the same programs; best of luck to you! And thanks for the advice! I'm tweaking my SOP today so that I can give a draft of it to my LoR writers tomorrow, so I will try to incorporate that into my draft. I've taken sociolinguistics courses (focused on Japanese, of course), and my interests in identity and humor discourse stems from those, so hopefully I can express that clearly. I might have to take you up on your offer for a critique exchange after I hear back from my professors. Thanks, I appreciate it!

Hi, I am applying this season to several PhD programs in the US, and I am a little (honestly, more like really) nervous about it. My undergrad was in sociology, but after graduating I took as many English linguistics classes as I could manage (English linguistics because my local university doesn't have a linguistics department) while working to support my family. I am now completing a MA program in Japanese linguistics, and while I am petitioning to continue my studies in my current program at the PhD level, I want to see if I can get into a program in general linguistics. I would like to study linguistics in wider range of languages, and I feel that there would likely be more job opportunities in the future than if I were to stay in a specific language concentration. However, with that, I am concerned as to how my narrower education might hurt me in the application process. Do you have any advice on to what degree I should address this jump from Japanese linguistics to general linguistics in the SOP? I am also a little concerned by the fact that between my undergrad and my current program, I spent a semester in a sociology graduate program in Fall 2011 which I withdrew from for personal/family reasons. I am now on track to graduate in the Spring with my MA, so I think my current academic record shows that I am capable and motivated in pursuing my education, but I wonder whether I should address my withdrawal from a grad program in the SOP. Would it be unwise to bring up something from five years ago, or is it a red flag to admission committees that I need to discuss? Do I seem wishy-washy by my seeming inability to commit to a discipline by moving from sociology to Japanese linguistics to general linguistics? A little about me: my research interests are sociolinguistics, more specifically language and identity, language ideology, and humor discourse. I am applying to seven general linguistics programs: UC Santa Barbara, UC Davis, University of Washington, University of Oregon, Purdue, CUNY, and University of Florida. I have identified 2-3 faculty in each program that I would like to work with, and I would be ecstatic to study in any of the programs. My GPA in my current program is 4.0 (my undergrad is 3.6), and GRE scores are 167V, 158Q, 5.0W. Two of my LOR professors were enthusiastic about writing LORs for me, and the third professor was a little concerned because she couldn't speak to my research interests but more to my teaching ability as a GA teaching a lower level Japanese language course. I have worked with the third professor pretty closely though and maintained a good relationship with her, so I don't think it will be a negative LOR. In honesty, I am fairly realistic in that I know that I am applying to selective programs, and I am not the ideal candidate for admission. I like the program where I am now, and I would be content to stay here. But I want to explore more options now while I have the opportunity, because I think that in the long-term (and short-term financially, the city I live now is incredibly expensive, especially on a GA stipend), it would be more beneficial to me. If you have any advice, please let me know. I would really appreciate it. I am sorry for the long-winded post; thank you if you have read this far.

Thanks for the quick reply! I'll keep everything the usual standard settings and single-spaced then; definitely not going to go crazy and whip out some comicbook font. I'm just relieved things my applications are almost over. Just the long wait left.

Hi, So I've finally reached a place where I'm feeling that my SOP is good enough to submit with my application, but now I'm unsure how to format it. I've added my name and 'Statement of Purpose' to the header and the page number in the footer in case the pages get shuffled around on the department/graduate school's end, but I'm not sure if there's something else I'm missing. None of the programs I'm applying to specify anything beyond the prompt, so I'm a little bit at a loss. Do I double-space? Is Times New Roman, 12pt font ideal? Is there an implied universal format which I'm unaware of or can I go with my own preferences? Thanks for any help!

I've been accepted to the MA program at GWU, and I'd really like a little more info on it. Has anyone heard anything about the program? Also, I haven't been given any information on funding yet, so I was wondering how much has been offered in the past. I really like the area, but the costs are daunting. Thanks!

Has anybody heard from Cornell, or is anybody waiting to hear from them? Cornell's my reach school, so there's little chance of getting accepted, but I'm still hoping! Otherwise, does anybody know much about the department? Is it very selective? Thanks!

Honestly, I have no clue. This'll be my first visit somewhere, so I'm kind of nervous. Excited, but nervous. I'm glad that someone else will also be going for Sociology though. I'd feel more nervous if it were just me...

That's awesome! I'm planning on going, but I still have to confirm my schedule by tomorrow. Are you going to the visitation weekend?

I just found this site today (though I wish I had earlier, I could have used the help and support while putting my applications together). But I've heard back from two schools and I've been accepted to both: Temple and University of Oklahoma (full funding). I'm still waiting for seven more schools though. But either way, I'm excited!