scirefaciat

I agonized over my SOP, put it off and put it off until I literally could not procrastinate anymore. When all was said and done, I think I did a mix of research and personal style, and everyone I've shown it to has liked it. To be fair, none of these people were professors. I basically laid out my methodology, the way I approach history, and how my previous -- very interdisciplinary -- educational experience has shaped both the way I research and how I perceive my subjects. I also mentioned a specific professor and how her work meshed with my research, but I think I also made it clear that I had a wide range of research areas and my interest in the program did not begin and end with her. I tried to give it a conversational tone, but still professional, as if I was talking to them myself, rather than trying to write a really spiffy sounding letter. Is this the way to go? I have no idea, but that letter was definitely me.

Thanks so much for the quick response, you gave some great advice I think this may actually be part of my problem -- I had no professors that knew anything substantial about the medieval history/studies field. My senior paper advisor (and one of my LOR writers) specializes in early modern britain, particularly things like the emergence of the working class and gender roles in the industrial revolution. My other history LOR writer specializes in American history, particularly colonial. So, I've really had to branch out a bit about where I ask for advice because they couldn't really help.

I was hoping that I could get some advice. As I posted earlier, my first area of study is post-Roman and early Medieval Britain, particularly on the Celtic side of things. My undergraduate degree is from a very small, but respected liberal arts woman's college, where I cobbled together classical archaeology and history degrees to try and make a curriculum for myself. My GPA at my undergrad was a 3.64 with a 3.9 in my History major and a 3.6 in the Classics, I read honors in History, studied abroad at the University of Reading (I also took classes at Oxford and Sabhal Mor Ostaig). I'm pretty discouraged at this point, I've been out of school for two years, trying to learn languages (middle welsh, medieval latin, middle scots) and read books and articles and generally try to make myself a better candidate. My biggest concern is that I can never seem to get anywhere with trying to make faculty connections; my emails to faculty members have never once been returned, nor have my phone calls. I hear about other people getting these great responses from potential advisors and really wonder what I'm doing wrong. Right now, I've only applied to the Univesity of Texas, I really like the idea of UT, I think it would be a great place in a great city that's close to home and my family -- and I'm really interested in the program and think it has interesting possibilities. At the same time, when I emailed the professor I hoped would be interested in advising me (and asked very specific questions relating to her own work as well as the program) I received no response. The more I read on this site, the more it seems that where you go and who you study with are everything. UT does not have the option of a Master's degree, and I'm not terribly optimistic about being accepted because of my GRE scores (540v, ouch), so I guess I'm looking for advice on what my next step should be. What do you think?

I specialize in post-Roman and early medieval Britain, with a particular interest in the language, legend and literature of the Celtic fringe -- which is why i applied to the University of Texas, it makes perfect sense, right? theres a method to the madness, i promise.