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renwod90

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Everything posted by renwod90

  1. Nope. But I predict that we'll hear something from Chicago next week Maceochi.
  2. Hi Ian: I applied to UChicago too and haven't heard anything yet. Do you know (or does anyone know) if they usually interview applicants? Thanks for the stats Karent. I had searched for them before but could never find anything.
  3. Ablukhov thanks for the information. It helps! Yes I have one soon.
  4. Does anyone know whether or not interviews for slavic applicants are typically conducted in Russian, or partially in Russian? I'm having trouble figuring out if the purpose of the interview is to test the applicant's language ability or to simply get to know the applicant better and see if they are a goot fit. Thanks
  5. Hello, Karent. Nice to meet you. Me too... just sitting, waiting and logging into all of the "application portals" 24/7.
  6. To me, it's better to have a cv/resume than to not, and it's better to not have one than to have one that lists irrelevant experiences (dog walker 2007-2008).
  7. Although I'm not a grad student, if there are no takers, I'd be happy to look over it. My undergrad minor was Religious Studies. My bf and I could look over it together, for he received an Eng PhD a few years ago.
  8. Why is it important to make this point in the first few lines of your sop? And, in fact, this first point should not be in your sop anyway. Write about why you want to study what you want to study and how you are prepared to be a good graduate student. Be specific, not broad.
  9. Thank you Ablukhov!Same to you! Yes, my three "big boys" are due this weekend!
  10. Thank you - Yes I agree, something is better than nothing. I suppose we are all in the same boat and must put something down on the page whether we are in love with it or not!
  11. Do I need a closing? Can't I just end my sop by talking about a professor I would like to work with? Did anyone else employ this method? Or must I write something like "I feel my skills would be an asset to your university." This type of closing is just so common and doesn't flow with my sop. What type of closing, if any, did you guys choose to go with? Thanks!
  12. Briefly, I’ll go through this: Most of the first paragraph could be said with half of the words you used. It could also be said more clearly. I say rewrite it with the aim of making it as clear as possible. Cut out useless words. First paragraph – “I have to say…” No don’t say! What’s the point of throwing this in there? “I wanted to become a teacher of higher studies…” I would cut this out. Make sure that every single sentence you write was written with a purpose. Don’t just write something to write it. A mind that has been “vacuumed” for too long… this doesn’t make sense and is irrelevant. This paragraph – “Since the nineties more and more students…” has nothing to do with anything – cut it out. Awakened, not awoke. Don’t summarize the event that happened in Algeria. Why must the professors reading your sop know this? “I had chance to be taught by” – doesn’t make sense “Succeeded to develop” – doesn’t make sense “the matter” what matter? Don’t call your understanding ‘superficial’ “I have treated different topics” – doesn’t make sense I think you need to rewrite this. It’s O.K. though; everyone goes through this. My honest opinion is that it is obvious to me that a non-native English speaker wrote this. Have someone go over your next draft with you to make sure your grammar is O.K. Decide one point that you would like to make or one thing you would like to convey to the readers for each paragraph. Make sure that the point you choose shows the readers that you are prepared for grad school and well versed in your field. I had to scroll back up to see what your field was after I read you sop. That’s also not a good sign. You’re right in saying it is not well organized. Again, my advice would be to choose four main points or facts you want the readers to know that will set you apart and show that you really know your stuff. A thesis you wrote? An experience you had (one that relates to your field)? Something you would like to study further? Asking questions is a good place to start. Overall, after I read it, I kind of felt like…. O.K. well what did I just read? I didn’t come away with anything. Decide for yourself what you want the reader to “come away with,” then take the readers hand and lead them... Feel free to pm me, if you have questions.
  13. Here’s what I would do: First sentence, write "because analyzing data" instead of "the ability to analyze...." and wide applications, plural, not application. Second sentence, "I will be well prepared" ... well why will you be well prepared? Show don't tell. Also, while it's great to have career goals, to me, sometimes you seem cocky saying that "you will" work here or there or anywhere. The second sentence of you second paragraph is basically the same as your first sentence, you are again, telling the very intelligent application committee, that such and such has "wide and practical application" which is vague and meaningless.... and it should be applications, with an s, but this is beside the point. I would re-write paragraph three and make it clearer and more succinct. I feel like you could say the exact same thing with half the words and make it twice as clear and effective. Paragraph five, why are you telling the application committee this? It looks like you are stumbling around and wasting time because you don't know what you really want to say. I would say extract not glean. I also don’t know if I would say modicum. A good rule is if you can cut a word out, cut it out. If a smaller and simpler word will work, use it instead. “The future is promising for me with an advanced degree in statistics.” – Don’t write this. What does this have to do with anything? And maybe your future will be bright, maybe it won’t. Who knows? What’s it matter? Don’t write “significant interest.” Why not just write interest? This university “has everything I need to achieve…” – Don’t write this. It’s corny and trite. And again, maybe this university won’t have everything you need. We’ve yet to be able to forecast stuff like this. The last paragraph would be more effective if you mentioned specifically (what professors and their research) why this university is a good fit for you. - Overall, I think it needs work. But, my sop needs work too. In fact, everyone’s does. Cut out the useless adjectives. Make your writing crisp. Show don’t tell! And if I can tell that you're choosing specific words to make your sop read the way you think an intelligent sop would read, then surely the professors reading this will sense its superficiality as well.
  14. I just got an email from Chapel Hill this morning saying they are not accepting new students for Slavic MA, because their programing is closing, and that they will send me a check for the application fee. : /
  15. 19th century Russ lit. I'm relieved to have just sent in my third application out of nine tonight!
  16. Count me in! I'm applying for Slav lang/lit PhD this year.
  17. Hello - I've seen a number of statements and all of them use a different format. Some indent and some don't. Others add their name and birthday or even their social security number. Some don't add any spaces and some are double spaced. What did you do? Did you add the title "Statement of Purpose" to yours? Did you title each paragraph? The lack of uniformity would bother me if I were a professor, and I don't want to stand out for the wrong reasons by indenting when others did not. Thanks!
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