TakeMyCoffeeBlack

Since this is round 2 for me, I can't help but feel this is also the last round for a while, whether I get in or not... I can only change so much between March 2014 and application season 2014. Unless there's been a specific format, I've been using a header that goes: FIRST LAST (name) | UNIVERSITY ... | Ph.D. Political Science (or Government)

Don't leave anything out of the SOP that you wouldn't absolutely, 100% want them to see. Use this as an opportunity to talk about the less important, but still valuable, things that couldn't fit in the 300-500 (maybe a little more) SOP.

There's actually a huge debate that's been waged in the past years on this very topic. In some schools, Assistantships are being used more like slave labor. Sorry to hear your experience isn't turning out as great as you'd hoped - though I do hope it improves! What could have improved your experience, personally?

Well, I did it again. I had to return to the list and think about where else I could be applying. Just sent an e-mail to one of my LORs asking if I'm going overboard by adding another school (that would make it 9 altogether). He's known for being candid, so hopefully I will get a candid response.

Yes, but be sure to consider then what's changing in this app cycle that could improve your overall profile. If not the LORs, then maybe the GRE score? Research experience? It's possible you could get in with the exact same application, but do you want to take that risk? If you're confident that your original LORs were good and that you can improve in other ways, then go for it!

Which isn't exactly encouraging.

Welcome to the group! I put off joining for the longest time last year and just lurked.

I've been given the advice before that it's okay to ask outright: Do you think you could write a positive LOR? I understand if not, and in that case I will ask someone else. I just enjoyed and appreciated my time doing/taking XYZ with you, so I figured I would ask you first. However, it sounds like she's already being pretty straightforward about this and wants you to look elsewhere. But that's a good thing, honestly. Even if she only writes good things, they probably won't be too stellar or standout. "S/he was a good student" rather than "incredible, once in a lifetime student" is not going to help you too much, even if it doesn't hurt you.

That's probably true for students coming from regional LACs too. Thanks for sharing.

Just peepin' in as a current Fulbright (full). I was recommended on Jan. 18 last year - advisers were informed earlier in that week that recommendations were on their way, I believe. Yes, scholars would have already heard. Try not to panic too much until at least after the New Year!

alles klar!

Yes, that's fine. Are you in Europe/Germany? Prof. Dr. is of course a title that I don't believe we use in the U.S. - but my SOP does feature it from my time in Germany.

Well, I just had one of those situations where I reconsider all of my choices for applications and search through every possible school to see where else I should be applying (even though I have no intention of asking that of my recommenders). Again, it's just tough giving up the only control over the process we have at this point - the SOP.

I sent in one because of recs. Today Northwestern and Pitt. I'm comp gov/IR with a focus on courts. Northwestern has a pretty exceptional European politics program and Karen Alter is doing some incredible work with European and international courts. Ha. Well, I'm taking the dive a few apps at a time because otherwise I'll keep twiddling my thumbs and editing and re-editing...

I never got it below 700 words, and final submission was closer to 800. But I seriously cut all the sucking up, flowery wording - which actually made for a better worded SOP (which has already helped my others). Short answer, no.

Your best bet is to reach out to a program or two and solicit an opinion. If there aren't maximum page requirements, you could submit both (to show your co-authored work and your single author?)

And to be honest, they must want us to be crazy. My app confirmation e-mail included this message: They could probably pay for everyone's apps with the advertising revenue they could earn after sending out a message like that. They're basically begging us to check daily.

Of course it counts! Got my app in to Northwestern. It's funny, cause they were definitely a last minute choice for me to apply to, but they just as quickly moved to the top of my choices... It will be a real heart breaker to hear no from them (well, from anyone).

Congrats!!

I think I'm going to take the dive today and finally start submitting apps (that weren't due already because of recommendation requirements). I'm afraid if I sit on it any longer, I'll just keep editing my statements until they're jagged and make no sense... Of course the problem is (and I'm sure you'll all understand), the SOPs are really the only thing we have 100% control over at this point, so it's scary to give up that sense of control over the future.

I'm not sure where that three year gap number for Georgetown is coming from, even if it were SFS. In any case, yes there is a distinction between professional international affairs programs and academic IR programs. Especially in political science, it's very normal for students to go directly from undergrad to a Ph.D. program (though not a rule).

In my perfect world

I don't think your GRE scores will play a role in keeping you out of anywhere. I think it's up to the rest of your application with the scores you've got there. I'm certainly jealous.

Maybe first reference Prof.? And that's most certainly one of the issues with having a few people reviewing for you - although two isn't too many. When I was applying for a Fulbright, the prof in charge of grants always told me: "I'm going to provide you criticism, a lot of it. So will your adviser or anyone else you ask for input. You need to decide whose advice is better for you in particular, and I won't be offended if it isn't mine."

I was also wondering if the faculty could offer a perspective on addressing "fit" in the SOPs. Namely, to what extent should we be very specific in both naming professors and identifying their past research (I'm trying to identify that line between fit and sucking up)?