Cesare

You should probably post this in a field specific thread. 12 might be outrageous in some fields, but in others 15-20 may be the norm! In my opinion, 12 sounds just about right for IR MA programs.

If it makes you feel any better, when I applied to this one school I panicked that the GRE score wasn't received, so much so that I ordered a second report THEN emailed them about it. The secretary had said it wasn't PROCESSED yet. I wasted $25 dollars. I sent it the first time with a department code and the second without. All you can do now is just wait for an e-mail from them.

They should have received them irrelevant of whether you included a department code or not. Maybe it has not been processed by the school yet?

I took the GRE on Sept. 11th and started my SoP on the 12th. I think I am finally done (Nov. 21st) with editing the writing sample, CV, and SoP (including personalizing it for each school), but knowing me, I will still read over them until I actually submit. Official transcripts (only for the schools that require a paper copy) have been sent, but some have yet to receive them. Still waiting for some letters to be submitted...

US based Professors I use "best" European based Professors I use "best wishes"

I know all of my letter writers wrote letters that could be submitted to all schools. They are professors, they don't have time to personalize each letter to each school. However, I am in a different field where it is the norm to apply to 15 schools...

After reading the thread about finding a husband in graduate school, I read the title of this thread and instantly thought "omg, they are discussing birth control." Anyways, I agree with this:

I regret not going to a different, better school. I feel very bitter because I see what other courses schools offer their undergrads. Courses that would make me a stronger candidate for graduate school, but I was unable to take because it was never offered at my institution. I am irritated because I paid the same amount in tuition, but received less education. Now I am stuck competing against people who had the opportunity to take these courses. If I only new then what I know now... *I did take advantage of opportunities like research projects, etc., but I still can't help feeling angry. I feel cheated.

I cited the one and only Professor who is working on my topic just once. I think it helps situate my topic in the literature, but the questions I asked had nothing to do with this Professors' work. I also mentioned other Professors who are working at different schools who have done similar, but different work. Not sure how you are writing your SoP, but I situate my "original" questions in the literature. There is nothing wrong with mentioning literature, but you need to make sure you are not emphasizing a Professor to the point where you make it seem that no one else is capable of supervising you and/or you don't have your own questions.

I have the same problem you do. I stayed with my unique/new field, but I did a lot of work relating my research questions or actually changing the questions within this research area to related to each school/professors interests. Of course, this was not possible for every school, but I am hoping for the best. My previous research papers were more mainstream, so I am hoping that I don't come off as crazy. However, at the same time, as hard as I tried, I could not come up with an interesting question that was not in this new area, which is why I stuck with it. I would rather have an interesting/strong statement of purpose, then a weak one. Also, my writing sample is related to this topic... Monochrome Springs' advice is very good especially if you are in the hard sciences.

It is fine, but don't use it too often. I think I used it 2x in my 1200 word statement. Example: "I would like to examine X and Y..." or "I enjoyed this topic because..."

I had the same problem. I was able to access it through a proxy like hotspot shield.

I had 3 quant and 2 verbal both times. They do not switch it up based on what you got before. It is completely randomized.

Some programs will allow a fourth some will not. I doubt they will toss the fourth (Actually, I am sure this will vary greatly by school). Adding a fourth will not harm your application as long as it is not a negative letter. Also, some schools weigh letters more heavily others less so, therefore, it may help, but who knows.

I am having the same problem. Before totally reorganizing it, I was very happy with it. Now I wonder how in the world was I happy with that, but it has gotten worse... I am now asking myself how else can I improve it? I keep on making little changes here and there. BUT I am now wondering if my decision to present a series of research questions rather than just one and go into detail about it was a good idea. There are just so many ways to write a SoP.

Right now I mention my statistical training in my intro, but it is a little awkward I think. I am applying to programs that are quant heavy, so I want to emphasize it. I don't want to leave it for the very last paragraph. The body paragraphs are all about research and the questions that I am interested in. I don't want to go into detail there about my training because I don't want the adcom to think I am motivated by methods rather than substantive interests. I just don't know where to discuss my training....

Admissions committees don't even look at this they are too busy reading SoPs, letters of rec., etc. It is purely used to determine who the peer schools are. This is the last thing to worry about. It won't hurt or aid you in providing this info.

I've been told, not only by fuzzylogician, but people in my own field who have read my statement, that you want to introduce your proposed area of research/research questions as soon as possible. It is your future trajectory that Professors are interested in, so you should use that as your hook, if you want a "hook." I am still going with a traditional intro and then discussing future research then I trace how my interests developed into future project X by discussing former projects.

Thanks a lot TakeruK. That was really helpful!

I am not listing grades because they are on the transcripts, but thanks for mentioning that you are listing courses. I thought it would be odd on a CV, but without it I think my transcripts are confusing aside.

For my MA, my transcripts list one course number for my methods course (MC156), but that course is composed of 3 different courses (FX451, FX453, FX562). On my CV I listed the 3 different course titles rather than just the one, so they know that I actually have more training than what appears on my CV. In my MA, the grades from the three courses were added together to get one grade. My question is: Should I list the main course number and underneath it list the sub-courses? Or would this be too much? Another issue: the dissertation was given a grade, but on the transcripts it is listed as "AB499 Long Essay." What should I do? I am not sure adcoms will understand that the long essay = dissertation Also, the transcripts do not list how many units/credit hours each course was for. Essentially, my transcripts say very little...

It depends on what programs you are looking for. MA? PhD? Top 5? Top 10? Top 40? Political Science PhDs need at least a 160 in quant for top 5.

For some yes, for others no. They will usually mention this above the section or near the section where you give the recommender info.

1. Still personalizing my SOPs for each school. Will hopefully be done by next week. Then I will edit for grammar. 2. I have already opened application accounts for each school and I think I have filled in most of the basic info. 3. All LoR requests sent and accepted. 2 of the Professors have already submitted their letters. 4. I have edited my writing sample, but I have yet to cut it down to various lengths for each respective school. 5. I still need a CV for each school (need to slightly edit the research interests section for each school). My first deadline is Dec. 3rd, the rest on December 15/16th, and one in January, but I will most likely turn that one in December as well since it will be completed. So much work left to do! Edit: 6. All GRE scores have been sent.

In political science, the AW isn't taken too seriously as long as it isn't below the graduate school set minimum (typically a 4.0 I believe). Professors have writing samples and your statement to evaluate your writing. And Seeking (the post above mine) is quite correct in his/her post about history vs. political science.