SocGirl2013

Thanks for the honest opinion guys. I think I am definitely getting rid of NYU and Cornell. Columbia I'll just shoot for, just because it's my top choice and I know I won't get in but I'll regret not applying. A few of you mentioned Irvine. I should explain my situation there. My POI saw my conference presentation and is very interested in having me as an advisee. This was before I bombed the GRE, however, so that must change things. I am not sure about applying there it's a very confusing situation. :/

I know, I know these are very annoying. I am just crushed because I did AWFUL in quant (and the sad thing is, I think it reflects my quant abilities accurately) 149Q/159V. I don't have enough time to retake + I prepped HARDCORE for Math, used Magoosh, etc so I doubt it'll be very different the second time round. I am applying to Columbia, Cornell, Irvine, NYU, BC, Rutgers, Binghamton and Stony Brook. Which of these should I not even bother with, in all honesty? I could save me some bucks.

I am sure you will! For me ANYTHING other than Binghamton (if I am lucky) is happening if I kill the GRE. I think all sociologists should strike against the GREs on philosophical grounds lol.

I was a double major in Soc and English in undergrad, and I have to say, one lends very well to the other. It should be a really smooth transition, especially if you're interested in cultural aspects of Soc. Literature serves as a great comparative tool to perform all kinds of different theoretical analysis. PM me if you want some examples!

Thank you so much everyone. This has been remarkably helpful to read. I very much appreciate it! :)

I just read this thread and get the idea that about 50% of our applying cohort wants to study gender in some capacity! Does this mean less competition for the rest of us? lol. I am applying Fall 2014 too. 3.93 GPA, 4.0 Soc GPA (No Statistics-based classes on my transcript though, my undergrad didn't require it and I feel like I am now doomed), GRE NO clue but I just have not been doing very well on the practice tests >.<. Nov 9, gonna POWER through Oct. TA experience, presented my senior thesis at SSSP, using said thesis as writing sample. Running list: Top ranked: Columbia Cornell Mid ranked: Stony Brook CUNY Rutgers BC Irvine Lower ranked: Binghamton MAYBE Temple U, but it's been hard finding info on this program. I don't know if I should apply to more or focus on perfecting my apps here. How bout the rest of you, how many are people applying to?

I think with a 157 V (70% +) you should be MORE than okay. I had 108 in TOEFL five years ago, double majored in Sociology and English at a U.S. college and yet my V practice test scores have been ranging from 153-156. Naturally, the TOEFL is only important in as much as to see if you can read and understand academic English, for which a score of 96 is ample. In addition, your verbal score demonstrates you're able to read and understand complex academic English. I don't know what official "cut-offs" are (I don't have to take it since I did undergrad here) but would not re-take the test if I were you. All the best!

Okay, the question sounds silly, but hopefully not so much after I provide some details. I am applying for Fall 2014, interested in studying globalization (particularly neoliberalism and world-capitalism) from a somewhat Marxist and (very much) World-Systems perspective (particularly the impact on the periphery in the core-periphery dynamic). This somehow automatically hinges on environmental sociology as well, without "environment" being the major topic of concern or study. I would prefer doing qualitative research (just because my talents are way more inclined that way) but feel that my topic demands somewhat of a quantitative approach. I haven't taken the GRE yet (scheduled Oct 19, fingers crossed), and assuming I make the cut-offs for all programs (*fingers crossed* the rest of my application I am not at all worried about), how do I determine FIT? Here are my major concerns. 1. MOST programs have professors working within the broader categories of globalization, economic globalization, economic and political sociology. Does this mean most programs are a good fit, or should I narrow it down further? If so, how? I have tried look at professors who study "world-systems" in particular, or even Env. Soc (but like I said, I am less concerned about the environment than the status of periphery countries brought on my the World-Systems dynamic) but that then gets way too specific, excluding certain aspects of my interest (such as the critique of neoliberalism.) 2. Going off of that, it has been difficult to determine which programs, as a whole, are the strongest, most focused on these topic areas. Since many, many cover these areas along with various others, how do I know it's a better fit? I have gone through various websites without getting a very strong idea of the core focus of the institutions. 3. There are many younger, assistant and new associate professors engaged in similar studies. How do I determine POIs? Can they be too young or too old? 4. This one is not a question, but if any of you have any programs that matches what I described jumping out at you that I should look into (particularly in the North East ranging from MA - PA), I'd be eternally grateful.

This is amazing, thank you!

Thanks, that's very helpful!

Just curious, would a 158 V and 155 Q theoretically be enough to make the cut-off for the top 20 programs, if everything else about the application is stellar?

I have a small variety of interests that culminate in an intersect between sociology of food and globalization. I would like to continue (as I started in undergrad) studying the impacts of globalization (in the form of neoliberalism, or environmental classism) on food security for developing countries. Apply the World Systems theory to the production and distribution of food and such. I am also interested in, but don't have as much knowledge and experience about, the study of cultural deviance (not quite criminal deviance though but maybe more in a subculturalist sense). The two obviously don't collide in any way shape or form, and I am much more inclined to thrive doing research in the former so I guess one of the things I'd be looking for in grad school is if they have good faculty for the soc of food, globalization, environmental sociology and somewhat of a combination of those. It hasn't proven easy finding the perfect programs for this, but I only just started seriously looking not long ago. It seems like a long way before I will have some kind of a list. Thank you for some great advice. I would definitely be much more comfortable initiating dialogue over email, perhaps a few months prior to the conference meetings.

Those are excellent study tips. Thanks so much! In terms of making the rest of my application strong, what are some of the things I could do between now and application season? As I said in my OP, I will be presenting my undegrad thesis at a regular session at a conference in August. I would like to use this time to make some connections but I have never been to an academic conference before, and don't know how to approach people, or how it even looks like. I am so new to the world of academia and it makes me anxious.

I did consider a prep-course, but it doesn't seem like something I can afford. I am an int'll student so upon graduation, I'll need to get a place of own and do with whatever work I can get for the whole year. It is already a huge financial burden and I have to budget very, very wisely. Maybe if I do atrociously on my first try, I might move things around and try to save the money if the prep is going to help me. This whole process is so expensive, with the application fees and everything. *sigh* I can't say I have good enough reasons to be attached to the tri-state area. It is mostly because this is the only home I know away from home where all the life I have build over the past 4 years lies... it's an irrational fear I have, moving into a new place where I know nobody and becoming to depressed to thrive in my coursework. At the same time, I am very dedicated to an academic life and my social concerns seem trivial in the pursuit for the ideal grad school. I am definitely going to start looking at schools in other areas more seriously. Hopefully I will have a good list in a few months because I want to start emailing faculty that match my interest and asking questions and such. Is it standard to do that? You are absolutely right! I am just SO neurotic when it comes to planning my future and start identifying weaknesses long before they are due. I just had a horrible experience with the SATs in high school and somewhat worry that there is such a thing as an inherently poor test taker.

Hi everyone, I have been following this forum for the last few months and you guys have some wonderful advice about grad schools in Soc. I want to get into a PhD program for Fall 2014 and could use some advice as I begin the process. I recently finish college with a double major in Soc and English, with a high cumulative GPA. I don't know how much this means, as I am doing my undergrad at a relatively unknown and not ridiculously selective private liberal arts college. I will be presenting my undergrad senior thesis for Soc at a conference this August, and am somewhat involved as a research assistant in one of my teacher's projects. I am not concerned about my grades, but the GRE is my one big nightmare. I have taken numerous mock tests, and even with a ton of practice, could not score above 156 Verbal and similar in Math. I plan to take the test at least twice between now and November, but I honestly don't think I test well enough to change this number significantly even with a lot of prep. If you guys have some advice on how to improve on that front, it would be wonderful. But if I cannot get better scores, how badly does it affect my chances of getting into a good program? My top choice is Princeton, mostly because their inter-disciplinary Soc program would be of interest to me. I do understand that it is very unlikely I get in to Princeton and have made somewhat of a preliminary list. I am afraid to branch out of the Tri-State area, so currently the other schools on my list are: Columbia, New School, NYU, CUNY Grad Center, UConn and Yale. Again, I feel that my location-specifc needs are a little on the immature side. With my low GRE potential, what are the odds I could get into one of those programs? How seriously do I need to begin considering relocation? Any advice at all for a starter would be greatly appreciated in general. Thank you so much!