socioholic

The ETS website indicates when your scores have been sent. For the applications that required official scores, the status page of the application indicates whether official scores have been received (however I imagine this would vary depending on the application system). Can't comment on them going to the wrong department. at least one application asked for the actual GRE registration number (something like that) which makes me think they would get the scores associated with your application regardless.

One of the good and bad things about Sociology- there's always more research, another question, a different perspective, so many topics you can cover. I'd say pick whatever best complements the rest of your application.

Is there a risk in coming off as too interested in advanced methods training?- I say no. Many sociology departments seem to offer specializations in Quantitative Methods and I observe many sociology professors to have backgrounds in economics, stats, quant. It's a common integration. Too broad/too specific- ehh. when you're truly looking at schools for fit, you should be specific to the extent that your research goals clearly align with what's going on with the school. JMO

Yes. Call the admission office. I had to do the same thing last week. They changed it with no questions asked.

Perhaps the Sociology students aren't very social. Many of us have little specializations and niches; maybe we don't want to give too much away. One more LOR and my apps should be totally complete. After a back and forth, I applied to economic sociology programs. Anyone else applied in that concentration? I LOL a little at the thought of a literature forum being "amped up."

I read something on a graduate school's website that basically said they couldn't care less about whether the letter is customized for their school- like the header, greeting etc. They want the information.

I'm having a baby in a week and a half so I'll have plenty to distract me during "the wait." Truthfully, I guess my apps aren't even complete because of the one, last LOR ( ) but hopefully that will be wrapped up in a couple days. I didn't realize acceptances were going out already. Most of my programs said February. After I hit submit, the feeling I had was "ah well. I tried" LOL.

I ended up taking five years because I changed my major and had personal issues that forced me to take a semester off. I actually don't know anyone who didn't take at least one semester off (although I know some people powered through in 4 or less.) School is only a piece of one's life; I'm not sure why committees would care about the actual time it took you to finish as opposed to looking at the work done while you were there.

My situation is slightly similar. I had no legal trouble, but I started a graduate program at the same college I went to for undergrad and left. On at least one application, it would not let me input both periods of time (grad and undergrad) on the application. I knew it would appear on my transcripts though and I didn't want it to look like I was trying to hide something. There was a textbox in the applications where I was able to comment on the fact that I couldn't add the graduate time period and I also referenced it in my SOP. Most applications ask you to input all colleges attended; others like the one I mentioned above say to list all the ones from which you received a degree. I think it depends on what they are asking for in the application.

Update- deadlines are in a week (for all but one) and still not a peep from #3. Had to reach out to another person who agreed to help (thank God).

i've come to peace with the overwhelming odds that i will not be admitted. surprisingly, the application process proved to be invaluable to simply providing a little clarity about what i really wanted to do, specifically, it made me realize that this is not the only path. in the face of certain rejection, i started about thinking of all the other ways i could work in this/that capacity without a phd and found there were more options than i originally acknowledged.

8 days

I'm good; already have a graduate degree. Ive been through this a time and a half. I'm just worried because I havent gotten so much as an "ok". I mentioned in the other thread I was able to follow-up with one prof today. The other is still a mystery. I didnt think I was a gradzilla but I guess i'll lay off for a while.

Just went down to one's office. He's just been really busy. I knew this about him to begin with; he's involved in a lot of projects. He says he's still on board. My heartbeat has slowed down just a tad... until- I found out my other recommender had surgery! now I really have no idea what to do.

This makes me feel better. I do see that all the programs actually have different deadlines for the LORs. The biggest problem is that they are not responding to emails or phone calls about writing the letter. I'd like to hope they would not completely destroy my chances when they told me they would write the letters. I know they're busy but being uncommunicative is raising my blood pressure. I'd guess many of us are independent and hate having to wait on other people in general. I dislike not being in control. To ask another professor at this point could be down right disrespectful if not embarrassing. It sucks.

Doesn't this exist already in the Results section? People report acceptance, wait list, rejections and make comments? Not many give their stats though. Edit- Oh. Here's to reading the whole thread first.

Well I still appear to be on the edge of major screw-dom. Only one recommender has uploaded her letters. The other two have been MIA. One has a full voice mailbox.

Still don't have all my recs. Most of the time was spent revising the SOP over and over and over again. Sans recs, they took about 3 weeks.

Relationships are the easiest thing to talk about thus the large amount of comments; I think it's a little misleading to say "don't look." I understand the concept; there's a good chance your enthusiasm and eagerness to have a relationship will be rewarded with liars, guys who take advantage and a whole lot of resentment after the fact. When I decided finding a mate was a priority- a good mate- I looked. I'm not the type to just wander and wait for things to happen. But for me that meant putting myself out there enough to have to new experiences where I would meet new people. Through going out more with your friends, finding new hobbies, and getting involved in events you will expose yourself to more people and- more guys. (And I actually met my husband through an online dating site.) So it kinda all happens together. Make sure you have a life, don't spend too much time with guys who want to "hang out" (since you actually want a relationship), and you'll be fine. And gosh darnit, you're 22- are you done partying already?

BOL, not this time but if y'all have any questions...

Good point. Neither one could speak on research experience; either could speak to research potential but I'd guess the professor's perspective on that would be much more valuable. The mentor could speak on my committment to the subject matter. The academic observation is probably needed more in my application.

So, I'm slowly realizing it's possible I could be screwed because one of my letter writers is not returning any of my communications. My academic work in the field I'm trying to go to school for occurred 6+ years ago. The only other professor from that time who could write me a good letter is gone/retired. I have a masters but it was more application, very little research. I also have a business mentor; he is not a professor but my research interests are business related. Which would be a better recommendation- a former professor in an unrelated field or a professional in a related field?

Take the job. This isn't an issue until you get accepted somewhere right? Even if you get accepted it may not be a package that you want. Employees leave jobs; you won't hurt their feelings or burn a bridge; just make sure you give plenty of notice.

"would you read my [random application document no one else cares about]?" "hey professor X, I know we haven't spoken in 10 years but could you write a letter detailing how awesome I am? And I need it by the end of the week, mkay." "Should I even bother? V169, Q169, AW 5.5" Loved one: "I'm sure you'll get in, just think positive." Me: "the acceptance rates are like 5%, my gre score wasnt perfect, my writing sample was garbage, my SOP made no sense, im old, I suck, im just being realistic." Loved one: :/