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This is exactly why I think you should talk about your gang experience in your SOP. They want to know how your sociological interests formed, and if this is what helped to sharpen your sociological lens, then it's a strength to your character and portfolio. I have a chronic reproductive illness that forced me to drop out of high school, and through my experience living with that illness, I lived gendered inequalities of illness, shaping my interests in medical sociology and gender. I know it's personal information, but it helped shape my broader sociological viewpoints and areas of interest in research. So, I say be bold and just go for it. Talk about how that experience has been a source of sociological strength, showing where you came from and where you are now. You shouldn't have to write as if part of your sociological life doesn't exist. I think your story is absolutely amazing.

Bravo!! That, friend, was such a moving and inspiring story.

Oh noooo!!! I got stung by a bee for the first time in my life about a month ago ... I'm 26! I was holding onto a railing while walking down some stairs outside, and I felt something sharp pierce my right hand. I thought I got a piece of metal stuck in my skin and the pain was unlike anything I've ever experienced, so I ran to health services to learn that it was but a bee sting!! Apparently I had a slightly worse physical reaction than the typical person, but I don't need an epi pen or anything, so I've got that going for me.

I'm not sure if every university is the same, but my thesis advisor was on the graduate admissions committee for two years. I'm not sure if him being the chair for a year would mean he would be off the committee completely the next year ... I wish I could better answer your question! Regardless, the fact that he knows you and wants you to apply likely means he'll put in a good word for you to the admissions committee, whether he is on the committee or not... or at least I hope he would!

For me, illness was a huge reason why I became interested in sociology, and it has shaped my research interests as well. I have a chronic illness that is common, as it affects 1 in 10 women!! However, it is stigmatized and invisible due to its nature as a women's illness (endometriosis). I've lived the (largely gendered) inequality of illness and was forced to drop out of high school because of this illness. This has fueled my interest in medical sociology, and what I've learned throughout my academic pursuits has strengthened that passion. Since my experience with illness is the root of my interest in medical sociology, and since I can show how far I've come through telling that story (that a high school drop out is getting her master's degree and is applying for PhD programs), I'm going to have to talk about illness. The point of posting all that was that I hope I can find that balance between including enough about myself and too much. The good news is that I know how much to talk about my illness without being unprofessional, but writing ... hmm ... I'll need some more practice. Also, my SOP will be more well-written than this post haha!

Hey, you know yourself best. You've gotta do what's right for you!!

For me? Or were you recommending to anthrostudentcyn? If me, yes, I was considering Indiana! I see that Peggy Thoits is there. Her focus is more on mental health, but still. Awesome. She's not the only one I'd be interested in working with though!! Everyone else there seems amazing as well! Her name just happened to jump out at me when browsing the website.

I understand geographical preference. When applying for M.A programs, I had to stay in a geographical area close to home because of family circumstances. If you absolutely need to stay in the northeast/big cities for similar reasons, go for it! If not, then maybe consider applying to one or two other programs with a good fit. But don't force yourself to apply to those programs if it just doesn't feel right either.

*rolls eyes to the point where eyes hurt* Seriously?? You're so right though!! If a violent criminal (who hasn't been arrested yet) applies for housing and lives in-state, they'll be more likely than you to get housing ... and that makes NO sense! I totally understand why you're so frustrated!

knp, *hugggggs* Thank you for your support and understanding!! I totally know that feeling as well! All the surgeries and medical tests I had in high school forced me to drop out of high school! I also tend to be "that girl who cried." Med X also had really mood swingy side effects ... luckily, the painkillers make me feel foggy more than anything else. Back in the day, I could take the painkiller I'm taking now and not feel loopy at all. But, since it's been a while since I've taken it fairly regularly, I'm like "woooo I'm tired!!"

*hugs, just hugs* This massively sucks. I totally feel you on the $950 rent for a "two bedroom." There's just enough space for really one person to live here. I can't imagine having a roommate in this "two-bedroom" apartment, so I foot the bill myself with this stipend (which is thankfully generous enough to keep me afloat). Really really sucks that people are such jerks about renting. Because you're out of state? Really? "Ooh I don't know about her, she lives in a different latitude and longitude, we might not be able to trust her." Is there some other reason that I'm missing, or is their refusing to rent to you as stupid as it sounds? *raises coffee to you and toasts to our mutual exhaustion*

Dude, you know what sucks? Having a freaking chronic illness and then having your doctor start you on a new treatment in the middle of grad school. Three years ago, I started medicine A. I was on that for a while, and I went through various doses of med A until med A no longer worked. Then, I went on a really harsh treatment of injections called medicine X. People can only take med X for up to a year in their entire life because it causes bone density loss among other things. Anyway, six months of med X later, my doctor is like "oh, wait for it to leave your system. If it doesn't leave quickly enough, take medicine B for ten days. Then, I want you to start up med A again." ... ... ... but med A stopped working before. And it'll stop working again. Doc explained that my illness is just "a crapshoot." *facepalm* Not only that, but the medicine leaving my system means tremendous pain for me! So I get to walk around campus and try to function while in pain/on painkillers. I have to slow down to a snail's pace to get everything done and save enough energy. Ugh.

You're so sweet, goofylemon! Thanks for taking the time to look over my post! The thing is -- I love quantitative research and even prefer it. I think that my quantitative aptitude shows forth in my master's thesis and my grades in four quant-based classes (math department statistics, undergrad social statistics, graduate social statistics, and graduate quantitative methods). Hopefully those things will show "Oh, she's good at stats, just not at high school algebra/geometry!" lol! At least that's what I'm hoping for!

Your situation is unique in that I'm not sure I understand what I'm reading: you were a quadruple major and a quadruple minor in undergrad? Also, did you take grad classes in undergrad? You mentioned "no terminal M.A" so I'm assuming you're not already in a master's program, but then you said you're a TA, too? So I'm a bit confused there! To (attempt to) answer your questions 1. I don't think your GPA is horrendous to begin with, and you obviously have shown you can handle graduate-level work with your 4.0 GPA in grad classes 2. I think that those strengths are enough, but I can't truly speak for the admissions committee making that decision. 3. I say "go for it!" You seem like a really good candidate.

Hey Shamon! Check your messages! I sent a message with the list of programs because it was a bit long to post here.

Brntssy's word of caution is helpful, and I do agree that using the ASA guide is at least a good start. I wanted to give Shamon a list of places under those categories merely to narrow it down. Brntssy is definitely right in that journals in your area of interest are also very helpful!

Good job on getting your applications in so quickly! Wow! I'd check the past Acceptances/Rejections threads here. That's what I ended up doing. Additionally, you can do a search for your programs of interest in the Results Search section of GradCafe. Where are you applying?

Sure, I'd love to help, Shamon! I'll have to go to my office on campus to get the guide. I'll go over a little bit later today, if that's ok! Yeah, DON'T drop $50 on the guide. Seriously, I'll get together a list of programs under those categories, and if you want more info on specific programs, I can send you more info from the book.

I was a December grad, too!! It was buckets of fun finishing up my thesis, applying for grad school, and studying for the GRE back then ... I'm being sarcastic, of course! I totally know how you feel! Yeah, as Hillary said, Stony Brook is the place to be for masculinities, *and* Michael Kimmel is there (if I remember correctly).

Also, you might wanna check out the sections at ASA! Super handy in finding out who has an ASA leadership role in your area of interest. The medical sociology section website has a list of graduate programs affiliated with the medical sociology section of ASA, but not every section's website has that. Here's the link to the sections: http://asanet.org/sections/list.cfm

Jeopardy!!!

I can totally see why she's on sabbatical at Harvard because she really is a ROCK STAR. For context about how awesome she is, I was telling one of the Anth professors about my research, and the first name he mentioned was Mojola and how excellent her work is! HMMM since she's at Harvard, maybe she'll be at the Eastern Sociological Society meeting in March?? I'll be presenting a co-authored work on young women's unemployment and young women's HIV there. It would be super cool to meet her. Thank you so much! I'll probably PM you soon! @Shamon - Welcome! I wish I knew of some programs specializing in your areas of interest ... have you tried looking through the ASA's Guide to Graduate Departments in Sociology? If not -- and if you don't have access to a copy -- I can use my copy to look into that for you! @brntssy - Welcome to you, too! Your scores and GPA are pretty darn solid. Are you coming right from undergrad, or will you have a master's degree going into grad school? Also, I guess this makes us Brandeis buddies now! *high fives* I was going to suggest Stony Brook as well, but you already have that on your list!

@EdNeuroGirl, I totally understand your anxiety!!!! I've been fortunate to have great mentors in undergrad and here at my master's program. I can't imagine NOT having them (double negative -- sorry. I don't pay as much attention to my grammar in forums). What I truly empathize with is going into debt because of application fees. I want to apply to so many programs, but I've added up the bill of application fees, and it's $520 so far! And that's WITHOUT the two programs that don't have application fees (Well, one of them does, but if I turn in my application before 10/31, the fee is waived). I'm aware that many programs will consider waiving the fee if you submit a report of some sort, but doing that on top of everything else (getting together my writing sample,writing SOPs, finding letter writers) ... all while working on my Master's Thesis and being a TA for two classes?? I don't think I have the energy. Maybe I'll just narrow down my list. Barista, I'll make that a double-shot of espresso, please!

DR. MOJOLA IS THERE?! *freaks out* I only use her research in my literature review a million times!!!!! (I cite her always, of course!) She is AWESOME. Huge fan!! Huge. fan. Could you tell her I love her work, please? I think I'll be adding CU Boulder to my list. The website says she is on sabbatical, but still. Thank you!!!

Recently engaged, I'll be getting married in the summer before I start my PhD program (pending on acceptance into at least one of the programs I apply to hahahahahah--*cries*). He has a job about an hour and a half away from where I really *want* to get my PhD, but he's been really encouraging me to apply wherever, and to shoot for more highly-ranked programs. My fiance and I went to undergrad together, too! During our relationship, he knew I wanted to go all the way for a PhD, just like I knew he wanted his MS and a job thereafter. He just got the job, and he loves it. So, while he probably won't leave that job, he said if there's a program far away, that he's willing to adjust if need be. But, hopefully I just end up attending the program I have in mind, and we can take the train back and forth to see each other (plus, he LOVES trains). I mean, it's really uncertain until you know which program you'll be attending. So, do what you're doing: take it one step at a time. Oddly enough, one of my professors is writing a book on married couples in long-distance relationships, and many of them are academics. So, when that book comes out, I recommend reading it! I know I will be