ashiepoo72

If anyone wants to know, PM me. Call me paranoid but I'd rather not announce it in a public thread

Oh gosh I'm about to be sick...I logged into one of my applications to double check that the program received all the supplemental stuff. As I scrolled down the list of things they've received (ok awesome, all 3 recs went through. sweet, they got my transcripts. so my SOP and writing sample uploaded successfully, that's good....) I notice something strange. Looks like two professors at the program have submitted evaluations of my application!! How am I going to LIVE for the next few weeks?!

Heimat -- that's so exciting!! Keep us posted

It depends on the professor and the school. Lots of admitted applicants were never interviewed or contacted during application season. Sometimes professors just want to reach out because they have their own questions about an application. I think the only program I applied to that has more "consistent" interviews is Northwestern, but there's no official interview policy in place that I know of.

I'd mention your graduate school plans to your potential rec writers pretty much immediately, keep in touch with him about your preparation for the next 6 or 8 months (including getting their advice on programs, SOPs, etc) then ask them if they'd be willing to write you a LOR. You want you and graduate school to be in their minds before you ask for a letter. I'd also try to line up an extra rec writer just in case one.

Chiqui74 -- I wish I could like your post a million times I decided to take a break from academic reading and catch up on The New Yorker--I'm like eight issues behind. I feel so decadent reading for fun...don't tell anyone I'm slacking!!

I read something once that was written in a complete jumble except for the first and last letter of each word, and it was essentially legible. I'm not saying that you should write your SOP this way, but I think our eyes glance over a lot of these minor errors applicants freak out over because when we read, we tend to see what we think should be there unless we are looking for specific errors. For example, I (often) miss grammatical and spelling errors in my own writing, but when I edit papers I can track down the most minute of errors. Like rising_star pointed out, adcomms are reading apps super fast, besides. And if someone notices a missing "the" and throws a fit, do you really want to be in that kind of academic environment anyway? Don't fret, you'll be fine

*hugs* I'm so sorry to hear this! Try to be confident in the programs you did apply to, and know that you'll end up where you're meant to be. Best of luck!

Glamdoll -- Good call on leaving the phone in the car! There really is no reason to be obsessively checking email, at least not for another week or two! Luckily the programs told me they'll accept late transcripts as long as the applications were submitted before the deadline, so it's all good.

Ugh two of my schools might get my MA transcript after the deadline. I sent them each a copy of the unofficial one just in case, but now I'm stressing out when a few days ago I thought I was done! How're the rest of you holding up?

I would take a good, long look at your research/methodological interests and choose programs that can help you become the scholar you want to be. You need to clearly define what you want to do in graduate school before you can meaningfully and thoughtfully articulate how a program "fits" and how you are prepared for that particular program. It will help you figure out where to apply as well. My field is different (history), but I think this translates across disciplines (feel free to correct me if I'm wrong!). For example, if I want to take an interdisciplinary approach to my research, I would apply to schools that either are strong in that methodology or, at the very least, not completely against it (and some programs are). I study modern U.S., and some programs are particularly strong in contemporary history so it's a great thing to mention in an SOP. To find these "fit" tidbits, you gotta do some research Once you delineate your research and scholarly aspirations, you can begin looking at what resources both the department and the university have to offer. Maybe a particular university has a collection in their archives you can use or a scholar in another department that can touch on some aspect of your research interests that the sociology department can't. Maybe you want to learn a language, and certain universities are particularly good in area studies. I have a question: have you done any research? I believe that the capability to do research at the graduate level will definitely help you, even if it's outside of your intended field--and like you said, sociology and polisci are sister fields. You should "show not tell" what you learned from any research experiences, what skills you developed, etc. Talk about methodology, sources, conclusions, etc. If you can show programs you have a well-defined research interest, research experience and a clear understanding of how you fit the program/university and the program/university fit you, that's the formula for a good SOP (in my opinion...I'm applying to PhDs too, so take my advice with a grain of salt).

April 15th is the last day to respond to programs. I've also heard horror/happy stories of applicants being strung along on a wait list til April 15th, so this whole grueling process really isn't over til that date (yay ) Veteran posters (I think New England Nat) have said that once you've received an acceptance (or multiples) and funding offers (don't make any decisions without funding offers!!), don't just hold out on programs you haven't heard from that you know you would turn down just to see how many accept you. There will more than likely be applicants on the wait list or the "second wave" that might benefit from you withdrawing an application or rejecting an offer to a program you know you'll decline anyway. In that case, waiting til April 15th is kind of a douche move. I'm NOT assuming we will all get in somewhere, though I think you are all awesome and can't wait to hear where you end up in the fall but seriously, I think we have a pretty awesome community and it'll be great if we keep being conscientious of our fellow aspiring historians.

Some programs begin notifying in late January--off the top of my head, I know that Northwestern, Minnesota and Michigan State do. This isn't to say these programs don't continue notifying into February. Most programs will begin sometime in February. You may want to check out the results forum, that'll give you an idea of when programs started in the past.

I wholeheartedly agree with rising_star. When I mentioned my work schedule in the comment above, I should note that this was one sentence in my entire SOP, which also included reference to my teaching experience (my outside job was as a tutor). So the one sentence that the adcomm could read as an explanation for a slight dip in grades if they chose to was also intended to express my preparation for graduate school--there isn't a place in my SOP where I mention grades. You shouldn't write a whole paragraph explaining your work schedule, and I don't think you should even directly discuss your grades. If your outside employment relates at all to your field, mention it. If you were working like 60+ hours a week then I would say something on how working outside of school taught you to balance your responsibilities or something. You really don't need more than a sentence, max two.

I don't know if this translates across fields, but I was told by professors and other graduate students that it's best to mention GPA shortcomings obliquely and in a positive light. So, for example, I mention in my SOP that I worked throughout my undergraduate and MA careers, which allowed me to appreciate my academic career by way of comparison to my non-academic employment. These are intelligent people reading application packets--I think they can read between the lines, if they are even concerned about the GPA in the first place.

I think it doesn't hurt, but I always keep in mind that POIs responded enthusiastically to me without seeing my transcripts, SOP and writing sample, and without other applicant packages in front of them to compare. How POIs reacted did encourage me to apply to some places I thought out of reach, discouraged me to apply because professors seemed uninterested and pushed schools up and down my list unexpectedly. It was useful, but I don't allow myself to think it'll be crucial in the decision-making process. I sent them my best writing sample and an SOP that made me cry when I reread it, because it's literally me on a page. That's what I'm banking on.

I sent you a PM

I totally get that...when I started college I really didn't care about grades. I figured it was just enough to get the degree, that a GPA below 3.0 would get me there just as easily as one above. I am sometimes envious of those who had it all figured out by undergrad--it took me academic probation one quarter, and two quarters off to have a kid to turn my academic career around--but I think Deadwing's comment about the circuitous path is right on--when I spoke to POIs, they always mentioned "fit" as important, but another descriptor frequently used to describe an ideal grad student was "interesting."

Sure, you can PM me if you'd like

telkanuru, that's amazing...like--in all seriousness--I'm impressed. Had you chosen the wrong major for the first 2 years of undergrad? I was an anthropology major initially and...cultural anthro is amazing. But anthro is a seriously confused major--is it science? is it social science? Needless to say, I'm terrible at the science... Also, don't feel bad. I got a flat B in my very last history class as an undergrad (but aced an unrelated American Studies and Lit class...because logic?). This class is probably one of the most related to my PhD interests, too! For some reason I'm more intrigued by the classes that I don't get As in, because apparently I'm a glutton for punishment. I could cry about having a 2 year old and working at the time, but I barely mention any of that in my SOP because I don't regret any of it. Instead, I'll just sit at home, bite my nails to the quick and pretend I'm calm in front of other humans...

You're in good company, Heimat! I think we either all feel terrible or will soon! I had trouble sleeping last night, thinking about all the peccadilloes on my undergrad transcript. I kept telling myself, well you're doing killer in the MA, your essays are solid and your recs are great, but nope...that F in biological anthropology (which I retook and got an A, so I'm even more irrational FYI) in your first quarter is going to derail your whole application, so stop hoping!! Way to waste hella money, idiot! I woke up feeling more optimistic haha these moments of crazy sure are refreshing.

I'd send him a nice thank you card then when you get your admits a mug from the school you choose or something like that. I'm planning on giving my professors a thank you card and book related to my research interests before decisions come in, then a school mug when I (hopefully) get in a PhD program. Other potential thank yous I've heard: Starbucks (or other coffee/tea) gift card, baked goods, wine (if you're close with the prof and of age!)

I'd wait, too, only so it doesn't seem like you're trying to butter him up. I know you're not, but better safe than sorry

TMP--thanks for the inside tip. I kind of assumed that dedicated students of history would be the ones to apply year after year regardless of job market trends and the like. And I'm sure many still do! Just surprised to hear that most of the applications aren't great :-/ but I agree that making actual money isn't a bad thing. Now that I think about it, applications to my MA program have dropped drastically--I was told the year I applied had a fairly high number of applicants (I started in 2012), which dropped by half the following year and has continued dropping, though not as drastically, since.