akroor

My opening sentence for my SOP for a PHD in Urban Planning reads: In my PhD, I want to examine the matrix of material, institutional and cognitive contexts involved in the urban development policy environment in Kabul, Afghanistan. Is that too broad? I feel like one could write several dissertations on each of the three contexts that I present here. Should I be focused like, I want to examing the nature of informal housing in urban planning, or something really narrow like that? I want to get into the program and I imagine a focus will help me get in, But i also want to explore the broad topic I present above and find my focus eventually. Any thoughts?

Hello, I am applying for a Phd program in Urban Planning to a department where I was accepted for a MS 2 years ago, but decided not to attend due to financial reasons. I assume they know who I am when I apply now because it is quite a competitive program and only a few people get in. My question is, should I use the 500 words that I have on my SOP to describe how my research interests have focused since I applied, and hope they take out my file from the MS application to fill in the gaps before that? I will of course allude to the fact that I had gotten in, and how I have continued to pursue my research at another institution. I would like your opinions concerning how much I should keep and how much I should leave out. Also, i am in contact with some of the professors at the department, including the DGS. So you think I should ask them the question, and if that will work for or against me? Also, I think I should consider that there might be different people looking at my application than when I applied for MS, so they wouldnt necessarily be familiar with me. Thank you for your replies!

Hi All, thank you for your replies. The thing about not letting the other profs know is that I would rather do a phd here than not at all, even if it means i have to modify my research interest slightly. Only if i get into the other program, then I would leave. I think I will ask my undergrad profs to write my LORs. I also have one from my job, plus I have a publication with one of the frequent lecturers to the program that Im applying to. Thanks again!

Hi, Im currently a 2nd year graduate student in a Political Science Department. The professor that I came to work with left my University and did not take me along, because he had other students that were already deeply involved with him. Now I am stuck and there arent others in my department who want to take me as their advisee. I would find a way, but I am inclined to get out of here and start somewhere else. I am planning to apply to another university. I have found a professor that I like, contacted him and he seems to be interested. My problem is basically that I need 3 references for my application to the other place. I feel like I cannot ask any of the professors at my current school, because I dont want them to know that Im thinking of leaving. But the only other options are my professors from Undergrad, which was a long time ago. Any thoughts on this? When people apply for jobs to another school, but they need recommendations, how do they do it? I cant imagine they ask their boss for a reference for another job. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Hi, Im currently a 2nd year graduate student in a Political Science Department. The professor that I came to work with left my University and did not take me along, because he had other students that were already deeply involved with him. Now I am stuck and there arent others in my department who want to take me as their advisee. I would find a way, but I am inclined to get out of here and start somewhere else. I am planning to apply to another university. I have found a professor that I like, contacted him and he seems to be interested. My problem is basically that I need 3 references for my application to the other place. I feel like I cannot ask any of the professors at my current school, because I dont want them to know that Im thinking of leaving. But the only other options are my professors from Undergrad, which was a long time ago. Any thoughts on this? When people apply for jobs to another school, but they need recommendations, how do they do it? I cant imagine they ask their boss for a reference for another job. Any thoughts would be appreciated.