Early

For real. While sociology might be a safe spot to come out, sometimes it doesn't seem like a safe spot to joke around sometimes. The extreme liberal ideology makes it hard to make joke (although at times they will be tasteless), because all of the ''bleeding hearts" take everything you say so seriously. I didn't view the original comment as overly offensive, in fact--i thought it was a joke. Judging by the last reply, I guess it wasn't. However, I really feel like in sociology you're allowed to speak your mind, so long as your mind aligns with a liberal ideology. Makes it hard for people who like "shock value" comedy.

To the OP--i can almost promise you that it will not be a problem to come out to your new department, and good luck.

For real. While sociology might be a safe spot to come out, sometimes it doesn't seem like a safe spot to joke around sometimes. The extreme liberal ideology makes it hard to make joke (although at times they will be tasteless), because all of the ''bleeding hearts" take everything you say so seriously. I didn't view the original comment as overly offensive, in fact--i thought it was a joke. Judging by the last reply, I guess it wasn't. However, I really feel like in sociology you're allowed to speak your mind, so long as your mind aligns with a liberal ideology. Makes it hard for people who like "shock value" comedy.

To the OP--i can almost promise you that it will not be a problem to come out to your new department, and good luck.

For real. While sociology might be a safe spot to come out, sometimes it doesn't seem like a safe spot to joke around sometimes. The extreme liberal ideology makes it hard to make joke (although at times they will be tasteless), because all of the ''bleeding hearts" take everything you say so seriously. I didn't view the original comment as overly offensive, in fact--i thought it was a joke. Judging by the last reply, I guess it wasn't. However, I really feel like in sociology you're allowed to speak your mind, so long as your mind aligns with a liberal ideology. Makes it hard for people who like "shock value" comedy.

To the OP--i can almost promise you that it will not be a problem to come out to your new department, and good luck.

For real. While sociology might be a safe spot to come out, sometimes it doesn't seem like a safe spot to joke around sometimes. The extreme liberal ideology makes it hard to make joke (although at times they will be tasteless), because all of the ''bleeding hearts" take everything you say so seriously. I didn't view the original comment as overly offensive, in fact--i thought it was a joke. Judging by the last reply, I guess it wasn't. However, I really feel like in sociology you're allowed to speak your mind, so long as your mind aligns with a liberal ideology. Makes it hard for people who like "shock value" comedy.

To the OP--i can almost promise you that it will not be a problem to come out to your new department, and good luck.

For real. While sociology might be a safe spot to come out, sometimes it doesn't seem like a safe spot to joke around sometimes. The extreme liberal ideology makes it hard to make joke (although at times they will be tasteless), because all of the ''bleeding hearts" take everything you say so seriously. I didn't view the original comment as overly offensive, in fact--i thought it was a joke. Judging by the last reply, I guess it wasn't. However, I really feel like in sociology you're allowed to speak your mind, so long as your mind aligns with a liberal ideology. Makes it hard for people who like "shock value" comedy.

To the OP--i can almost promise you that it will not be a problem to come out to your new department, and good luck.

For real. While sociology might be a safe spot to come out, sometimes it doesn't seem like a safe spot to joke around sometimes. The extreme liberal ideology makes it hard to make joke (although at times they will be tasteless), because all of the ''bleeding hearts" take everything you say so seriously. I didn't view the original comment as overly offensive, in fact--i thought it was a joke. Judging by the last reply, I guess it wasn't. However, I really feel like in sociology you're allowed to speak your mind, so long as your mind aligns with a liberal ideology. Makes it hard for people who like "shock value" comedy.

To the OP--i can almost promise you that it will not be a problem to come out to your new department, and good luck.

For real. While sociology might be a safe spot to come out, sometimes it doesn't seem like a safe spot to joke around sometimes. The extreme liberal ideology makes it hard to make joke (although at times they will be tasteless), because all of the ''bleeding hearts" take everything you say so seriously. I didn't view the original comment as overly offensive, in fact--i thought it was a joke. Judging by the last reply, I guess it wasn't. However, I really feel like in sociology you're allowed to speak your mind, so long as your mind aligns with a liberal ideology. Makes it hard for people who like "shock value" comedy.

To the OP--i can almost promise you that it will not be a problem to come out to your new department, and good luck.

For real. While sociology might be a safe spot to come out, sometimes it doesn't seem like a safe spot to joke around sometimes. The extreme liberal ideology makes it hard to make joke (although at times they will be tasteless), because all of the ''bleeding hearts" take everything you say so seriously. I didn't view the original comment as overly offensive, in fact--i thought it was a joke. Judging by the last reply, I guess it wasn't. However, I really feel like in sociology you're allowed to speak your mind, so long as your mind aligns with a liberal ideology. Makes it hard for people who like "shock value" comedy.

To the OP--i can almost promise you that it will not be a problem to come out to your new department, and good luck.

Punctuation is a useful tool.

Punctuation is a useful tool.

Punctuation is a useful tool.

I would wager that coming in with that type of mind set wouldn't be a promising start.

My experience was a little different. I got into Columbia with a 3.26 GPA. Granted, I had somethings going for me: I had lived abroad in the country I want to study, have intermediate skills in a few applicable research languages, got 1580 on my GRE, and my undergrad is known for not inflating grades. Still, I had a [relatively] low overall GPA (my in major GPA was somewhere between 3.55 and 3.6; my major was not sociology). I did, however, have a well defined research project that fit VERY well with one specific professor's interests--what she's already published and even more the direction her work is moving (by chance); she got me in, I'm nearly positive. Other parts of my application were weaker--my letters were strong, but none were from social scientists (well one was a historian); my writing sample was well-researched but average; I had very little experience with Social Science.

No one has the perfect application; everyone has weak spots and a few places they say "if only this were different!" No matter what, you need something that makes you stand out and lets a professor with a good fit argue for you to get in. I had the very specific interest and the high GRE. A lot of other people I met at visiting weekend had a master's degree or research experience. Sell yourself well. I think the statements are a lot more important than people give them credit for, but I really do think that everyone needs to find a few good things that really sells them; you don't need to mention them in your statement, but they should be easy to spot in your application. For the record, I only got into the one Sociology PhD program (though I only applied to four others, one of which wasn't really a perfect match). My point is much more that it's a crap shoot. Apply based mostly on fit, yet apply broadly. Contact professors. Sound intelligent and like you will make a good sociologist and like you will be someone good to work with. A lot of people have over 3.5 GPA's. A lot of people have over 1400 GREs. Both those categories matter obviously, but neither of them things will get you into grad school.

That's it - it's titled "Graduate Admission Essays."

I do not know anything about Soc of Religion, so I can't provide any specific school recommendations. However, assuming those schools are relatively good fits, they are definitely not too high. You have solid stats, so aim high (with some "back-ups"--knowing that nothing is really a back-up). I think that, as deckard mentioned, you need to be sure to craft your SoP to demonstrate the relationship between your interests and the respective programs to which you ultimately choose to apply. Good luck!

Your stats sound better than mine, and I got into my basically my top choice. Good fit is really important. It might be worth applying to Princeton (as a long shot) to work with Wuthnow (he's kinda the big deal--though I bet you know that. I didn't when I started looking.). Consider Chicago as well (check Anthropology & Anthropology of Religion in its Div school too). Yale has Gorski if he fits your interests. Columbia has Courtney Bender in the Religion department, who could supplement someone in the Sociology department. Berkeley has some people too. Obviously, except Yale, those are all top top 10ish programs, but it's so much fit... and so much luck. Quite a few people have been admitted to higher ranked programs and rejected from lower ranked programs, for reasons that even they couldn't understand. Heck, the same thing kinda happened to me. I got into #11, but rejected from #20, you know? It happens. It's unpredictable. Definitely have a mix. Check out Captiv8ed's schools too. She also applied for Sociology of Religion, but her interests might be in line with yours than mine. Perhaps also consider Michigan. People have generally been surprised I didn't apply there, but I think that might be more for the Turkish half of my interests, rather than the religion part of my interests. I can't remember.

As someone interested in programs, see who posts http://blogs.ssrc.org/tif/ especially the Sociology of Religion section. Check out this article http://blogs.ssrc.org/tif/2010/02/08/the-emerging-strong-program-in-the-sociology-of-religion/ (or rather, the working paper it's about which is actually here http://www.ssrc.org/blogs/immanent_frame/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Emerging-Strong-Program-TIF.pdf)

Just study hard for the GRE, especially the vocab part (flash cards). Have a rather specific project in your statement of purpose because that's what they're going to judge fit from. Make sure to run it by professors, etc. Also ask your professors in September for recommendations.

Hardly. You sound like you've a good foundation to get into the top schools. Aim high for your universities, and have around 2 backups in case.

I suggest you focus on really crafting your statement of purpose. It might make or break your chances. There's a great book I used which really helped... I think the author's name is Donald Asher or something similar. Lemme check and get back to you.

Hi everyone! This isn't a "what are my chances?" thread, but rather I would like some advice on whether or not my plans sound realistic.

I want to head straight to a PhD program, preferably in Soc of Religion (through a sociology department, NOT a religious studies department), although I would also be happy studying other topics. Here are my stats:

My bachelor's degree is from a very good state school, but I'm not sure how well known it is.
Overall GPA: 3.72 Sociology GPA: 3.94
GRE: Haven't taken them yet but I have literally nothing to do this summer but study for them, so probably high 600's, low 700's
Research: I did one (qualitative) study on the relationship between religiosity and well-being, and another (quantitative) study on the relationship between gender and career aspirations.
LORs: Strong, including one from a professor who is prominent in the field.
Awards:
-My school has a special day each spring where the best students present their work, and both of my studies were chosen to be presented.
-"Promising Sociologist" award
-Nominated by my department for something called "Presidential Scholar."
Other: Two summers ago I also had an internship working for a nonprofit. I created a social-networking program that would help the company re-recruit alumni. Then last summer I was an intern at a researching firm where I helped screen people and did some literature reviews.
-I'm going to use the study I did on religiosity and well-being as my writing sample.

I am going to apply to about 10 programs. Right now I have Emory, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Duke on my list. Am I aiming too high? I ask because I'm seeing people getting rejected from 9,10,11 programs and am beginning to freak out.

Thank you for your advice!

Okay, thanks for letting me know!

I would wager that coming in with that type of mind set wouldn't be a promising start.

You're all secretly racist.

This whole thing made me giggle like a Japanese school girl.

This whole thing made me giggle like a Japanese school girl.

You're all secretly racist.

You're all secretly racist.

This whole thing made me giggle like a Japanese school girl.