sociology767

The research question. How you frame your problem presents a type of puzzle and, in many ways, dictates the method or methods you can use to solve it.

Ive met people that went to the Chicago and Columbia programs, and used it to pivot into Harvard, Berkeley, and Chicago. I don't know whether its a bad idea or not. That's a judgement best served by your own thoughts.

I wouldn't worry too much about what is reach and what isn't. Focus on a polished sample and write an SOP for each school you're applying to. Yale, Northwestern, Rutgers, UCSD, UVA, and Notre Dame are all solid options. If you're specifically looking at pop culture, join the American Culture Association/ Pop Culture Association (ACA/PCA) and check out who teaches where.

If your having trouble finding people to vouch for you, then I would probably retake the GRE. I don't think the GRE typically matters much until that's all your campaigning on. As always, the bulk of your packet will rely on your essays.

Take grad classes. Reach out to people whose work you admire and ask them pertinent questions about their work. Maintain relationships with faculty. If all that makes you feel super cool, apply to a PhD program. Your bonafides, scores, etc, in my experience, don't quite matter as much to admissions committees as much as who says what about you, and what your essays say about your intellectual potential.

I think if your concerned that you don't have a 'clinical background' in sociology, it's probably best not to take out a student loan to pay for an online masters. I think you might want to look more deeply into what sociologists do, then perhaps reconsider your position. At the moment, it sounds like what you want is an MSW or masters in social work.

So most people will tell you that Soc MA programs are criminal enterprises that take advantage of students and bury them in debt with very little pay off. To a degree, its true; however, like most things it depends on the student. The MA programs at both Columbia and U Chicago are pretty awesome if you intend to take it seriously and use it to springboard to a T20 PhD program. They're best for bright students who previously attended an unknown school or attended a known school but had less than desirable grades. As far as terminal MA degrees and job prospects? I can't help you there.

I think it depends on when you told them that you're interested. I haven't received the guidance, but I'm expecting it this week.

Nice! I'm looking forward to it! Was there an option to drive, by chance? I kind of wanted to linger and check out places to live if possible.

Any5--I'll be at the Northwestern visit day. Have you already done the travel agent thing?

Anyone else receive an offer from Northwestern?

Veteran status doesn't really mean much--but at some schools I think it gets your application fee waived. That said, might as well apply to Columbia if it's only gonna cost ya time. You may find others along your way, though. I went the Chem Eng route first--haha, what an idiot move. Anyway--you've actually got a lot going on there, so as long as you don't blow it in the SoP, there's nothing keeping you out of the 10-20 range, and perhaps with a bit of networking (and working through your advisor's network) maybe accessing the 4-10. No idea beyond that--you're on your own.

British schools typically don't care about the GRE, I believe--except in a few fields. May want to check that out. Boston University is willing to wave GRE requirements if "it is absolutely impossible to take the test." I'm not sure what that exactly means relating to your situation though. Good luck!

I think the most precise point was when people started doing their own homework assignments.

I don't think there's a lot of interest in how you quantify your knowledge, but *that* you quantify your knowledge. A passion for independent reading of texts well beyond the scope of your program design will always go further than some upper level survey course if you can demonstrate the breadth of your knowledge (presumably in your writing sample). Situating yourself toward your goal now is perhaps one of the best things you can do (and are clearly in the process of doing). Taking yourself seriously early will put you light years beyond the bulk of students that don't wise up until mid-junior year. I would also recommend plying your craft writing and publishing as a demonstration of your knowledge as early as possible. Publishing in reputable-but-not-peer-reviewed locations (some might disagree) is a decent way to start, but you should have an eye toward a well-researched, serious piece of work that situates firmly in the mainstream of theory by your senior year. Demonstration of learned concepts > 4.0s in rigorous unrelated fields.