soc_questions

I agree with your response, gingin6789. There's a lot that an individual applicant does not have control over, which I was hoping to get across in my post ... but I figured I'd also share what elements I did have control over (even though I of course don't know if those are what got me in).

I have been lurking and just made an account to answer some of the questions coming up. For context, I have been accepted to 6 top-20 programs so far, waiting on 2 (one presumed rejection). I have a non-academic master's (i.e. not an MA or an MS) in a non-sociology field and several years' work experience (not academic or research). I feel like I've been really lucky to get good advice from people in this process so while I don't purport to know more than anyone else, I hope some of this is helpful... Contacting professors ahead of application: I was advised to do this by several people, including some of my former professors. I googled "how to cold-email professors" and did it. I talked to some on the phone, some said "sorry, we don't talk to applicants ahead of time", and some wrote back saying they were too busy for a phone conversation. Some of the phone conversations were actually very helpful in helping me start to get a feel for a program aside from what you could learn on a website. In any case (even the "no we won't talk to you"), I don't think it hurt. Letters of rec: none were from sociology profs. Contacting schools to inquire about application status: I have never done this. I doubt it'd help and wouldn't risk it. What stands out... who knows. I do have good stats, good letters of rec (I'm pretty sure), and I like to think my statement of purpose was decent - but what resonates with one reader doesn't always resonate with another and it can be luck of the draw. Honestly, application processes suck and typically all have an element of arbitrary-ness to them... which doesn't help to hear, but it's true. (I have some experience reviewing applications for other things and these decisions can be really, really hard for reviewers too.) One piece of advice I received a long time ago (when applying to my master's program) was that your statement of purpose should reflect the academic/professional journey you've been on that got you to where you are, where you hope to go, and why this program will help you get there. I think that was useful and have taken that to heart. Anyway... hope something in there is useful to someone. Good luck to everyone!