wildflower21

Hi! I will be attending a Sociology PhD program this fall with a cohort size of 2 (me and another person). I was a little surprised at this, usually the incoming cohort size is around 5-7. What are the pros and cons of having a small cohort?

Just got an email from UIowa moving me off the waitlist into ACCEPTENCE with five year funding. I'm so happy. I feel like I can finally breathe knowing I will for sure be going into a program in the Fall. Five schools left to hear back from!

Anyone heard anything from Michigan's JDP Public Policy & Sociology program?

I'm so anxious and impatient right now as well, with no acceptances yet it's hard to be present and mindful. To help reduce the anxious thoughts and feelings, I just bring my attention to my breathing or ground myself with my senses, either listening/looking/feeling. When the thoughts about my future appear (as they inevitably will) I try to just observe them rather than identify with them and place judgements on them or myself. When I am aware that I am thinking about the future again, I will just bring my attention back to the present moment. Something that also helps me is my spirituality, understanding that the universe unfolds exactly as it is meant to, and there are no "right" or "wrong" paths. Have you ever looked into chaos theory? It's the idea that we live in a inherently chaotic and seemingly random system, but when looked at over a long period of time, a pattern emerges. So underneath all the apparent randomness, there is order. I calm myself down by reminding myself that although life is scary and unpredictable, I can take comfort in knowing there is an interconnectedness and higher purpose for the challenges and obstacles we encounter in life. PLUS, it's only the beginning of February and possibilities are still in existent. Nothing is determined, we are living in a world of infinite possibilities, who the hell knows what will happen, just know that whatever does happen is meant to guide you in your journey.

That’s awesome! And thanks, I am so ready to know the results already so I can plan my next steps. I would be beyond grateful to get into any program, I really hope one of the schools can see my potential as a student and researcher. How have you been doing throughout this waiting period?

Hi everyone. I'm curious to know other applicants who applied to Joint PhD programs in Sociology and Public Policy. I applied to the joint PhD at UMichigan, Princeton and Harvard (Sociology and Social Policy), and Cornell (Sociology and Policy Analysis and Management). I have been rejected from 2 Sociology programs (duke, wisc) and waitlisted for Iowa's Soc program. I am hoping to have better outcomes with the joint PhD programs because my research and interests are in social stratification and educational policy.

I feel numb too. universe you better have a good purpose for all this shit!

I just checked the application portal, and I got a rejection from UW Madison. This was one of my top schools. I'm really sad and trying not to be too hard on myself.

My attempt to stop smoking cigarettes completely went out the window this week...haha. This shit is intense. I feel like I'm in limbo, I don't want to think/dream about grad school too much because it is still just a probability, but I don't want to plan exactly what I'll do if I don't get in yet. I have an idea obviously, but I don't want to make any moves until I know what will be happening. It honestly makes me feel better knowing that there are others going through this anxiety and what ifs right now, if others can brace through it I can too!

thanks, I am still excited about possibilities and working to manage the anxiety/worries. Mindfulness is my savior right now haha

Yeah that's a nice thought to keep in mind, thank you. And congratulations on the acceptances so far, celebrate and enjoy your accomplishments! Iowa City is diverse (well as diverse as Iowa can get....), energetic, fun, and great academically. Very community oriented, college town, progressive, and super nice open people

Okay, yeah Iowa isn't my top choice because of this and I totally understand that line of thinking. Thanks, I just am a little more nervous now than before as I thought Iowa would be the smoothest to get into due to my history here. But, as you said, that may be that weakness for the application.

Rejection from Duke and waitlisted for Iowa. I feel disappointed that I didn't get an offer from Iowa, as this is my undergraduate institution and I earned a 4.02 GPA, spoke at commencement, work at campus research centers, and am highly involved in the Iowa City community. Trying to not take it personally, but I'm kind of freaking out now because Iowa was the lowest ranked school I applied to. So to not get accepted here makes me really scared to my chances at other schools.

Thank you all so much for the responses! Quick question: should I update my transcript on the applications due to my grades for the final semester being in? My GPA stayed the same, so it's not like it really matters, but what would you guys suggest?

Hi everybody. I'm so excited and nervous for this next month, I wonder what the universe has in plan for us! I just graduated from the University of Iowa this December, with a major in Sociology and double minors in Communication Studies and Philosophy. I earned a 4.02 GPA and actually gave the Commencement speech at graduation (this is surreal considering my first years at the University (entered fall 2013) I was battling mental illness and left to seek treatment- which I did not mention on any applications after lots of thought- I am now in recovery for the past 2 years). I found my research passion as I began an internship at the University's Public Policy Center in the Social and Education Research Program. I started January 2017 on the project, which is a research-practice partnership with a local school district to address disparities in student outcomes. We conduct school climate surveys, provide recommendations and policy briefs, evaluate professional development, etc. I had always been passionate about sociology, and the power of sociological research to address social inequalities, and this internship gave me a specific area of study to focus my efforts on. Over the summer 2017, I did a volunteer internship at Johnson County Social Services and designed and conducted two program evaluations on youth programs the county is doing. I started an internship at the local school district due to my work on the partnership, and now work with the Director of Equity and Engagement. I also got a job over the summer as a telephone research interviewer at the Iowa Social Science Research Center and am now a supervisor. I decided to apply to grad school in September, as it became clearer that to be able achieve my goals and dreams, I need professional research training and expertise from a graduate program. I began to study for the GRE, I took the GRE after a few months and scored 160 V/153 W/4.5 AW. I got my CV, statement of purposes, writing samples, transcripts, and letters of rec all in order and worked so hard to get all my applications in, while also finishing school to graduate on Dec. 16th (and make a speech!), along with my jobs and internships. It was a crazy past couple months, and now I'm just working at the school district and research center waiting for results! My research interests are: social stratification, social and educational policy, race/ethnicity. Schools I applied to: University of Wisc Madison, University of Mich Ann Arbor, University of Penn, Duke, Northwestern, Harvard, Princeton, Indiana-Bloomington, UIowa, Cornell I am nervous that my GRE scores aren't super competitive, my undergrad institution isn't "prestigious", and I have no publications (I have assisted in 3 research reports with the Public Policy Center though), and no grants/fancy awards. I am confident about my GPA (I'm a super nerd- I love school, writing, and reading), research experience, letters of rec, CV, and SOP.