Hi all,
I have a question regarding writing samples that's been weighing heavily on my mind as the application deadlines approach. I earned an MM in musicology from a reputable university, where I initially hoped to work on a project that would be seen as "congruent" with current trends in the field. I was disappointed to find that no faculty members felt up to advising this project, so I was forced to settle on a topic that reflected the interests of my advisor. Unfortunately, the topic and methodology are both pretty dated. As this is the most substantial piece of writing I have, I'm reluctantly using it as a sample for PhD applications. I indicate in my statement that my interests moving forward are entirely different and that this thesis was just an exercise in the fundamentals of research. Another faculty member was hired during the second semester of my final year at my institution who was upset to hear that no one would advise my initial project, and has been guiding me through the application process. She told me she'd indicate in my letter of rec that I wrote the paper simply to satisfy the interests of my advisor and for no other reason. In short, I'm somewhat worried that my application will paint me as an traditionalist, interested in rehashing areas that have been extensively researched. Are my worries justified? Anyone have any opinions about how strongly our samples have to reflect our broader interests? Sorry for the novel of a post! Best of luck to everyone applying this year! Also, I'll be applying to Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Brown, and Berkeley.
