runaway

At least I'm not the only one. I'm a QWOC so I have plenty to write about, but it's hard to sound genuine and not like I'm just trying to work it to my advantage. I wish it weren't so cold! I live literally across the street from a Starbucks, and even that can't entice me out today. Brr.

I have everything together, pretty much, but I still need to write the extra essays specific to a couple programs (ie diversity statements). Trying to find that last bit of motivation... gah! Anyone have tips for getting motivated/inspired?

well, first application is in! going to try and get a second one submitted this evening, too... it seems like for so long this moment loomed far in the distance. time flies!

Same! I need to stop making small edits and just submit already.

My story is a bit different than yours but my timeline is similar; I took two years off after high school and completed my degree in five years, due to health reasons. If all goes well, I'll start my PhD at 27. I've never thought of myself as a non-traditional applicant and I don't address it in my personal statement. Granted, my GPA didn't suffer as much, so I've taken the risk that raising concerns about my health might be more detrimental in the long run. But regarding your SoP, I think you can say everything in the above paragraph in about two sentences. While jumping in the seminar shows initiative, it doesn't really demonstrate ability. Focus on the results (the fact it led to a two year research project) and save room to elaborate those. And/or talk about what exactly excited you about this seminar. Specific theory you encountered? Was it the first time you used archival materials and got hooked? Etc. During my first semester at ***** I enrolled in a senior research seminar, despite being a junior transfer. Having just left a lucrative position with the intention of finally earning my BA, I was aware of the financial sacrifice I was making and was determined to dedicate myself fully and ambitiously. The research seminar was my first encounter with [xyz specific thing], which led to [research project], laying the groundwork for [current research interests.]

Today's the day... finish-those-applications day. My first deadline is the 1st, so I'm focusing on that application and will worry about finishing tailoring my SoP for each other school after I get it in. My last deadline's the 15th, so I booked a trip to see friends in Warsaw that day as motivation. I feel like I'm at that so-close-yet-so-far stage, but it's also weird being so close to submitting, given that I've been planning on this moment for years!

Your marks don't seem too terrible besides the 57. Doing another MA in such a related field does seem a bit desperate, though. If I were you I'd spend my time building my CV with job experience rather than a redundant degree, but if you're already in a program it's probably better to stick it out than ditch something you've already started.

Isn't a 73 very good-- the equivalent of an A in the US system? What PhD programs are you looking at/where are you hoping to get your degree?

I feel so behind! My SoP is pretty much together, my CV is polished, my letters of rec are lined up, but I still need to do some serious work on my writing sample. First deadline is Dec 1st so I hope to have everything in the week or so after that. Can see the light at the end of the tunnel at least...

I'm so jealous that you're all done, Bearcat. I'm still editing my writing sample...

I never expected this, but I've been getting this a lot since living in the UK: Them (disdainfully): Why go back to the US for a decade-long PhD when it only takes you four years to do one here? Me: Because if I do it, I'll be paid to do it. Them: ... oh.

I once brought a bottle of vodka to a dinner party at a professor's house. It turned out he and his family were Mormon. They were incredibly nice about it and in the end it wasn't too awkward, but I'd imagine it could have gone quite a bit differently. Everyone else has pretty much given a resounding 'no,' but this is just an example of how, despite the homogenous reputation of academia, you really can't predict who is going to read your essay.

hypothesizer, I think you missed the part where admissions at the graduate level do not prioritize race over socio-economic status, or any other definition of diversity, for that matter. now why don't you go run off and write about your back hair?

Tolman, that definitely sounds like something you should include, but I think the trick might be to focus on the outcomes rather than the obstacles themselves. You could sum up your adolescence as something like 'lacking direction and not encouraged to pursue rigorous academic achievement' or however you think you can be true to yourself without going into details. And then focus on how you managed to find direction and drive without it just being handed to you. Meanwhile, I'm still stuck on mine...

you guys, I think it's time.

Thanks, anoveldave! I think I'll do the same, then.

I love this thread. Possibly the subtlest one: tote bags! From that remote/obscure museum or art fair in another city. My favorite is seeing people carrying their bags the day after a VIP opening, just in case you were wondering if they went or not.

Thanks! I reread my post and realized I wasn't clear: I'm definitely including it on applications that don't specify 'degree-granting institutions.' I'm just wondering if it counts as 'degree granting' since I enrolled originally to earn a degree, but ended up getting that degree elsewhere.

Some applications ask for all institutions attended, but others ask only for institutions that granted you a degree (or you expect to receive one). Should I include the institution I transferred from? I shifted my course of study greatly afterwards, so the work I did there doesn't have that much relevance, and I did much better (as I was much happier) after I transferred. My application looks stronger without it, but it seems disingenuous not to list it. The courses I took there appear on my degree-granting uni, but without grades, as they didn't get computed into my new GPA. Thoughts?

So because these movies exist that automatically makes that okay? I personally find these movies disgusting, both misogynistic and transphobic. They feed into the aspects of society that allow gender-based violence and rape culture to exist. If you think that argument was going to make me come to some glorious epiphany, you're sadly mistaken. If you're part of a minority, then why post this topic to begin with? You'll notice that the prompt for these diversity essays is incredibly broad. Nowhere does it say 'brownie points if you're queer!!' Nor are they pitting us in some oppression olympics. It's a chance for us think critically about our privileges and disadvantages, not to prove the hand we got dealt was the hardest.

Sorry, Kay, I must have read your post too quickly because I missed the part about irony-- my fault! (I'm sure nobody took offense from your post, but that term can be taken the wrong way when addressing a person specifically, just fyi.) I know OP was basically trolling, but I do know some people actually think this way, so...

It's a good thing that this forum is basically anonymous, because this thread is embarrassing. First of all, it's a lot harder to pretend about membership in the LGBT community than you think. I've yet to meet a queer person who would ever use the term 'bicurious.' Kaykaykay, the correct term is 'transgender,' not 'transgendered,' which is quite offensive. Even a small misuse of terminology like this would be a red flag to any LGBT person reading your application-- and there most likely will be one, because it's a minority group well represented in academia. (So it probably won't help you much anyway.) Regardless, lying about being queer-- when every day, people are assaulted or killed, become homeless, and lose their jobs because of their LGBT identity-- makes you an asshole.

I know on the Berkeley application, there's a section where you check off if you fit some pretty obscure criteria, which relates to what scholarships you're qualified for. Some are obvious (researching from XYZ) while some seem fairly random-- it's possible that at the school you're considering, an alum has endowed a scholarship for people from your hometown.

I think most professors in the US are aware of how UK grades work-- either they've spent time abroad, have sent advisees for study abroad and had to assist with transferring credits, etc, or know colleagues who have. I'm studying in a rather specific UK program, but I've been told that when I'm applying to schools back in the US I shouldn't worry about spending space in my SOP explaining how the grading works. It's a well enough respected program that anyone in my discipline will know.

After transferring from a southern school to a northern one and talking to a professor who had taught both places, I learned that apparently this is a regional thing. It's Professor in the north (at least the northeast) and Dr. in the south-- although it might vary from campus to campus. In my emails I tend to say "professor" since it's what I'm comfortable with.