vivaglam

Hello everyone! I just wanted to know if it is a good idea to thank the admissions committee on the SOP? If yes, do you thank them for reading your SOP or for reviewing your application? How does it work?

Thank you adaptations. I now feel even more confident in using that approach

Hi Gracie915! I'm applying to a media studies program myself and feel your pain. My interests are pretty diverse too and I'm having a difficult time articulating them into a few sentences. I feel talking about The Social Network- the movie is a great way to start your essay, but you need to cut your statement short so that it reflects and eventually leads to what your particular academic interests are. I am personally interested in the changing nature of media and how old forms of media are accommodating new ones and in turn how we the consumer/audience are affected by these changes. If I were to use the movie as an example, I'd talk about how an older form of media (movies) is representing a new and popular form of media (social networking) and what its success means. If your focus in on human-media relationships (which is what I gather from your introductions), you could probably focus on Facebook and its overwhelming popularity which led to an eventual on screen portrayal of its creation that people were willing to pay to watch. I hope this helps. I also feel the posts above are extremely helpful. After reading one of them I've decided to drop my anecdotal hook for good. Lets hope it works out! Good luck with your application!

Thanks fuzzylogician! I think I'll do as you suggested

Thank you for replying newms! Unfortunately I don't know whether my depression was a result of bad grades or vice versa. Most other people I consulted said it was best to say "medical condition," which to me is very vague. My GPA is still above average and my major GPA is almost perfect. I just don't want the admissions committee to feel that I won't be able to handle to pressures of graduate school.

During my first two years of college I didn't perform well at all. I had always been academically inclined and my grades bothered me a lot. I was very sad and frustrated about this. My RA made me see the health center where I was diagnosed with clinical depression. I withdrew from my classes retroactively and went home for the summer. I was back in fall and still not performing well. I went through a lot of personal issues at this time and found myself back at the health center where I was diagnosed with depression again. I finally decided to do something about this and sought treatment. I then transferred to another university and performed extremely well there academically. I really don't know how to talk about this in my SOP. I do realize it is something that needs to be addressed. Also my first school is a top university while the second is not that great, will this affect my application?