Thanks for your detailed reply! This definitely makes sense. In that case, I think (I hope) I'm on the right lines. All the best for your applications!
Hi all, I'm applying for this upcoming cycle. As I'm more used to putting together the British 'proposal' for PhD applications, I have a question re citations. Are they expected in the US statement of purpose? A lot of advice I'm seeing online is pointing towards 'avoid citations', but I wondered what the general consensus is. Cheers!