Poppet

I think what depresses me most is that last semester I was also taking a very heavy course load while trying to complete my applications. I ran myself into the ground so hard that I had a mono relapse, so I vowed that this semester I was going to give myself a break and take it easy. I was going to let myself coast for once and relax and actually read for pleasure, paint, exercise, have a social life... And instead, I'm just so nervous about grad apps and sick of school that I spend all my days being a sloth and checking grad forums. I'm completely wasting the first opportunity I've had in a long time to actually enjoy my life. But I just don't even feel like putting the effort into THAT anymore. It sounds worse than it is. But I think I'm going to go for a jog now...

I will always call a professor "Professor X" no matter how they refer to themselves, how they sign their emails, or what other people call them. Until they explicitly tell me that I can call them by their first name, I will not presume that they want me to. I only have one professor who I know on a first name basis, and it's because I worked as her research assistant before she became my professor - but I would never call her by her first name in front of anyone else. She's very friendly so the majority of students call her by her first name, but she confided to me that she secretly hates that and finds it disrespectful. "No professor has worked this hard for this many years to have the 'Dr.' arbitrarily removed from their name by a student," she said. Frankly, I don't blame her, and I'm going to presume that all professors secretly feel this way - until they tell me otherwise, anyway. (And even then, it's unlikely that I'd do it.)

Actually, I'm having the same problem. I've been so driven for so long and working so hard that now that I'm almost done I feel like I've lost all my drive. I am lethargic and lazy and not as interested in my final courses because I almost feel like they don't count anymore, even though they are clearly necessary and I need to work equally hard on them as I did on all my previous courses. But I'm almost at the point of not caring anymore.

Thanks, that was very reassuring to read.

Thanks Newms, that's exactly what I was concerned about. I don't want to look like I'm buying them off, but I simultaneously don't want to seem unappreciative. I also like the idea of a gift card, that hadn't occurred to me. So next question - how much money do you put on the gift card? $10? $5? $20?

I have three referees who have been exceptionally good to me, and who I have pestered like crazy without the slightest suggestion from any of them that I was being a brat. One of my professors was even on sabbatical and frequently out of the city - if not the country - when my references were due. She would come into the city to personally drop them off for me, which I think was completely beyond the call of duty. I think very highly of all of them and I know that the inverse is also true. I have also started receiving successful responses because of their efforts, so I would like to thank them accordingly. I have been very gracious in my emails already, but I would like to send them cards also. What I don't really know though, is when I am supposed to send these cards - now? I might be asking for another reference in a few weeks, should I wait until then? Do I send a card after each batch? I don't want them to seem like tokens, either. Additionally, I suspect that I am going to be deferring some admissions this year and probably bugging my referees all over again next year, so I don't them to think that I don't appreciate how much of an inconvenience this all is for them. Finally, is it appropriate to make additional gestures? I would love, for example, to buy each of them a box of chocolates or a bottle of wine or something like that to demonstrate my appreciation, but I'm really not sure if this is considered appropriate. I don't feel like a simple thank you card is enough.

I submitted my SOP to U of Toronto last week for my MA application. It was supposed to be 500 words, and mine was 646. I couldn't reduce it anymore than I already had, and I was about 1 minute from the deadline so I submitted as-is. How big of a problem do you think this is? Do you always respect word counts, and if not, have you been penalized for it? What about writing shorter statements than requested (800 words instead of 1000-1500?) I like to think that quality counts over quantity, and I imagine that adcomms get really annoyed when they have to read too much over their word limits - but I am curious to hear about your experiences.

Oh thank god. I'd already submitted two SOP's and certainly didn't write them in letter format but I keep worrying about it all in retrospect. Thanks so much for confirming I did it correctly.

I know this is going to seem like a really silly question, but do you really need to write your SOP in the format of a letter? Is it truly necessary to write, "Dear Professor So-and-So" or "Dear Admissions Committee" and then sign off with your, "Best Regards/Sincerely/Please Pick Me" conclusion? It just seems so much more reasonable to me to attach a statement written in essay format stating what your purpose in applying is, your research interests, future goals, why this school in particular, and why this school would also benefit from you - But without any of the awkward salutations or introductions. Is a letter format really necessary for a statement of intent, or in the case of what I am writing today, a "Candidate Statement," or can I just jump right in with what I want to say? I'm applying for an MA. Thanks for any guidance.

Yeah, that's what I was asking - I didn't even realize that universities would provide that information in the first place. But it turns out that my timing for the question was a little silly - I received a letter from my university in the mail today saying that I'd been recommended for the award. So if anyone else is wondering, Carleton apparently sends this info out via letter not email, and you should be getting yours soon!

Wow, that is extremely valuable advice. Thanks for posting that.

Have any masters students received notification about being forwarded on to Ottawa yet? I had no idea that I might be getting an inkling of information (whether hopeful or disappointing) anytime soon... I would love to hear that it's not just PhDs who receive these emails!

Ugh!! I am in a similar position - I think I really screwed up one of my SOP's. I was supposed to write a "Statement of Intent" about my proposed research (so, not the same as a personal statement) - but my proposed research happens to be heavily inspired by specific work experience. So I wrote about the work experience and how it inspired me to notice that the same problem existed in another field and that I wanted to address that problem in my graduate research, and that the university in question would allow me to do so because of its course offerings, etc. I didn't write anything about my grades or other research experience, mentioned nothing about why I took 8 years off of school to work instead, and didn't write a proper research proposal, etc. Also, it was supposed to be 500 words and mine was 624. My reference letters and work experience are so good that I was expecting a virtually free ride at this university, and now because of my SOP I'm worried I won't get in at all. I want to bang my head against the table.

Hmm.. I'm a little concerned by these comments. I'm applying to the MA in Human Rights at Columbia, the MA at UCL, and the MSc at LSE also, but I happen to have a lot of human rights experience and it has directly framed my reasons for studying human rights at the postgraduate level. I can't imagine NOT explaining how such work has influenced me professionally, academically, AND personally. There's only so much work you can do with former child soldiers before becoming somewhat personally affected, you know? Do I really need to omit how deeply personal my human rights advocacy initiatives really are? Also - Can someone confirm for me that the application due date for UCL really isn't January 31st? The website indicates that January 31st is the deadline for doctoral candidates who want funding, but I was told that this is the same deadline for MA applications also. Is this not true? I would so much prefer an April deadline! Thanks everyone for their help.