noir_it_up0716

Well, the field is cinema and film studies and I am willing to work as hard as I need to in order to make up what I have missed. I do have some time before I submit any applications that I will use to strengthen my German skills (as two other language proficiencies are required for the program once you enter) as well as take a couple of film classes. In that case, it would be better to wait and use a paper from there as a sample? Also, the programs I am applying to do encourage students from other disciplines to apply, so I'm not sure if they might actually prefer to see something psychology-related? Thank you for your feedback, also! Any more advice you have is more than appreciated.

Wow, that is a terrible experience. I hope that is not at all common when asking LORs. No one should be treated so poorly, especially when grad school applications are concerned.... it's stressful enough without it. I'm sorry you had such a bad experience!

Wow, that's great. I am also going to be applying to programs that are in a different field than my BA and I was very worried about the lack of research, etc. If you don't mind me asking, how did you approach your writing sample? Did you submit undergraduate work from the previous major you had? or was it related to the program you were applying to?

Well, I've always gone with more traditional ways, but I have had professors that begin classes with... "We're all adults here, so call me insert first name." I prefer first names, but I try not to be too forward! It's usually pretty easy to tell what's appropriate by the demeanor of the professor though!

Okay, I'm new here but I've been reading over the forums for the past couple of days and it seems like this is a great place for me to find things out. I'm about to finish my BS in Psychology, but I, more or less, breezed by my whole program. The work wasn't challenging, I could do sub-par work (I feel at least) and still get an A on just about every paper I turned in, and we do not have to write a senior thesis. I will be applying to graduate schools for next fall, but I want to get started now on what I am going to do about a writing sample. The longest papers I have are somewhere from 6-8 pages and they are not closely related to the programs I am interested in-- nor do I think they are anywhere near as impressive as they should be. I want my writing sample to stand out, since the programs I am applying to are in the humanities... but I'm not sure what to do. I'm tempted to write something myself and have some professors help me to fix it up. Is that a terrible idea? The programs, from what I have seen, did not specify that the works had to be submitted papers... but it looks like that's what they typically want? HELP.