Hi, I am applying this season to several PhD programs in the US, and I am a little (honestly, more like really) nervous about it. My undergrad was in sociology, but after graduating I took as many English linguistics classes as I could manage (English linguistics because my local university doesn't have a linguistics department) while working to support my family. I am now completing a MA program in Japanese linguistics, and while I am petitioning to continue my studies in my current program at the PhD level, I want to see if I can get into a program in general linguistics. I would like to study linguistics in wider range of languages, and I feel that there would likely be more job opportunities in the future than if I were to stay in a specific language concentration. However, with that, I am concerned as to how my narrower education might hurt me in the application process. Do you have any advice on to what degree I should address this jump from Japanese linguistics to general linguistics in the SOP? I am also a little concerned by the fact that between my undergrad and my current program, I spent a semester in a sociology graduate program in Fall 2011 which I withdrew from for personal/family reasons. I am now on track to graduate in the Spring with my MA, so I think my current academic record shows that I am capable and motivated in pursuing my education, but I wonder whether I should address my withdrawal from a grad program in the SOP. Would it be unwise to bring up something from five years ago, or is it a red flag to admission committees that I need to discuss? Do I seem wishy-washy by my seeming inability to commit to a discipline by moving from sociology to Japanese linguistics to general linguistics? A little about me: my research interests are sociolinguistics, more specifically language and identity, language ideology, and humor discourse. I am applying to seven general linguistics programs: UC Santa Barbara, UC Davis, University of Washington, University of Oregon, Purdue, CUNY, and University of Florida. I have identified 2-3 faculty in each program that I would like to work with, and I would be ecstatic to study in any of the programs. My GPA in my current program is 4.0 (my undergrad is 3.6), and GRE scores are 167V, 158Q, 5.0W. Two of my LOR professors were enthusiastic about writing LORs for me, and the third professor was a little concerned because she couldn't speak to my research interests but more to my teaching ability as a GA teaching a lower level Japanese language course. I have worked with the third professor pretty closely though and maintained a good relationship with her, so I don't think it will be a negative LOR. In honesty, I am fairly realistic in that I know that I am applying to selective programs, and I am not the ideal candidate for admission. I like the program where I am now, and I would be content to stay here. But I want to explore more options now while I have the opportunity, because I think that in the long-term (and short-term financially, the city I live now is incredibly expensive, especially on a GA stipend), it would be more beneficial to me. If you have any advice, please let me know. I would really appreciate it. I am sorry for the long-winded post; thank you if you have read this far.