Gradhopeful

Thank you SO much, windsweptvoid, for your great suggestion (and for your generous offer)!! I will definitely check out review_my_sop to see if I can get some constructive feedback from that livejournal community. Congratulations, too, on your waitlists and acceptance! I sincerely hope you get to attend your first choice school. A beautiful spring to you!

Thank you for your suggestion, th3_illiterati! I will see if I can get a sample ("successful") SOP from someone, with the hopes that I will have the stamina to endure another go-round next year. Much success to you.

Sorry, all! I don't mean to be invasive or cause tension. You're right, though. My request does presuppose that a poster would be willing to share personal information, albeit scrubbed of identity. Therefore, I rescind my request, especially since, understandably, many may be worried about theft of ideas. I guess I am grasping at straws in my down mood since I feel like I've worked so hard for so long without gaining true marketability. Incidentally, I recognize that the first responder (sundv004) is correct--best would be for me to upload my own SOP for review/criticism. Unfortunately, at this point, I feel like it must be a load of crap and am too embarrassed to share it, although I did cover the traditional SOP points: 1) anecdotal opening illustrating my attraction to literature/ideas in general and to my specific area of interest in particular; 2) commentary on various areas/authors of interest to me and how they relate to my research/teaching ambitions; 3) indication as to why I have chosen the target school in question, including the specific faculty/specializations that most interest me in relationship to that school; 4) noting of how I, myself, will contribute to the targeted school and the community at large; 5) and wrap-up that ties intro. idea/anecdote to concluding thoughts. Thank you to everyone, though, for offering suggestions, including the website address via the second poster (cyborges) and the specific feedback/thoughtful musings of the third poster (Jack Cade).

Hi, I am wondering if anyone would be willing to post a "successful" Statement of Purpose (perhaps anyone who has been accepted into a program/programs). I have not yet not been rejected by all of my schools, but, after no success so far, I am now assuming I will be even though I thought my application was reasonably strong (or at least not inordinately weak). I have a 700 Verbal, what I believe are strong letters of reference, and tons of work experience, including great peer/student evaluations (having taught composition classes for years at two major universities as well as three different communities colleges). I am now suspecting that my SOP is "off" either somewhat or significantly. I recognize from the various threads here that "fit" may be my greatest hurdle, but I would appreciate any added insight anyone is willing to offer. Thank you for your help.

Honestly, I wondered the same thing--should I contact or should I not (imagining a similar scenario that if I contact, the DGS will automatically shred and pitch my application into file 13). However, I have since decided that if a reasonable amount of time has passed since applicants have been notified both "yea" and "nay," then it is equally reasonable to email/call and request a status update. Frankly, if the DGS chooses to discount my application as a consequence of my email/call instead of fairly assessing my qualifications in a comprehensive fashion, then I'm certain I don't want to be associated with that department anyway.

Hi, first of all, congratulations on your acceptance! Much success to you at UCI. Also, thank you for responding so quickly to my question. I now feel I have a more current update regarding the English Dept.'s notification process. Ultimately, I know I need to be patient since I'm sure I will learn my admission status soon--but it's sure hard waiting!

Has anyone received a rejection letter from this program? I haven't heard one thing, even though I have emailed both the secretary and the DGS about my status. Obviously, I am still hoping for the best, although I suspect I am soon to be disappointed. Thanks!

Thank you for your response, UnlikelyGrad. Although my hopes aren't as high now, I definitely do appreciate whatever info. I can get (waiting to hear is harder than I expected!). By the way, have you also had financial aids links on your New & Prospective Student Center page, too? I don't know if these links were present from the time I submitted my application or if they just appeared with the last week and a half or so (please see below). Thanks for your imput; I wish you MUCH luck/success with all of your applications! View Financial Aid Document Status View Financial Aid Award Summary View Financial Aid Award Notices Accept/Decline Financial Aid Financial Planning Calculators

Thanks for the quick response, Erin. You have given me hope. As you likely guessed, I am trying to determine if only those who got accepted to UM end up with this "blue box" info. on their status page. Now that I think about it, though, I probably should have directed my question to those who didn't get accepted . . . . Regardless, congrats on your acceptance!

To those who have been admitted to the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, do you have a blue box on your Application Status page with the following headings, (plus all of the pertinent info. listed beneath each heading, including Admit Term: Fall 2009): Admit Term Academic Career Academic Program Application Nbr Application Date I don't remember this information being on my Status page when I first registered, but I'm not entirely sure, and I haven't officially heard from my department. Thank you!