Astarabadi

Ok, so I did submit most (90%) of my applications and then one professor told me to add ONE thing to my SOP. He said it's a mistake "most make" (which I am relying on MOST to make..). He said that besides everything else, I should also add specific dates about what I did when in my SOP. Now this is in addition to my CV, which of course has specific dates and coursework done. Should I add the dates or shouldnt I? Like saying "during my undergraduate years at XXXX, from 20XX to 20XX, I .....blah blah". Ideas?

Hey, just relax, take a deep breath and wait it out. You know you probably did your best, and don't beat yourself up over the smallest typos or other small mistakes that you did. It seems this year there is more competition (at least, as far as I've heard, in the humanities)....so that will make for an interesting result. I say let the frequent or seldom anxiety about your application hit you, so that you go back and keep checking if you submitted everything even after the deadline is past...and enjoy the ride till Spring time!

*whew* only two more applications remaining, just waiting for someone to give me a final review of my writing sample. Quick question, since this is regarding something I CAN change: should you include dates in your SOP? I painted a chronological picture of my intellectual development, but did not include specific dates (I am relying on my CV to do that). What do you think? Also, how do the application rounds work anyhoos? Candidates make the first cut based on SOP and CV right? then I guess they go to Writing Samples and LORs......right? just checking, but by now most of you should be *relieved* ...enjoying football season (or whatever else)...... good luck chumps

call the admissions officer and ask, they are usually helpful.

Something a faculty member i asked the same question told me "None who is reviewing your application has ever taken the GRE". so why it is important to begin with escapes me!

I don't think so since the deadline is only so that everything is submitted. All the applications are then given to the admissions committee, which then sits in January/beginning of the new term to make decisions and go through applications. I might be wrong though...

Personal statement: http://www.grad.berkeley.edu/admissions/personal_statement.shtml SOP: http://www.grad.berkeley.edu/admissions/state_purpose.shtml It's still not very clear cut after reading these two descriptions. Is it only required in schools located in California?? Anyway, I am trying to figure out the difference as well........seems like personal statement is more of a individual-career type of relationship, whereas SOP is why you want to choose the school and the faculty members. makes sense?

These ideas are good, but the best thing to do is to call up the admissions officer directly. Everywhere I had an issue with words/number of pages, I called ahead and spoke to the admissions officer in charge. 9 out of 10 times the person was helpful and said that these limits are there so that students don't exceed reasonable limits....AND that it was okay to go over the 600 word limit (which is ridiculously minimal in my opinion) to upto a 1,000 words. I would say that keeping it between 1,000 and 1,200 words is ideal...that's 2 pages single spaced. I even called and asked a university where the limit was 1 and a half pages double spaced/600 words (are they nuts?) and got the green light for upto 2 pages. Point is, the person who will be dealing primarily with downloading and setting up your apps. for the admissions committee is the admissions officer, so why not run it by them first. I don't think faculty members really care, as long as the point is made.

Another point is to be professional and respectable without brown-nosing. So something like "I'd like to work with Dr XX, who has done work on blah-blah for x-y-z number of years". Wherever possible, I tried to at least speak to or meet the main faculty member. That gave me the opportunity of writing "After having met" or "After having spoken to" Dr XX, 'I realized that his/her interests lie ....". So you don't always have to mention all the work they have done in detail.

Do the faculty members you plan to work with overlap? If they do, then you might want to mention two separate ways in which you will be contributing to the field, and two separate types of subjects that you have studied and plan to to work on.

Wait, hold on a sec. I'm applying to Berkeley too, and came across this weird "personal statement", which is different from the "statement of purpose". I'm also applying to UCLA and another school in Cali, and so far it seems only Berkeley asks for a personal statement. The Berkeley grad.school application websites lists some pointers and reasons for the personal statement...but no samples!! 1. Does anyone have any samples/links to possible samples? 2. Who reads this personal statement? the SOP and CV and Writing Sample make sense as a neat package, but why personal statement? 3. Am I to understand that this is another opportunity to make myself presentable and attractive to the admissions committee or am I applying for something in particular, as to a fellowship or such? who reads this PS? ...help!

Applying to 9 separate programs: Application Fees: $736 GRE test and study materials and ASRs: $80+160+96=336 Transcripts=$49 Total=$1,121. Has anyone considered applying for Application Fee Waivers? I might be eligible for waivers, but am not sure how that's going to look to the admissions committee. Or do they not care?

Yeah, I believe most are on the same phase. My transcripts and GRE scores have all been sent, LOR requests sent out but I am chasing after one professor who I know will delay it (don't you hate ppl like that...he's good but he has to be pushed to write it.). SOPs are not written yet!!! Will work on that. The most gargantuan task has been the writing sample. Everyday i feel like i'm "almost done" but I keep editing it, going back, asking others to read it, a snip here and there. But I should be done soon...(fingers crossed). And what is with some schools and five separate forms!! They want me to fill this out, that out, get this recommendation out, FLAS, etc. etc. Too much paperwork!~ Anyway, take deep breaths guys, it's two more weeks till the first deadlines are up, so not much more to go...

Download and use "Foxit Phantom" Reader, which work just like Adobe but lets you convert from MS Word to PDF and vice versa no problem. Must easier and better than any other software I've come acorss.

I think it depends on what you are applying for. I am applying to History and Religion departments and I've asked those who are already in those fields (I recommend you do that). Footnotes are preferred for a research paper/writing sample, since it might seem that citing sources right into the text might be a filler (some citations are long). A trick I've figured out is to make sure the footnotes, no matter how long, are in the smallest font size possible without being illegible. Also, I am attaching a hefty bibliography (which is included in the 25 pages) but it's compressed, small in font size, and single spaced. Double spacing only applies to your text. Don't forget a title page either.

Just to add to that, I found an app for the iPhone that has proven to be very helpful. It's called "GRE Vocab" (simple enough) by Brainscape (www.brain-scape.com). its got 9 sets of vocab words, which appear like flash cards. Its also got a serious section on English Word Elements, which teaches root words, prefixes, and suffixes. Just 15-20 mins a day really helped me.

Hi Lion87, I'd like to share some of my experience: 1. From what you have said about the number of hours, they seem excessive. Best thing to do, really, is to look at how much you want to get in the GRE and aim for. The GRE will test how well you take the GRE, is all (yes, this is frm PR and its true). What I did was look at my target schools and how much the average GRE scores were. This information is easily available if you search their website. I then aimed higher than that average score ( you always have to aim just a little higher) and then made a study plan. You don't need to get a 100%, no-one does. 2. Once you have determined the ideal score (lets say 1350 or 1400) then study for a bit, and then take the practice tests. See how you do. Once you realize your strengths and weaknesses, go back and start again. This repetition helped me, since I was good at vocab and not-so-good at math. All I really needed was to learn test taking skills. I practiced with the proper books (PR and Barrons helped me the best) and then sat down on the computer to test myself. Both parts of preparation were essential, since one is preparation, and the other is actually taking the test (on the PC). 3. Your brain will get fried. What worked for me was 3.5 hours a day, which is still much. 2 hours in the morning, 1.5 in the evening. I would work on math one day, review vocab. I would then switch the next day. Kept doing this for one month, then took a little break of 10 days. Plan to go back for one last month in September and take it at the end of the month. 4. You will have to take the GRE twice. You will do better the second time, that is a guarantee. Use the rights books as well. Good luck~!

Yes, I did leave out two places: UCLA with now Nile Green and S. Subrahmanyam. NYU I didnt know much about but am finding out. Emory also has a good mix with Scott Kugle and Joyce Flucekinger. As for Columbia, I visited the campus and spoke to a professor I know there. Even though I am an "attractive candidate" (his words not mine, and I've known him for years), he asked me to stay away for Columbia. Not making any conclusions here, but it might be different for you. In any and all cases, it is foolish to apply without first speaking with the professors themselves to see if they are interested, and with graduate students to see how the chemistry with the professors is, and of course if you like the program. For instance, there are a couple ppl at UT Austin I would like to work with but again the area studies program is based on language and literature, something I am not interested in. So I am going to end up applying for history with a focus on S.Asia/Mid. East. the struggle continues....

Hi, just to share my experience with the materials available out there: Princeton Review and Barrons seems to be the best. PR has good techniques, so I purchased "Cracking the new GRE" and also "1,014 Questions" Both are tonk books, and seem to be helpful. Its another story that my math sucks and my verbal is pretty good. But I have already spent a month, and plan to take the GREs in late September (first try, will be after almost 3 months of studying). Lets see how that goes! Also, practicing with PowerPrep is OK, I prefer to use the PR cds and online tests which are the best practice tests.

just as an update: I spoke to someone who is currently enrolled at HDS doing a MTS. He is actually taking time off from med school (you can do that?) in order to get a MTS, but is not headed toward a PhD. What he said was that most join HDS and transfer to Harvard either into the religion or history departments after obtaining a MTS. So I guess a MTS does "translate" into a MA in the concerned field, but there is a difference: you, of course, have to make up the coursework that is required. You might also have an advantage with sources and knowing the methodology in religion when you join for a PhD, which others many not have. Also, they did not require GREs for divinity schools but have recently started asking that students take them.

Hi, I've been doing serious research on South Asian studies programs. Here's what I found (this is as of late July): 1. You will find the best S.Asian studies programs at Title VI schools: that means the state schools. In random order: U-Washington (Henry Jackson International) People: A. Yang and P. Dhavan U-W Madison (Andre Wink). Madison is also where the annual South Asian studies conference takes places, followed by the South Asian librarians conference (good to look into both). U-C Berkeley (M.Faruqui holding down the fort). U-C Davis also to some extent (A. Anooshahr). U-T Austin (C. Talbot) Good Mid-Eastern studies program as well U-M Ann Arbor (Cole, F.Mir, etc.) Rutgers is up and coming with S.Guha and I.Chatterjee on the S.Asian team As for the private schools, Columbia has gotten weak recently, chaotic program. NYU/Harvard/Yale I am not sure about, but I think the last two are more focused on anthropology and art. In terms of subject matter, the state schools have good solid historians in the field. This is important, as it forms the matrix for other field such as art, literature, etc. In terms of religion, I am really not sure. I think there are a few and far between experts on S.Asian religion, but the program is held down by historians. They have a certain personality that tends to sometime "cast a shadow" on the artists and poets.

Samarkand, You seem to be correct in your observations. I've done quite a bit of research on the issue since my last post, and seem to have found out aspects I hadn't thought of. Such as: 1. Professors do take an interest in all possible candidates. But from the students perspective, its important to see if a) personalities match b)this is someone you'd be comfortable in working with for 5 or more years (for a PhD), c) if you do have qualities that stand out (I do, in my confidence in language studies), then highlight that. Also don't forget to mention your weaknesses, which need to be worked on. Honesty is appreciated everywhere. d) Try to meet with the possible adviser, and see where they fit in the field. To an extent, its about being a "xyz1" as opposed to a "xyz3" and you kind of have to figure out where you want to start, but not end up. Working with a specialist in a field, if there are only a few, can put you in the right direction. e) its just as much about a job search as it is about doing what you are passionate about. balance those two, keeping in mind skills necessary for both. thanks for the link!

since the topic was brought up, I would like to ask a few questions (would appreciate detail in answers): I am currently looking to get into academic librarianship, since my language skills and educational background are in demand and many have encouraged me. Questions are: 1.MLS or MLIS exactly? 2. I dont have a technical background but can get used to learning tools used in libraries in general (I'm guessing you dont need to know Unix, just be able to use new software to search and provide support!). I have a BA in English, so should I go for MLS or MLIS?? (academic librarianship is the goal here). 3. In terms of going for a masters, does this work out ideally: MLS first, then hopefully get a job at a good university, and then get another MA in field of choice (history, language, or something interdisciplinary). "choice" being field of academic librarianship I would like to specialize in OR go for a MA in "choice" and then pursue MLS??? Dont know which goes first. 4. What are the admissions office looking for in a candidate for a masters in library science? a good background in language? technical skills? what exactly should be "emphasized" on CVs? 5. In terms of experience, I have some cataloging private (and EXPENSIVE) libraries,...what exactly is ideal in terms of exp./internship? 6. Where can I find out more about the TYPES of librarians (seem to be many, even in academia) and what skills I can work toward and what SCHOOLS are best to attend? (I know Rutgers has a good program, and so does SJSU....and?) thanks, I know I sound like a newbie (which I am to librarianship)......

Hey, yea you guys are right that NES or South Asian (or any other interdisciplinary) program is 'vast', but of course you can focus on specific subjects such as religion or history. I recently spoke to a PhD candidate in NES?Islamic studies at McGill and it was his opinion that its all about 'positioning'---either one goes for religion, or history, or language. Also, I wanted to ask: I am currently looking to possible programs and professors for NES for a MA, or possibly a MA to PhD track. I have a strong background in languages and also in traditional studies. Out of the four I contacted, three agreed to work with me right away and encouraged me to apply to the programs....is this something weird? does this usually happen and how much does the professors willingness to work with a student affect his or her chance to get into the program? (does it depend on the graduate admissions office and the professors say in these matters?) Since we are on the topic, I was wondering if you could share the following: 1. Possible schools for a solid NES or South Asian studies program? 2. Is a MA to PhD track ideal for the job market in this department? thanks!

Hi there Painose, I am was browsing the forums looking for advice on a similar situation myself. I graduated with a major in English and a decent GPA a few years ago and am was looking to join a ("regular") MA to PhD program in religion,or Near Eastern studies. I had gone abroad to study in a theological seminary and to learn the original languages of the texts, so that has added on to my credit. [i am a "traditional" scholar of religion in addition to have some academic background]. I was planning on applying for MA programs until someone recently suggested the MTS or MDiv program (as far as I can tell, the MDiv is more intensive, longer, and usually culminates in a ministerial position, right?) at Harvard. I am trying to get more information, but again my main concern (which seems to be the same as yours) is whether the MTS will hold just as much weight as a MA in religion or language. I'm not sure yet, but I have asked a few scholars of the field and am awaiting their reply. For what I can tell, the MTS is useful once you have decided to pursue a vocation in the specific field. Right now: 1.I am not sure if a MTS is just as good "generally", as a MA would be in said field. 2. I am not sure if the MTS will hold MORE weight than a MA if one were to pursue the same field of religion. 3. Is it possible to somehow "convert" the MTS into an MA with some additional research and work at Harvard or other seminaries that accredit studies in theology? Am looking for answers to these questions, will keep you posted as things become clearer.