imisscoffee

Not just listing them, but telling the stories - When you look at me, you can't necessarily guess what I've been through. That's because I try to move on, because I know I'm not the only one, because there's more to life than dwelling on the hard times. But this particular year of my history is what made me want to help others: One day I woke up, and this horrible thing had happened to me. I tried to fix it, but to no avail. It was a lost cause. But two years later, when things started to look up, I realized that I had changed. And from that change came my desire to nurture strength and hope in other youngsters. Maybe? Also, keep in mind that some people "whine" more than others, and all the time. Is there a reason you feel self conscious talking about your hardships? Remember that we have never heard your story before, so it's not like you are bugging anyone. You can keep it brisk, or point out just one or two things, and still have an impact.

Holy ****, Berkeley is due so soon. I really want to get this in before the last minute. I'm so afraid to hit send, though, like I'll later realize I sent two of the same transcript or something. Or that I misspelled my last name on my CV.

say how you went through that hard stuff but came out strong, and you want to ensure others can, too.

THANK YOU, MANDARIN.

I have exchanged with one person, anyone else? As for the above comment, you can certainly write about how you will use your MPA in the future to advance equitable access. I mean, that'll be part of your job description, right? And what made you want to be an MPA? Maybe write about that experience?

Help. Do I ask someone who is a professional reference, relevant, but not academic, or a professor emeritus who admittedly doesn't remember me? I need to know NOW. Crap. Anyway, I'm applying for a doctoral program, so perhaps the academic reference is best. Note that I already have two academic references. Any advice? Thanks!!!!!!

Want to trade UC Berkeley diversity "personal history" statements for a reality check or an idea of what others are writing? Message me. Mine is weird, I think, but I just can't tell.

Glad you are getting somewhere! I have all this great information I need to integrate into my sop right now, but I just can't get my brain to turn on and do it! Hence, gradcafe posts. I made a deal with myself - I can have coffee to celebrate each time I submit one of these suckers!

I've been out of school for eight years. I haven't asked for much from anyone in that time. Now, I'm collecting my karmic debts - I am asking friends who are grad students, prospective advisors, everyone I can, to look over my SOP. I just ask politely, let them know I know they are busy, and that if they get a chance to glance at it, I'd be much obliged. Many say yes. Some ignore me. It took me years to change my attitude about freely asking - and giving - help. But if you make a commitment to help others when the time comes, perhaps it will be easier to ask others for help right now. And these professionals' advice is invaluable.

I have just a bachelor's degree. I have never spoken at a conference, unless you count and Earth First! conference. I haven't published much, unless you count working for eHow and self-publishing zines. I haven't taught much, unless you count bike-building classes, sourdough bread-baking classes, and women's health classes at the local free school. How cheesy is it to have a CV listing these non-academic accomplishments? Can I spin them to sound proper (and like I am self-driven) by using academic language throughout my descriptions? Other questions: Should I have a "personal" section that lists by birthdate and place? Should I list the school I transferred away from (never receiving a degree from it)? I know that the question of CV versus resume has been addressed, but I needed to get more specific. Thank you in advance for your answers.

Ok, after all this, I'm going to go for the subject of study right off the bat. Plus, if everyone else opens with a narrative, I'll be different by NOT doing that. You don't have to be boring just cause you aren't going narrative, as Fuzz explained. Thanks again, everyone. Oh yeah, just because your life is boring doesn't mean that you can't come up with creative ways of starting an essay, LaJax and CoffeePlease. My suggestions are reading some weird creative writing on McSweeney's or playing some exquisite corpse games to get your mind to open up.

Thanks for the advice, both of you. FuzzLo, I will be thinking in particular now about how to work in "why geography of middle eastern food at U of __" for me personally, rather than "why geography" for my research topic.

Please see the post I just made in this forum on the order of SOPs - I would like to leave out anecdote altogether, assuming that good writing is good whether narrative or not, and that the most important thing should be the research I wish to conduct. Save the wittiness for the writing sample, perhaps? Leaving out the narrative might signify that you are confident in this area already, and don't need to prove it to the adcom through the SOP, that you already have too much to say on the direct topic to fit stories into your SOP. I know that it's important in PhD programs to use academic-talk, but the fact that your a writer gives you the chance to show that you can blend aca-talk with clear sentence structure. I am just applying, and scared to death of not getting in, so don't take this too seriously! Just some of my own thoughts and assumptions. I'd really appreciate feedback on these ideas, too. -I Miss Coffee (so much, just one cup with some half and half, but alas, I cannot...)

I am writing my SOP and have the strong urge to organize my SOP this way: 1. my specific research interest (food of the Middle East) 2. how it fits with the discipline (situated food in context blah blah geography) 3. why I am qualified to study it (world systems theory seminar, food studies, place in my life, academic interest, hebrew language skills) 4. why I chose this school in particular (strong Middle East dept., profs with background in cultural geography theory, food, gender studies) Both official and unofficial suggestions of outlines are usually: 1. intro hook/interest in discipline (place is important/geography but saving research topic for #3?) 2. academic background/qualifications (history major, hard worker, this is still going to sound odd without them knowing my specific interests yet) 3. specific area of interest (food of the Middle East) 4. why this school in particular (see above) Is there a problem with reorganizing my outline how it seems to flow best? Is there some reason adcoms prefer to see it the "usual" way? Do I have to have a charming hook? Shouldn't my research interests be enough, with my personality coming out slowly in my writing? Won't my personal statement be the place for me to write about growing up in a rural setting, immigrant grandparents, my personal interest in the topic, anecdotes, etc.? Thanks! -I Miss Coffee (and wish I was drinking it but I can't, at least not until the anxiety of this application process is over)