inwhatway

Thanks for the reply! Actually, I was referring to the doctoral program. Any news on Ph.D. admissions?

I'm right there with you, Sociology27.

Since Vandy only accepts 4 to 8 students each fall, I think those of us who haven't been contacted weren't accepted. Though, I suppose anything is possible...:/

And how!

A Groucho Marxism. Not mine, but that joke formula gets me every damn time.

Just saw the first Vanderbilt acceptance post on the Results Survey. Please tell us when you found out and any other relevant details. Oh, and congratulations!

Just posting to see if any CRJ program hopefuls have applied to MSU for the fall 2012 term. It's been nearly 4 weeks since the deadline, so we should hear something soon.

Michigan is my "reach" school. I'm dying for some inside scoop on this year's admissions process. Does anyone have any info?

No bueno.

This is the one school that has my stomach in knots -- the suspense is nearly intolerable. Anyone have adcom scoop?

I had a lot of anxiety about this, too. I'm a first-generation college/grad school student, so I wasn't certain if contacting prospective advisors was a good, or bad idea. After all, I didn't want to bother them so close to admissions season. But, this is one of those things that nearly all Ph.D. applicants do. It's a shrewd insider tipthat is so commonly done that it isn't even talked about, much like dropping by office hours to cultivate a relationship with a potential grad school reference or leveraging second- and third-choice financial aid packages to increase your first-choice school's initial offer. I followed my instincts and emailed faculty at each program -- all but one responded with enthusiasm. Two POIs set up "pre-applicant" interviews where I got a chance to ask questions that weren't directly addressed on the Schools' websites. Also, this step has the potential to change that magic sentence from "I would like to work with Dr. Smith" to "Dr. Smith has agreed to be my mentor."

Alright, I've been creepin' on this post for a while, so I guess it's time to add my own post. For context, my partner and I have family obligations that tie us to the Detroit metro area and I developed an interest in incarcerated women with minor children while completing a Master of Science in Justice Policy degree. In order of preference, here's my list: University of Michigan -- Social Demography Northwestern University -- Sociology Michigan State University -- Criminal Justice Vanderbilt University - Sociology University of Texas at San Antonio - Applied Demography I nearly applied to the University of Toronto for Sociology, but decided it would be a waste of $120 either way. If Toronto accepted me, so would Michigan (my first-choice). If Toronto rejected me, so would Michigan, leaving me to attend a less prestigious program. Best of luck to everyone this application season -- jeepers creepers, the wait is crazy-making!

SocHope, I think it's important to realize that a lot of different types of applicants are applying to Ph.D. programs in Sociology - those of us who hold Master degrees and those who don't; those of us with a load of professional experience and those without, and so on. As an undergraduate and graduate student, I developed relationships with my thesis advisor and readers that went far beyond class. We interacted almost as colleagues, attending conferences and dinner together with regularity. These three people -- who have become dear friends -- also supervised my internship and research experiences and have a great deal of faith in my ability to complete a Ph.D. program. In fact, they are my strongest academic advocates. I have a feeling that when other applicants are confidant in their LORs, they have also developed substantive relationships with their references.

Thanks guys!

Hello, all: *I'm new to this forum -- please forgive me, if I'm asking a tired old question. Of course, I would appreciate any links to similar discussion threads.* I was a first-generation college student and now that I'm applying to Ph.D. programs (Sociology, Criminal Justice, & Demography), I'm feeling a bit lost regarding protocol. Here's my concern: I contacted potential advisors connected to each program on my list, and received invitations to meet to discuss my graduate school plans. Now, I'm just not certain how to prepare, what to expect, or what to say. Of course, this is a wonderful problem to have and any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance!