peguim

I don't understand what made you think I was planning to approach them as being regular Portuguese-from-Portugal folks. As any decent sociologist who attempts to research in a good university like Toronto, I know that I would have to read and form a solid background knowledge before jumping in and doing my field research. As I said... it CAN be an advantage to know that I will have a significant sample so near for a topic I might choose.

Hahah thank you for your reply margarets! I didnt mean to give so much importance to the fact I am Portuguese. I do think however, that the fact that there is such a big Portuguese community in Toronto can be an advantage to my work as they are the perfect sample for many of my possible research projects.

Because I feel like I might have what it takes to get into an even better uni in the US. If I stay in Europe, Copenhagen is my best option since it is tuition free... I wouldn't be able to afford those few European unis that might be better than Copenhagen. In these american unis I mentioned, I will get fully funded and get a diploma from a uni that will be seen with very good eyes in my country. I already knew those two rankings but thank you anyways!

I guess I'll just apply for as many as I can then. Problem now is to choose which ones as I don't have any background info besides what is told in their respective websites. At the moment I am thinking about Toronto, Vanderbilt, Purdue, Wisconsin, UCLA and Brown...

By the way, I forgot to mention I will have a safe choice in University of Copenhagen. I got accepted this year but refused because I am doing a volunteering gap year. Does four applications seem like a good number then? What could I possibly do to improve my chances?

Thank you very much Ladril, your input is extremely helpful! It would be great if you guys could give your opinion about which of the unis I mentioned (or others) I have an higher possibility of entering because it ends up quite expensive to apply to more than two universities. Is it even worth trying? I forgot to mention that the only significant research I have done was my dissertation at the end of my bachelor. I am quite satisfied with it and my supervisor told me it was one of the best undergraduate works she has ever read but then again... it is the only actual research project I have ever done.

UCLA, Brown, Toronto and Wisconsin.

Anyone?

Based on what I read on the past days those uni's that I mentioned would all entirely fund my masters program. Do you recommend me going straight to a Ph.D then? Is it much more common to get fully funded for a Ph.D. than with a masters? Won't I have lesser chances of getting in since the only actual research I have done was in completion of my bachelor? My area of research is Political Sociology / Cultural Sociology / National Identity / Art. If you were me, which two of all those unis I mentioned would you apply to? To how many universities is it common to apply when someone is in my situation? Thank you for your replies!

Hello there, Hope there is someone who might be able to help me choose a good university for me to choose to apply for the academic year of 2013/14. I am currently finishing my BA in Sociology at the University of Essex (UK) and I hope to apply for a Sociology / Political Sociology masters degree in the USA / Canada. I will finish my degree with a first (= 3.8-4 GPA). I have pretty good letters of recommendation (one of them coming from one of the best academics on my field) and I have increased around 5 points of my average marks (british system) at every year of my degree. Ohh and I have done an exchange year abroad in Japan... In addition to this, I am only 20 years old. I am Portuguese so maybe I could also play the international/diversity card hehe. I haven't done the GRE test yet. I was considering applying to Toronto / UCLA / Brown / Purdue / Vanderbilt / Wisconsin. Do I have any chances of getting in? Am I aiming too high? Could I do better? What other universities do you think I should consider applying? Any comment at all would help! I am really in need of help right now! Thanks in advance!

Hello there, Hope there is someone who might be able to help me choose a good university for me to choose to apply for the academic year of 2013/14. I am currently finishing my BA in Sociology at the University of Essex (UK) and I hope to apply for a Sociology / Political Sociology masters degree in the USA / Canada. I will finish my degree with a first (= 3.8-4 GPA). I have pretty good letters of recommendation (one of them coming from one of the best academics on my field) and I have increased around 5 points of my average marks (british system) at every year of my degree. Ohh and I have done an exchange year abroad in Japan... In addition to this, I am only 20 years old. I am Portuguese so maybe I could also play the international/diversity card hehe. I haven't done the GRE test yet. I was considering applying to Toronto / UCLA / Brown / Purdue / Vanderbilt / Wisconsin. Do I have any chances of getting in? Am I aiming too high? Could I do better? What other universities do you think I should consider applying? Any comment at all would help! I am really in need of help right now! Thanks in advance!