shockwave

I have finally gotten my SoP to where I want it and am very happy with how it looks in its most recent copy. I just sent this version out to three schools and realized that I had made a very miniscule grammar/typing error. I put "shatter" instead of "shattered". So basically "...have shatter past ideologies..." Is this a major concern or is this something most readers and comittees will overlook? I proofread this document about twenty times and cannot believe I missed this mistake!!! Is this a major issue is all else is very good?

Perhaps this has been discussed but I was wondering what would happen if one of my recommenders is not going to have access to a computer for a few days and was wondering what would happen if she subbmited the letter a day or so later? I plan on having the feed paid and etc. but she may not get them in for the Jan 1st deadline. Will this be a major problem? Or should I ask another person for a rec as well? Thanks

I am interested in applying to SUNY Buffalo's "Transnational Studies" PhD program but am not quite sure what the reality of the job market is going to be if attend and graduate. I have seen a few other specific or non-discipline degrees before but not many. Typically all of the faculty profiles I have been looking at for my interested disciplines are all pretty strictly disciplines. A few have been very focused or a few have had specialties in something like Migration Studies, Women's Studies, etc. But really what am I looking at with something like this? Thanks

Same with me. I applied about three weeks ago and got a confirmation letter maybe 6 days later. Btw, I absolutely HATED the Apply Texas interface!

Well what would you recommend if they are in three different areas of the country? I was planning on mailing them a gift of some kind during the holiday season but they are literally in three different regions of the U.S.

My references have been very supportive of my applications. They will be submitting 12 LoR's for me and have been very helpful through my supervision. I was hoping to send them a small token of gratitude. A holiday card is definitely one thing, but should I get them something else that is small too? Perhaps something like under $20 that they would find nice? Or is that not a good idea?

Perhaps this is not the best place to post this but I am not sure where would. I was wondering what you all thought about my situation and how I should going about paying off my debt. I am in a two year MA program and have accumulated a bit of debt (though ceratinly not a substantial amount) and I am hoping to immediately matriculate into a PhD program after I graduate with my MA. I am not going to enter a program without funding, but that still leaves the issue of these loans which I am accumulating debt on. I was wondering what you all felt the best or usual course would be in terms of gradually paying down these debts?

Hi everyone. I am applying to UMD College Park for doctorate programs this fall. I just had a few concerns about traveling, community, and safety. I have heard CP is not in the greatest area. I'd prefer to live in a safe and comfortable area even if the commute is a bit longer and/or it is a bit pricier. I would be a 24 y/o doctoral student, so I am over the undergraduate scene but would like some more adult options for dining and nightlife. I was wondering what everyone thought would be a suitable neighborhood to live in for me and how the commute was. I do plan to use a car and was wondering what the commutes from such neighborhoods were like and also what the traffic and driving was like. Thanks everyone!

Thanks newpsyche! How is driving out there? I have heard quite conflicting stoires. I have heard that roads are open not much congestion and that its usually easy going. Then I've heard that traffic is horrible, people drive awfully, drastically disobey speed limits, and run red lights.

Thanks for the advice! I will be having a car. Is it possible to drive to the ASU campus or will I need to rely on the light rail? And how far is Chandler?

I am applying to ASU and had a few questions about the area: 1.I am a grad student and would prefer a safe quaint area that may cost a bit more as opposed to a cheaper less safe atmosphere. I am intending to have a car and wouldn't mind a 10 - 30 minute drive away. Anything above that is kind of pushing it. 2.What is the crime situation like? I have heard Mesa and Guadalope surrouding areas can be a bit raunchy but that Tempe and Scottsdale are decent. I've read on here and elsewhere that property crime is still a major concern too and that precautions need to be taken everywhere. Thanks

Thanks for all the feedback. disillusioned14, I saw some successful SoPs from other schools and I think it is important to show familiarity with the other work being done and relate how that will contribute to your methodology and that was my aim in the early part of introducting the lit. I also make sure to do so after I present my questions and objectives so that they can see what my focus is and then how I plan to carry it out. Follow up question: I only brifely mention at the end in one sentence that I hope to pursue a career as a future academic. Do I need to be more explicit or is this good enough?

I've started on the applications ahead of time. I am planning to aim for the 10 - 15 range and it helps that the deadlines are a bit spread out too. 12/1, 12/15, 1/1, 1.15, it at least gives some breathing room during the process.

I would contact the professors you want to work with as well as the graduate chairs and get their take. Sometimes AW is taken very lightly and your superior verbal may be of much greater impact.

Looked at this statement very briefly while I was on the phone with my gf and skimmed it. One thing I would recommend (though I am in the same boat as you in terms of perfecting my SoP right now) is move what you're intending to do to the top of your paper. I am not really sure what the goal of your project is. Be explicit but not too up front. Also idk which program you are applying to (maybe UCSC ?) but I'd say explicitly state who in the department would be helpful to you and why. I will definitely take a closer look at it a bit later!

Currently in the process of finalizing my SoP before I start submitting them for the Dec 1st deadlines. I am going for an Anthropology PhD programs and had a few questions I'd like to get the forums opinion on first. Putting the questions in bold so if people want to skim it is easier to get the point 1.The setup is as follows: Par 1 - Introduce how I got involved with the topic and what drew me to it Par 2 - My questions, what interests me, what I want to do in a PhD program Par 3 - Explain the topic in context to the questions asked, why are they important questions, what will they find out Par 4 - Existing literature on my first BIG question and how my study can contribute Par 5 - Existing literautre on the second BIG question and how my study will relate Par 6 - My accomplishments as an undergrad/grad, thesis, funded research, teaching experience, awards, and language training Par 7 - How I fit into the program at the university and who I want to work with Is this a decent set up for a SoP? I tried to introduce it with a bit of a narrative like intro why I got involved, then get direct and to the point of what I want to do and how. I wanted to keep it between 2 and little over 2 pages since thats the average most programs I am applying to want. 2.In par 6, I basically highlighted my most significant accomplishments and what has prepared me for PhD work. Most notably my 3 years of teaching, funded independent research, award nominations, and publication. Is this too much, not enough, or just right? 3.Lastly, in par 7, who I want to work with an why I mention briefly but adequately "I want to work with Dr.Smith because his research and in particular his work on monkeys in space is of direct relevance to my project on donkeys in space and will provide a great resource for my overall study. Dr.Johnson's research on monkeys and donkeys will allow me to further understand the workings of these animals." Is this sufficient, or do I need to elaborate more? Thanks everyone. I'm looking forward to your replies!

I was wondering whether or not it would beneficial to include bibliographic style citations when referring to existing literature on the topic you want to research? For example, Scholars before has focused on this issue and have categorized XX community as surprisingly transnational (Smith 2000, Jones 1999). Would something like those citations be helpful and would they adequately demonstrate your familiarity with the topic and the field?

Another thing I have some qualms with regards Mcgoosh is that while the reading comp questions are helpful, they are not in the identical format to that of the GRE. For example, on the actual test I got about one long passage (80 lines), a medium passage (50-60 lines), and the rest smaler ( < 30 lines). On Mcgoosh I've probably only gotten 1-2 long passages out of 200 or so RC questions. Also some of the problems are in formats I've never seen in any book or on the exam. For example: Person A: Statement Person B: Statement Question on Mcgoosh: "What is the argument of Person B in relation to Person A" Perhaps this is actually better preperation, but I was really hoping for more similar practice problems to that of the test.

jmbrown88, is this your experience? I see that the questions also seem a bit more difficult than the actual test. Not difficult but actually more tricky, where the slightest subtle difference in a definition will be the correct answer Magoosh suggests. I think it is good practice though I have a few qualms. As others have mentioned, the math section is incredibly difficult to udnerstand and goes through ridiculously roundabout ways to find simple concepts. Find 50% of 40. Rather than just plugging in 40 * .5 to the calculator it took me on a path that did nothing but confuse my incredibly unmathematical mind. The verbal section is often very ticky as I mention above. I caught it on sale for $100 (right after a pay check), so I don't mind this, plus its for a year. I definitely wouldn't pick this up at the actual retail price or anything more than $100. I was wondering if anyone who has used Magoosh seen an increase in their scores? I will be a test of this next month when I retake it, but what have others thought?

Some programs want me to mention my methodological approach to my proposed study. I was planning on briefly in 2-4 sentences explain my intended methods and how I planned to execute them. For example: For my research I would like to utilize quantitative analysis through surveys, ethnographic analysis, and personal interviews of Africans in Italy. The surveys would address matters of demographic backgrounds, education level, instances of discimination, and family life of Africans in Italy and the ethnographic analysis will come through observing Africans at their places of business in Rome, Naples, and Milan. I also plan to conduct personal interviews with Africans to their experiences of language acquisiton, their degree of cultural assimilation, their self-identity, and the difficulties of child raising. I was wondering if something like this would suffice or if I needed to go more in detail into the methodology. This is not an exact excerpt from my SoP but I am planning on doing something of this nature. Thanks!

Hi all, quick qustion. I was wondering if one should express their desire to work with faculty members in other departments within a university. Say for example, I want to apply to Anthropology but there is a great faculty member in the school of Political Science who I would want to work with. Do you think this should be mentioned? Or should you keep all the faculty you want to work with inhouse to the department?

Me too. Mine is in its first draft but I'm down too!

Thanks for all the encouraging advice guys. I am still preparing hard and planning to retake next month and also getting some solid programs as backups. I have spoken to a few programs that said if the rest of my application is strong these GRE scores should not particular hinder my chances very much. Very encouraging and was really the advice I needed!

I just took the GRE and got almost the same equivalent of a score that I did two years ago. I got a 150 V and 152 Q which is pretty terrible and this was roughly the equivalent which I got two years ago when I first took the GRE. I have been studying very diligently since April, have done Kaplan courses, Magoosh courses, worked through numerous books and have now literally seen no progress. It is not as though I am haphazardly studying or half-assing it, I’ve worked through about ten workbooks, studied well over 1500 vocab, and I just don’t know what to do anymore. I’m quite frankly embarrassed to send these scores out. I am hoping to apply to a PhD in Anthropology or Sociology, but I can’t see any school taking these scores seriously. I am very competitive in other parts of my application; I have over a dozen conference presentations, teaching experience, TA experience, two published articles, great LoRs, I am competitive everywhere except the GRE. I really don’t know what to do and I very discouraged. Realistically what should I even consider doing from here? I have about two more chances to take the test before I have to apply but honestly don’t even want to go through with again because it such a demotivating and grueling experience.

Hi everyone. A bit discouraged again about the GRE. I recently took the two practice tests from on the ETS website and my best score was V 153 Q 156. I scheduled my first test for later this month and I was also planning to take in mid-November if needed. I have heard that these scores are decent reflections of how you'll do on the acutal test, and though only time will tell, I get the feeling this is where I am about at. I basically wanted to know what kind of schools I could be looking at admissions for into a PhD program in Anthropology or Sociology. I have an excellent background, graduated with a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies, proficient in three languages, MA in East Asian Studies, over a dozen of conference presentations at international, graduate, and regional conferences, two publications(albeit in journals aimed for grads and undergrads), 3.9 something grad GPA, TA experience, teaching experience, 3.65 undergrad GPA with honors, and something in the area of these GRE scores. In short: how bad are these scores and what are the odds my academic background will make up for where they let off? I am hoping I score higher but I really think I've reached my limits with the GRE right now. I've burnt myself out studying for the last 5 or so months and even if I take the test another two or three times before the applicaiton deadlines, I can't see me going up by a significant amount. I am quite frankly discouraged and tired of the time I put into the GRE to see these results and it is just a very demotivating process once again. Thanks for the the advice.