Where do I stand?

[joops]

Hi everyone! This isn't a "what are my chances?" thread, but rather I would like some advice on whether or not my plans sound realistic.

I want to head straight to a PhD program, preferably in Soc of Religion (through a sociology department, NOT a religious studies department), although I would also be happy studying other topics. Here are my stats:

My bachelor's degree is from a very good state school, but I'm not sure how well known it is.

Overall GPA: 3.72 Sociology GPA: 3.94

GRE: Haven't taken them yet but I have literally nothing to do this summer but study for them, so probably high 600's, low 700's

Research: I did one (qualitative) study on the relationship between religiosity and well-being, and another (quantitative) study on the relationship between gender and career aspirations.

LORs: Strong, including one from a professor who is prominent in the field.

Awards:

-My school has a special day each spring where the best students present their work, and both of my studies were chosen to be presented.

-"Promising Sociologist" award

-Nominated by my department for something called "Presidential Scholar."

Other: Two summers ago I also had an internship working for a nonprofit. I created a social-networking program that would help the company re-recruit alumni. Then last summer I was an intern at a researching firm where I helped screen people and did some literature reviews.

-I'm going to use the study I did on religiosity and well-being as my writing sample.

I am going to apply to about 10 programs. Right now I have Emory, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Duke on my list. Am I aiming too high? I ask because I'm seeing people getting rejected from 9,10,11 programs and am beginning to freak out.

Thank you for your advice!

[deckard]

Hardly. You sound like you've a good foundation to get into the top schools. Aim high for your universities, and have around 2 backups in case.

I suggest you focus on really crafting your statement of purpose. It might make or break your chances. There's a great book I used which really helped... I think the author's name is Donald Asher or something similar. Lemme check and get back to you.

[jacib]

Your stats sound better than mine, and I got into my basically my top choice. Good fit is really important. It might be worth applying to Princeton (as a long shot) to work with Wuthnow (he's kinda the big deal--though I bet you know that. I didn't when I started looking.). Consider Chicago as well (check Anthropology & Anthropology of Religion in its Div school too). Yale has Gorski if he fits your interests. Columbia has Courtney Bender in the Religion department, who could supplement someone in the Sociology department. Berkeley has some people too. Obviously, except Yale, those are all top top 10ish programs, but it's so much fit... and so much luck. Quite a few people have been admitted to higher ranked programs and rejected from lower ranked programs, for reasons that even they couldn't understand. Heck, the same thing kinda happened to me. I got into #11, but rejected from #20, you know? It happens. It's unpredictable. Definitely have a mix. Check out Captiv8ed's schools too. She also applied for Sociology of Religion, but her interests might be in line with yours than mine. Perhaps also consider Michigan. People have generally been surprised I didn't apply there, but I think that might be more for the Turkish half of my interests, rather than the religion part of my interests. I can't remember.

As someone interested in programs, see who posts http://blogs.ssrc.org/tif/ especially the Sociology of Religion section. Check out this article http://blogs.ssrc.org/tif/2010/02/08/the-emerging-strong-program-in-the-sociology-of-religion/ (or rather, the working paper it's about which is actually here http://www.ssrc.org/blogs/immanent_frame/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Emerging-Strong-Program-TIF.pdf)

Just study hard for the GRE, especially the vocab part (flash cards). Have a rather specific project in your statement of purpose because that's what they're going to judge fit from. Make sure to run it by professors, etc. Also ask your professors in September for recommendations.

[focused]

Hardly. You sound like you've a good foundation to get into the top schools. Aim high for your universities, and have around 2 backups in case.

I suggest you focus on really crafting your statement of purpose. It might make or break your chances. There's a great book I used which really helped... I think the author's name is Donald Asher or something similar. Lemme check and get back to you.

That's it - it's titled "Graduate Admission Essays."

I do not know anything about Soc of Religion, so I can't provide any specific school recommendations. However, assuming those schools are relatively good fits, they are definitely not too high. You have solid stats, so aim high (with some "back-ups"--knowing that nothing is really a back-up). I think that, as deckard mentioned, you need to be sure to craft your SoP to demonstrate the relationship between your interests and the respective programs to which you ultimately choose to apply. Good luck!

[maximus82]

You seem to have a pretty good chance at very good schools. I'm interested in Sociology of Religion too. My interests are mostly religion, transnationalism, and immigration (think Peggy Levitt and Carolyn Chen). I'm also interested in how religion and SES are related.

Depending on what your interests are you might want to look at other schools. Indiana has Steensland and Robinson, both awesome. Notre Dame has a lot of people. You already know about Duke and Princeton, but I would also include Chicago in there. McRoberts does religion stuff (especially urban churches) and their religious studies department is the best in the country (I think).

[coqui21]

A lot of it depends on whether you want to study at a sociology of religion program, or whether you want to toss all of your eggs in one basket with one professor who has done some work in religion.

Top recognized soc. of religion programs (w/ people who are experts specifically on religion, publish often in soc. of religion journals, etc,...there are plenty of places where a faculty member studies religion among other things...some of those schools have already been mentioned by other posters): Princeton, Duke, Texas, Penn State, Minnesota, Notre Dame, Purdue, Ohio State, Boston University, Baylor, Emory, Loyola, and Southern Illinois.

As you can see there are a wide range of schools with varying strengths and weaknesses. Some have upwards of 8-9 sociology of religion scholars, while others have only 1. Some are ranked in the top 15-20 with less influential scholars, while some are un-ranked programs with the most cited soc. of religion scholars who publish in the biggest journals. My best advice would be to apply widely. I get the impression that more and more people are beginning to study religion, so it's becoming more competitive. If you apply widely, I think you'll be fine.

Edited March 11, 2010 by Nickv124

[coqui21]

Beyond well-being, do you have any specific interests in the sociology of religion? That could help you narrow your search if applying widely is more difficult.

Edited March 11, 2010 by Nickv124

[joops]

Hardly. You sound like you've a good foundation to get into the top schools. Aim high for your universities, and have around 2 backups in case.

I suggest you focus on really crafting your statement of purpose. It might make or break your chances. There's a great book I used which really helped... I think the author's name is Donald Asher or something similar. Lemme check and get back to you.

Thanks for the book recommendation! I'm going to order it from my school's library system in May, when I begin the application process. I understand what you mean about the statement of purpose making and breaking chances. Thanks again!

[joops]

Your stats sound better than mine, and I got into my basically my top choice. Good fit is really important. It might be worth applying to Princeton (as a long shot) to work with Wuthnow (he's kinda the big deal--though I bet you know that. I didn't when I started looking.). Consider Chicago as well (check Anthropology & Anthropology of Religion in its Div school too). Yale has Gorski if he fits your interests. Columbia has Courtney Bender in the Religion department, who could supplement someone in the Sociology department. Berkeley has some people too. Obviously, except Yale, those are all top top 10ish programs, but it's so much fit... and so much luck. Quite a few people have been admitted to higher ranked programs and rejected from lower ranked programs, for reasons that even they couldn't understand. Heck, the same thing kinda happened to me. I got into #11, but rejected from #20, you know? It happens. It's unpredictable. Definitely have a mix. Check out Captiv8ed's schools too. She also applied for Sociology of Religion, but her interests might be in line with yours than mine. Perhaps also consider Michigan. People have generally been surprised I didn't apply there, but I think that might be more for the Turkish half of my interests, rather than the religion part of my interests. I can't remember.

As someone interested in programs, see who posts http://blogs.ssrc.org/tif/ especially the Sociology of Religion section. Check out this article http://blogs.ssrc.or...gy-of-religion/ (or rather, the working paper it's about which is actually here http://www.ssrc.org/...rogram-TIF.pdf)

Just study hard for the GRE, especially the vocab part (flash cards). Have a rather specific project in your statement of purpose because that's what they're going to judge fit from. Make sure to run it by professors, etc. Also ask your professors in September for recommendations.

Thanks for the school suggestions and the blog links. I'm trying to steer clear of programs that are run through a divinity school, as I'm a nonbeliever and I think that my interests would clash with the rest of the department. Am I wrong for thinking this?

[Early]

I would wager that coming in with that type of mind set wouldn't be a promising start.

[maximus82]

Thanks for the school suggestions and the blog links. I'm trying to steer clear of programs that are run through a divinity school, as I'm a nonbeliever and I think that my interests would clash with the rest of the department. Am I wrong for thinking this?

I'm a nonbeliever. Most of the sociology programs that people have mentioned here are independent, and while some professors might have joint appointments, you're applying to the Soc program, not the Divinity program.

[joops]

I'm a nonbeliever. Most of the sociology programs that people have mentioned here are independent, and while some professors might have joint appointments, you're applying to the Soc program, not the Divinity program.

Okay, thanks for letting me know!

[joops]

Beyond well-being, do you have any specific interests in the sociology of religion? That could help you narrow your search if applying widely is more difficult.

I'm actually interested in all aspects of the sociology the religion. The reason why the research I did was on well-being was because the professor who I did the research for specializes in well being. If I had to pick one main interest, I would say that I would like to study religious movements, how religions are formed, etc. However, I'm really interested in all of it.

Thanks for the reply.

[joops]

That's it - it's titled "Graduate Admission Essays."

I do not know anything about Soc of Religion, so I can't provide any specific school recommendations. However, assuming those schools are relatively good fits, they are definitely not too high. You have solid stats, so aim high (with some "back-ups"--knowing that nothing is really a back-up). I think that, as deckard mentioned, you need to be sure to craft your SoP to demonstrate the relationship between your interests and the respective programs to which you ultimately choose to apply. Good luck!

Thanks for the advice, and for letting me know the book title. I'm going to get my hands on it in May. So I'm going to aim high, but I don't think I want to apply for programs with a 3-5% acceptance rate, only because when the numbers get that low it really comes down to luck. I know what you mean about back-ups. How much easier would this be if it were like undergrad, with safeties, matches, and reaches?

[HKK]

Hi everyone! This isn't a "what are my chances?" thread, but rather I would like some advice on whether or not my plans sound realistic.

I want to head straight to a PhD program, preferably in Soc of Religion (through a sociology department, NOT a religious studies department), although I would also be happy studying other topics. Here are my stats:

My bachelor's degree is from a very good state school, but I'm not sure how well known it is.

Overall GPA: 3.72 Sociology GPA: 3.94

GRE: Haven't taken them yet but I have literally nothing to do this summer but study for them, so probably high 600's, low 700's

Research: I did one (qualitative) study on the relationship between religiosity and well-being, and another (quantitative) study on the relationship between gender and career aspirations.

LORs: Strong, including one from a professor who is prominent in the field.

Awards:

-My school has a special day each spring where the best students present their work, and both of my studies were chosen to be presented.

-"Promising Sociologist" award

-Nominated by my department for something called "Presidential Scholar."

Other: Two summers ago I also had an internship working for a nonprofit. I created a social-networking program that would help the company re-recruit alumni. Then last summer I was an intern at a researching firm where I helped screen people and did some literature reviews.

-I'm going to use the study I did on religiosity and well-being as my writing sample.

I am going to apply to about 10 programs. Right now I have Emory, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Duke on my list. Am I aiming too high? I ask because I'm seeing people getting rejected from 9,10,11 programs and am beginning to freak out.

Thank you for your advice!

I saw someone mention Penn State in the list of programs. It is a HIGHLY quantitative program with little to no support for qualitative research. It looks like most of the research you have done has been qualitative in the past, just something I thought you should know before adding it to your list.