Expectations for the writing sample and original research in general from undergrads

[slacktivist]

What are the expectations that graduate schools have for the quality of undergraduate research? I'm applying this year, and I feel like I can't come up with an interesting research question that isn't simply derivative of the current literature to the point of uselessness. My sense is that superior undergraduate research simply involves competently situating your research question in the literature, collecting your own dataset, and doing a sound quantitative analysis. I just have no concept of just how creative or interesting the original question is expected to be and this is tripping me up.

I have been planning to use the research paper from one of my classes for a writing sample, but this has come up as a roadblock in the process. To be brutally honest, the difficulty I'm having is making me think that I'm better off applying to an MA, even though I have a clear sense of a larger research agenda and can put together a competitive application. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Edited September 26, 2010 by slacktivist

[adaptations]

I think the most important thing to remember is that admissions committees are looking at your potential to succeed as a graduate student, researcher, and scholar. This doesn't mean you already have to be a stellar researcher and scholar, so I wouldn't be stressing out too much over whether your current research is the most innovative or groundbreaking. To be quite honest, I don't think most adcoms would even be looking for undergrads to have gathered/developed their own data set. Showing that you understand what can/cannot be done with existing data sets or whatever empirics your work relies on and using them appropriately to support your work, ought to be sufficient (in my estimation).

My suggestion is to apply to places where you have a good fit and feel you are a strong candidate, and if you want to include some MA programs as backups that's not a bad idea. Good luck.