HELP!

[Webster]

I am a Speech Communication major at Webster University graduating this Dec.. I am looking to get into an MA program for Sociology most likely at UCF or USF. I have contacted UCF and gotten some advice on the application process and I will try to get in touch with USF soon. I will have 9 credits in Sociology under my belt upon graduation. I have a 3.4 GPA, I will have outstanding LOR's and SOP should be decent (I am Speech Comm after all . Not sure how my GRE will fare considering I have not looked into much of the potential content. What I am wondering is if there is anything I can do to to better my credentials for my application? How does my app look so far? Also, if anyone can shed some light on "when" I should send my app, take the GRE, etc. It would be much appreciated. Thank you.

[gilmoregirl1010]

Hi! I'm in the application process as well, but I know a bit about USF and UCF, so I'll try and help.

First of all, your GPA looks to be acceptable for schools of this calibre, but (this probably goes without saying) try and get it as high as you can. A higher GPA can never hurt, especially since grad schools have gotten much more competitive. Along those lines, study very hard for the GRE, even if you feel like you'll do fine. I breezed through the SAT, and assumed I would do the same with the GRE. I was wrong. I studied my butt off for the second go-around, and I did pretty well. It's not impossible, you just have to put in the effort.

What made you decide to switch from Speech Comm to Sociology? The admissions committees are going to want to know that you're not just picking a grad program haphazardly, and that you're going to bring something to their program. Make sure you clarify these things in your SOP. Will you have the opportunity to get some sociology-related volunteer or research experience in any time soon? If, for example, you were interested in the Domestic Violence track at UCF, it might look good if you had some experience volunteering with a women's shelter or crisis center. Probably not necessary, but these are just little suggestions that could boost your application.

I know that you originally posted this in February, so I'm sorry if this advice is too little, too late. I just saw your post because I too am interested in UCF's Applied Sociology program, and I figured I'd help out as best as I could. Hope that helped!

[Webster]

Thanks for the advice Lauren! Well I wanted to do political speech writing...realized it was not for me...and was more interested in the sociology of politics, along with religion, social movements, etc. I will definitely try to get some research under my belt, I already have sociology classes but research and/or volunteering would definitely aid my application. My senior overview/thesis will be very sociology related concernining religious and political rhetoric in the media and how it shapes our society. (It will obviously be more narrowed down than that). However, I am not looking forward to the GRE. My ex girlfriend took it last fall and said it was agonizing haha. Anyway, I am graduating in December and trying for Fall 2012. When were you thinking of applying? What made you think about UCF??? Once again you've been a great help, thank you!

Hi! I'm in the application process as well, but I know a bit about USF and UCF, so I'll try and help.

First of all, your GPA looks to be acceptable for schools of this calibre, but (this probably goes without saying) try and get it as high as you can. A higher GPA can never hurt, especially since grad schools have gotten much more competitive. Along those lines, study very hard for the GRE, even if you feel like you'll do fine. I breezed through the SAT, and assumed I would do the same with the GRE. I was wrong. I studied my butt off for the second go-around, and I did pretty well. It's not impossible, you just have to put in the effort.

What made you decide to switch from Speech Comm to Sociology? The admissions committees are going to want to know that you're not just picking a grad program haphazardly, and that you're going to bring something to their program. Make sure you clarify these things in your SOP. Will you have the opportunity to get some sociology-related volunteer or research experience in any time soon? If, for example, you were interested in the Domestic Violence track at UCF, it might look good if you had some experience volunteering with a women's shelter or crisis center. Probably not necessary, but these are just little suggestions that could boost your application.

I know that you originally posted this in February, so I'm sorry if this advice is too little, too late. I just saw your post because I too am interested in UCF's Applied Sociology program, and I figured I'd help out as best as I could. Hope that helped!

[gilmoregirl1010]

Thanks for the advice Lauren! Well I wanted to do political speech writing...realized it was not for me...and was more interested in the sociology of politics, along with religion, social movements, etc. I will definitely try to get some research under my belt, I already have sociology classes but research and/or volunteering would definitely aid my application. My senior overview/thesis will be very sociology related concernining religious and political rhetoric in the media and how it shapes our society. (It will obviously be more narrowed down than that). However, I am not looking forward to the GRE. My ex girlfriend took it last fall and said it was agonizing haha. Anyway, I am graduating in December and trying for Fall 2012. When were you thinking of applying? What made you think about UCF??? Once again you've been a great help, thank you!

No problem, I'm glad to be able to help someone! Yeah, the GRE was in no way, shape, or form fun; the only thing I liked about it was getting the results back immediately, so that I didn't have to spend the next few weeks agonizing over anything but the writing score. I'm graduating in the fall too, and provided that I'd be eligible for funding, I'm actually going to apply in the spring; if I have to wait till the fall to get funding, though, I'll just do that. (I'm not sure how that works, to be honest, and I'm waiting for some clarification from UCF on that one). I picked UCF for the location, honestly. My husband and I love the area, and a Master's program would give us an excuse to spend a year or two in Orlando before we move off to a PhD program somewhere. That, and I'm looking to get some more research experience in my specific area of interest, in order to (hopefully!) get into a better PhD program for that subfield. UCF's Master's program has sent its graduates to some very respectable PhD programs, so I'm really excited about that.

Best of luck to you, and let me know if I can help in any other way!