How specific do you have to be about your proposed research

[Poppet]

As the title says, I'm applying only to masters programs, all terminal - MA's, LLMs and MSc's in Human Rights, Law, Politics, etc. I am applying to all of them with the knowledge that even though they are course-based programs, they will nonetheless require a thesis by the end of the year. So in all my personal statements so far, I start off by saying that my recent experience in a post-conflict country has inspired me to question a specific human rights question, and that I think the resources offered at University X will be helpful to my proposed research on that question. Then I explain in a paragraph the specific project I was working on in the post-conflict country that lead me to question Potential Thesis, and the next several paragraphs concentrate on why I think Potential Thesis is question that must be addressed, why I think certain course requirements or offerings at University X will be complementary to my Potential Thesis, and what qualities I think I can bring to the school because of my own unique characteristics - though admittedly this last bit is a brief sentence or two. Finally, I explain that I think all of this will be beneficial to my future career plans and why.

So the question that I am asking is that I keep feeling like I am writing a research proposal far more than I am writing a masters personal statement. Most of the statements I see at the masters level tend to focus much more on personal attributes or experiences that lead to character development and intellectual growth, hobbies that sparked interest, an explanation of why they want to take the masters course, but without seeming to dwell much on the actual upcoming thesis. So am I out of line by stating the subject that I propose to write about? I mean, I am applying to these schools because they have faculty who are interested in similar things, and they have courses which are directly related to the subject I want to study - and I think that by doing this I am showing them that I have thought very seriously about what I want to take a masters for and why I want to take it there. But I keep also feeling like I'm about a paragraph short of a Phd research proposal, and I don't know whether that is a big faux-pas for a masters personal statement.

So how much info are you "allowed" to write about your proposed subject of research? I understand that there is a risk they say, "Sorry, you're too specific in your needs and we don't have anyone willing/capable/interested in working on that subject" but otherwise... Am I spending too much time explaining to the ad-comm the wrong thing? Should I be concentrating more on myself and my own attributes?

Sorry this is so long-winded and thanks to anyone who offers advice.

[Poppet]

Okaaay.. Well... Alternatively, would anyone be willing to read over my SOP for a human rights law program?

[Aroma Black]

I think any and all specificity is a plus. Especially in a short program with a thesis component, they are likely to want people who have concrete goals and a clear research focus.

[fumblewhat]

I stuggled with the same issues when putting together my application. I got a lot of conflicting advice about how specific I should be. Your statement seems to be pretty in line with what I did, however, and I think it's dead on.

Very generally: I outlined my past research interests and training, as well my current research interests and how I came into them. I stated why at this point research on Topic X is important to my field. I then listed the questions I would like to explore related to Topic X, concluding that I would like to beter define and explore thesequestions through the guidance of the Department of Y at Z University. In my final paragraph I mentioned how one or two professors research interests meshed with mine and put a bow on top.

This allowed me to show that I have the academic chops to conceive of a well-definied research project, while also showing that I'm not rigid, that I'm open to mentorship, and that I expect my project to change.

I think that the focus should be on your work and your experiences, rather than on "yourself." It's better to show the adcomm your attributes, rather than tell. They can gather that you are a dedicated, intelligent, interesting person from the way you present your work or experiences.

I'm not in your field, but feel free to PM me if you want a general once-over of your SOP. And good luck to you!

[qbtacoma]

I'm in another field, but I think your proposal is spot-on. The SOP is really a document meant to outline your fit and future research plans, and what you propose will work well. However, make sure you have several sets of eyes from people in your field read it over, and they can give you more specific points to address. I'm not sure if this is the case for your field, but some schools may ask for a statement of purpose and a personal statement. The personal statement will be the one more focused on your personality/history in that case, and the SOP research interests, fit, and perhaps mention of some past work.

I would only add that it may help to sketch out a methodology for conducting thesis research will be impressive and shows that you have seriously thought about the topic. Try something like, "Part of the difficulty of researching X topic is finding witnesses to interview, but I this problem will be offset by using resources such as A, B, and C."

[JoaniePanic]

I'm in the same situation. I've read all these things on how NOT to write a PS or a Statement of Purpose...but they are all addressed to PhD applicants..I'm going to apply for an MA in Linguistics and I am writing both essays (PS and SOP). The first tells how I kind of rejected the discipline of linguistics...being a language teacher who writes, I just thought that linguists' deal was with spoiling the "mystery of language" lol...Then I developed on how that prejudice changed as I carried out research as part of some courses and was introduced to different views of language...and how I ultimately became more involved in the field of linguistics with some mention of activities outside my academic education which had an impact on my future interests...But overall, it's still a very personal text, and I use it as a way to put through my ideas and views on language, and I finally mention what I would like to study, but I don't dwell that much on that since I have my SOP to write..

On a related note..is it better to state two/three interests in an SOP or just one and develop it deeply? (As a prospective MA student I can't really say I have THE definite future project..)

I have been wirting both essays for like..2 weeks now, and I'm still not satisfied with what I've written x_x

[Poppet]

Oh, I never responded to this? I found the responses in this thread incredibly useful, thank you all for your responses. Your comments made me feel much more secure about the SOPs I had already handed in, and gave me the fuel needed for me to write the rest of them. I was very concerned because I heard admitted masters students asking other admitted students, "So, has anyone started thinking about what they want their thesis to be about?" I was shocked. I couldn't understand what they could possibly have written in their SOP's if they hadn't even considered a thesis topic yet, and I became scared that I might not have submitted the right kind of document.

This thread made me feel a lot better about things and it also helped me come to terms with the fact that since I am very certain about what I plan to research, schools will know immediately if they can accommodate my plans and admit/reject accordingly. I think the only way such specificity can bite me in the behind is if schools don't have a supervisor capable or interested in my subject - and if they don't, then I'm glad I'm not going there anyway.

So thank you again.

[JoaniePanic]

Good luck! Let us know how it all went.