Evaluate Me? (I know these are common, but I appreciate it!)

[gilmoregirl1010]

So, I know that people do these all the time, but I have just been so encouraged by how friendly and helpful everyone seems to be on this board, that I figured I'd seek out your help.

I am a junior who is going to begin applying to Sociology PhD programs sometime in the fall. I have a 3.89 GPA (that should go up slightly, but not much), and I got a 1360 on the GRE (680 on both sections, and a 4.5 on the writing). By the time I graduate, I will be a published co-author on a textbook, and will have had my research on two different sociological themes presented at national conferences (due to various factors, I was not able to attend either conference, but my name was on the papers). I will also have a stellar letter of recommendation from at least one well-known professor, and then very good letters from less famous faculty members. For what it's worth, I also have a good deal volunteer and leadership experience (I don't know how much, if at all, Sociology PhD programs look at things like that).

I know my GRE scores aren't the best, but I'm hoping that my research experience and my GPA will help boost my application. I also know, however, that the application process is much more rigorous due to the bad economy. Do I even have a shot at a top-25 school? I don't want to waste several hundred dollars in application fees because I have unrealistically assessed my qualifications. I'm also considering doing a terminal Master's first, if that would significantly boost my application. Any help/advice/insight would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much

[going crazy]

So, I know that people do these all the time, but I have just been so encouraged by how friendly and helpful everyone seems to be on this board, that I figured I'd seek out your help.

I am a junior who is going to begin applying to Sociology PhD programs sometime in the fall. I have a 3.89 GPA (that should go up slightly, but not much), and I got a 1360 on the GRE (680 on both sections, and a 4.5 on the writing). By the time I graduate, I will be a published co-author on a textbook, and will have had my research on two different sociological themes presented at national conferences (due to various factors, I was not able to attend either conference, but my name was on the papers). I will also have a stellar letter of recommendation from at least one well-known professor, and then very good letters from less famous faculty members. For what it's worth, I also have a good deal volunteer and leadership experience (I don't know how much, if at all, Sociology PhD programs look at things like that).

I know my GRE scores aren't the best, but I'm hoping that my research experience and my GPA will help boost my application. I also know, however, that the application process is much more rigorous due to the bad economy. Do I even have a shot at a top-25 school? I don't want to waste several hundred dollars in application fees because I have unrealistically assessed my qualifications. I'm also considering doing a terminal Master's first, if that would significantly boost my application. Any help/advice/insight would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much

At first glance, your stats seem fine. Your undergraduate GPA and GRE scores are better than several of the folks on the forum (including mine) who got into several top-25 programs. I guess your quant score could be a bit higher if you want to go somewhere in the top 10 (720+ is pretty typical I think), but I certainly don't think you'd be just wasting your time and money with those scores.

Also, your research and publication experience should make you a strong candidate. I don't think adcoms really care much about the volunteer and leadership experience. That's more of an undergraduate concern. Adcoms are more interested in research experience, and you should frame your volunteer/leadership experiences as life experiences that helped develop and confirm your current research interests and desire to be a sociologist.

It might help others on the forum evaluate you if you communicated your research interests and what sort of undergraduate institution you are currently attending.

Edit: On the terminal MA idea, I think you should apply to PhD programs and terminal masters programs (UChicago and Colombia have these types of programs) and just see what works out. No sense in doing a terminal masters degree if you are satisfied with the offer you get from a PhD program. Just my thought.

Good luck!

Edited April 12, 2011 by going crazy

[gilmoregirl1010]

At first glance, your stats seem fine. Your undergraduate GPA and GRE scores are better than several of the folks on the forum (including mine) who got into several top-25 programs. I guess your quant score could be a bit higher if you want to go somewhere in the top 10 (720+ is pretty typical I think), but I certainly don't think you'd be just wasting your time and money with those scores.

Also, your research and publication experience should make you a strong candidate. I don't think adcoms really care much about the volunteer and leadership experience. That's more of an undergraduate concern. Adcoms are more interested in research experience, and you should frame your volunteer/leadership experiences as life experiences that helped develop and confirm your current research interests and desire to be a sociologist.

It might help others on the forum evaluate you if you communicated your research interests and what sort of undergraduate institution you are currently attending.

Edit: On the terminal MA idea, I think you should apply to PhD programs and terminal masters programs (UChicago and Colombia have these types of programs) and just see what works out. No sense in doing a terminal masters degree if you are satisfied with the offer you get from a PhD program. Just my thought.

Good luck!

Thank you so much for your quick response! That all makes a lot of sense, I had been concerned about my math score, but it's reassuring to know I don't need to stress too much about it

Also, I currently attend a fairly well-respected public university that has a strong research focus, although unfortunately, that focus is in the biomedical sciences rather than the social. I have significant research experience in political sociology (going on 3+ years with the textbook I'm helping write) and to a much lesser extent, I've presented/written on modern culture and the sociology of education. After having taken a variety of sociology courses, however my real passion is in gender inequality and the sociology of religion.

Best of luck to you as you pursue your PhD!

[GardeningGrad]

Your qualifications look great and I fully agree with everything in the above response! GRE = don't stress. The best programs look at the 'whole package,' so make sure that your personal statement shines. Also, work hard to connect with professors at your top-choice institutions - don't just rely on your recommendations. My season of emailing potential mentors and putting my name 'out there' was arduous (and felt a tad like online dating... "hi, we have SO much in common..." ;-p), but it's worth the stress. Many of these professors are on admissions committees!

My only concern would be that you're going straight from undergrad to graduate school. There is growing enthusiasm for diversifying cohorts. Admissions committees seem to be looking for well-rounded candidates with some "life experience" to round out their sociology cohorts. Thus said, ask your potential programs what they would like to see emphasized, and if your rapid transition to grad school will be a help or hindrance. Your research will definitely mark you as 'grad school material' though Well done!

So, I know that people do these all the time, but I have just been so encouraged by how friendly and helpful everyone seems to be on this board, that I figured I'd seek out your help.

I am a junior who is going to begin applying to Sociology PhD programs sometime in the fall. I have a 3.89 GPA (that should go up slightly, but not much), and I got a 1360 on the GRE (680 on both sections, and a 4.5 on the writing). By the time I graduate, I will be a published co-author on a textbook, and will have had my research on two different sociological themes presented at national conferences (due to various factors, I was not able to attend either conference, but my name was on the papers). I will also have a stellar letter of recommendation from at least one well-known professor, and then very good letters from less famous faculty members. For what it's worth, I also have a good deal volunteer and leadership experience (I don't know how much, if at all, Sociology PhD programs look at things like that).

I know my GRE scores aren't the best, but I'm hoping that my research experience and my GPA will help boost my application. I also know, however, that the application process is much more rigorous due to the bad economy. Do I even have a shot at a top-25 school? I don't want to waste several hundred dollars in application fees because I have unrealistically assessed my qualifications. I'm also considering doing a terminal Master's first, if that would significantly boost my application. Any help/advice/insight would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much

[Doctor Jimmy]

Your profile looks impressive and I think you should aim for a Top 25 school (just make sure you also apply to a few back-ups).

[gilmoregirl1010]

Wow, this has been incredibly encouraging- thank you all so much for your input! I have just seen so many posts on here about how anything less than a 700-720 quantitative score on the GRE wouldn't be competitive, so I've been a little nervous, to say the least. This does make me feel a lot better, and while I'm definitely still going to have some safety schools, I'm much less nervous about sending off $75 or $80 to a top-25 school

Also, GardeningGrad- I have sent out some emails to my top-25 picks, and hopefully they'll give me some more insight on their preferences concerning post-baccalaureate work experience. Thanks for the idea!

[NeuroFox]

Wow, this has been incredibly encouraging- thank you all so much for your input! I have just seen so many posts on here about how anything less than a 700-720 quantitative score on the GRE wouldn't be competitive, so I've been a little nervous, to say the least. This does make me feel a lot better, and while I'm definitely still going to have some safety schools, I'm much less nervous about sending off $75 or $80 to a top-25 school

Also, GardeningGrad- I have sent out some emails to my top-25 picks, and hopefully they'll give me some more insight on their preferences concerning post-baccalaureate work experience. Thanks for the idea!

I'm heading to UCLA in the fall. My GRE Quant. was the same as yours (680) and my Verbal was much lower (570). I had research assistant experience, but no publications. I think that is what will make you stand out [coming from undergrad, which I am doing as well].

[gilmoregirl1010]

Your qualifications look great and I fully agree with everything in the above response! GRE = don't stress. The best programs look at the 'whole package,' so make sure that your personal statement shines. Also, work hard to connect with professors at your top-choice institutions - don't just rely on your recommendations. My season of emailing potential mentors and putting my name 'out there' was arduous (and felt a tad like online dating... "hi, we have SO much in common..." ;-p), but it's worth the stress. Many of these professors are on admissions committees!

My only concern would be that you're going straight from undergrad to graduate school. There is growing enthusiasm for diversifying cohorts. Admissions committees seem to be looking for well-rounded candidates with some "life experience" to round out their sociology cohorts. Thus said, ask your potential programs what they would like to see emphasized, and if your rapid transition to grad school will be a help or hindrance. Your research will definitely mark you as 'grad school material' though Well done!

I've heard other people mention contacting the faculty at the schools I'm interested in, but I've always been a little confused on how to do that. Am I basically saying "Hi, I'm Lauren, I like your research and would love to study under you, so please consider me for the 2012 cohort"? Or is there more substance to these correspondences?

[Prospective Soc Student]

Perhaps others had a different experience, but I was surprised at how many schools I got into in the top 20 and, overall, I think I under-shot things. Definitely apply in the top 25. Hell, apply in the top five and see how it goes. Have a couple back-ups where the fit is perfect and your stats are competitive, and maybe you'll get a great funding offer in case it doesn't work out with higher-ranked schools. My stats were very similar to yours (same GPA, quant score was 780 but 680 is still in the very good range). This seems like an intimidating process--but just don't sell yourself short or you'll be disappointed.

As for contacting profs, I always followed this:

1) Intro sentence: hi, I'm so-and-so, I graduated from this school in this year and I'm applying this year

2) Couple sentences about my interests

3) Your research looks exciting--would you mind telling me what you're currently working on and whether there's anything cool going on in the department?

4) Here's my CV (I found this to be key because it legitimizes you, use PDF format)

All the profs I e-mailed responded quickly and were quite helpful.

[jacib]

About GRE scores: My dad is a sociology professor, and while I was applying to programs, he emailed a bunch of his buddies to get a sense of what they expected in terms of GRE scores and other things. but really that whole "Advice for 2011 Sociology Applicants" thread might be useful to read as you think about applying. I would guess your scores will not keep you out of anywhere; they seem about average for accepted students at top programs. Your GPA is of course stellar (unless your school has extrabad grade inflation). Your ideas are what really matters now (in addition to your writing sample). But seriously, your numbers and credentials will only get them to read your ideas carefully.

Contact all the professors you're interested in working with. All of them. Even the ones you know you're a good fit with. I usually couched my "Hey... I love you" emails in terms of "I am interested in working with you. Are you currently accepting students? These are my interests, do you think I would be a good fit for this program?" You can also ask about "current research", because people are always working on things that are unpublished. I personally never sent my CV out, because I think my well-stated interests are what made me sound professional--my CV would have made me seem less professional. If you choose to contact them now, contact them again in the fall asking if there have been any "developments in the program" or to "follow up" on something or some such bullcrap to remind them who you are.

Also, this is just me, and you may be a very different person, but I found it useful to take a few years off between college and graduate school. I feel like most of my friends felt the same way. That said, the people in my program who did come straight out of college or masters programs are just as happy as those who took years off. I just know it was personally useful for me, and I know several people who used the time off to gain skills that would look good while applying for schools. Just something to consider.

[GardeningGrad]

I've heard other people mention contacting the faculty at the schools I'm interested in, but I've always been a little confused on how to do that. Am I basically saying "Hi, I'm Lauren, I like your research and would love to study under you, so please consider me for the 2012 cohort"? Or is there more substance to these correspondences?

What to say to professors I've never met but who might hold my future in their hands was a quandary for me for some time. A few professors provided an outline of what they wanted to hear - they get dozens of prospective student emails every week. I always attached a PDF of my current CV. Below is something like what I wrote - note that I changed what I included significantly based on my research into the prof. If anyone recommended that you contact this person, mention that right away! connections are so important! obviously, form letters are lame, but I hope the structure is helpful. Keep it simple BUT remember that this is their first impression of you - make it count!

Dear Dr. ____

I will be applying for admissions to _______ in fall 2012 and I am looking for a faculty mentor. I admire your ____ approach to addressing _____. Your research interests in _____ piqued my interest. I was particularly impressed, however, by your wealth of professional experience in ____.

My passion is ________ Through academic and work experiences, I have developed an understanding and curiosity about ______. My three research interests are: I desire to _____ and I believe I can gain skills and knowledge to do so through graduate study. I am interested in continuing to a PhD.

I would be happy to further explain my undergrad coursework and research, work experience, and career aims, but first I’d like to allow you to let me know if you can take on any more advisees for the 2011 school year. Since you are the (acknowledge what else the person is involved in - he or she is very busy!), I recognize that your mentoring time may be quite limited. I have attached my CV for your reference. I look forward to communicating with you further!

Sincerely...

[GardeningGrad]

an addendum... keep records of who you emailed, who responded, and who recommended that you talk to who. Many professors asked who else I'd already communicated with, and I was saved some embarrassment by pulling up my handy dandy excel spreadsheet. Also, I totally would've sent repeat emails or forgotten to reply to someone otherwise... absentminded? yep! contacted 40-50 profs? yes!

[jacib]

an addendum... keep records of who you emailed, who responded, and who recommended that you talk to who. Many professors asked who else I'd already communicated with, and I was saved some embarrassment by pulling up my handy dandy excel spreadsheet. Also, I totally would've sent repeat emails or forgotten to reply to someone otherwise... absentminded? yep! contacted 40-50 profs? yes!

No one asked me about other schools until I was admitted (my primary interests are fairly specific, though). This is still excellent advice. Keep an excel sheet of EVERYTHING. Schools. Dates. Scores (if you can find them). Requirements. Professors. Whether you've emailed them. If they've responded.

Edited April 14, 2011 by jacib

[gilmoregirl1010]

Thank you very much, this is great advice. I'm the type of person who makes lists like this anyway, so this shouldn't be too difficult.

[xyu5]

I think you really are a great candidate. I wish I had your background .

If you could score 1400+ in GRE, that will be more solid.

Also, choose the departments that highly FIT your research background when you are picking up schools.