Stipend?

[Webster]

Hey all,

I have been stressing over financial ties regarding graduate school. I will be applying for Sociology MA programs for Fall 2012. My undergrad will be in Speech Communications and I will have about 9 credits in Sociology. My application package will look something like this: 3.4 Undergrad GPA, most likely a 1000-1100 GRE, great LOR's from professors one being sociology. Should I mention why I should get financial assitance in my SOP? I know this scenario is vague, but what do my chances look like for any kind of financial assistance thus far regarding TA or stipend??? Thanks!

[joops]

Hey all,

I have been stressing over financial ties regarding graduate school. I will be applying for Sociology MA programs for Fall 2012. My undergrad will be in Speech Communications and I will have about 9 credits in Sociology. My application package will look something like this: 3.4 Undergrad GPA, most likely a 1000-1100 GRE, great LOR's from professors one being sociology. Should I mention why I should get financial assitance in my SOP? I know this scenario is vague, but what do my chances look like for any kind of financial assistance thus far regarding TA or stipend??? Thanks!

I would recommend against mentioning why you should get financial assistance in your SOP. That's not really what it's for. To increase your chances of getting any kind of financial aid, make sure you apply before certain deadlines listed on sites of schools you consider. Are you in much debt from undergrad? If not, getting an MA might be worth the cost if you don't get any aid, provided that you understand the realities of the academic job market.

[jacib]

I would recommend against mentioning why you should get financial assistance in your SOP. That's not really what it's for. To increase your chances of getting any kind of financial aid, make sure you apply before certain deadlines listed on sites of schools you consider. Are you in much debt from undergrad? If not, getting an MA might be worth the cost if you don't get any aid, provided that you understand the realities of the academic job market.

I wouldn't mention financial aid in your SOP. Like Joops said, that's really not what it's for. Financial aid policies vary by school. Find out what the school's policies are by emailing the DGS or the graduate assistant (depending on who fields application questions at the school). Sometimes fellowships are competitive, sometimes they're guaranteed. For many MA programs there is no financial aid. At many schools GRE is a major factor in competitive aid. Email around, see what proportion of people get aid, see if aid is decided at the department or the university level, see how they decide who gets aid. If it's at the university level, GRE will probably be important because that's one of the few measures that can be compared across departments (this way of deciding funding is more common for PhD funding than MA funding, I think). To the best of my knowledge, aid will be merit rather than need based, and "merit" is frequently based on GRE scores, etc. rather than ideas. But I could be wrong; email and ask. I had to ask about funding for one school and they were able to give me very clear information.

Long story short, I don't think anyone will be able to give you general information if you're competitive . At some schools, no MA students get funded. At some schools, they all do (so I've heard?--I don't actually know). At other schools, I'd guess the deciding factors vary.

[GardeningGrad]

I agree with the others - don't mention needing funding in your SOP. Of course you need funding - everyone does. Make your SOP stand out - show how you are interesting or different. Also, you should consider indicating that you want to go on to your PhD. There is more funding available for MA/PhD students than students just pursuing an MA. Typically, indicating that you're interested in pursuing your PhD after your masters is not a commitment - just a signal that you may be investing more the University of Awesome, so they might want to keep you there. Unless you are 100% sure you will not get your PhD at some point, check the box/include in SOP that you are "interested in pursuing your PhD."

Final word of advice - take the GRE again, and work hard on those professor contacts at your top schools. As you make yourself rise above the crowd of sociology applicants, professors may work harder to find funding for you.