Getting to know Soc PhD applications

[gaygaygay]

hello

i try to orient myself about phd studies in usa...

i have some conflicts:

-in europe we are so used to writing a research proposal for phd admission. but in usa they do not mention about it... so i ask it is not so important for us departments to learn what phd project exactly i will carry in the department? my phd thesis title will be decided during my phd studies?

-what is cohort size? they say ''We usually admit about twenty-five people each year. Our goal is to have a cohort size of thirteen. ''... ??? if you admit it is not cohort? what is cohort then? ))

i am really ambitious for usa but i have never heard cohort whilst searching british departments...

[gellert]

You don't have to know precisely what you want to write your dissertation on while applying to Ph.D. programs. For one, your interests may change over the course of your training, and secondly the methodology you'll learn while in the program will help you form a better project than you could come up with just out of undergrad. Some professors like to know that you have an idea of what you'll eventually do your thesis on, whereas others prefer a completely blank slate. Generally it seems that something in the middle is typical -- you have an area that you'd like to research further (your "research interests") and possibly some methodology that intrigues you, but some flexibility regarding your final dissertation.

A "cohort" is the term for the entering class of students. So everyone in your year is part of your cohort. When they say they're admitting 25 students and hoping for a cohort of 13, that just means they expect 12 of the students they accept to decline matriculation, for a final cohort size of 13.

[gaygaygay]

Wonderful! Thanks! I think this is great! :-)

I won't decline the offer never and ever

You don't have to know precisely what you want to write your dissertation on while applying to Ph.D. programs. For one, your interests may change over the course of your training, and secondly the methodology you'll learn while in the program will help you form a better project than you could come up with just out of undergrad. Some professors like to know that you have an idea of what you'll eventually do your thesis on, whereas others prefer a completely blank slate. Generally it seems that something in the middle is typical -- you have an area that you'd like to research further (your "research interests") and possibly some methodology that intrigues you, but some flexibility regarding your final dissertation.

A "cohort" is the term for the entering class of students. So everyone in your year is part of your cohort. When they say they're admitting 25 students and hoping for a cohort of 13, that just means they expect 12 of the students they accept to decline matriculation, for a final cohort size of 13.