Always put Professors before Associate Professors in SOP?

[gradcafe26]

Associate Prof X fits my research interest the most in terms of region/topic/method in comparative politics.

Professor Y is well respected in the subfield, but only certain aspects of his/her work are related to what I want to do in the future.

Assistant Prof Z fits some of my interest, but she/he may not be tenured yet.

In this scenario, how should I list them in the SOP?

1. “I want to study under professor X, Y, and Z”

2. “I want to study under professor Y, X, and Z”

3. “I want to study under professor X and Y”

4. “I want to study under professor Y and X”

5. Doesn't really matter as long as I don't put Z before X and Y.

Thanks!

[kaykaykay]

If the Associate Professor is tenured I do not see any reason why the Professor should go first. Then maybe you can put Z at the end. I do not think it really matters though in my SOP the order of the profs was a little bit illogical but it was ok.

[gradcafe26]

Thanks!

I was wondering if seniority matters at all, since most professors have been in the department for a longer time than associates, but maybe im worrying too much.

[flyers29]

Never underestimate the petulance of academia, but even then this thought never would've occurred to me. Probably not a big deal.

Edited November 27, 2011 by flyers29

[gradcafe26]

Sounds good, thanks!

[AlphabetSoup]

If you really want to work with a few particular people, take them out of the list and write a quick sentence into your research proposal detailing how they would help you pursue that field of study.

[gradcafe26]

thanks for the suggestion sindikumva