Is my Writing Sample Sabotaging my Admissions?

[Mesaana]

Hi!

This is just to put my paranoia to rest and I hope you guys will be able to provide me some sembelance of solace in that regard. After having had to deal with a rejection and 2 wait lists as of late I am starting to think that my writing sample might be the weak link in what many would consider a solid applicant profile (research exp., publications, excellent GPA and GRE scores). The reason for this being that I submitted a sample that is not only unrelated to my expressed interests in the SOP (Sexuality & Culture) but more importantly belongs to entirely another discipline (Theology). However it is extremely well written and by far my best work, despite the fact that I already had draft for a paper I am due to present at the ASA later this year that is closely attuned to my SOP professed interests. I decided to err on the safe side with regards to perceived quality and cogency of the narrative. Do you think this could (and probably has) hurt my chances with with adcoms?

[Comfect]

First, if you hit two waitlists I wouldn't worry too much that you're doing something wrong. That means two places thought you were almost tops (and remember how much of a crapshoot all of this is...). But that said, I would tend to say you should include something related to your topic of interest, because the Writing Sample is SO important in terms of giving them a sense not only of how you write, but how you think about the topic you are interested in.

[Mesaana]

Thanks Comfect. I realize that now -- in retrosepct unfortunately. I was thinking of contacting my remaining programs and asking them if I can replace my sample. Would that help mitigate matters or am I being mypoic in thinking that the adcoms would tolerate such an action (possibly in the middle of a review).

[Comfect]

I really don't know - I've never contacted an adcom after the deadline - but it probably couldn't actively hurt. That said, don't lose hope. As you mention, you've got 2 waitlists, so there's no reason to think you couldn't get an acceptance down the line.

[miratrix]

I am in no way an expert, but I think your original strategy was good. If something is by far your best piece of writing, of course you want them to see it! Your SOP and transcripts and such will give them information about your background in the topic you want to research. (I made a similar decision, in that I'm applying to archaeology programs and sent a historical sociology paper, but those might be a bit closer together. Anyway, "send your best" was my professors' advice.)

[lotf629]

I agree with the above poster. After all, if you *had* sent the other sample, you'd be asking yourself the same question in reverse: "Is my sample sabotaging my admissions? Should I have sent the stronger piece of writing even though it wasn't in my field?"

I also sent a stronger piece of writing in an only tangentially related field, based on the same principles. I think it's usually the best bet. My advice to you would be to let bygones be bygones. I'm trying to imagine what my advisors would say if I asked them, and I'm guessing that it would be something like "There's no chance that they'll let you make the swap because it would be unfair to other applicants, and you run the risk of seeming unprofessional or insecure, so just cross your fingers and hope for the best."

My feeling is that you most likely made the right choice. It would've been luckier if your strongest piece of writing was also directly in your field, but what the hell: it didn't happen like that. I and many other people were in the same position, so don't beat yourself up about it.

[Mesaana]

I agree with the above poster. After all, if you *had* sent the other sample, you'd be asking yourself the same question in reverse: "Is my sample sabotaging my admissions? Should I have sent the stronger piece of writing even though it wasn't in my field?"

That is sooo very true! It's akin to a catch 22.

I also sent a stronger piece of writing in an only tangentially related field, based on the same principles. I think it's usually the best bet. My advice to you would be to let bygones be bygones. I'm trying to imagine what my advisors would say if I asked them, and I'm guessing that it would be something like "There's no chance that they'll let you make the swap because it would be unfair to other applicants, and you run the risk of seeming unprofessional or insecure, so just cross your fingers and hope for the best."

My feeling is that you most likely made the right choice. It would've been luckier if your strongest piece of writing was also directly in your field, but what the hell: it didn't happen like that. I and many other people were in the same position, so don't beat yourself up about it.

Thank you very much lotf629! Your advice has definitely put my mind at ease and is probably the best course of action to assume in this scenario. I guess one has to be stoic to persevere through this harrowing process since it is such a crapshoot.

Thank you comfect, miratrix and lotf629 for your wonderful advice, hope you all get into a program which bodes the best for your future!

[lotf629]

Best of luck to you too!

[slothy]

I'll throw out my experience as an example of one of the ways writing samples can matter, keeping the story vague for obvious reasons:

I've been told through third-party sources that one of my writing samples may have been seen as too conservative for at least one of the sociology programs I applied for, even though the conclusions I reached (if anything) could be seen as suporting an Obama administration domestic policy proposal. I do worry that it may have had an adverse effect at a few other places I applied, but I worry more about what it says about the disicipline - I've always known that I'm a bit more centrist than most sociologists, but it was shocking to hear that it made at least one of the professors I mentioned in my SOP worried that he might not get along with me just because the conclusion my data led me to wasn't ultra-far left.

[samsarictraveler]

It probably didn't sabotage your application, but it really couldn't have helped.

A writing sample is not primarilly a test to see how you write (that the SOP!). Rather, it shows professors how you think and do scholarship in their field. That's why the sample is so important; it's their best indication of your potential to do graduate work and become a scholar.

[fortiesgirl]

It probably didn't sabotage your application, but it really couldn't have helped.

A writing sample is not primarilly a test to see how you write (that the SOP!). Rather, it shows professors how you think and do scholarship in their field. That's why the sample is so important; it's their best indication of your potential to do graduate work and become a scholar.

Some programs simply ask for a sample of your best writing and don't specify in what field the sample is based, though they usually want to see how you form coherent arguments within your field. But if they didn't specify the parameters of the sample, well then, you're probably fine. If the dept requests a sample that demonstrates your ability to say, write a research in a particular capacity, then that is what they wanted and if you didn't submit what they wanted you may run into a problem. I say might because your other qualifications in your dossier might counterbalance the sample and they'll end up giving you the benefit of the doubt. I would go back and check what the guidelines were to put your mind at ease.

You aren't the only one who's freaking out at this point in the game.