Fall 2014 applicants??

[aGiRlCalLeDApPlE]

Thanks for sharing your experience. I'll try to be optimistic about the test and see, who knows

[peterangelo]

 

Also, I think it's just hard to know what makes a "good" SOP--I thought mine was good last year, and now when I look back, I realize that it was not (hence the re-applying). Same sort of goes for the CV--most people aren't going to have publications and awards, so does that mean that you don't have a good enough CV? 

 

Le sigh. 

 

 

Yeah, I guess like the GRE scores, this stuff's just a blind judgment call as well. I'm really getting the sense that this process can be summed up by Commissioner Gordon's quote in "The Dark Knight" (for those of you Batman fans): "I don't get political points for being an idealist, I have to do the best I can with what I have." I feel like if you've done an MA program, you should have at least something along those lines... But if you don't you could still have a good app; I'm not one to ask what makes a good app and what doesn't. I just imagine that awards, publications, etc., can only help.

[aGiRlCalLeDApPlE]

How late do you think I should take the GRE if my deadlines mostly fall between mid-september and mid-Jan.? How many weeks does it usually take to get the scores sent? Should I be ok if I register for the test during the first two weeks of Nov.?

[Katia_chan]

Slightly off topic, but does anyone else feel like a blithering idiot when Emailing POIs?

 

I Emailed one of mine, just checking on the availability of one of their courses, and kind of got a "duh, X means this will be offered next year" sort of response.  Feeling dumb, but sending back a "thanks for clearing that up" Email.  But now I'm just staring at it, because I feel like I should say more than thank you, because otherwise she's going to remember me as the twit who couldn't read a web page properly, and nothing else. But I have nothing else of substance to say, even though I'd like to prolong the conversation. Ugh.

 

TL;DR: I'm super awkward.

[angelperak]

*waves* Can I join in here? I am working on my applications for Fall 2014 programs, and I'm so nervous! I'm splitting my applications between creative writing and literature programs and hoping for the best. I feel confident about my writing samples, GRE scores, and letters of rec, but SOPs are giving me major writer's block. I'm also a bit stressed because I'm currently in a "grey" immigration area: I'm not from the USA, but I'm married to a US citizen (for almost 3 years now) and am waiting for my green card application to be processed. Immigration stuff seems to make filling out all those application forms more complicated! But I will be happy if I can just get into one program if it is funded, and I should have my green card by March next year.

 

Anyway, enough about me. How are your SOPs coming along?

[toasterazzi]

How late do you think I should take the GRE if my deadlines mostly fall between mid-september and mid-Jan.? How many weeks does it usually take to get the scores sent? Should I be ok if I register for the test during the first two weeks of Nov.?

 

They email you when the scores are ready and being sent, and I think the website says it's usually like 10-14 days after taking the test. I think I got the email after about 10 days. I would probably want a few weeks of cushion time in between taking the test and any possible deadlines just in case something wacky happened. 

 

Slightly off topic, but does anyone else feel like a blithering idiot when Emailing POIs?

 

I Emailed one of mine, just checking on the availability of one of their courses, and kind of got a "duh, X means this will be offered next year" sort of response.  Feeling dumb, but sending back a "thanks for clearing that up" Email.  But now I'm just staring at it, because I feel like I should say more than thank you, because otherwise she's going to remember me as the twit who couldn't read a web page properly, and nothing else. But I have nothing else of substance to say, even though I'd like to prolong the conversation. Ugh.

 

TL;DR: I'm super awkward.

 

I haven't emailed any yet, but I think we're all super awkward

 

*waves* Can I join in here? I am working on my applications for Fall 2014 programs, and I'm so nervous! I'm splitting my applications between creative writing and literature programs and hoping for the best. I feel confident about my writing samples, GRE scores, and letters of rec, but SOPs are giving me major writer's block. I'm also a bit stressed because I'm currently in a "grey" immigration area: I'm not from the USA, but I'm married to a US citizen (for almost 3 years now) and am waiting for my green card application to be processed. Immigration stuff seems to make filling out all those application forms more complicated! But I will be happy if I can just get into one program if it is funded, and I should have my green card by March next year.

 

Anyway, enough about me. How are your SOPs coming along?

 

Hello!

 

Mine are coming along slowly. Good times, heh. 

[Katia_chan]

*waves* Can I join in here? I am working on my applications for Fall 2014 programs, and I'm so nervous! I'm splitting my applications between creative writing and literature programs and hoping for the best. I feel confident about my writing samples, GRE scores, and letters of rec, but SOPs are giving me major writer's block. I'm also a bit stressed because I'm currently in a "grey" immigration area: I'm not from the USA, but I'm married to a US citizen (for almost 3 years now) and am waiting for my green card application to be processed. Immigration stuff seems to make filling out all those application forms more complicated! But I will be happy if I can just get into one program if it is funded, and I should have my green card by March next year.

 

Anyway, enough about me. How are your SOPs coming along?

 

Welcome to GC.  I wish you best of luck--the applications are a pain in the butt even when everything is firmly settled.  But I'm sure it'll be just fine for you.

 

And ugh SoPs.  I feel the urge to have myself committed every time I open mine up.  I hope yours are going better.

[cbttcher]

Hi!

So, I'd just like to have some opinions. I'm unsure whether I should retake the GRE because I don't know if I'll actually score any better. Plus, I also have to take the TOEFL again because apparently, it doesn't matter that I spent the last year in the US and I can't speak English and that's a lot of money which I'd rather use to apply to one or two more grad schools.

 

I scored 84th percentile on the verbal section last year and I just would like to hear some opinions on whether I should retake it or not. Thanks!

[Datatape]

Hi!

So, I'd just like to have some opinions. I'm unsure whether I should retake the GRE because I don't know if I'll actually score any better. Plus, I also have to take the TOEFL again because apparently, it doesn't matter that I spent the last year in the US and I can't speak English and that's a lot of money which I'd rather use to apply to one or two more grad schools.

 

I scored 84th percentile on the verbal section last year and I just would like to hear some opinions on whether I should retake it or not. Thanks!

 

I wouldn't, unless your writing score was below a 4.0 (which I highly doubt it would be if you scored in the 84th percentile on verbal).  The odds that you'll do much better on the GRE aren't terribly high, and as you said, it is a lot of money for something that isn't a huge part of your application.  You'd be much better served putting your time toward working on your Writing Sample and SOP and your money toward application fees at one or two additional schools.

[id quid]

An 84 is a very respectable score. If you are intending to apply for Harvard, they may care -- but even they go to pains to comment that it's only one part of your application. 

 

I second Datatape's recommendation wholeheartedly.

[practical cat]

Yeah, don't do it. Spend your time on your writing and your money on actual applications (or coffee or whatever).

[Katia_chan]

Hello all,

 

I know this has probably been beaten to death ten times over, but I wanted to mine the collective GC brain for your anxiety-overcomers.

 

Basically, I'm working on my SoP.  It's not going well.  Every time I open it and try to write about myself like a reasonably intelligent human being, it goes terribly wrong and I end up feeling like I'm only suited for sanitation work for the rest of my life.  I've gone and looked at samples, but mostly that just makes me feel worse, because I feel like these people are much smarter than me.  Then I panic, and it's a big old insecurity-gasm.

 

I know my specific neuroses are my own problem, but I'm curious if any others had crazy crises of confidence while doing this, and how you overcame those/pushed through the crazy long enough to put out something decent.  Any writing exercises you used, methods for balancing academic-speak while portraying who you "are", anything would help at this point.  Because right now, I'm dealing with a metaphoric dog attack after which I'm asked to sit in a pit of giant barking German shepherds.

 

Also trying to work in acknowledgement  of a disability that has to be mentioned because my letter writers are mentioning it, so any tips there would be good too, though I realize that's pretty specific.

 

That's a lot of questions, but I'd appreciate any advice.

 

ETA: I'm looking at this, and having deja vu.  If I went similarly nuts to this before, I really do apologize for posting it again.

Edited October 1, 2013 by Katia_chan

[guinevere29]

Hello all,

 

I know this has probably been beaten to death ten times over, but I wanted to mine the collective GC brain for your anxiety-overcomers.

 

Basically, I'm working on my SoP.  It's not going well.  Every time I open it and try to write about myself like a reasonably intelligent human being, it goes terribly wrong and I end up feeling like I'm only suited for sanitation work for the rest of my life.  I've gone and looked at samples, but mostly that just makes me feel worse, because I feel like these people are much smarter than me.  Then I panic, and it's a big old insecurity-gasm.

 

I know my specific neuroses are my own problem, but I'm curious if any others had crazy crises of confidence while doing this, and how you overcame those/pushed through the crazy long enough to put out something decent.  Any writing exercises you used, methods for balancing academic-speak while portraying who you "are", anything would help at this point.  Because right now, I'm dealing with a metaphoric dog attack after which I'm asked to sit in a pit of giant barking German shepherds.

 

Also trying to work in acknowledgement  of a disability that has to be mentioned because my letter writers are mentioning it, so any tips there would be good too, though I realize that's pretty specific.

 

That's a lot of questions, but I'd appreciate any advice.

 

ETA: I'm looking at this, and having deja vu.  If I went similarly nuts to this before, I really do apologize for posting it again.

 

First, take a deep breath. We all feel inadequate sometimes when we read our own writing (especialy when it counts for something important). Here are a few specific pieces of advice. I'll try to keep it brief since I'm sure you can find more detailed advice elsewhere on this site.

 

Try to think of it as an excercise in which you demonstrate to the admissions committee that you 1) can articulate a specific set of interests that are appropriate for your field 2) are a good fit for the school's program and 3) have the crudentials and experience necessary. I would error on the side of being direct and consice with your writing rather than fluffing up your writing with academic jargon. I also wouldn't waste time beating around the bush with cliches like "I've loved to read since I was a child..." or making claims about how much you enjoy academic work.

 

In the case of the disibility, it's hard to give specific advice without knowing your personal situation. Perhaps this would be something to ask the professors writing your letters of rec. Why did they feel the need to include it? Was it a personal obstacle you overcame? Does it somehow inform your academic work? Does it give you a diverse perspective that would be valuable in your field? In any event, I would keep it brief and positive.

[Katia_chan]

I think they're wanting me to hit the minority angle by mentioning it, also talking about how I "overcame adversity" or something.  It's a visual disability, so it does impact how I have to run things.

In some ways, they have a point.  In others, it has nothing to do with my intelligence, and I really hate fighting against preconceived notions that come as a packaged deal.

 

...also if I have to run the "inspirational" angle, I will actually scream.

[repentwalpurgis]

I think they're wanting me to hit the minority angle by mentioning it, also talking about how I "overcame adversity" or something.  It's a visual disability, so it does impact how I have to run things.

In some ways, they have a point.  In others, it has nothing to do with my intelligence, and I really hate fighting against preconceived notions that come as a packaged deal.

 

...also if I have to run the "inspirational" angle, I will actually scream.

How has being labeled in such a way (i.e. "disabled") informed your experience of reading literature?  You mention medieval studies - surely there is some resonance there, no?  Otherwise, how did reading Medieval lit inform your experience of disability?

Are you certain that your professors simply want to hit a minority angle?  I would assume there is far than that.  How did having a disability at a university create adversity, as you mention, or conversely, were there moments where you wished it was not labeled or recognized as adversity at all?  (I'm asking this because disability theory is a huge interest of mine - if you want to chat about it at all,  please feel free to PM me anytime you want).  There are definitely ways to discuss disability in your SOP that are new and engaging, as I'm sure you know - and you will find them. :}

As for writing exercises, I would absolutely try a free write.  Write for as long and as much as you can. 

Set it aside for a few days, and come back to it. 

Make an outline - check out the gradcafe forums for SOP. 

Outline the paragraphs where certain topics should be addressed, and move your free write into a cohesive series of paragraphs that fluidly showcase you and your academic/personal experience in an organized way. 

[champagne]

As for writing exercises, I would absolutely try a free write.  Write for as long and as much as you can. 

Set it aside for a few days, and come back to it.  

I love this. This is great advice for all of us struggling with something that's hard for anybody: writing about yourself.

 

It probably seems a little obvious, but the only way to combat writer's block is to write. Part of the daunting nature of SOP's is the minute length we are given. Completely disregarding that length at the outset could provide great fruit and insight for ourselves and circumvent that inability to write about ourselves.

[repentwalpurgis]

I forgot to add - don't edit, don't worry about what you are writing, about any kind of voice, anything at all.  You're writing for the ideas.  But the longer you write, the more material you will have - and the stuff that should probably not go into your SOP, won't! 

[rhetoricus aesalon]

I think they're wanting me to hit the minority angle by mentioning it, also talking about how I "overcame adversity" or something.  It's a visual disability, so it does impact how I have to run things.

In some ways, they have a point.  In others, it has nothing to do with my intelligence, and I really hate fighting against preconceived notions that come as a packaged deal.

 

...also if I have to run the "inspirational" angle, I will actually scream.

 

Just because this is an interest of mine as well, I feel like I should agree that what you are being asked to do is absolutely ridiculous. There is nothing wrong with you, and you did not have to overcome your disability to succeed but rather the messed up, backwards, elitist institution of higher education. Ugh. Just had to get that off my chest.

 

Also, I wanted to ask what your interests in medieval lit are. I'm not a medievalist myself, but I have been reading in medieval disability lately and it seems like a lot of work needs to be done in that area.

[antecedent]

Every time I worked on my SOP for the first several months I was writing it, I just opened a new document and started over. Every time. This mean that by the time I had written one that seemed like I could work with it, I could look back through the previous drafts and make sure I hadn't left out something I had thought was good/important in a previous draft.

 

I'm not sure if it's the best/most effecient advice, but since I couldn't seem to make any edits on the drafts I was producing at first, it helped force me to be critical.

[bfat]

What seemed to work for me last year while writing my SOP, as repentwalpurgis mentioned, was to combine freewriting with outline. I made a list of everything I thought the SoP should have, and then didn't worry at all about length--I just blathered on with no filter at all, bullshitting and sappy-story-telling to my heart's delight. I then went back with a skeleton of an outline, and just started chopping and refining. I saved the various versions (each subsequent massacre edit) so I could look back and pull things when schools asked for more personal statements (or a personal statement and an SoP).

 

Things I included in "what the SoP should have" were (in roughly chronological order):

 

1. academic background

2. academic "hook"--i.e. what hooked me into my current field of interest, made it interesting for me, etc.

3. previous projects

4. current projects

5. future interests (usually an extension of current projects, but framed more broadly, like "I'd like to look at the way gender interacts within this context as well, an area I haven't yet explored" or somesuch)

6. why X University is such a great fit (including profs)

7. conclusion, with maybe some more personal (but relevant) details

 

I hope this is helpful. I got quite a few rejections, but still managed to end up in a really great program, so I guess I must have done something right.

[cbttcher]

I wouldn't, unless your writing score was below a 4.0 (which I highly doubt it would be if you scored in the 84th percentile on verbal).  The odds that you'll do much better on the GRE aren't terribly high, and as you said, it is a lot of money for something that isn't a huge part of your application.  You'd be much better served putting your time toward working on your Writing Sample and SOP and your money toward application fees at one or two additional schools.

 

 

An 84 is a very respectable score. If you are intending to apply for Harvard, they may care -- but even they go to pains to comment that it's only one part of your application. 

 

I second Datatape's recommendation wholeheartedly.

 

 

Yeah, don't do it. Spend your time on your writing and your money on actual applications (or coffee or whatever).

 

Thanks so much for your input, guys! It's really helped a lot and I've decided not to retake the GRE.

[jazzyd]

I think they're wanting me to hit the minority angle by mentioning it, also talking about how I "overcame adversity" or something.  It's a visual disability, so it does impact how I have to run things.

In some ways, they have a point.  In others, it has nothing to do with my intelligence, and I really hate fighting against preconceived notions that come as a packaged deal.

 

...also if I have to run the "inspirational" angle, I will actually scream.

 

That sounds like something you'd put in a Personal Statement more than that SOP. 

 

I don't see a problem with discussing something like that which has impacted how you've gotten to where you are, just not in a SOP. 

[BunnyWantsaPhD]

So since someone else has asked the dreaded "should I retake the GRE" question, I'll go ahead and ask it as well. I could really use some advice. 

 

So, I got a 158 on the verbal, which is in the 78th percentile. Should I retake it?

 

On the practice tests I got scores of 157, 162, 155, 167. So, there's a possibility that I could score higher, just no guarantee. I just don't want to not get into some of the top schools (top 20/30?--I'm applying to at least 3 in the top 15) because of the GRE. Everyone keeps saying that it's the least important part of the application, but if schools say that they want scores in the 90-95th percentiles, does that mean that they're not even looking at other parts of the application? Is it worth the $185 to possibly not do any better? HELP! 

[rhetoricus aesalon]

Has anyone here ever attached a Works Cited to their SOP? I came across a sample from U of Louisville the other day (granted, for a PhD in ... curriculum and instruction?) that had one attached. My first thought was that it was a rhetorical choice since the applicant was showing proficiency in APA, but then I though to check with you all to see what you do.

[id quid]

I had never considered submitting a paper without a works cited -- it may not count toward the total page limit, but it's an integral part of the paper! Now I'm worried; do people not attach a works cited?