Considering a Sociology PhD - Any advice would be helpful.

[woode2013]

Hi everyone,

 

I'm new to this site, but I could really use some insight from current or other prospective PhD candidates. I'd like to apply for admission this fall, but I've got some concerns. I'm 25, graduated from undergrad in 2010 with majors in English, Sociology, and Multicultural Studies with a strong GPA. 

 

I then went to law school, somewhat on a whim (I know I know), but thankfully I had a full scholarship. I went to UCLA for law school, but my grades there not great. I graduated with a 3.2, though my grades in seminars and independent studies were much better, all A's and 1 B+. My large doctrinal class grades pretty much tanked. 

 

I actually considered Soc PhD programs back in 2009 when I applied to law school, but didn't think I would have much of a chance of getting into a good program - my school was not well known, and while my grades and GRE scores were very strong, I didn't have a clear idea of what I would want to research other than gender studies in general, and wasn't sure about the quality of my writing sample. 

 

I'm wondering if 3 years at a top 15 law school will help my application, even though my grades were not good while there? I do know now that I have a much better idea of what I want to research - specialize in deviance, law, and social control, and specifically study gender deviants and their treatment in the legal system. I wrote a term paper for a law class "Human Rights and Sexuality" about the U.S. response to transgender inmates, that I think with some tweaking would be a very strong sample. But I worry that my JD might hurt more than help and they'll look at me as a perpetual student... My classes in law school, when I got to pick them, centered around social justice and law and sexuality.

 

I also for the most part really hated law school. I found the professors disengaged and pompous, the fellow students self absorbed and classist. It was so different from undergrad. I consider the law to be dry, hidebound, and rife with institutionalized discrimination that it refuses to acknowledge. I worry that by starting a grad school program, I'd be diving into another program I might dislike. I'm down to earth and am also interested in public sociology. The idea of teaching is just as exciting as researching to me. So maybe I should think about programs that are not top tier? If I even have a shot at those types of programs.

 

Just for reference, my undergrad GPA was 3.83, law school was a 3.2, when I took the GRE In 2009 I got a 740 on the verbal section and 700 on the quantitative, and a 4 on the writing. I'd probably take it again to try and get my quantitative score up a bit. 

 

What do you folks think? Should I go for it? If I do and get in anywhere, will I like it?

 

Thanks! 

[amlobo]

Ok, first look at what I posted in this thread: 

 

Now, let me clarify beyond what Bradley said, since I am a JD to PhD, as well.  Law school GPA is a completely different beast than UG GPA.  As you will see in my other post, my law school GPA was a 3.3-something, and I didn't feel the need to address it in my SOP (and it wasn't even from a top-tier school).  Law school grades are curved, and GPAs are much lower than UG GPAs because of it...and thus can't be compared to them, really, at all.  I was like you - did poorly in the huge courses and very well in my seminars and writing courses.  I had a much lower UG GPA than you (3.4-something), though from a top 15 school, and I had high GREs.  I was very happy with my admissions cycle and got in to a few top 15s.  So, obviously, law school GPA is not the be-all end-all of grad admissions.  However, I do think you need to have a compelling case as to why you are switching gears... and just keep the rest of your application as tight as possible.  I studied a lot for the GREs specifically so my score would offset the lower GPAs a bit, and I put a ton of time and effort into the rest of my application... and well, something worked.  Your GPA is what it is, and it's just one factor of many... so I'd just focus on making the ones you can control as good as possible.  I would really spend some time thinking about what you want out of grad school before picking a list of schools.  I'm sure a lot of schools would fit your interests, and I'd apply to a range of rankings - I definitely think I got in to schools where I "fit" better, regardless of ranking.  You never know where you will get in, and if you are interested more in teaching, a mid-ranked school could still fit your goals nicely, as well. 

 

Just a word of advice on your SOP - don't trash the law, lol.  A lot of people will see your background as an asset, so I'd focus your energies on explaining why you feel sociology is a "better" route for your interests and how your legal experience will benefit you.  After all, the "skills" you learn in law school are incredibly transferable as far as critical thinking ... and even just finishing a rigorous course of study.  If you took classes in your area of interest, that's definitely a plus.  I was sure to bring up that kind of thing in my SOP, to show the progression of my interests (and used a paper from one of said law classes as my writing sample, with some editing).  And, as far as the "will you like it?" goes... only you can answer that.  Personally, I wouldn't go through the time, money, and energy in applying if you aren't really serious about finishing a PhD program.  Worst case scenario, wait another year to apply and really think about it.

 

Also... if that full ride to UCLA Law was a merit scholarship, be sure to put that on your CV