Bad idea to mention I'm a hands-on learner?

[BattlePope]

Hi guys,

 

I was thinking about putting this excerpt in my statement, in the paragraph describing why I chose the professor that I did:

 

"Additionally, I believe that Dr. _____'s lack of previous students along with his mentoring style will allow him to be much more involved with my work than the average advisor. This hands-on style of mentoring will compliment my learning style very well."

 

Do you think I hurt myself by saying that I am more of a hands-on learner? I hope that this isn't misconstrued as me being "slow" and was wondering what you guys thought. Also, for whatever reason, saying a "lack of previous students" (I would be one of the first students in his lab) sounds a bit off to me. Thoughts? Any suggestions?

 

Thanks guys.

[ginagirl]

Do you mean you are a hands-on learner (tactile as opposed to visual, etc), or do you mean you would benefit from individualized attention?

[BattlePope]

I suppose what I meant was individualized attention. Thank you for helping me clarify that. 

[ginagirl]

No problem. I think firstly you don't want to say "lack of previous students" because I think it has a negative connotation. I assume you already discussed this professor's areas of interests and that you are a good fit in that manner, and now you want to address the "accessibility" aspect. I think you can cover this in one sentence by saying "Dr. ____'s accessibility and passion about his/her field would fill my desire for professional collaboration and growth." Or something to that effect. That lessens the negativity associated with wanting individual attention.

[BattlePope]

I completely agree that "lack of previous students" has a negative connotation. With that said, I would still like to try to incorporate that sentiment into my statement somehow. I feel that it lets the admissions committee know that I am familiar with Dr. Johnson and have a specific reason for picking him. I also feel that a statement along the lines of what you laid out is fairly generic and doesn't have that same specific "I know this professor well and know why he would be good for ME" feel to it. I do like the use of "accessibility" though. Maybe instead of "lack of previous students", I could say something like "fledgling lab"? I feel that that statement has less of a negative connotation. 

 

Or maybe you're right and I should just go with something similar to what you mentioned. Thoughts?

 

Edit: Thanks for the help by the way! I really appreciate it.

Edited February 14, 2014 by BattlePope

[ginagirl]

I agree that my statement was sort of generic. So, you would like to work with him to develop/strengthen/grow his current lab? And you would be good at that because of your familiarity with him and your previous success working in small groups (another potential way of saying you like individual attention)? I'm just trying to summarize/condense what you're saying. It sounds like there are a couple of points you're trying to touch on simultaneously.

[BattlePope]

I guess that the point I'm trying to get across is that since I would be one of the first students in Professor A's lab, he would be much more involved with my work when compared to a professor who is advising 8 different students already. Another one of my potential advisors (Professor C), for example, has specifically told me that he is very hands-off. He let's his students really do their own thing and only steps in if they need an extra push in the right direction. While I know that I would still do fine with Professor C, I would like the more individualized attention afforded by Professor A.

 

Edit: Professor B kept making a smiley face, haha.

Edited February 14, 2014 by BattlePope

[ginagirl]

I guess I'm a little unsure how that might come off, being that graduate school (as I understand it) is largely encouraging independent work. For that reason, I think it would be harmful to say that you would prefer having individualized attention over being encouraged to work independently under general supervision.

[TakeruK]

I guess I'm a little unsure how that might come off, being that graduate school (as I understand it) is largely encouraging independent work. For that reason, I think it would be harmful to say that you would prefer having individualized attention over being encouraged to work independently under general supervision.

 

I strongly agree with this. I don't think this is a good direction to go in your SOP.

 

I guess that the point I'm trying to get across is that since I would be one of the first students in Professor A's lab, he would be much more involved with my work when compared to a professor who is advising 8 different students already. Another one of my potential advisors (Professor C), for example, has specifically told me that he is very hands-off. He let's his students really do their own thing and only steps in if they need an extra push in the right direction. While I know that I would still do fine with Professor C, I would like the more individualized attention afforded by Professor A.

 

Edit: Professor B kept making a smiley face, haha.

 

I would be wary of sounding like you know exactly how Professor A will run his lab when you are not even a student there yet. Unless Prof A has directly told you that he will be more hands-on with you because you are one of the first students, then you don't know this for sure. And even if you do, the admissions committee won't know that you know this and this will sound like you are trying to say that you know Prof A better than his colleagues know him. I would avoid this route.

 

Also, in your original post, you mention something like "Prof A will be better for me than the average advisor". This sounds negative towards other types of profs and although you will work better with some types than others, you should avoid negative associations!

 

Instead, I would suggest that we take a step back and figure out what you are really trying to convey in this paragraph/sentence and refocus the words to achieve that. I think you want to tell the committee that you are a good fit with Professor A and you are excited to be part of a new lab? If you are absolutely sure that this is true then maybe you want to change the sentence to convey how excited you are for an opportunity to start new research in a brand new lab with Professor A. This will convey that you have talked to Professor A and found that you are a good fit.

[astreaux]

Hi guys,

 

I was thinking about putting this excerpt in my statement, in the paragraph describing why I chose the professor that I did:

 

"Additionally, I believe that Dr. _____'s lack of previous students along with his mentoring style will allow him to be much more involved with my work than the average advisor. This hands-on style of mentoring will compliment my learning style very well."

If you decide to go with this sentiment (or something similar), use "complement," not "compliment."

[BattlePope]

Thanks for the input guys and gals, I agree with everything you have said. I decided to drop the statement and instead focused on the comprehensiveness of the thesis program/process at this school. Thanks for all the help!