Toxic Writing Sample Topics?

[dgswaim]

I'm actually amazed that someone got into Duke with an a priori writing sample.

Makes me picture Alex Rosenberg turning red with smoke shooting out of his ears.

[TheVineyard]

Makes me picture Alex Rosenberg turning red with smoke shooting out of his ears.

 

And then that makes me picture how sad I am that Duke apparently doesn't want me =[

 

@ Ianfaircloud, you should include Indiana HPS, Pitt HPS, and Irvine LPS as separate entries on your blog and in your notification section. Don't forget, a large part of the strength of those schools' PGR rankings is due to the strength of the faculty in those separate departments.

Edited February 27, 2014 by TheVineyard

[zblaesi]

Talked with Crispin today. I told him I believed my writing sample was killing me. He said something like, "Maybe. It had many virtues, but I think you're capable of a better writing sample."

I told him about how I was writing a paper for Robert Hopkins in aesthetics and considered using it, but was advised to use my current writing sample instead. He mentioned that Rob was "really excited" about my aesthetics paper. That means that Crispin is on the committee and read Rob's letter, that Rob is on the committee and advocated for me, both, or that they just happened to randomly talk about me.

 

I don't know what this means for my NYU application, but I'm going to assume the worst.

[MattDest]

Talked with Crispin today. I told him I believed my writing sample was killing me. He said something like, "Maybe. It had many virtues, but I think you're capable of a better writing sample."

I told him about how I was writing a paper for Robert Hopkins in aesthetics and considered using it, but was advised to use my current writing sample instead. He mentioned that Rob was "really excited" about my aesthetics paper. That means that Crispin is on the committee and read Rob's letter, that Rob is on the committee and advocated for me, both, or that they just happened to randomly talk about me.

 

I don't know what this means for my NYU application, but I'm going to assume the worst.

 

Perhaps I'm not understanding. What is "the worst" in this regard? This sounds like a good thing, right?

[zblaesi]

Perhaps I'm not understanding. What is "the worst" in this regard? This sounds like a good thing, right?

 

Well, my intuition is that if I was going to get an offer from NYU, Crispin might have hinted at it. Or maybe not. So, yeah, I'm just not expecting to get in.

Edited February 28, 2014 by zblaesi

[Hypatience]

Honestly, zblaesi, it sounds like your sample has been well-vetted by the kind of scholars many of us would kill to have access to. Are you sure it can't be some other part of your application that is the problem? Do you say anything unorthodox in your statement? I guess your GRE Quant score is low, but it's hard to imagine that being the kind of thing that would shut you out.

 

Edit: at any rate, you aren't getting shut out -- you have two great wait lists, and I'm sure you're still waiting to hear back from some top places. Try to relax!

Edited February 28, 2014 by Hypatience

[zblaesi]

Honestly, zblaesi, it sounds like your sample has been well-vetted by the kind of scholars many of us would kill to have access to. Are you sure it can't be some other part of your application that is the problem? Do you say anything unorthodox in your statement? I guess your GRE Quant score is low, but it's hard to imagine that being the kind of thing that would shut you out.

 

Edit: at any rate, you aren't getting shut out -- you have two great wait lists, and I'm sure you're still waiting to hear back from some top places. Try to relax!

 

I think my statement of purpose is fine. I didn't customize it for every school - that's the only thing I can think of - but I doubt that'd be responsible for these rejections.

Edited February 28, 2014 by zblaesi

[Griswald]

I think my statement of purpose is fine. I didn't customize it for every school - that's the only thing I can think of - but I doubt that'd be responsible for these rejections.

Four rejections really isn't such a big deal. Especially considering they're all from really competitive, top-notch programs. Even the most successful applicants typically rack up a handful of rejections. Try not to despair just yet!

[Hypatience]

I think my statement of purpose is fine. I didn't customize it for every school - that's the only thing I can think of - but I doubt that'd be responsible for these rejections.

 

I agree, that's not a big deal. Seconding what aduh said... don't despair yet!

[zblaesi]

It's hard not to despair at this point, haha. I'm just waiting on NYU, Princeton, Rutgers, CUNY, Columbia, BU, and maybe Harvard (if they didn't send all of the acceptances yet). And given the programs that have rejected me so far, I think it's unlikely I'll get into those programs, with the exception of BU. And I'm not even sure BU would be worth it. 

[dgswaim]

It's hard not to despair at this point, haha. I'm just waiting on NYU, Princeton, Rutgers, CUNY, Columbia, BU, and maybe Harvard (if they didn't send all of the acceptances yet). And given the programs that have rejected me so far, I think it's unlikely I'll get into those programs, with the exception of BU. And I'm not even sure BU would be worth it. 

Not sure Boston University would be worth it? I'm afraid I don't know what you mean. Boston University is a fantastic school.