Sociology of Religion, MA/Ph.D. chances

[sociologylouise]

Hi all,

 

To start off, I am a current undergraduate at Ohio State in the honors program with a double major in Sociology and Psychology. I have had my sights set on graduate school, specifically an MA/Ph.D. program for Sociology, since day one of undergrad, and as I'm nearing the application process (for a hopeful start in Fall 2015) I'm hoping I can get some advice on what schools I can realistically get into.

 

As of right now, I have my heart set on Notre Dame; there is a professor there whose research interests line up shockingly perfectly with mine, but I am also thinking of applying to Baylor, Brandeis, Purdue, Penn State, among a few others. I hope to focus on Religion.

 

-I have a 3.5/4.0 overall, and a 3.6 in my Sociology major.

-Although I haven't taken the GRE yet, my practice tests have all been in the 65-70% verbal, 75-80% math range. I've historically done very well on standardized tests (34 on my ACT)

-I've worked as a research assistant 5 times over the course of my undergrad

-I'm completing an honors thesis on national and religious identities in Northern Ireland, by traveling to Belfast this summer and conducting about 25 interviews

-My letters of recommendation come from my advisor whom I've taken several classes from, my thesis advisor, and a professor I am a research assistant for

-And lastly, in case this boosts my application, I am a varsity athlete and have gone All-American for academics twice.

 

I am mainly concerned by GPA is not high enough. I keep hearing stories of applicants that were already published and still got rejected, so I'm concerned as to what caliber of school I, an unpublished undergrad, can get into.

 

Any advice y'all can lend would be great! I just want to know what my chances of getting into Notre Dame are, as well as any other schools with a Sociology of Religion program I can get into. Thanks!

[gingin6789]

I have a feeling that thesis is going to really strengthen your application. Not only do you have an undergraduate thesis and, therefore, research experience, but the nature of your research is challenging in that you're doing interviews, and you're traveling to do these interviews. If your thesis is as awesome as it sounds, you'll really have an advantage. GRE math scores sound excellent, GRE verbal could use a bit of bulking up, but I started at that range of scores, too, and practice is what it took to get mine up.

Your gpa does matter, but focus on what you can change most right now: GRE scores and your thesis. Those will shine very brightly!! And your gpa isn't terrible to begin with!!

Best of luck! I'd write more, but I'm on my phone!

[Marcone]

Hi sociologylouise!

 

I'm sociology of religion guy that just finished an MA in religious studies and will be entering a PhD sociology program this fall. Your background seems excellent for what you want to do and I agree with gingin that your thesis project/research will really standout. As for advice, I only have a few thoughts

 

1) Think about applying to terminal MA's in religious studies rather than soc along with PhD programs. If you end up falling short on the PhD programs, you can fall back on a terminal MA in religious studies for the time being and you can get that MA soc later on your way to your PhD. Also, an MA in religious studies will really make you stand out if you continue to pursue sociology of religion. 

2) You list of schools is interesting and I'm sure you've researched it plenty but I would also consider Rice with Elaine Ecklund, Duke with Mark Chaves, and Princeton with Wuthnow to name only a few.

3) Your background seems great. Apply to top programs. No matter what anyone says, it matters.

4) Leave room to consider how your interests might develop and how you're going to market yourself after graduation. I'll skip sugar-coating it and just say the market isn't great for "sociologists of religion." The advice I've gotten, and I think it's good advice, is to consider developing yourself as a scholar of social movements or collective identity formation etc. that has done work in religion. That way, you can grant yourself more flexibility and think about working with a wider range of professors. Your thesis project, for example will appeal not only to religion people but to identity scholars as well. 

 

That's all I got for now. Let me know if you have any questions!