Statement of Purpose

[nooneatall]

Okay, who can advise on the statement of purpose and it's specificity?

 

Do you need to have your thesis subject ready to go, or is there wiggle room? Honestly, there is so much that I love about linguistics, I feel as though I could go in so many directions, or hone in on so many different language families, I don't have one topic I am hellbent on exploring. Do I just need to have a general subfield I am interested in, and go from there? Am I allowed to say I have a few different ideas? Or do I more or less need the topic of the dissertation ready to go?

[nooneatall]

Kool.

[fuzzylogician]

I saw your post yesterday and came back to write a reply, but frankly I'm not much into passive-aggressive and definitely not into people not appreciating the time it takes to write here. 

 

So, the shortest reply this deserves: Assuming you're applying in the US (which you didn't tell us), you don't need to have a dissertation topic in mind. What is useful to have is a broad question, or alternatively be able to articulate a specific interest in a subfield. You can give more than one example of particular questions that are derivatives of the more general interest. If your interests sound very broad or if you say you are interested in unrelated subfields or questions, there is a risk of sounding unfocused or unprepared. It'd be better to tie your interests together, for example through a broad research question that can be attacked from different angles. Demonstrate how the different aspects of what you are interested in come together. This will help you address fit with the schools, which is hard to do if you don't have a good idea of what you want to go to grad school for. 

[xolo]

After I accepted a PhD program offer, the DGS asked me if I was completed decided about my research interests. I think she was actually relieved when I said no, that I was open to exploring other options. 

[nooneatall]

Jesus, calm yourself. Can't take some sarcasm?

[nooneatall]

I saw your post yesterday and came back to write a reply, but frankly I'm not much into passive-aggressive and definitely not into people not appreciating the time it takes to write here. 

 

So, the shortest reply this deserves: Assuming you're applying in the US (which you didn't tell us), you don't need to have a dissertation topic in mind. What is useful to have is a broad question, or alternatively be able to articulate a specific interest in a subfield. You can give more than one example of particular questions that are derivatives of the more general interest. If your interests sound very broad or if you say you are interested in unrelated subfields or questions, there is a risk of sounding unfocused or unprepared. It'd be better to tie your interests together, for example through a broad research question that can be attacked from different angles. Demonstrate how the different aspects of what you are interested in come together. This will help you address fit with the schools, which is hard to do if you don't have a good idea of what you want to go to grad school for. 

Why bother responding at all if you're "so against passive aggresion" (jesus a fucking sarcastic joke) calm yourself.