Statement of purpose references?

[BlueSwedeShoes]

So I am currently working on my fiftyeleventh rough SoP draft, and I wonder what the norm is when citing works in the SoP?

I want to say that in Dr. A wrote in YEAR about TOPIC, which mentioned INTERESTING RESEARCH that I would like to build on in grad school (sort of). So do I do a correct APA-styled reference; "According to Dr. A (YEAR)..." with a proper reference list at the end? Or should I assume that they know (or don't care) about what specific work I'm talking about; "Dr. A has done some interesting research yadda yadda omgI'msuchaperfectfitpleasepleasepleaseacceptme..."?

[modernity]

So I am currently working on my fiftyeleventh rough SoP draft, and I wonder what the norm is when citing works in the SoP?

I want to say that in Dr. A wrote in YEAR about TOPIC, which mentioned INTERESTING RESEARCH that I would like to build on in grad school (sort of). So do I do a correct APA-styled reference; "According to Dr. A (YEAR)..." with a proper reference list at the end? Or should I assume that they know (or don't care) about what specific work I'm talking about; "Dr. A has done some interesting research yadda yadda omgI'msuchaperfectfitpleasepleasepleaseacceptme..."?

Ah. There was already a post about this, and I tried to search and find it for you but I couldn't. Hopefully whoever settled it will return. I believe (trying to remember) some people said they did the citations just to cover their bases, and others did not because they felt the work was prominent enough/from the school they were applying to that it was not required.

[BlueSwedeShoes]

Ah. There was already a post about this, and I tried to search and find it for you but I couldn't. Hopefully whoever settled it will return. I believe (trying to remember) some people said they did the citations just to cover their bases, and others did not because they felt the work was prominent enough/from the school they were applying to that it was not required.

Hm, I looked for a similar question before I posted but could not see one.

And if there are two schools of thought here I guess I'm still left with a choice

[modernity]

Hm, I looked for a similar question before I posted but could not see one.

And if there are two schools of thought here I guess I'm still left with a choice

I know, I wasn't very helpful with that. Sorry! As I said hopefully those people return to help you. I know they're on here somewhere. Personally I agree with the- if its well known, or if you're stating in your sentence something similar to "when Dr. X, in "Thoughts About SOP Citations", stated the opinion that...." I think that's covering your bases well enough. I think putting citations in an SOP would be a little too distracting- although after doing it for so many years we're all inclined.

[modernity]

Hm, I looked for a similar question before I posted but could not see one.

And if there are two schools of thought here I guess I'm still left with a choice

I know, I wasn't very helpful with that. Sorry! As I said hopefully those people return to help you. I know they're on here somewhere. Personally I agree with the- if its well known, or if you're stating in your sentence something similar to "when Dr. X, in "Thoughts About SOP Citations", stated the opinion that...." I think that's covering your bases well enough. I think putting citations in an SOP would be a little too distracting- although after doing it for so many years we're all inclined.

[BlueSwedeShoes]

I know, I wasn't very helpful with that. Sorry! As I said hopefully those people return to help you. I know they're on here somewhere. Personally I agree with the- if its well known, or if you're stating in your sentence something similar to "when Dr. X, in "Thoughts About SOP Citations", stated the opinion that...." I think that's covering your bases well enough. I think putting citations in an SOP would be a little too distracting- although after doing it for so many years we're all inclined.

Don't worry, you're very helpful!

And I think I'll settle in that camp as well, it seems like a good common sense approach. I mention the year and the title as well as who wrote it. That should be enough.

I'm just afraid I'll miss something obvious and screw my whole application. Not only have I no experience with SoPs from before, but since I'm a foreign student in a foreign land I have noone to ask either! Well, except you guys, bless the internet...

[LateAntique]

I was told by the chair of one the programs to which I'm applying to "sprinkle some names throughout" the SoP. They wanted to me to show that I had at least looked over the faculty page and understood the kind of research that was going on. I think there's probably a right way and a wrong way to do it. Something like, "Dr. Y's a cool guy and I want work with him!" is on the wrong end of the spectrum whereas something like "My own research would be advanced by studying with Dr. X and her work on 1,2,3" might be more suitable.