Claiming to have read their work

[JerryLandis]

Right, so I am working on my fit paragraphs, and while some of the places I am applying to are stocked with people whose work I have read, one place has people with whose work I am barely familiar, and at another place I have read nothing by any of the current professors in the department. I have corresponded with them by email, and they are interested in my research area, but they have not published anything directly about it themselves. So there aren't any books or articles that I can marvel about without sounding like I just picked out a random work from their CV to claim to have read. Because, of course, this is pretty much what I am doing at this point!

Is it standard practice to talk in your SOP about specific works by potential supervisors? I am applying for PhD programs, bear in mind. I am very enthusiastic about attending these schools, but I don't want to come across sounding like my reasons for choosing their particular department are only an afterthought at the end of my SOP. If you were in my situation, would you claim to have read something you did not read, or simply skimmed while writing the SOP, or would you dodge the publication issue and just talk about how their interests are generally similar? I think I already know the answer to this question, but I'm just looking for general advice.

P.S. I have submitted 3/7 applications thus far, with 3 others being almost completely ready to send! Starting to feel like there is an end in sight.

[Venetia]

I haven't included specific faculty members/publications except in the applications for places where I really love a particular lecturer (and I have read their stuff). Perhaps I'm wrong not to mention specific lecturers, but I think that saying you've read something when you've only read about it on their profile is a bad ploy. It's also something that must happen quite often, so they'll be sceptical. However, this is my first time applying, so perhaps someone with more experience could give a more useful opinion.

[Maya]

Hmm I'm wondering if it is safer to just mention that you have been in contact with those professors, and express your interest in their work in general. I agree with Venetia that saying you have read their works might make the committee skeptical unless you can really tie in the particular works well, which, since you haven't read them, may be tough. It also may use up space that you could be using to emphasize other (and true) great things about yourself.

By the way, congrats on being done 3 for 7! I am hoping to have my first one in next week, but I am thinking that hitting the submit button for the first time will be the hardest of all.

[JerryLandis]

Actually, I've found submitting to be the easiest part! In fact I'm having trouble forcing myself to do my coursework lately because every night I start thinking to myself "You know, I could get another application out of the way if I just work on this section tonight..." I'm actually very tempted to submit applications with weaker writing samples because it will be a while before I finish the piece I plan to use as a writing sample for a few places. Submitting is the best part, except when little things like scanning a transcript take longer than you expect.

[captiv8ed]

I am going with the above-mentioned tactic, saying that I have been in contact and am excited to work with them because of their work in ABC.

Yay! for you.

I am still beating my SOP into submission.

[rising_star]

I never cited any specific published work by the professors I was interested in working with in my SOPs. I had been in contact with all of them via email prior to applying, so I would mention that I'd talked to them and they had been interested. Or, be even more general and say that due to our shared interests in X and Y, I am applying to Univ B to work with Prof McAwesome.

[fuzzylogician]

I mentioned professors who I wanted to work with and talked about which of their research interests intersected with mine. I never mentioned any specific works.

[hinesaj]

I've mentioned specific works, but only ones that I've read. If someone has written a book that I'm truly struck by (and maybe haven't read yet...), I tend to mention it, even if just saying I'm really interested in reading the work of Professor McProfessor, because it seems like it might fit within my interests. Of course, the book may not fit with my interest, but in my mind, I'm still showing the adcom that I'm interested and plugged in to what their faculty is doing and willing to be a part of that conversation.

[i, too, am on my way to completion 5/10, did all of the December deadlines, and in a week or two will do all of the January ones! Let the waiting begin...]

[LateAntique]

I never cited any specific published work by the professors I was interested in working with in my SOPs. I had been in contact with all of them via email prior to applying, so I would mention that I'd talked to them and they had been interested. Or, be even more general and say that due to our shared interests in X and Y, I am applying to Univ B to work with Prof McAwesome.

You know Prof. McAwesome too?! Sadly, he was poached by University of A away from University B. Most unfortunate, if you ask me.

[Amanda]

I never cited any specific published work by the professors I was interested in working with in my SOPs. I had been in contact with all of them via email prior to applying, so I would mention that I'd talked to them and they had been interested. Or, be even more general and say that due to our shared interests in X and Y, I am applying to Univ B to work with Prof McAwesome.

I mentioned professors who I wanted to work with and talked about which of their research interests intersected with mine. I never mentioned any specific works.

I think these are both correct. You don't want to be too specific I think, rather just mention who you've spoken to and why they'd be ideal supervisors for your work.