Comments | applyingtograd: 500 word SOP for Sociology Ph.D

hydy in applyingtograd

500 word SOP for Sociology Ph.D

Nov 09, 2009 16:45

Hey guys, I realize it's application season and the community is swamped with SOPs, so thanks in advance for your patience and helpful input (and sorry I never had anything to say, I'm just too inexperienced to have anything helpful to offer).

I posted a very erroneous version of a SOP a while back. This is a version of my SOP for a school ( Read more... )

sociology, sop, phd

Comments 9

juicy_eli November 9 2009, 16:31:32 UTC

I'm not too fond on the first couple of sentences, especially the first one. Moving to America at age nine was the first time I was exposed to the extent people differs from one place to the next. Isn't it: to the extent that people differ? Secondly, you try to make it personal, but at the same time, I feel like I'm reading a textbook. Also, in my opinion, I feel that the second sentence, if you must you it (I'm not too sure yet), should be moved somewhere else in the essay. Maybe in the fifth paragraph ( ... )

hydy November 9 2009, 16:34:37 UTC

thanks for the quick reply and suggestions!

I'm kind of embarrassed to be an English major with horrid grammar...

juicy_eli November 9 2009, 16:38:05 UTC

No worries! I understand, somewhat. I was born in the US but my entire family with the exceptions of my cousins and I are immigrants. My teachers in high school, with the exceptions of some, were all from other countries. I recently just spent a year abroad and lost more of my English XD

circumfession November 14 2009, 01:52:04 UTC

half the English Ph.D students that I know of have horrid grammar. As I keep repeating to myself (the lady doth protest too much?), we study the literature, not the language :P

Thread 5

captiv8ed November 9 2009, 16:50:09 UTC

Great job fitting a lot of info into 500 words! I have to do that as well and I am not looking forward to it.

The first sentence is worded awkwardly. Also, I would take the first two sentences out of the passive voice.

Your goal paragraph could use a bit more detail.

Also, I stumbled over this: "very much drawn to". Maybe just drawn to?

hydy November 9 2009, 16:52:25 UTC

>_<

How does a non-sociology major come up with a more specific goals paragraph? I've been pulling my hair out over this

captiv8ed November 9 2009, 17:04:49 UTC

I am running to class right now, but I will think about it and get back to you!

captiv8ed November 10 2009, 00:23:08 UTC

I was thinking about this some more. Maybe it isn't what you say so much as where you say it. Right now it sits all by itself and you are looking forward and then go back again. Maybe if you add your goals into the last paragraph?