tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post1781967356784028305..comments2024-03-25T02:33:41.590-05:00Comments on FemaleScienceProfessor: More SOPFemale Science Professorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288567883197987690noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-15276734623505461892008-12-29T09:32:00.000-06:002008-12-29T09:32:00.000-06:00OK<A HREF="http://science-professor.blogspot.com/2008/01/my-grad-school-application-essay.html" REL="nofollow">OK</A>Female Science Professorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15288567883197987690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-91477256536274094382008-12-28T22:55:00.000-06:002008-12-28T22:55:00.000-06:00Dear FSPHow about posting some examples of effecti...Dear FSP<BR/><BR/>How about posting some examples of effective SOPs, instead of beating up on folks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-20446777902049850272008-12-27T17:16:00.000-06:002008-12-27T17:16:00.000-06:00First, I am not making fun of anyone in particular...First, I am not making fun of anyone in particular, or at least not in an unkind way. The SOP contest was inspired by the Imitation Hemingway contest and others like it. You can like or loathe Hemingway, but mostly it is fun to imitate the style. <BR/><BR/>Anyway, when my undergrads ask me for advice about applying to grad school, I talk to them about the various important stages: how to first contact professors, how to write the SOP etc. On occasion, there is also a more formal hour or two of advice given by one of my colleagues to the prospective grads as a group. Giving such advice is the responsibility of faculty who work with undergrads and/or the undergrad advisor (if such a position exists).Female Science Professorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15288567883197987690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-67390376562598437252008-12-27T16:25:00.000-06:002008-12-27T16:25:00.000-06:00Dear FSP,Thanks for starting this -- I truly have ...Dear FSP,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for starting this -- I truly have enjoyed the first two SOPs. I would, however, use this opportunity to complain a bit about our academic world, and would love to read your feedback.<BR/><BR/>The question that I have is: Whose job is it to teach students the etiquette of writing SOPs? Whether it is an SOP for the graduate school, or whether it is the statement of research for job applications, no one takes the time to teach those poor souls who have been ridiculed here, except perhaps in satirical blog posts.<BR/><BR/>So should we be making fun of people who write such SOPs, or should we be making fun of people who fail to give the students the right guidelines? Or do you expect that all souls in the world should magically learn this art?<BR/><BR/>I think our academic world is as much a guilty party in this as are the ones who write stereotypical SOPs.<BR/><BR/>Best,<BR/>Another whining product of the academic world :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-41516155594021181782008-12-27T07:40:00.000-06:002008-12-27T07:40:00.000-06:00I'm loving these SOP letters. I'd like to see the ...I'm loving these SOP letters. I'd like to see the guidelines that potential applicants have explaining what to write.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-32726215121700810162008-12-26T15:31:00.000-06:002008-12-26T15:31:00.000-06:00Don't be mortified, anon 2:22. You can write about...Don't be mortified, anon 2:22. You can write about your childhood or not. You can even start your statement with "I am born". However, the fact that so many applicants do write about their childhood, mostly in completely irrelevant ways, is why that is a theme of many of the parody SOPs. <BR/><BR/>I don't think it matters -- with respect to suitability for graduate studies -- whether someone has been fascinated by science since childhood or has discovered a passion for science much later. That is, you are not making a more compelling case by mentioning your childhood love of science. Also, a SOP is not a biography that must be started chronologically. I personally am most impressed with a SOP that starts with a clear statement of the applicant's research interests and relevant academic background.Female Science Professorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15288567883197987690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-8249014545982881702008-12-26T11:26:00.000-06:002008-12-26T11:26:00.000-06:00The "cheers!" is an awesome send-off touch.The "cheers!" is an awesome send-off touch.Dr. Jekyll and Mrs. Hydehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07005652406299754952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-49737335074642942532008-12-26T09:12:00.000-06:002008-12-26T09:12:00.000-06:00That project has been done, without the social ang...That project has been done, without the social angle, by Dmitri Mendeleev for his Ph.D. Before all that periodic table business. One of the chapters must have been on the social aspect, since it is well known he drank the results of his experiments.<BR/><BR/>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dmitri_Mendeleev<BR/><BR/>You would be going up against some very famous and tough competition if you want to work on that project. Although, Mendeleev's thesis is in Russian, and there is a chance no one on your commiteee will bother to read it, so you could be in luck.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-25876999378102179222008-12-26T02:22:00.000-06:002008-12-26T02:22:00.000-06:00Dear FSP,Longtime reader, first-time commenter. I...Dear FSP,<BR/><BR/>Longtime reader, first-time commenter. I was mortified by your comments on the SOP contest - having recently entered a doctoral program, I wrote a SOP that referenced my childhood fascination with science. In all seriousness, where should one start when writing an SOP? Perhaps: "I love science, I'm super-awesome, and I promise I won't flunk out, drop out, or tune out."?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com