ElizaSells

Hey everyone - Like many people, it is extremely important to me to attend a program that waives tuition and provides a guaranteed stipend of around $20k. I was reading on Texas A&M's website and it said this regarding stipends - "Financial aid is primarily available in the form of research assistantships, which allow for a waiver of out-of-state tuition for non-Texas residents. Assistantships are usually awarded for the full academic year, subject to fund availability. In addition, a limited number of fellowships are available for exceptionally well-qualified students." Would you read this and assume that you are unlikely to receive a stipend? If its unlikely that I will receive a stipend at this school I don't want to spend the time applying, so any insight is appreciated. Sorry for the font size change - I copied it and cannot get it to change.

Damn. I'd admit you right away without even seeing the specifics of your SOP.

Thanks Xanthus - I appreciate the honesty. I wish you were on the adcoms at schools I am applying to! You mentioned that you realized you wanted to get your PhD because you hated your job. Do you mind me asking what you said in your SOP? I'm sure you didn't just say you hated your job haha

Thanks for the replies everyone. Yes, getting harsh feedback does stink, but I'm not personally offended or upset by it. I am just struggling to understand how to make my personal statement "artistic" and "inspired" while still being very matter-of-fact and professional. One thing that I struggle with - I want to get my PhD because I've worked as an adjunct professor for a while now (in addition to working as an auditor). Like many people, it was the idea of teaching that initially made me interested in the PhD. But unlike other people, when I found out about how much research professors do I wasn't scared away, and when I read some examples I could see myself writing and performing this type of research. I've also been told by many professors that I should consider my PhD based on some of my personality traits (ability to manage my time, ability to read and digest large amounts of information, questioning nature). But I feel like in the SOP they're looking for some big moment that led you to wanting to get your PhD (and I feel like this is reiterated on this message board to some extent) like attending some conference or performing some type of research on your own. Maybe the fact that I don't have anything like this to say in my SOP speaks loudly enough and means I shouldn't have the opportunity to get my PhD - I don't know. But I'm also scared to even mention anything about me teaching and enjoying it because I've heard Adcoms will not take your research interests seriously and will paint you as a candidate that is only interested in teaching. This is really just me venting and I don't expect anyone to have a solution to me feeling this way - its just a glimpse into the mind of a person slowly going insane during the SOP writing process - haha. But if you do have thoughts you think would be helpful I would love to hear them. Anyway, I am currently getting an opinion from another professor and plan to use both professors' critiques as well as the valuable information I have learned on this forum to improve my final draft. Thank you everyone so much for the words of encouragement!

I am at my wit's end with my SOP. The writing style of my first SOP was fairly creative. I have since realized that is NOT what PhD programs prefer. I have completely rewritten my SOP to be very to the point and to focus on research. I sent it to an old professor of mine to review and give me his opinion and he tore it to pieces. He said now my statement sounds "flat", "not artistic" and "uninspired'. He also said I used the word "I" too much and that ad coms are going to believe me to be narcissistic. I find it almost impossible to not use "I" in a 3 page essay that is all about me and why I want to get my PhD. He also takes issues with me using adverbs. For instance, saying "I am deeply interested in "fill in the blank type of" research" is terrible to him. I don't know how to make my SOP less flat, more artistic, and more inspired when every single thing in my essay that sounds halfway creative he thinks I should strike from the essay altogether. I feel like I'm going crazy. Is it worth it to send my SOP to some type of company that can review it? If so, which one? Several of these companies online have sample SOP's and they're TERRIBLE, which makes me think there is no way I am paying them to review mine. Anyone know of a company that would actually do a good job?

Thanks for replying YaSvoboden! That would be a good guess, but I actually missed it by a few points, so I basically got just my state's version of that award. I am a good test taker - I also did well on the ACT for undergrad. It's just the GMAT math that kills me. I feel like it's all tricky and I get so much anxiety doing that type of math under time constraints. I hate the GMAT - but that's another topic for another forum! I wonder if this award would help me at all with a below average GMAT score? I guess it's impossible to know for sure. Unfortunately the professors at my school are very disconnected from the adjuncts - suggesting I go to a conference with them or work with them in any way would not be a reality. Would you have any additional suggestions for other schools to apply for with my credentials (assuming an improved score)? Perhaps the hook advice was in regards to law school or something other type of program. Thanks for the confirmation here, I will keep my personal statement matter of fact. Yes undergrad and grad are both accounting - I could take classes before hand....but to be honest it's just very unlikely that I will do that between teaching classes at night and working at a Big 4 firm...I do understand it would be helpful though and I appreciate the suggestion!

Hi everyone - I'm Eliza. Thank you for taking the time to read my post and respond. I really appreciate it. Test Scores (GMAT/GRE):My most recent GMAT is a 640 (V 42/96% Q 35/29% - yes my Quant score is absolutely abysmal). I know this isn't competitive. I am retaking the GMAT at the end of November and my goal is a 700, minimum. So, could you please evaluate my profile under the assumption I meet my goal? I know it's not worth applying to schools with my current GMAT score.Undegrad GPA: 3.66 Graduate GPA: 3.56 Research Experience: None Teaching Experience: I have taught accounting classes as an adjunct professor for the last 2.5 years at a major state university. Work Experience: I have worked for three years as an auditor at a Big 4 firm. Previously I interned with another Big 4 firm. I have also worked as an internal audit intern for a university. In college I ran my own "tutoring business" - is this worth mentioning? Concentration Applying to: Accounting Number of programs planned to apply to: 6-8 I also received an award for the highest CPA exam score in my state. Tentatively planning on applying to UT Austin, Arkansas, Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, Nebraska, Texas A&M, and Oregon I know UT and A&M and consistently ranked as top schools. Is there any likelihood I could get into to these schools with my current profile plus a 700? As far as the other schools I listed go, they all seem like they fall somewhere between 15-40 in the BYU rankings - do I have a chance at any of these? Also - I'm really interested in what you have to say regarding the personal statement. I want to stand out, but I also want to be perceived as professional. Much of the advice regarding personal statements online says you should find some "hook" that is creative and will make people remember you. It seems to me that this is not what a PhD program would be looking for...is that accurate? Should my personal statement be creative and memorable, or should it be much more matter of fact? Also, I really do love teaching my accounting classes - but I fear talking about this too much in my personal statement will automatically brand me as "too interested in teaching". Should I even mention it at all? Or should I make my personal statement all about research? Lastly - is it ok to submit a resume rather than a CV? Thank you!