Frequently Asked Questions about Graduate Admissions
What are the application deadlines for admission to the graduate program in Sociology? For domestic applicants, all application materials must be received by the department graduate secretary no later than January 15, 2009. If your application file is not completed by January 15, 2009, you might still be considered for admission to the graduate program, but your chances for financial aid are greatly diminished.
For international applicants, all application materials must be received by the International Admissions Office by December 1, 2008. If your application file is not complete by December 1, 2008, you might still be considered for admission to the graduate program, but your chances for financial aid are greatly diminished.
Do you accept both on-line and paper applications? Yes. While most applicants are now using the on-line option, we are still happy to accept paper applications.
To apply on-line, just go to the following website: http://www.gradapp.indiana.edu/home.html
If you are unable to apply electronically, please send an e-mail request, which includes your name and current mailing address, to our Graduate Secretary at socgrad@indiana.edu.
What, exactly, are the supporting materials I must submit with my graduate application (whether on-line or on paper)? To complete your application file, we require your application, all official transcripts from the colleges and universities you’ve attended, your statement of purpose, a minimum of 3 letters of recommendation, GRE scores, and for international applicants, TOEFL scores.
Should I send my application materials and supporting documents to the Sociology Department, the University Graduate School, or somewhere else? For domestic applicants, please send all application materials, including transcripts and test scores, directly to: Graduate Secretary, Department of Sociology, Ballantine Hall 744, Indiana University, 1020 E. Kirkwood Ave., Bloomington, IN 47405-7103.
For international applicants, please send all application materials, including transcripts and test scores, directly to: Office of International Admissions, Indiana University, 300 North Jordan Avenue, Bloomington, IN 47405-1106.
Is there a separate form for my Statement of Purpose; how long should it be, and what should it include? There is no separate form for this.
The official University Graduate School guidelines contained in the Graduate Application booklet describe the statement as “A 300-500 word Statement of Purpose regarding your current goals, plans for your professional career, and reasons for selecting a field of study.”
When reviewing applications in our department, we would more specifically like to know the kinds of sociological topics and approaches that interest you, why you want to be a sociologist, and why you are interested in our department. Other helpful information you might include in your statement of purpose might be whether there are particular faculty or program areas of special interest to you, whether you see your research interests as well-defined or fairly open-ended at this point, and based on your knowledge and thinking now, what research problem(s) you would hope to pursue while here.
We consider 300-500 words an appropriate length for the Statement of Purpose.
Should I send a writing sample? While a writing sample is not required, we do welcome them, and they are carefully reviewed as part of your overall application file.
What exams do I have to take to apply? All applicants are required to take the GRE General Test. Applicants whose native language is other than English and who do not hold a degree from an institution at which English is the language of instruction must also submit TOEFL scores.
The GRE Sociology Subject Test is not required.
What are considered acceptable GPA and GRE scores for admission to the program? We restrict admissions to students with strong academic records. As a very rough rule of thumb, the chances of admission are improved if: (1) your cumulative undergraduate grade point average is at least 3.3 on a 4.0 scale and (2) your GRE scores are above the 60th percentile in each of the 3 categories – verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing.
What are the institution and
department codes for GRE reporting?
The institution code for Indiana University is 1324; the department code for the
Sociology department is 2102.
How long are GRE scores
considered valid for submitting with applications?
Your GRE scores must be no more than 5 years old when submitting them for
application for admission to the graduate program.
Does the department require an interview or special visit prior to acceptance? No, there is no interview included as part of the admissions procedure. We do, however, encourage those who are accepted to come visit us in Bloomington in the spring after they have been accepted into the program. We will be happy to schedule an individual visit for you to provide you the opportunity to meet with the Director of Graduate Studies, current faculty, and graduate students. Every effort is made to provide as much insight and information as possible to help prospective graduate students make an informed final decision. Students typically find these visits most useful in the spring semester after they have been admitted to the program.
What kind of background is required? What if I didn’t major in Sociology? Successful applicants come from a wide variety of academic backgrounds. Undergraduate work in the social sciences, humanities, natural sciences, and mathematics are all appropriate. Some students enter the program directly from their undergraduate institutions, while others enter with a Masters degree or several years of work experience. Regardless of undergraduate academic background, an applicant's statement of purpose describing current goals, plans for a professional career, and reasons for selecting Sociology as the field of study is taken very seriously by our review committee.
How many people apply? Of those who apply, how many are accepted? In recent years, about 150 applicants have competed each year for 12 to 15 openings in the first-year cohort.
Can I get financial aid? We provide financial support for virtually all of our full-time students. Almost all of our students receive a fee remission to pay for most of their tuition. In addition, most students receive a graduate stipend that covers a substantial portion of living expenses. For their assistantship, most first-year students assist a faculty member with an undergraduate class, as a “graduate assistant.” Some applicants might also qualify for university fellowship support (including the Chancellor's Fellowship and The Chancellor's Minority Fellowship), which provide fee remissions and stipends and do not require the student to work as a GA.
All entering students awarded graduate assistantships or university fellowships are also provided financial support in the summer after their first year of residence, as part of their participation in the Sociological Research Practicum. Additional financial support for graduate students in Sociology comes from a variety of other sources, both inside and outside the University. Most of these provide fee remissions and stipends as well.
How and when does the department make admission decisions? A committee reviews complete application files during January. The committee normally meets in February to make initial admissions decisions. The committee considers applications holistically and competitively. GRE scores, cumulative undergrad GPAs, letters of recommendation, and personal statements all play key roles, and applicants who are relatively weak in one area should show strength in another. Writing samples are also carefully evaluated. We also consider the fit between our program and your stated interests and goals. Because of the large number of fine applications we receive, combined with the limits on the size of each of our incoming cohorts (12-15 new graduate students), the decision-making process is competitive.
Can I apply to enter your program in the winter or spring? No. All applications must be for fall admission.
When do you need to know whether or not I will attend? We must hear from you by April 15. If you have chosen another school before that date, we would appreciate it if you would let us know as soon as you make your final decision.
Does the Sociology Department have a Masters Program? Our Sociology graduate program is designed for those who are pursuing their PhD in Sociology. We do award the Master’s degree as one of the steps in the process of earning the PhD, but do not consider it a separate degree program, per se.
Can I request waiver of some of your course requirement based on my previous graduate work, and will your program transfer credits that I've completed in another graduate program? You may request a waiver of some of our Master's level course requirements based on your previous graduate work. Our University Graduate School will agree to transfer a maximum of 30 credit hours from your previous program. Once you are enrolled in our program, you can request the appropriate requirement waivers from our Director of Graduate Studies.
How long does it take to get a Ph.D.? Usually about 5 to 7 years.
What kind of jobs do people get with a Ph.D. from this program? What kind of jobs can you get with a master's in Sociology? Most Ph.D.s from this graduate program fill teaching and research positions at universities and colleges, while some attain research positions in government or private organizations. Master's graduates often fill university, college, government or private agency research or administrative positions.
Where can I find out about your faculty and their research interests, and is it okay to contact them with questions about your program? You will find our Sociology faculty (and their information) on our departmental website: http://www.indiana.edu/~soc/pe_faculty.shtml, and yes, you are welcome to contact them with your questions.
Where can I find out about your current graduate students and their research interests, and is it okay to contact them with questions about your program? You will find our current Sociology graduate students (and their information) on our departmental website: http://www.indiana.edu/~soc/pe_gradstudents.shtml
Several of our graduate students have volunteered to help answer questions from prospective graduate applicants. A list of these students, along with their Sociology interests and contact information, is contained in our letter to you from the President of our Graduate Student Association: http://www.indiana.edu/~soc/gr_gsaletter.shtml
If I have questions that are not answered by your FAQ page, or by your departmental website, or would just like to talk to a real person about your graduate program, who would I contact? You are welcome to contact our director of graduate studies. He will be happy to answer your questions or just visit with you about our program, about Indiana University, about the community of Bloomington, about housing opportunities, or anything else you might be concerned about. Here is his contact information:
Patricia McManus , PhD,
Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Sociology,
Indiana University, Ballantine Hall 842D, 1020 E. Kirkwood Ave., Bloomington, IN
47405-7103, phone: 812-855-8970, fax: 812-855-0781, email:
pmcmanus@indiana.edu.
