Do you think I have a chance of getting accepted into this Harvard program?

Question

It's the PhD in Sociology. The FAQ page is here if you have time to read it: http://www.wjh.harvard.edu/soc/pages/faqs.html

Here's a little about me:
After I got my BA, I worked for a year in sales management, but I have been presenting at academic conferences that relate to my academic interests. Although I do not have a Sociology BA, I do have a BA in the humanities with a GPA of 3.67, and my research interests are directly related to sociology. I have excellent GRE scores, and undergraduate professors who can write excellent supportive recommendation letters. The reasons I'm thinking of not applying are as follows:
-It's HARVARD and it's very competitive
-I do not have an MA, even though this program does not require applicants to have one.
-My BA is not from a great college and it is not in Sociology.

Please be honest and share your thoughts & comments.

Answer 1

The answer to your question depends heavily on several factors you did not mention.

1) Do you have a substantial number of courses in sociology on your undergraduate transcript, even if it was not your major? If so, will sociology professors be writing your letters of rec?

2) Was your major in a field that has SOME relation to sociology? (English does not, Psych and Anthro do. Sociology is a social science, not a humanities discipline.)

3) Did you take courses in statistics at the undergraduate level?

4) Do you have sufficient knowledge of either French or German to pass an examination in reading ability?

If your answer to 2 of these questions is NO, then you should not apply. You have insufficient background in sociology to gain admission to any PhD program.

If your preparation in sociology is lacking, you should look toward taking courses at the undergraduate level in sociology before applying to any graduate programs. If your preparation in stats is insufficient, you should take a couple f courses in stats. If your preparation in languages in insufficient, you should take a course in "German for Reading" or "French for Reading."

After you have completed these basic requirements, you could apply, but you may still be denied admission to PhD programs. If that happens, you should look into admission to an MA program in Sociology, and get the requisite background in method and theory before reapplying. Many Sociology MA programs are actually "feeder programs" that send their best students to some of the finest PhD programs in the nation. Ask the director of graduate studies in each MA program where they've sent their students recently, and how many they've sent. That's the key.

Best wishes to you.

Answer 2

You need a bachelors degree to apply to medical school, and you do NOT need to attend Harvard to get into Harvard med. Going to Harvard for undergrad does not increase your chances of getting into Harvard med. Medical schools do not ask or care about high school grades, only college. Everyone applying to Harvard has the highest grades in the hardest classes and very high test scores. You need all that just to apply, and then you need a lot more to get in. They turned down 94% of applicants this year, including thousands of 4.0 students (unweighted) and valedictorians. Nothing you do before high school matters and they do not give academic or sports scholarships (need based aid only). You need to find a way to stand out in the field you plan to major in, and you need to have a very good reason to attend Harvard, which you don't appear to have. Bad reasons are things like 'It's a great school', 'it sounds really impressive', and 'it's the only good school I've heard of', and those appear to be your reasons. Good reasons are things like specific resources or professors only they offer that you plan to work with during your time at Harvard, and you need to make your potential to make the most of these resources clear when applying.

Answer 3

Master's degrees are different than Phds--not usually a stepping stone to one. If the program doesn't require a Master's, it's not a detriment to you that you don't have one.

3.67 is not great, but it's a solid GPA, and you never know unless you try. Your GRE scores and life experience can help compensate for your GPA--especially if you've already done research in the area in which you're applying. The worst thing they can say is, "no." Go for it.

Answer 4

All I can say is - Try it! If a moron like our "illustrious" president, Dubya, can get into Harvard with his relatively poor academic record, you should have a good shot at it, especially with grades like yours. Believe it or not, most people get into these institutions based on academic merit, not because their daddy has friends in high places.

Answer 5

I know nothing about this graduate school thing, but if it is what you want APPLY, maybe you can get accepted.

Good Luck

Answer 6

3.67 i doubt it but maybe

Answer 7

probably not