Received: from pewtrusts.com (pewtrusts.com [204.242.21.3]) by csf.Colorado.EDU (8.7.6/8.7.3/CNS-4.0p) with SMTP id MAA17895 for ; Tue, 10 Jun 1997 12:35:44 -0600 (MDT) Received: from PEW-Message_Server by pewtrusts.com with Novell_GroupWise; Tue, 10 Jun 1997 14:43:33 -0500 Message-Id: Date: Tue, 10 Jun 1997 13:33:48 -0500 From: "Jonathon E. Mote" To: socgrad@csf.colorado.edu Subject: getting into PhD programs -Reply I should say that I didn't feel the need to present or publish because of a perceived or real requirement on the part of the departments to which I applied. I did it for two reasons. First, my undergraduate record really sucked---I was a goof-off, more or less. Although I did very well on my MA, I didn't think the New School had a very good reputation (in economics, that is). So I definitely felt the need to compensate for my academic background. Second, I took some time off after my MA, but I didn't want to fall off the map in the academic arena since I knew I would be going back to school. "Professional activity" was one way for me to stay active in the field and make some contacts. With that said, I don't think that one needs to be certified "professional" to engage in professional activity. Although I encountered some resistance when I presented (only a masters?), there were many more people who took the time to be helpful and generous with a younger scholar. It was a great experience, and, for me at least, demystified the whole process of presenting and publishing. Jonathon E. Mote jem@pewtrusts.com >>> Laura Miller 06/10/97 01:39pm >>> I have to say I'm astonished at the idea that one would need *any* publications or conference papers to get accepted into a PhD program. This is the sort of thing people worry about for getting jobs. Has the bar really been raised so high that you have to show evidence of "professional activity" just to earn the privilege of learning how to be a professional sociologist? Is anyone aware of programs that actually do make these sorts of demands on prospective students (with or without Masters)? Laura Miller