How to Write a Letter of Motivation to the Sociology Department

Whether your interest in sociology came from working in a coffee shop or volunteering in a project, show that life itself has driven you to it. Sociology explores almost every aspect of life, from social inequality and crime to culture and the media. Studying this science at university is very interesting, and you will need to demonstrate certain qualities to get a place on the faculty. There are also some things an aspiring sociologist should avoid.

What to write a motivation paper about? «Put three things together: a love of the subject, what you want to get out of university and what you can offer it»" says Dr Mark Monaghan, head of admissions at the Department of Sociology and Social Policy at Leeds University (Leeds University).

Sociological interests

Senior lecturer in sociology at the University of Manchester (Manchester University), Dr. Wendy Bottero notes: «Sociology is rarely taught at school or college, so we're interested in how the applicant sees the subject, why they want to study it, and how it relates to their lives.

Wendy Bottero, Dr. Wendy Bottero says.

Write a motivational essay for the specific institution you're applying to. «Find the web pages of the departments you want to apply to and see what's in the curricula. The application should meet the requirements of the university you prefer, but be careful –not to scare off the others. Better to mention in your letter the broad subject areas of sociology that are studied at most of the universities you choose," advises Dr. Gareth Millington, Head of Admissions for Sociology at the University of York (York University).

For those applicants for whom this is a new subject, it's worth telling how interest in it arose: «Everyone, without exception, has an experience that can be explained in terms of sociology. A temporary job in a fast-food café is as good as an internship in parliament - the important thing is how you explain why it made you think about social problems and society," says Dr Patrick White, Head of Admissions at the Department of Sociology at the University of Leicester (Leicester University).

Sociology texts

Show that you have read several books important to the field. Monaghan recommends «Why Sociology? » by Zygmunt Bauman and «The Sociological Imagination» by Charles Wright Mills. In addition, the expert believes, it is worth to follow the rubric «Society» in the authoritative media – it will allow «be aware of current issues».

Career ambitions

It's better to have some idea of where a sociologist might work, but if you don't yet know what you'll do after you graduate, don't worry. «We assume that applicants understand what fields a sociologist might work in, but we don't expect them to be career-oriented," Monaghan says.

"We assume that applicants understand what fields a sociologist might work in, but we don't expect them to be career-oriented," Monaghan says.

Incurricular interests

Academic admissions officers aren't just looking at your interest in science and education: «We want people who are passionate and active, like members of some kind of community or club. But sociologists know that membership often comes down to how wealthy a person is, so that's not the main criterion," Bottero shares. – we're looking for those who critically reflect on everyday perceptions that people tend to take for granted.

What shouldn't be in a motivational letter

There should be no three basic errors in a motivation letter to a sociology department: confusion, lack of structure, and sloppy speech

Tangles

In some universities, sociology may be part of the curriculum, while in others it is a separate major, which can introduce confusion. «Be sure of where you're applying. You can try to get into different departments at different universities, so think about the social sciences as a whole," Monaghan suggests.

«Look at what different programs have in common, such as history and political science, and emphasize what you're interested in in the overlap between them»" adds Bottero.

Hard motivation structure

The essay should be clear and concise, while revealing your personality. There is no single recipe for motivational writing because we want to see how students express their «self»" explains Dr. Anne-Marie Fortier of the Department of Sociology at Lancaster University (Lancaster University). The University of Bristol (Bristol University) says that the use of templates is «tronic is undesirable because it makes the end fruit of your work «unremarkable».

Sloppy speech

Although it seems obvious, White reminds us, «essays – are just the kind of thing you need to show that you write well. Whatever the content, the author of an illiterate motivational letter is likely to fail the selection».

A last but very important tip: «There is no need to overload the text with superlatives. Keep it simple and sincere,"

Fortier concludes.

Translated by Alyona Makhneva.