Should I mention in my statement of purpose that I am applying because of my girlfriend [duplicate]
This question already has an answer here:
Should an applicant to an university mention that her spouse is currently a student in the same University, as part of her SOP?
4 answers
I am applying to a university for a PhD position because my girlfriend is a PhD student there. Our affair is quite serious and it is almost surely going to convert into a marriage. We might even get engaged in 2019.
I have been in touch with professors from this university. Moreover, I am using some of the results of another professor directly in my masters thesis. I have a lot to write in the statement of purpose from a technical point of view.
However, because of my girlfriend, this university becomes a top-priority for me against all other PhD offers I may get and I want to stress this in my PhD application.
Should I mention this in my SOP? How should I mention it, if the answer is yes.
application statement-of-purpose two-body-problem
edited Dec 2 '18 at 15:11
Stephan Kolassa
26.9k994131
asked Dec 2 '18 at 14:24
secretidentity12
91
marked as duplicate by Stephan Kolassa, Community♦ Dec 2 '18 at 15:20
This question has been asked before and already has an answer. If those answers do not fully address your question, please ask a new question.
|
show 2 more comments
This question already has an answer here:
Should an applicant to an university mention that her spouse is currently a student in the same University, as part of her SOP?
4 answers
I am applying to a university for a PhD position because my girlfriend is a PhD student there. Our affair is quite serious and it is almost surely going to convert into a marriage. We might even get engaged in 2019.
I have been in touch with professors from this university. Moreover, I am using some of the results of another professor directly in my masters thesis. I have a lot to write in the statement of purpose from a technical point of view.
However, because of my girlfriend, this university becomes a top-priority for me against all other PhD offers I may get and I want to stress this in my PhD application.
Should I mention this in my SOP? How should I mention it, if the answer is yes.
application statement-of-purpose two-body-problem
edited Dec 2 '18 at 15:11
Stephan Kolassa
26.9k994131
asked Dec 2 '18 at 14:24
secretidentity12
91
marked as duplicate by Stephan Kolassa, Community♦ Dec 2 '18 at 15:20
This question has been asked before and already has an answer. If those answers do not fully address your question, please ask a new question.
I mentioned my interest in a career in a foreign non-English speaking country was because of my fiancée when applying for postdocs. I’m not sure you always should be you can. In my case it was to show I’m serious about living there despite cultural and language barriers.
– Tom Kelly
Dec 2 '18 at 14:58
Similar problems have been discussed at length in our two-body-problem tag. I just proposed the most similar one as a potential duplicate, but the other threads with that tag are also helpful, even if they consider slightly different problems (e.g., lateral moves, or applications for tenure track positions).
– Stephan Kolassa
Dec 2 '18 at 15:15
I see. Although my question is not exactly the same, reading the other answers have been helpful. I'll mark this as duplicate.
– secretidentity12
Dec 2 '18 at 15:19
Also, I think the "two-body-problem" is a terrible name for a tag. I had no idea it existed. It could be more useful if it is renamed to "relationships" or "interpersonal-affairs"
– secretidentity12
Dec 2 '18 at 15:20
1
secretidentity12: just regarding your last comment, the term "two-body problem" is a long-standing bit of "academic slang" for situations of the form you describe, probably originating as an allusion to en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N-body_problem. It may not be ideal, and perhaps in time the language will change, but I just wanted to point out that it is not merely some kind of "private joke" on academia.SE
– Yemon Choi
Dec 2 '18 at 16:31
|
show 2 more comments
This question already has an answer here:
Should an applicant to an university mention that her spouse is currently a student in the same University, as part of her SOP?
4 answers
I am applying to a university for a PhD position because my girlfriend is a PhD student there. Our affair is quite serious and it is almost surely going to convert into a marriage. We might even get engaged in 2019.
I have been in touch with professors from this university. Moreover, I am using some of the results of another professor directly in my masters thesis. I have a lot to write in the statement of purpose from a technical point of view.
However, because of my girlfriend, this university becomes a top-priority for me against all other PhD offers I may get and I want to stress this in my PhD application.
Should I mention this in my SOP? How should I mention it, if the answer is yes.
application statement-of-purpose two-body-problem
edited Dec 2 '18 at 15:11
Stephan Kolassa
26.9k994131
asked Dec 2 '18 at 14:24
secretidentity12
91
This question already has an answer here:
Should an applicant to an university mention that her spouse is currently a student in the same University, as part of her SOP?
4 answers
I am applying to a university for a PhD position because my girlfriend is a PhD student there. Our affair is quite serious and it is almost surely going to convert into a marriage. We might even get engaged in 2019.
I have been in touch with professors from this university. Moreover, I am using some of the results of another professor directly in my masters thesis. I have a lot to write in the statement of purpose from a technical point of view.
However, because of my girlfriend, this university becomes a top-priority for me against all other PhD offers I may get and I want to stress this in my PhD application.
Should I mention this in my SOP? How should I mention it, if the answer is yes.
This question already has an answer here:
Should an applicant to an university mention that her spouse is currently a student in the same University, as part of her SOP?
4 answers
application statement-of-purpose two-body-problem
application statement-of-purpose two-body-problem
edited Dec 2 '18 at 15:11
Stephan Kolassa
26.9k994131
asked Dec 2 '18 at 14:24
secretidentity12
91
edited Dec 2 '18 at 15:11
Stephan Kolassa
26.9k994131
asked Dec 2 '18 at 14:24
secretidentity12
91
edited Dec 2 '18 at 15:11
Stephan Kolassa
26.9k994131
edited Dec 2 '18 at 15:11
Stephan Kolassa
26.9k994131
edited Dec 2 '18 at 15:11
Stephan Kolassa
26.9k994131
26.9k994131
asked Dec 2 '18 at 14:24
secretidentity12
91
asked Dec 2 '18 at 14:24
secretidentity12
91
asked Dec 2 '18 at 14:24
secretidentity12
91
91
marked as duplicate by Stephan Kolassa, Community♦ Dec 2 '18 at 15:20
This question has been asked before and already has an answer. If those answers do not fully address your question, please ask a new question.
marked as duplicate by Stephan Kolassa, Community♦ Dec 2 '18 at 15:20
This question has been asked before and already has an answer. If those answers do not fully address your question, please ask a new question.
I mentioned my interest in a career in a foreign non-English speaking country was because of my fiancée when applying for postdocs. I’m not sure you always should be you can. In my case it was to show I’m serious about living there despite cultural and language barriers.
– Tom Kelly
Dec 2 '18 at 14:58
Similar problems have been discussed at length in our two-body-problem tag. I just proposed the most similar one as a potential duplicate, but the other threads with that tag are also helpful, even if they consider slightly different problems (e.g., lateral moves, or applications for tenure track positions).
– Stephan Kolassa
Dec 2 '18 at 15:15
I see. Although my question is not exactly the same, reading the other answers have been helpful. I'll mark this as duplicate.
– secretidentity12
Dec 2 '18 at 15:19
Also, I think the "two-body-problem" is a terrible name for a tag. I had no idea it existed. It could be more useful if it is renamed to "relationships" or "interpersonal-affairs"
– secretidentity12
Dec 2 '18 at 15:20
1
secretidentity12: just regarding your last comment, the term "two-body problem" is a long-standing bit of "academic slang" for situations of the form you describe, probably originating as an allusion to en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N-body_problem. It may not be ideal, and perhaps in time the language will change, but I just wanted to point out that it is not merely some kind of "private joke" on academia.SE
– Yemon Choi
Dec 2 '18 at 16:31
|
show 2 more comments
I mentioned my interest in a career in a foreign non-English speaking country was because of my fiancée when applying for postdocs. I’m not sure you always should be you can. In my case it was to show I’m serious about living there despite cultural and language barriers.
– Tom Kelly
Dec 2 '18 at 14:58
Similar problems have been discussed at length in our two-body-problem tag. I just proposed the most similar one as a potential duplicate, but the other threads with that tag are also helpful, even if they consider slightly different problems (e.g., lateral moves, or applications for tenure track positions).
– Stephan Kolassa
Dec 2 '18 at 15:15
I see. Although my question is not exactly the same, reading the other answers have been helpful. I'll mark this as duplicate.
– secretidentity12
Dec 2 '18 at 15:19
Also, I think the "two-body-problem" is a terrible name for a tag. I had no idea it existed. It could be more useful if it is renamed to "relationships" or "interpersonal-affairs"
– secretidentity12
Dec 2 '18 at 15:20
1
secretidentity12: just regarding your last comment, the term "two-body problem" is a long-standing bit of "academic slang" for situations of the form you describe, probably originating as an allusion to en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N-body_problem. It may not be ideal, and perhaps in time the language will change, but I just wanted to point out that it is not merely some kind of "private joke" on academia.SE
– Yemon Choi
Dec 2 '18 at 16:31
I mentioned my interest in a career in a foreign non-English speaking country was because of my fiancée when applying for postdocs. I’m not sure you always should be you can. In my case it was to show I’m serious about living there despite cultural and language barriers.
– Tom Kelly
Dec 2 '18 at 14:58
I mentioned my interest in a career in a foreign non-English speaking country was because of my fiancée when applying for postdocs. I’m not sure you always should be you can. In my case it was to show I’m serious about living there despite cultural and language barriers.
– Tom Kelly
Dec 2 '18 at 14:58
Similar problems have been discussed at length in our two-body-problem tag. I just proposed the most similar one as a potential duplicate, but the other threads with that tag are also helpful, even if they consider slightly different problems (e.g., lateral moves, or applications for tenure track positions).
– Stephan Kolassa
Dec 2 '18 at 15:15
Similar problems have been discussed at length in our two-body-problem tag. I just proposed the most similar one as a potential duplicate, but the other threads with that tag are also helpful, even if they consider slightly different problems (e.g., lateral moves, or applications for tenure track positions).
– Stephan Kolassa
Dec 2 '18 at 15:15
I see. Although my question is not exactly the same, reading the other answers have been helpful. I'll mark this as duplicate.
– secretidentity12
Dec 2 '18 at 15:19
I see. Although my question is not exactly the same, reading the other answers have been helpful. I'll mark this as duplicate.
– secretidentity12
Dec 2 '18 at 15:19
Also, I think the "two-body-problem" is a terrible name for a tag. I had no idea it existed. It could be more useful if it is renamed to "relationships" or "interpersonal-affairs"
– secretidentity12
Dec 2 '18 at 15:20
Also, I think the "two-body-problem" is a terrible name for a tag. I had no idea it existed. It could be more useful if it is renamed to "relationships" or "interpersonal-affairs"
– secretidentity12
Dec 2 '18 at 15:20
1
1
secretidentity12: just regarding your last comment, the term "two-body problem" is a long-standing bit of "academic slang" for situations of the form you describe, probably originating as an allusion to en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N-body_problem. It may not be ideal, and perhaps in time the language will change, but I just wanted to point out that it is not merely some kind of "private joke" on academia.SE
– Yemon Choi
Dec 2 '18 at 16:31
secretidentity12: just regarding your last comment, the term "two-body problem" is a long-standing bit of "academic slang" for situations of the form you describe, probably originating as an allusion to en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N-body_problem. It may not be ideal, and perhaps in time the language will change, but I just wanted to point out that it is not merely some kind of "private joke" on academia.SE
– Yemon Choi
Dec 2 '18 at 16:31
|
show 2 more comments
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
I can't see any scenario in which that would help and can see many in which it would hurt you. The first question asked would be "Is this guy serious???" People are looking for people dedicated to the academic process, research, learning, etc. Personal reasons such as this, and many others, shouldn't be mentioned. Take about why it is that you want to work with this faculty and what your long term academic goals are.
answered Dec 2 '18 at 14:35
Buffy
37.2k7119190
I am not sure that the reaction you describe is always the case any more. I agree that personal reasons should never outweigh the academic reasons, but as someone who has to handle some PhD applications and is faced with the question "are we just being used as an insurance option?" I think I might respect certain personal considerations as tie-breakers
– Yemon Choi
Dec 2 '18 at 14:55
@YemonChoi This was precisely my point. I want to rule out the possibility of not getting an offer because the university thinks my application is not sincere enough.
– secretidentity12
Dec 2 '18 at 14:58
add a comment |
I agree with Buffy. Put it other way around: there are people with whom you compete. Do you think the university should prefer person 1 over person 2 only because his/her has non-academic relationship to university? I do not think. Furthermore, I think that if this was a case, that would be unfair towards other people. If you mention it you might be tagged by the committee as a boyfriend of someone. But you might want to be someone of your own.
A possible reason to declare this might be if university requires to declare any family relationship with university stuff. But I do not think that it's your case because your girlfriend is not an university employee.
answered Dec 2 '18 at 14:51
student
70118
add a comment |
Yes you should mention her as a collaboration, but don’t declare any conflict of interest. You will only get yourself in trouble if you do. Show the University you have done your research.
answered Dec 2 '18 at 15:09
SmallChess
1,5981921
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
I can't see any scenario in which that would help and can see many in which it would hurt you. The first question asked would be "Is this guy serious???" People are looking for people dedicated to the academic process, research, learning, etc. Personal reasons such as this, and many others, shouldn't be mentioned. Take about why it is that you want to work with this faculty and what your long term academic goals are.
answered Dec 2 '18 at 14:35
Buffy
37.2k7119190
I am not sure that the reaction you describe is always the case any more. I agree that personal reasons should never outweigh the academic reasons, but as someone who has to handle some PhD applications and is faced with the question "are we just being used as an insurance option?" I think I might respect certain personal considerations as tie-breakers
– Yemon Choi
Dec 2 '18 at 14:55
@YemonChoi This was precisely my point. I want to rule out the possibility of not getting an offer because the university thinks my application is not sincere enough.
– secretidentity12
Dec 2 '18 at 14:58
add a comment |
I can't see any scenario in which that would help and can see many in which it would hurt you. The first question asked would be "Is this guy serious???" People are looking for people dedicated to the academic process, research, learning, etc. Personal reasons such as this, and many others, shouldn't be mentioned. Take about why it is that you want to work with this faculty and what your long term academic goals are.
answered Dec 2 '18 at 14:35
Buffy
37.2k7119190
I am not sure that the reaction you describe is always the case any more. I agree that personal reasons should never outweigh the academic reasons, but as someone who has to handle some PhD applications and is faced with the question "are we just being used as an insurance option?" I think I might respect certain personal considerations as tie-breakers
– Yemon Choi
Dec 2 '18 at 14:55
@YemonChoi This was precisely my point. I want to rule out the possibility of not getting an offer because the university thinks my application is not sincere enough.
– secretidentity12
Dec 2 '18 at 14:58
add a comment |
I can't see any scenario in which that would help and can see many in which it would hurt you. The first question asked would be "Is this guy serious???" People are looking for people dedicated to the academic process, research, learning, etc. Personal reasons such as this, and many others, shouldn't be mentioned. Take about why it is that you want to work with this faculty and what your long term academic goals are.
answered Dec 2 '18 at 14:35
Buffy
37.2k7119190
I can't see any scenario in which that would help and can see many in which it would hurt you. The first question asked would be "Is this guy serious???" People are looking for people dedicated to the academic process, research, learning, etc. Personal reasons such as this, and many others, shouldn't be mentioned. Take about why it is that you want to work with this faculty and what your long term academic goals are.
answered Dec 2 '18 at 14:35
Buffy
37.2k7119190
answered Dec 2 '18 at 14:35
Buffy
37.2k7119190
answered Dec 2 '18 at 14:35
Buffy
37.2k7119190
answered Dec 2 '18 at 14:35
Buffy
37.2k7119190
37.2k7119190
I am not sure that the reaction you describe is always the case any more. I agree that personal reasons should never outweigh the academic reasons, but as someone who has to handle some PhD applications and is faced with the question "are we just being used as an insurance option?" I think I might respect certain personal considerations as tie-breakers
– Yemon Choi
Dec 2 '18 at 14:55
@YemonChoi This was precisely my point. I want to rule out the possibility of not getting an offer because the university thinks my application is not sincere enough.
– secretidentity12
Dec 2 '18 at 14:58
add a comment |
I am not sure that the reaction you describe is always the case any more. I agree that personal reasons should never outweigh the academic reasons, but as someone who has to handle some PhD applications and is faced with the question "are we just being used as an insurance option?" I think I might respect certain personal considerations as tie-breakers
– Yemon Choi
Dec 2 '18 at 14:55
@YemonChoi This was precisely my point. I want to rule out the possibility of not getting an offer because the university thinks my application is not sincere enough.
– secretidentity12
Dec 2 '18 at 14:58
I am not sure that the reaction you describe is always the case any more. I agree that personal reasons should never outweigh the academic reasons, but as someone who has to handle some PhD applications and is faced with the question "are we just being used as an insurance option?" I think I might respect certain personal considerations as tie-breakers
– Yemon Choi
Dec 2 '18 at 14:55
I am not sure that the reaction you describe is always the case any more. I agree that personal reasons should never outweigh the academic reasons, but as someone who has to handle some PhD applications and is faced with the question "are we just being used as an insurance option?" I think I might respect certain personal considerations as tie-breakers
– Yemon Choi
Dec 2 '18 at 14:55
@YemonChoi This was precisely my point. I want to rule out the possibility of not getting an offer because the university thinks my application is not sincere enough.
– secretidentity12
Dec 2 '18 at 14:58
@YemonChoi This was precisely my point. I want to rule out the possibility of not getting an offer because the university thinks my application is not sincere enough.
– secretidentity12
Dec 2 '18 at 14:58
add a comment |
I agree with Buffy. Put it other way around: there are people with whom you compete. Do you think the university should prefer person 1 over person 2 only because his/her has non-academic relationship to university? I do not think. Furthermore, I think that if this was a case, that would be unfair towards other people. If you mention it you might be tagged by the committee as a boyfriend of someone. But you might want to be someone of your own.
A possible reason to declare this might be if university requires to declare any family relationship with university stuff. But I do not think that it's your case because your girlfriend is not an university employee.
answered Dec 2 '18 at 14:51
student
70118
add a comment |
I agree with Buffy. Put it other way around: there are people with whom you compete. Do you think the university should prefer person 1 over person 2 only because his/her has non-academic relationship to university? I do not think. Furthermore, I think that if this was a case, that would be unfair towards other people. If you mention it you might be tagged by the committee as a boyfriend of someone. But you might want to be someone of your own.
A possible reason to declare this might be if university requires to declare any family relationship with university stuff. But I do not think that it's your case because your girlfriend is not an university employee.
answered Dec 2 '18 at 14:51
student
70118
add a comment |
I agree with Buffy. Put it other way around: there are people with whom you compete. Do you think the university should prefer person 1 over person 2 only because his/her has non-academic relationship to university? I do not think. Furthermore, I think that if this was a case, that would be unfair towards other people. If you mention it you might be tagged by the committee as a boyfriend of someone. But you might want to be someone of your own.
A possible reason to declare this might be if university requires to declare any family relationship with university stuff. But I do not think that it's your case because your girlfriend is not an university employee.
answered Dec 2 '18 at 14:51
student
70118
I agree with Buffy. Put it other way around: there are people with whom you compete. Do you think the university should prefer person 1 over person 2 only because his/her has non-academic relationship to university? I do not think. Furthermore, I think that if this was a case, that would be unfair towards other people. If you mention it you might be tagged by the committee as a boyfriend of someone. But you might want to be someone of your own.
A possible reason to declare this might be if university requires to declare any family relationship with university stuff. But I do not think that it's your case because your girlfriend is not an university employee.
answered Dec 2 '18 at 14:51
student
70118
edited Dec 2 '18 at 15:00
answered Dec 2 '18 at 14:51
student
70118
answered Dec 2 '18 at 14:51
student
70118
answered Dec 2 '18 at 14:51
student
70118
70118
add a comment |
add a comment |
Yes you should mention her as a collaboration, but don’t declare any conflict of interest. You will only get yourself in trouble if you do. Show the University you have done your research.
answered Dec 2 '18 at 15:09
SmallChess
1,5981921
add a comment |
Yes you should mention her as a collaboration, but don’t declare any conflict of interest. You will only get yourself in trouble if you do. Show the University you have done your research.
answered Dec 2 '18 at 15:09
SmallChess
1,5981921
add a comment |
Yes you should mention her as a collaboration, but don’t declare any conflict of interest. You will only get yourself in trouble if you do. Show the University you have done your research.
answered Dec 2 '18 at 15:09
SmallChess
1,5981921
Yes you should mention her as a collaboration, but don’t declare any conflict of interest. You will only get yourself in trouble if you do. Show the University you have done your research.
answered Dec 2 '18 at 15:09
SmallChess
1,5981921
answered Dec 2 '18 at 15:09
SmallChess
1,5981921
answered Dec 2 '18 at 15:09
SmallChess
1,5981921
answered Dec 2 '18 at 15:09
SmallChess
1,5981921
1,5981921
add a comment |
add a comment |
I mentioned my interest in a career in a foreign non-English speaking country was because of my fiancée when applying for postdocs. I’m not sure you always should be you can. In my case it was to show I’m serious about living there despite cultural and language barriers.
– Tom Kelly
Dec 2 '18 at 14:58
Similar problems have been discussed at length in our two-body-problem tag. I just proposed the most similar one as a potential duplicate, but the other threads with that tag are also helpful, even if they consider slightly different problems (e.g., lateral moves, or applications for tenure track positions).
– Stephan Kolassa
Dec 2 '18 at 15:15
I see. Although my question is not exactly the same, reading the other answers have been helpful. I'll mark this as duplicate.
– secretidentity12
Dec 2 '18 at 15:19
Also, I think the "two-body-problem" is a terrible name for a tag. I had no idea it existed. It could be more useful if it is renamed to "relationships" or "interpersonal-affairs"
– secretidentity12
Dec 2 '18 at 15:20
1
secretidentity12: just regarding your last comment, the term "two-body problem" is a long-standing bit of "academic slang" for situations of the form you describe, probably originating as an allusion to en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N-body_problem. It may not be ideal, and perhaps in time the language will change, but I just wanted to point out that it is not merely some kind of "private joke" on academia.SE
– Yemon Choi
Dec 2 '18 at 16:31