Prompt: one page, reasons for applying to M.A., research and career interests.
I am writing to express my enthusiastic interest in the Master's program of Sociology at KU Leuven. Currently I am a senior Sociology student at METU with a GPA of 3.37.
My interest political inquiry began during my first year at METU which led me to join Foreign Policy and International Relations Society. However, the idea to transition into the field of Political Science from Sociology to investigate my passion for urban politics started when I was heavily inspired by the course I took, "Theory in Urban Sociology" where we focused on Urban Political Ecology framework. Additionally, my conversations with friends from the Political Science department deepened my interest in the field. I became fascinated with Political Science's focus on state as an actor, and the notion that political decisions actively shape urban life.
However, the idea of pursuing an academic career in this field, still felt distant and unachievable as a person who grew up with limited access to academic and cultural resources. I was insecure about articulating my sociological opinions and I felt like I didn't have the necessary tools for it. I started to be active in voluntary work with the purpose of pursuing a career in this field. Even though I had very positive experiences while volunteering in women's NGO's, I had a revelation that my true passion lies in the underlying social and political theories that explain these lived realities. With the support of my professors and friends, I gained my confidence for pursuing the dream of academia. Now, I am motivated to become a skilled academician to inspire other students like me, who doesn't have the tools and confidence to express themselves. I believe it is a duty to challenge the decreasing political efficacy among youth by showing that everyone has the right to access academic knowledge.
For my graduate research, I plan to investigate how neoliberal urban policies have transformed social reproduction in Istanbul, with a particular focus on middle-class families navigating rising urban costs. This particular topic sparked my interest because I witnessed the transformation of the social reproduction practices of my relatives as they migrated to Istanbul from Sivas, my hometown. From my observations, burden of reproduction is placed onto households while Turkish state slowly withdraws from social welfare. Combined with the ongoing economic crisis, white-collar salaries fail to cover the services required to maintain a white-collar lifestyle. However, retreating from this standard is out of the picture. Drawing on Veblen's concepts of pecuniary emulation, I argue that the middle class in Istanbul is frustrated with the standard of living they can no longer afford but cannot afford to abandon. I aim to explore how this frustration is reflected in political behaviour.
Bilkent Political Science Department stands out to me because I believe its strong emphasis methodology and multi-disciplinary approach will keep my thirst for academic knowledge satisfied. I am confident that my academic preparation and my specific research interests align with the values of the Bilkent University. Continuing my journey here for my Master's degree would be a privilege. I look forward to the opportunity to learn and contribute to your esteemed faculty.
I would like to thank you for your time and for considering my application.
Sincerely,
Zühal Eylül Sarıyıldız
I am writing to express my enthusiastic interest in the Master's program of Sociology at KU Leuven. Currently I am a senior Sociology student at METU with a GPA of 3.37.
My interest political inquiry began during my first year at METU which led me to join Foreign Policy and International Relations Society. However, the idea to transition into the field of Political Science from Sociology to investigate my passion for urban politics started when I was heavily inspired by the course I took, "Theory in Urban Sociology" where we focused on Urban Political Ecology framework. Additionally, my conversations with friends from the Political Science department deepened my interest in the field. I became fascinated with Political Science's focus on state as an actor, and the notion that political decisions actively shape urban life.
However, the idea of pursuing an academic career in this field, still felt distant and unachievable as a person who grew up with limited access to academic and cultural resources. I was insecure about articulating my sociological opinions and I felt like I didn't have the necessary tools for it. I started to be active in voluntary work with the purpose of pursuing a career in this field. Even though I had very positive experiences while volunteering in women's NGO's, I had a revelation that my true passion lies in the underlying social and political theories that explain these lived realities. With the support of my professors and friends, I gained my confidence for pursuing the dream of academia. Now, I am motivated to become a skilled academician to inspire other students like me, who doesn't have the tools and confidence to express themselves. I believe it is a duty to challenge the decreasing political efficacy among youth by showing that everyone has the right to access academic knowledge.
For my graduate research, I plan to investigate how neoliberal urban policies have transformed social reproduction in Istanbul, with a particular focus on middle-class families navigating rising urban costs. This particular topic sparked my interest because I witnessed the transformation of the social reproduction practices of my relatives as they migrated to Istanbul from Sivas, my hometown. From my observations, burden of reproduction is placed onto households while Turkish state slowly withdraws from social welfare. Combined with the ongoing economic crisis, white-collar salaries fail to cover the services required to maintain a white-collar lifestyle. However, retreating from this standard is out of the picture. Drawing on Veblen's concepts of pecuniary emulation, I argue that the middle class in Istanbul is frustrated with the standard of living they can no longer afford but cannot afford to abandon. I aim to explore how this frustration is reflected in political behaviour.
Bilkent Political Science Department stands out to me because I believe its strong emphasis methodology and multi-disciplinary approach will keep my thirst for academic knowledge satisfied. I am confident that my academic preparation and my specific research interests align with the values of the Bilkent University. Continuing my journey here for my Master's degree would be a privilege. I look forward to the opportunity to learn and contribute to your esteemed faculty.
I would like to thank you for your time and for considering my application.
Sincerely,
Zühal Eylül Sarıyıldız
