Thread by @folaeclipse

My opinion on the issue of paying for SOP reviews

Before that, I want to announce: For the 1st time in 5yrs of doing free reviews for people, I received my first payment as a consultant for @HumanSquadCA

I will like to donate it. Check the end of this thread for instructions.

When @TundeTASH asked me to be a gradschool consultant, I had few concerns (didn’t vividly show it) because I am a huge proponent of "do it yourself"

After undertaking few review tasks at Humansquad, I now see many benefits of paid reviews.

These are my reasons:

1.) Getting paid for your hardwork is sweeeeeet and rewarding

I never really worried about payment in the last 5 years of reviewing CVs & Sops for free because I love helping people. It also improved my capacity to review properly because I learned by reviewing more documents

2.) Value is appreciated: As a paid reviewer, I put in great effort not because of payment but because the client has placed a value on the task. Reviewing is a hard task and I want to know my hard work is valued and utilized. Most times, people dont value what they get for free

3a.) Reviewing is an iterative process: Following from point 2, a student that values a reviewers comment would implement it and send it back right?

Even for free reviews, I expect to do atleast 2 rounds of review exchange with the student. That way, i know my effort is utilized

3b.) However, from my experience of doing free reviews, 90% of students do not respond to review comments eventhough I tell them to send it back after implementing.

Perhaps they don’t implement the comments and my hard work, and time may have gone to waste🥴

4.) Reviewing is a learning process for both parties. It is similar to reviewing a scientific manuscript, the reviewer & author learns but this learning can only occur if the student implements the comments & sends it back. Humansquad allows this in their process and I like it👍

In summary paid review = intense review = value exchange.

Please note: I am not advocating for paid reviews as I would continue to do free reviews for people.

I support paid reviews where the student works together on the document with the reviewer.

I am only saying that people asking for reviews should value the reviewers hard work and time. Please note, this is my style and I am speaking for myself alone. Other reviewers may have a different style.

There are many free resources online to guide you when writing your SoP. I also really like this short guide by @olumuyiwaayo

Write your first draft following these instructions and you will make the life of anybody that wants to review for you easier.

https://twitter.com/olumuyiwaayo/status/1295260673522298880?s=20

https://twitter.com/folaeclipse/status/1323321348119285763?s=20

After about 5 years of doing free reviews, It feels good to finally get paid & appreciated for your effort. Thanks to @HumanSquadCA. I would like to donate this first pay to 2 applicants who cannot afford the graduate school service at humansquad.

Instruction
1.) Choose a service among SoP review, academic CV review and scholarship consultation. m.humansquad.ca/graduate-schoo…
2.) Send me a short DM why you need this service. People with proof of current gradschool/scholarship application will be prioritized.

The best 2 applicants will be selected. It is for those who cannot afford the service o. Please send your applications before end of tomorrow (27.01.20).

All the best and lets keep growing together.
We shall all succeed💪💪💪💪