Do you want to wow the grad school admissions committee with your Statement of Purpose?

Advanced degrees require focus and determination so applicant pools are becoming more and more impressive.

Without a doubt, the selection process examines an applicant’s focus through their academic accolades but Statements of Purpose (SOP letter, application essay, letter of intent, personal background, objectives for graduate study) can portray determination by being future-focused.

This topic is covered in detail in the book PhD in the USA. The book even has examples of SOPs written by students that were admitted to graduate programs.

We know that highlighting personal or professional experiences can show the applicant’s dependability. That is why describing an applicant’s strengths and goals or passion for the field of study can translate to being an asset to their peers and the department. This is one way to demonstrate commitment and differentiate an applicant from others. In the same way, try to explain your plan for the degree you are pursuing. You may want to reach out to former professors, mentors or supervisors to help describe your strongest attributes.

Like most writing assignments, it’s hard to get started. Stop staring at the blank page and start researching and taking notes. Putting your thoughts down in words will help you organize your ideas. The goal is to refine your statement of purpose to be substantive, direct, and unique.

Different programs will have different prompts but the expected format for academic writing will be the same.

• 1-inch margins on all sides
• 1.5 line spacing
• 12 point Times New Roman font
• 500-1000 words or 1- 1.5 pages

 

Template

1st paragraph

• Introduce yourself and focus on the Masters or PhD program you want to study.
• Researching the professors and courses in the program to which you are applying is necessary for each and every application.
• Make sure that what you write about directly relates to the specific details included in the program description.

2nd paragraph

• Why are you interested in your specific area of study.
• Mention how your life, volunteer, internship and work experiences influenced your decision to pursue an advanced degree in your field.

3rd and 4th paragraphs

• Describe the activities and experience that specifically represents your preparedness for graduate work.
• Mentioning any related experience will show that you have a clear understanding of what the program is and how you fit into it.
• Describe any unique experiences you’ve had that helped you decide on your specific area of study.
• These paragraphs should be brief.

Closing paragraph

• You should briefly describe your long-term career goals or what you want to do in the future.
• The closing paragraph should portray where you want to be in the prime of your career.
• Describe how you will use what you’ll learn to grow and contribute to your field of study. Final Step
  Once written, allow time for trusted friends or family to provide feedback on content, style, and syntax. Consider a professional editor.

We know you’ve got what it takes!

Team InGear

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