Graduate School Application Essays: Statements of Purpose
So you have to write an application essay? Or maybe several? This is the fourth in a series of blog posts that break down application essays so that you have a clear picture of who your readers are and what they expect.
If you’re applying to graduate programs, chances are that you will have to write a personal statement, which I talked about in my last blog post. But some schools might require you to submit a statement of purpose instead of or in addition to your personal statement. That’s what today’s post is about.
Overview:
If you’re applying to graduate schools that have an emphasis on research, you will likely have to write an academic statement of purpose (also sometimes called a statement of objectives) for each program. While these application essays may highlight relevant academic and research experiences, they tend to be more future-focused than personal statements. Their job is to explain your research interests so that readers can assess:
your fit for their program
how you might contribute to faculty research agendas
the merit of any thesis or dissertation project you might complete
What goes in a statement of purpose?
Typically, programs ask applicants to address some combination of the following:
What past academic and research experiences have prepared you for the program or shaped your interests
What aspects of the program—such as coursework, lab work, or campus resources and facilities—interest you most and why
Which faculty member(s) you would like to work with
What topic(s) or area(s) you are interested in researching
What area of emphasis you will pursue (if applicable to the program)
What your career plans are
Here are several examples of statement of purpose prompts:
Why are you applying for this program? What are your research goals and interests? What do you hope to accomplish in this degree program? What do you want to do after and how will this help you? (From UC Berkeley’s graduate program in Computer Science)
This is your opportunity to tell us what excites you about the field of library and information science, and what problems you want to help solve in this field. Please also tell us how your prior experiences have prepared you for this next step toward your career goals and how UNC-SILS will help you achieve them. (From UNC Chapel Hill’s graduate program in Library Science)
Please describe your reasons for pursuing graduate studies in the MIT Chemistry Department. In your description, explain how your background has prepared you for this graduate program. Identify the research area(s) that most interest you, the scientific problems that motivate your pursuit of an advanced degree in chemistry, and how the resources and faculty of MIT’s program promote these interests and motives. Describe your long-term scientific goals, and specify the unique aspects of MIT’s chemistry program that will enable you to achieve these goals. If applicable, describe any specific academic or research challenges that you have faced and overcome. If there are any other factors concerning your prior academic, research, or work experience that you would like the Admissions Committee to be aware of, please describe them. Please feel free to prepare your Statement of Objectives in whatever format most effectively communicates your views. (From MIT’s graduate program in Chemistry)
Who Will Read Your Essay (Audience):
Applications for graduate and professional school are typically screened by a selection committee made up of faculty in the particular programs to which you’re applying. You probably never met the people who decided to let you into the college or university you attended for undergraduate studies. But you can count on having a relationship with the people reviewing your application for graduate or professional school—that is, if they choose to let you into their program. The committee members will be your teachers, or maybe even your advisor, supervisor, or members of your thesis or dissertation committee.
The admissions committee will receive all of your application materials, including your statement of purpose. The good news is that if they are reading your application essay(s), you’ve probably already passed an initial round of review based on your academic achievements. Your statement of purpose will help the committee judge whether or not your experiences and interests make you a good match for their program.
As you’re writing your statement of purpose, keep in mind that your readers won’t have much time to spend with it, and that they’ll also likely be reading many essays in a short amount of time.
What Your Goals Should Be:
If you’re writing a statement of purpose, then clearly your goal is to get accepted to graduate school. But if you want that to happen, you must also consider what this application essay needs to accomplish for your readers. I recommend that you let these goals guide you as you write:
Demonstrate fit. It’s not enough to describe your academic and research interests with intelligence and precision. You must also demonstrate how those interests match those of the faculty and the program as a whole. You might discuss how your undergraduate experiences prepared you to work in a particular faculty member’s lab. You might talk about how an area of emphasis in the program will allow you to advance your research plans. Or you might describe how your dissertation plans align with the scholarly interests of a faculty member. As directly and specifically as possible, show that you are a good match for the program and that the program is a good match for you.
Persuade readers that you are someone they’d like to have in their program. Show readers that you’re the kind of student that they’d like to have in their classes, the kind of advisee they’d like to mentor, or the kind of team member they want to have in their lab. As you discuss previous research and academic experiences, think about showcasing how you are a team player, a leader, a problem-solver, receptive to constructive criticism, considerate of others, a good communicator, etc.
Set yourself apart from the competition. There may be hundreds—or even thousands—of other applicants with similar transcripts, résumés, and test scores. Your statement of purpose is an opportunity to show what you bring to the table that others don’t.
Show that you are ready for the program. Graduate programs are academically rigorous and demand a lot from their students. Faculty will be looking for applicants who are not only intellectually prepared but also have good time management skills, are capable of handling stress, and who are resilient in the face of failure or challenges.
Features:
Length: Word limits for statements of purpose typically range from 500 words (about one singe-spaced page) to 1,500 words (about three single-spaced pages).
Structure: Most statements of purpose have a brief introduction, several body paragraphs that address different aspects of the prompt, and a concluding paragraph that describes short-term and long-term goals.
Style and tone: Statements of purpose should be written from the first person point of view (using “I” and “me”), but they are often more formal and more technical than personal statements. Keep in mind that you are writing to an audience of experts who know both the field and the program well. You should aim to sound like a scholar in your discipline.
Tips:
Do your research. Before writing your statement of purpose, learn everything you can about the program. Talk to current students or alumni—or visit campus, if you can. Familiarize yourself with the program’s coursework, thesis or dissertation requirements, and graduate assistant opportunities. Research the faculty members, and read the publications of those who share your research interests. The deeper your knowledge about the program, the better equipped you are to compose an essay that demonstrates fit to the selection committee.
Carefully read the prompt. Statements of purpose often ask you to answer multiple questions or to discuss several topics. Make sure that you address each element of the prompt in your draft.
Be specific. Look at every sentence in your statement of purpose, and ask “Could someone else have this in their statement of purpose?” If the answer is yes, then you need to add more detail. Set yourself apart by writing about your experiences and plans with a level of specificity that makes them unique to you.
