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Writing the Statement of Purpose for Graduate School

When applying to graduate school, the university of your choice will likely ask for a Personal Statement (also called letter of intent or personal essay). The following suggestions will help you compose your statement.

Collect information:
Learn as much as you can about the program. For information about individual courses, check the university's calendar or web site. You can also collect information from current students, graduates and professors. Try to discover answers to questions like the following: 1. How is this program different from similar programs at other universities? 2. What are the particular strengths and weaknesses of the program? 3. What does the program offer you personally? 4. How will this program help you establish a career in your chosen field? 5. What makes you a good candidate for this program? 6. What criteria does the selection committee use in deciding whom it will accept?

Play with ideas:

Take time to explore different ideas from different perspectives. This is often the best way to discover something that will make your statement or letter stand out from everyone else's and help the selection committee see you as an individual and not just one of hundreds wanting admission to the program. 1. Brainstorm a list of topics like career goals, academic record, volunteer work, interests, and achievements. Come up with as many topics as you can. Get ideas from sources such as John Richardson's Mastering the Personal Statement, available in your Career Resource Centre, H440. 2. Write freely about your personal experiences as they relate to the topics in your list. To keep your ideas flowing freely, imagine that you are talking to a friend or a member of your family. 3. Write a story about yourself that shows something special about you. For example, If, on some occasion, you failed to use good judgment, describe the experience and explain how you learned from it; or If you have a handicap, show how you have compensated for it; or If you served your community or school in some volunteer capacity, explain how you gained more than you gave.

Practice writing your Statement of Purpose:

Practice writing a few statements before writing the one you want to send. The university's application package might provide specific directions as to what you should include in your text or it might simply tell you to write a Statement of Purpose of no more than 500 words. If you receive specific directions, make sure you give the committee the information they want. For example, Concordia asks for the following if a student applies for admission to a graduate program: Please attach a statement of no more than 500 words discussing why you have chosen to do graduate work in the program to which you have applied. This is not a detailed research proposal but could indicate your particular research interests and/or professional goals. If you have already begun work in the field, please indicate the progress and the future direction of your work.

Take time to plan your Statement of Purpose:

1. Read the directions twice and circle the key terms. In the above set of directions, the key terms are why graduate work in program, research interests, professional goals, work in the field, progress, future direction 2. Use the key terms to sketch an outline that represents the plan you will follow in writing your statement. The following might be the plan for a statement of purpose for Concordia:

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Graduate Work at Concordia

Reasons

research interest professional goals

Field Work

progress direction

Use your plan to help you compose a Statement of Purpose. Consider whether or not you should work in your personal anecdote (What program offers you personally).

Write the real Statement early:

Now that you have practiced, you are ready to compose a statement of purpose. 1. Follow steps one and two as outlined in the practice section above and then write the first draft of your personal statement. Include a personal anecdote if you think it will enhance your message. If you have trouble getting your ideas on paper, imagine that you are chatting to a friend and write as though you were talking with him or her. If you particularly like your practice essay, use it as the first draft. 2. Leave your Statement for a few days and then have another look at it. Revise it as you see fit. 3. Ask a graduate student who is in the program or one of your professors to read your statement and comment on it. Revise again, in light of new ideas. 4. Proofread your text very carefully. Correct any errors and then print it on high quality paper. 5. Send it to the university of your choice by post or as an attachment to an E-mail letter, according to the universitys directions. Send it early.

If directions are vague, use your imagination:

1. If the university gives only general direction, such as: Write a personal statement of no more than 500 words, then go through the steps outlined in "Play with ideas" and "Collect Information". 2. Next, think about the goals of the program that interests you and the reasons why you want to enter this program of study. Think about how your previous experiences; academic, extra-curricular and professional relate to the program and about the personal strengths you bring to it. 3. Use these ideas to help you sketch a plan. Use the plan as a guide for writing the first draft. 4. Look in the Career Resource Centre for books that will give you further information about writing your personal statement: see the bibliography below. You can also make an appointment to discuss your statement with a Learning Specialist at Counselling and Development in H-440. 5. Now, follow steps two to five as outlined in "Write the real Statement early".

Bibliography
Stewart, M. (1996). Perfect Personal Statements. NY: Macmillan. Mumby, Dave. (1997). Graduate School. Hudson, PQ: Proto Press Publications. Richardson, J. (1998). Mastering the Personal Statement. TO: Richardson Press.

SGW 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. West H 440 (514-848-2424 ext. 3545) LOY 7141 Sherbrooke St. West AD 103 (514-848-2424 ext. 3555) 2010 Student Learning Services