#31) "Statement of Purpose" for Graduate School Applicants

Most graduate school applications require a statement of purpose. In fact, academic advisors often
indicate that a student's statement of purpose is an integral aspect of the overall application, as
important as letters of recommendations, GRE scores, and transcripts. Though it sounds relatively
simple, writing a good statement of purpose can be challenging. Often, students are faced with a
limited number of words to express their thoughts on what often appear to be broad subjects: Describe
Your Academic History, Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years? and What Specific Research Has Captured
Your Fancy, Focusing Specifically on Why Our University is Best Suited to Your Academic Needs?—in 500
words or less! By the time one is finished writing the title, only 490 words remain. What follows are
some ideas and strategies designed to help prospective graduate students while writing application
statements.

Be Concise

As previously mentioned, you are faced with a radical limitation on the number of words that you
may use. Therefore, you should be as concise as possible. For example, the first sentence of this
paragraph is verbose. Such phrases and words as "as previously mentioned," "radical," and "that you
may use" are not necessary. The sentence would be better phrased, "You are faced with a limited
number of words." The idea remains the same, but we have omitted nearly ten words, a considerable
reduction over the span of two full pages. Concise language allows you to cover more ground in a
concentrated manner. Consequently, your statement is sharper and smoother, and you provide more
room to discuss what is really important: you.

Be Distinctive, Yet Professional

In the fall of 1998, Indiana University sent out letters of acceptance to 55 potential English graduate
students. They considered over 450 applications. As these figures indicate, competition for graduate
level positions is fierce. Due to the number of applications being considered, prospective graduate
students need to ensure their statements of purpose are distinctive. Something about your statement
must separate you from the rest of the proverbial pack. There are two ways that you can accomplish
this. First, you may present a distinctive writing style. Maybe you have a comfortable or relaxed or
conversational tone. Maybe you are a natural wit. Maybe you have an especially striking style. Any of
these features would provide a noteworthy contrast to the stuffy, rubberstamped papers through
which one envisions the graduate admissions committee wading. However, a warning accompanies
this recommendation: there is a fine line between being conversational and being flippant. One who is
clever could easily be mistaken for one who is dismissive. Make sure your voice is heard, but make
sure you do not do so at the expense of your professionalism.

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The second way that you can make sure that your statement of purpose is memorable is by including
specific examples of interests that are unique to you. Use these examples rather than speaking in
generalities or stating the obvious. Avoid bland declarations of your love for the subject matter. For
instance, if you are applying to an English program, you do not need to express your love of
reading—if you want to pursue graduate study, the committee will assume you enjoy literature.
Instead, make a specific reference to what you want to study, and why.”

Whatever strikes you, whatever interests you, whatever stirs your passion within will separate your
statement from the others. For example, perhaps a specific theory or thinker or book moves you;
perhaps this is the issue on which you plan to focus your graduate career. Make sure that you include
the significance of this theory or thinker or book in your statement of purpose. Not only will such
specific inclusions stick with the committee members, but your enthusiasm about your discipline will
likely show through as well. You could do worse than be considered genuinely interested in your
proposed area of study.

Look to the Future as Well as the Past

One important aspect of your statement of purpose is that you want to inform the committee about
where you have come from: undergraduate institutions, honors, awards, past research, volunteer
activities, and other general fodder for resumes. But you do not want to dwell on past glories.
Stressing your future goals are as important as calling attention to your past successes. Remember,
rather than demonstrating that you have been an exemplary student, you want to demonstrate that
you will be an exemplary student. You want to provide the impression that you have an interest in
your field that is so keen that it cannot be satisfied in a standard four-year program. Your
undergraduate career has only whetted your whistle; now you are ready to make some noise. Indicate
to the graduate committee that you want to continue in your chosen field and, furthermore, let them
know in no uncertain terms that you have a solid idea about the direction in which you want to move.

Specifically Address the Institution to Which You Are Applying

Graduate schools will be impressed if you know something specific about their programs. The
applicant who indicates that he or she wants to attend a given program because of specific faculty
members or classes will be viewed more seriously than the applicant who is interested in a specific
school because the institution is close to home. Frankly, prospective graduate students frequently
choose schools based on reputation, which is to say that you may not know much about the specifics
of a given program. However, this can be easily remedied. Graduate school catalogs contain detailed
information concerning the school's graduate programs, and they often accompany the requested
applications. Read this information more deeply than just determining deadlines for financial aid.
These catalogs will highlight the strengths of the various schools. Also, lists of faculty members and
their publications or research are included in these packets. This information will not only help you
provide some specific reasons why you are interested in attending a given university but may also
help you decide if you really want to attend this institution. To decide whether or not you want to
attend a school based on its reputation or location is certainly valid reasoning; however, you would

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do well to also ensure that the graduate recommendation committee is aware that your decision-
making process was informed by other, more program-specific factors.

Pre-writing Questions for Self-Reflection

1. What is special, unique, distinct, or important about you or your life?

2. Who has influenced you greatly?
3. What personal details might help the committee better understand you and help set you apart
from the other applicants?
4. What experiences and/or education have made you want to pursue this degree program?
5. How are you pursuing your interest (e.g., education, volunteer work, professional
experience)?
6. What are the most compelling reasons you can give for the admissions committee to be
interested in you?
7. Under what conditions do you do your most creative work?
8. When have you been so immersed in what you were doing that time seemed to fly by while
you were actively absorbed?
9. What appeals to you most about this program – in general (i.e., the field of study) and more
specifically (i.e., the particular department or program)? What makes you and your interests a
good fit?
10. What has further stimulated your interest and reinforced your conviction that you are well-
suited to this field?

Rules to Write By

(From Perfect Personal Statements: http://www.west.net/~stewart/pstips.htm)

1. Do strive for depth rather than breadth; narrow your focus to one or two themes, ideas, or
experiences.
2. Do tell the reader what no other applicant could honestly be able to say.
3. Do be yourself rather than pretending to be the ideal applicant.
4. Do concentrate on your opening paragraph, which grabs the reader's attention and becomes
the framework for the rest of the statement.
5. Do get creative and imaginative, especially in your opening remarks. Figure out a way to
make your experience interesting in order to hook the reader.
6. Do address the particular school's unique features that attract you.
7. Do evaluate your experiences rather than merely recounting them.
8. Do enlist others to proofread your essay.
9. Do conform to the required structural specifications (e.g., 1 page, single spaced). If no
specifications are given, use a highly readable typeface with conventional spacing and
margins.
10. Do answer the questions that are asked.

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 11. Do think in terms of showing or demonstrating through concrete experience.
12. Do tell what you know. Be as specific as you can. Refer to experiences, classes, conversations
with people in the field, books, seminars, or any source of specific information about the
career you want and why you are suited to it.
13. Do write with confidence but not arrogance.
14. Do use active verbs to describe your experiences.
15. Do get to the point. Creating an ornate garden of fancy phrases and showy words is not the
point here.
16. Do write explicit transitions. It is very important to establish clear relationships between your
paragraphs.
17. Do write from a positive perspective.
18. Do anchor your topic sentence in the language of the criteria.
19. Do articulate reasonable long-term objectives that serve as thoughtful concrete plans.
20. Do close by discussing specifics about the program to which you are applying.
21. Do scrutinize every word as you near the final draft. Edit like each word costs $20.

Top Personal Statement Pitfalls (From Perfect Personal Statements:

http://www.west.net/~stewart/pstips.htm)

1. Don't submit an expository résumé; avoid merely repeating information you've provided
elsewhere in your application.
2. Don't complain or whine about "the system" or about your circumstances in life; however,
constructive criticism is fine as long as it relates to your career goals.
3. Don't preach or get on a soapbox.
4. Don't discuss money as a motivating factor in your future plans.
5. Don't use a gimmicky style or format.
6. Don't get the name of the school wrong.
7. Don't include some subjects—for example, be careful of overly personal information such as a
nervous breakdown. References to high school accomplishments are generally not a good
idea. Be careful of using potentially controversial subjects (religious, political, etc)—some say
to avoid these topics completely.
8. Don't use clichés such as "I want to help people," or "I want to make the world a better place."
9. Don't provide sloppy essays, coffee-stained essays, or handwritten ones.
10. Don't spent too much time telling what you will be doing in the future and not enough time
on what you've done in the past.
11. Don't rely on elaborate similes and other forms of narrative artifice. They generally fail.

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Other Aids

Please use this handout as merely a starting point for the long and challenging path that is the
graduate school application process. Do not get discouraged. If you have come this far, continuing
with your education will be rewarding, indeed. If you need additional help, please feel free to visit
the Quality Writing Center (Kimpel 315) at any point during the application process. The following
websites will also prove to be helpful:

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/print/pw/p_perstate.html
 This site offers prewriting questions and general tips for multipurpose
personal statements, as well as personal statements with specific
requirements. It also includes a few model personal statements.
http://www.graduatingengineer.com/articles/feature/11-06-00b.html
 This site offers a good example of a personal statement.
http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/wts/perstate.html
 This site neatly breaks the personal statement apart into its most
important components. It also outlines an effective writing process.
http://www.ksu.edu/artsci/scholarship/essay.shtml
 This site offers good advice for crafting a narrative within your
personal statement, as well as for generating and refining specific
details.
http://www.wisc.edu/writing/Handbook/apessay.html
 This site offers a neatly organized FAQ section on writing personal
statements. It also includes a number of prewriting tips, and a helpful
brainstorming tool.
http://www.accepted.com/grad/personalstatement.aspx
 This site provides a comprehensive overview for writing personal
statements. It includes “dos” and “don’t,” writing tips, brainstorming
strategies, samples, and more.
https://career.berkeley.edu/Grad/GradStatement.stm
 This site concisely breaks down the expectations for a personal
statement, highlighting phrases and strategies to avoid.

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