Writing a Statement of Purpose

1
Writing a Statement of Purpose

• Dr. Beth Brunk-Chavez
• Graduate School Expo Day
• March 26, 2009

2
What it is

• An overview of what you plan to study and what
  you have already done
• Education, work, publications, etc.
• Self-promotion
• Probably the most important piece of your
  application package. If all things are equal,
  this will be the deciding piece.

3
Why is it so important?

• Sell yourself as a good student, hard worker,
  reliable, someone who will finish the degree
• Distinguish yourself from other applicants

4
What it tells committees

• How good a fit you are
• How committed you are to a graduate education
• How good of a writer you are
• What you have accomplished
• What you hope to do/study/become

5
What not to do

• DONT
• Be too personal
• Write about inappropriate topics
• Forget to change the name of the school
• Be too modest
• Or, be too braggy
• Use clichés
• Dwell on weaknesses

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What to do

• Use detail
• Address weaknesses
• Focus on the opening paragraph
• Be interesting and personable
• Tell a story
• Write concisely and correctly
• Follow guidelines.
• If it asks for 2 pages, dont send 3.

7
Getting started

• Read instructions carefullyschools may ask for
  different things
• Personal statement
• Statement of interest
• Research agenda
• Teaching philosophy

8
Getting started

• Do research
• On the discipline
• On the program
• On the faculty
• On the current students
• On the graduated students

9
Use a writing process

• Brainstorm, invent, draw maps, free write, draw
  pictures
• Draft quickly
• Revise
• Have someone read it
• Revise more
• Revise again
• Edit
• Have someone read it

10
Language Choices

• Use Ibut dont overuse it
• Use active voice/present tense
• Not too casual, not too formal

11
Nice touches

• Mention several faculty by name
• Mention something about what current students are
  working on or publications of former students