While you may not know your exact dissertation topic at this point, you should have a good idea of where you’d like to go in your studies. [2] X Research source Evaluate your goals based on what you would like to study, and think about whether your particular focus will contribute to the field you’re entering. For example, your intent may be “I want to study early onset Alzheimer’s disease in men. ”
It’s okay if your career plans change over the next few years, but it’s useful to have a concrete starting point. Your career goal may be “I want to obtain a PhD in History in order to become an Assistant Professor of History at a small liberal arts college. ”
Too vague: “I want to become a researcher because I love science and working in a lab. ” More specific: “Because I watched my beloved grandfather wither away to a shadow of his former self, I want to devote my life to researching Alzheimer’s disease. No one should have to lose a loved one before he is truly gone. ” Too vague: “I want to be a history professor to inspire students to love history. ” More specific: “Visiting civil war battle fields with my parents helped me realize the importance of understanding and learning from our history. I want to bring that history to life to a generation of students who may not have had the travel opportunities that I had. ”
Be sure the school offers support for your specific field of specialization. It is helpful to work with someone who is well-respected in your specific area. For example, if you want to study East Asian history, make sure you apply to departments with several professors in that field. These professors should have publications in East Asian history. Learn about the graduate school process at each institution. Most programs follow the same general timeline: coursework, comprehensive exams, a formal thesis/dissertation proposal, and finally the thesis/dissertation writing and defense. Select a school that has a high job placement rate after graduation. The department you’re applying to should keep some data; if their placement rate is high, they will likely advertise it as such.
Formal letter-writing etiquette dictates that you should include the following: The institution’s mailing address Greeting addressed to appropriate person (or To Whom it May Concern: if you are not sure) Today’s date The body of the letter A formal closing (such as Sincerely,) A signature at the bottom of the letter
For example, you may say “I stood feeling helpless while my twin brother attempted to begin his presentation to the class. He sputtered a feeble “w- w- w- when…” then fell silent, shame-faced and unable to continue. In the deafening silence that ensued, I vowed that I was going to devote my life to ensuring that other kids would never face similar humiliation. My future career in speech therapy was born in that moment. ”
If the application instructions do not give a length requirement, limit the statement to 1-2 typed pages. If you may write up to 500 words but only write 200, you risk seeming glib or, worse, lazy. If you go over the allotted length, it will seem as though you cannot follow directions or that you do not care about specific requirements. Neither is a desirable quality in a graduate student.
Too vague: “I wish to become a historian. ” More specific: “I want to study the history and culture of indigenous persons of British Columbia to fight against their marginalization in the present day. ”
Be sure to mention all the degrees you hold, as well as honors such as summa cum laude and any other honors listed on your diploma (e. g. “research honors” or “general honors” if you participated in an undergraduate honor’s program). Include academic awards such as competitive merit-based academic scholarships and GPA-based awards. Also include special scholarly achievements like undergraduate research awards.
In the case of being sorority president, you may want to mention that you maintained a 4. 0 GPA while serving as president and overseeing two very large fundraisers. This shows that you can manage both people and time effectively, a necessary skill for a graduate student who must balance research, teaching, and scholarship.
For example, if you suffer extreme text anxiety and thus have low GRE scores, you should make a statement explaining the scores. Then address how you plan to handle any high-stakes testing (such as comprehensive exams) the program requires. For example, if you have one undergraduate semester in which you made all Cs, explain why (ie: depression, a death in the family, substance abuse). Then explain how you overcame the adversity and went on to improve from that point forward.
Avoid abbreviations, smiley faces, and exuberant punctuation such as explanation points!
Do not make any spelling or grammar mistakes. Proofread the letter yourself, have several other people proofread it, and take it to your school’s writing studio. If necessary, hire a professional proofreader. Ask someone you trust to read over your letter and give you feedback. This person should know you well and, if possible, have some familiarity with graduate school admissions (like a professor) or work in a field that you see yourself working in. [13] X Expert Source Stacy BlackmanCollege Admissions Specialist Expert Interview. 7 April 2020.
Ensure the length of your statement follows the guidelines (if it doesn’t, add to or reduce appropriately). Look for any specific requests, such as “describe how your past academic history has prepared you for graduate school. ” Then be sure that you have already done that; if you haven’t, go back and add it. Read and follow any “tips” that the university provides for the statement of purpose. Some may provide a list of “dos” and “don’ts. ” If the university provides such a list, ensure that you “do” the things they ask and “don’t” do the things they specify not to do. [15] X Research source
Realize that sometimes an individual department may not be wholly engaged with the exact goals of the university administration. Look for evidence in the department’s page or in the work of the professors at the university that implies that they are working towards the same mission as the university. For example, if the university and department webpages specify a wish to connect learners to the community, specifically address how your research can act as a bridge between the university and the greater community.
For example, you might say something like “Dr. Smith’s recent work on the influence of early intervention on later speech impediments parallels my own work. My master’s thesis involved studying kindergarten students’ response to early intervention. I would love to become part of her research team to continue exploring this area of study. ”
For example, avoid statements such as: “I want to study at XYZ University because it was recently ranked as the #1 graduate school for my subject area in Newsweek. ”
