An English Grad Student’s Guide to Writing A Statement of Purpose
Perhaps no process is as nerve-wracking and anxiety-inducing as applying for graduate school.
Between securing transcripts, requesting letters of recommendation, and perfecting your CV, the requirements of the application process can often seem unending—academia is a cruel and demanding mistress. The part of the application process that I and many of my colleagues found the most punishing, however, was the dreaded statement of purpose.
I’ve yet to meet anyone who enjoys writing a personal statement, but I have compiled some tips, tricks, do’s, and don’ts to help streamline the process:
- Always look on the website for department/program-specific requirements! Not all prompts are created equal; some schools have Personal Statements, Statements of Purpose, both, or neither. Some have specific questions to be addressed, such as the University of Rochester’s chemistry program, while others simply ask you to write a statement
- Do your research! Get a feel for the focus of the program: is it research? Professionalization? What kind of projects or resources do they have?
- Consider why you are a good fit for the program. What aspects of your academic interests, work ethics, and personal values align with those of the program/department?
- Why is the program a good fit for you? What faculty, resources, or opportunities would benefit you as a person and a scholar?
- Additional don’ts: DO NOT repeat your CV, frame as anecdote, or focus on childhood passions
- Additional do’s: DO get specific about your research interests, the faculty that you’re interested in working with, and how the prospective degree would support your long term career goals
The last big DO I recommend is to create a statement that you feel good about, and reuse that template as much as you can! Plug and chug any school-specific information into a strong, existing statement to streamline the application process.
Best of luck with your word-smithing! You got this!