Sarcastibitch asked:
I am unsure what to include in my statement of purpose (to describe my reason for pursuing graduate study). I’ve tried several drafts and it all just sounds like bad Hallmark card (the children are our future, love of learning, wanting to contribute to society in a meaningful way- blah, blah, blah). What are they looking for? What information is truly relevant and important to include?
Shawn & nb392348: I took advice from both answers and it really helped make it tangible, not just a string of cliche’s- Thank you both!
Augusta Golf Packages
I am unsure what to include in my statement of purpose (to describe my reason for pursuing graduate study). I’ve tried several drafts and it all just sounds like bad Hallmark card (the children are our future, love of learning, wanting to contribute to society in a meaningful way- blah, blah, blah). What are they looking for? What information is truly relevant and important to include?
Shawn & nb392348: I took advice from both answers and it really helped make it tangible, not just a string of cliche’s- Thank you both!
Augusta Golf Packages
November 6th, 2009 - 9:49 am
MattBreedenNow
Hmmm. Try “not ready for the real world” or “too lazy to find a real job”.
Worked for me.
November 8th, 2009 - 8:16 am
Obama Polls
What information is truly relevant and important is whatever is your actual reason. If that is a love of learning, then say so. Try to say it in an original way, if you must, but don’t make something up because you feel you have to. Admissions committees see a lot of statements of purpose, and they can tell if you’re writing something that isn’t true.
What may help is to sit down with a blank sheet of paper and write down what exactly your reasons are. Be honest with yourself, write down everything you can think of, even if you think it doesn’t sound good (e.g. for the prestige or the money). Try to spend at least 15 minutes thinking about this issue thoroughly. You should be able to come up with at least one good reason — after all, you *are* applying to grad school, while there would be other things you could be doing.
After you’ve done this exercise, evaluate what you’ve written down. Look at what reasons you are willing to share with an admissions committee. Pay special attention to the reasons that could make a good story, that you would feel comfortable writing about. Then use those for the first draft of your SoP.
November 11th, 2009 - 12:03 am
Obama News
I think that Hallmark stuff is okay, but you should just try to word it in a more original way. You could also site examples of times in your life when you made a difference in someone else’s life, and how that made you feel. Or maybe talk about someone who changed your life, and how you want to be that person for others.
November 13th, 2009 - 8:08 pm
hallmark cards
I would include some of those ideas that you have already suggested, but in a structured way. I would make a statement, then give an example of how you have began to contribute or have some experience in that idea, and explain how the degree you are seeking will help you to continue that goal. For example: You feel that children are the future, so you helped to create a positive environment by (insert any positive contribution you made in a child’s life, make it a personal moment), therefore by having this degree, you will be able to engage and develop more children into productive members of society. It allows your wonderful personality to come through and connect with the admissions committee. There’s nothing wrong with Hallmark, just make sure to back up any statements you made by how you did or will contribute to perpetuating this idea. Good luck and best wishes!
November 14th, 2009 - 4:08 am
2012 Obama
The personal statement took me two months to write. And my final draft included hardly anything that my first draft did! It’s a long process, so just keep going. I also recommend reading some books about what to focus on – just search Amazon.com for “personal statement” or “graduate school admissions.”