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 Ä¢¹½´«Ã½’s , 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!