Writing the Statement of Purpose for Graduate School

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Writing the Statement of Purpose for Graduate
School
Michael J. Spivey Cognitive
Science University of California,
Merced Contributing authors Evan Heit,
Psychology and Cognitive Science, UC Merced Alex
Whalley, Economics, UC Merced
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Factors for Admissions

• GPA
• GRE
• Letters of Recommendation
• Interview/Visit
• STATEMENT of PURPOSE
• Complete Application

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Statement of Purpose

• Idea of your research/study interests
• Sample of your ability to write
• Proxy for interview
• Can be the difference between getting in or not
• Opportunity to sell yourself!

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Central Theme

• Reasons for your interest in attending a specific
  program at a particular institution
• Statement is tailored for the program
  institution

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The Key Idea

• Look like you will be a success in graduate
  school.
• coming in, you are prepared, motivated, focused,
  have needed skills (writing, math, research)
• once there, you will successfully complete all
  requirements and you will progress as a
  researcher
• This is about potential You dont have to
  already have a PhD to get into graduate school!

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Important to keep in mind

• Audience admission committees are professors in
  your discipline - no need to define basic
  terminology.
• Establish your voice confident, but not arrogant
• - straightforward tone explain how you are
  prepared for graduate school
• - acknowledge poor performances (GPA, GRE scores
  etc.) then focus on achievements not failures

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Important to keep in mind

• Answer the question most graduate schools dont
  give much instruction about SoP, but if
  application asks a specific question, make sure
  to address it
• Get feedback At your current school, talk with
  professors and graduate students about graduate
  school and the application process, and get
  suggested revisions from them on your draft SoP.

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Writing an Effective Statement

• How did you become interested in your field?
• - describe how research experiences, courses,
  professors, internships, work experiences,
  community service, things youve read, other
  independent studies, or life experiences have
  stimulated your interest
• What are your interests and career objectives?
• - be specific about discipline and objectives
• - for example, if psychology, what area?
  teaching vs. research?

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Writing an Effective Statement

• What are your research interests?
• - research is the essence of a PhDshould be
  reflected in statement
• - introduce a few topics of interest
• - dont need to make a specific thesis or
  dissertation proposal, but should be able to pose
  1 or 2 questions or problems
• What attracts you most to the institution/
  program and why are you a good match?
• - interests should parallel those of the faculty
  in the program you are applying toread their
  articles, mention their names
• - the better the match, the better the chance of
  getting admitted

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Statement Should Be

• Well organized
• Concise
• Free of grammatical, punctuation and spelling
  errors
• Convincing that you will be successful graduate
  student
• 2 or 3 pages in length
• Including a last paragraph that mentions the
  names and work of potential advisors
• Proof-read!!

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Statement Should Not Be

• An undergraduate application
• not too focused on extracurriculars, life
  history, hobbies, general world view
• About your convenience
• Unclear

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Discipline-specific Economics

• Be prepared math background
• Know what area you want to study
• Show economic reasoning

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Discipline-specific Psychology and Cognitive
Science

• Be prepared research experience, statistics
• Know what area you want to study
• Show awareness of how topics are researched

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In Conclusion,The reader should be able to

• see what you are interested in, and why
• see that you know what graduate school is about
  (research)
• see that you will be a success

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Questions???