Crafting an outstanding statement of purpose

Writing an outstanding statement of purpose (SOP) for grad school applications requires careful thought and meticulous preparation. Not to mention it’s an incredibly important part of the application! Graduate admissions officers and professors will learn about your background, your fit for their graduate program and your potential when you leave with an advanced degree. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you craft a compelling SOP:

Understand the purpose of the SOP

At its core, the SOP is your opportunity to showcase your background, interests and motivations for pursuing a graduate degree.

Research the program and faculty

Thoroughly research all of the programs to which you are applying. Understand each program’s strengths, faculty, research opportunities, and how they align with your interests and career goals. Remember that not all graduate programs are created equally – tailor your SOPs accordingly.

Structure your SOP

Introduction

• Start with a hook: engage the reader from the start.
• Introduce yourself and your academic background.
• State your purpose for applying and your specific interest in the program.

Academic background and achievements

• Detail your undergraduate and any postgraduate studies.
• Be sure to include relevant courses, projects, research or publications.
• If you have any, mention awards, honors or recognitions received.

Professional experience

• Describe any relevant work, internships or volunteer experiences. For this purpose, it is important for undergraduates to have summer internships as a springboard for discussion; for those who have already completed a bachelor degree, aim for work experience(s) relevant to your intended graduate field of study.
• Emphasize skills and knowledge that you’ve gained from internship(s) and full time work that are pertinent to the graduate program.

Research interests and goals

• Explain your specific research interests and how they developed, if you know what you would like to study. Note that many applicants to graduate research programs do not yet know specifically what they want to study, and that’s okay! But the more you can focus and narrow down your interests, the better.
• Discuss any research projects you’ve been involved in and what you learned. If you have not yet had an opportunity for research, this is your chance! For younger students in college, be sure to look for research either during the summer or academic year. For rising seniors, look to join a research project in your final year.
• Outline your future career goals and how the program will help you achieve them.

Why this program?

• Demonstrate your knowledge of each program and its faculty.
• You should identify and even name specific professors with whom you are interested in working – and explain why. Hopefully there will be more than one professor whose work catches your eye, in case the first professor is on leave, or retiring, or not accepting new graduate students next year.
• Highlight aspects of the program that appeal to you; consider the curriculum, facilities, research opportunities, projects or career opportunities for alumni of this program.

Conclusion

• Summarize your key points (very lightly – any close read of your SOP will already have covered everything).
• Reaffirm your enthusiasm and readiness for the program, and end with a strong closing statement that leaves a lasting impression.

Final tips

Be sure to start early! We advise students to start writing their SOP a few months, but preferably even six month, in advance of deadlines. Give yourself plenty of time to write, edit and revise. Remember also that each graduate program is unique and you’ll want to be very methodical and organized. Further, be honest and authentic in your writing – let your voice come through. You certainly don’t want the writing to be too colloquial or folksy, but you also don’t want to sound robotic. Find a balance that captures your voice. Finally, keep the focus on how you will benefit from and contribute to the program.

Ready to craft a compelling SOP? Book your introductory call with us to get expert guidance on writing a standout Statement of Purpose.