The Statement of Purpose
(Based on
a
guide from
Dr. Carla
Trujillo, UC Berkeley
College of Engineering.)
Things to keep in mind:
-
What the admissions committee reads between the lines: motivation,
competence, potential as a graduate student.
-
Emphasize everything from a positive perspective.
-
Demonstrate everything by example. Don't simply state, for
example, that you're a persistent person; you must demonstrate it.
-
You don't want to make excuses, but you can talk about the mistakes
you've made as a learning experience.
-
If there is something important that happened (poverty, illness,
excessive work, etc.), which affected your grades, go ahead and state
it but write it affirmatively; that is, in a way that shows your
perseverance.
-
Make sure everything is linked with continuity and focus.
-
500-600 words, 1 to 1-1/2 pages typed, single-spaced.
The Statement of Purpose has 3 or 4 parts:
- INTRODUCTION
-
Tell us what you want to study. For example,
Physics Ph.D. in Condensed Matter Experiment.
- UNDERGRAD EXPERIENCE
- Summarize what you did as an undergraduate:
- Important classes which stimulated your desire
for graduate study; specific project or class?
- Research you might have done. Indicate with whom, the title of
the project and what your responsibilities were. Write technically,
since professors will be reading this.
- Work experience, especially when relevant to experimental
techniques, computer programming, etc.
- JOB EXPERIENCE
-
If you graduated and worked for a while before returning to grad
school, then describe your work experience: company,
work/design team, responsibilities, what you learned.
- RESEARCH AREAS OF INTEREST
-
Explain in greater detail what you want to study in graduate school; this is
an elaboration of your opening paragraph.
- Describe your area of interest, and why you chose it. There is no need
to be over-specific; it's ok to be undecided, or to indicate flexibility.
- Contact the department (e.g. look through our website) to learn
about specific professors' research. If someone's research
interests match your own, then mention this connection. (Be sincere;
don't make up something bogus just to impress people.)
Apply