How to Write a Great Statement of Purpose
Tony Jimenez Morfin PhD
Coordinator of Recruitment, Retention, and Outreach
Statement of Purpose vs. Personal
Statement vs. Diversity Statement
(Generally speaking)
• Statement of Purpose-discusses your purpose for
applying to graduate school as it relates to your
academic/professional goals
• Personal Statement-discusses your personal
background (not necessarily academic and
professional)
• Diversity Statement-discusses the broader impact
you and/or your research might have for
underserved/diverse communities
What are the formal
requirements?
• Some applications call for one statement, while
others require responses to a series of multiple
questions. Responses range from 250 to 750 words
each. Always read the instructions carefully! When
in doubt, call the department or program for
clarification.
• In general, a statement of purpose is about 1-2
single-spaced pages (standard font, 12pt, 1”margins).
• Include your NAME and contact information on the
first page.
Student Name
Email Address/Phone
Date
Statement of Purpose (PhD Economics)
When introduced to economics in high school I realized that it interestingly qualified
as a subject of both Arts and Science. It was an area defined by precise rules,
principles and axioms and yet there was tremendous scope for self-expression in the
form of interpretation and analysis. This facet of economics intrigued me very much
and I decided to pursue further studies in Economics. During my Master's program I
equipped myself with various tools used in economic analysis. I obtained rigorous
training in mathematics, econometrics and game theory. After completing the
Master's program, I joined the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy, as I
was very eager to use economics to tackle real life problem. Using various simple
and complex models, I was able to decipher data that was consequently
incorporated in a journal article. I have done some very interesting work, which is
described in my resume. I want to delve deeper into the subject to be able to carry
out independent research and analysis, hence my decision to join the Ph.D. program
at the University of California, Merced.
Student last name#
Student Name
Email Address/Phone
Date
Statement of Purpose
I am applying to the Ph.D. program in Comparative at the
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). My desire to
attend UCLA is driven by my passion for researching the
history of recruitment and retention of Latinos and African
Americans in higher education when affirmative action
programs were in place at the University California. My primary
interest lies in working with Professor Walter Allen due to his
research interest in………
What is essential?
• A discussion of your preparation and background
• A statement of your area of interest
• A statement regarding your research ambitions
• Your reasons for wanting to undertake graduate
study
• A brief discussion of your future career goals
What makes it great?
• Concise
• Well-written
• Organized
• Relevant
• Sets you apart from other applicants (without
gimmicks)
• Speaks to your audience (the admissions
committee)
• Establishes your voice
What should it do?
• Articulate a clear, realistic research purpose.
• Set you apart from other applicants.
• Demonstrate evidence of relevant experience and
preparation.
• Convince committee of your fit and suitability to the
specific program to which you are applying.
• Convey your collegiality
What are the component parts?
• Introduction
• Research Experience/ Relevant Experience
• Current Interests and Aspirations
• Career Goals
• Statement About Your “Fit” With the Program
• Summary and/or Conclusion
1. Introduction
• A statement of who you are and where you are going. This is where you
should foreground qualities that make you stand out from other
applicants (unusual experiences, member of an underrepresented
population, first generation to attend college, etc.)
• Name the degree program, department, and school to which you are
applying. “I want to enter the Ph.D. Program in Chemical Engineering at
Illinois….”
• Discuss the genesis and evolution of your research (scholarly)
interests:What do you intend to study in graduate school and why?
• How did you get interested in your field?
• What is the tie-in between your inspiration and your current research
interest?
• What is it about your field of study that motivates you to pursue a
graduate degree?
• Why is the Ph.D. your next (and only) logical step?
2. Research Experience and/or
Relevant Experience
• The lengthiest portion of your statement.
• Showcases your research or other relevant
experiences.
• Illuminates your research goals.
• Demonstrates your fluency with the discourse of the
discipline.
Tips for Writing the Research/
Relevant Experience Section
• Discuss influences or inspirations in your development as a
researcher (scholar).
• Is there a turning point or “ah-ha”moment when you realized you
wanted to pursue this path?
• Do you have a summer research experience? Be sure to
discuss it!
• Is there a particular researcher or professor who inspired you to
become a scholar?
• Explain how all of these research/relevant experiences are
related to your current interests.
• Convey your understanding of the subject matter that you are
interested in pursuing your graduate studies in.
Organizing the Research/
Relevant Experience Section
• This can be discussed chronologically or
categorically:
– Classroom
– Internship
– Fieldwork
• Skills
– What skills have you acquired?
• Operation of equipment (-Not a list)
• Techniques
• Analysis/Critical Thinking
• Developing a Research Plan
• Statement of the relation of your experience and skills
to your current research and scholarly objectives.
3. Current Interests
• Why is graduate school the next logical
step for you?
• What do you plan to accomplish while in
graduate school?
4. Statement About Your
“Fit”With the Program
• What attracts you to the program?
• What particular professors from that
program would be appropriate for you to work
with?
• Name at least 2 faculty.
– Include a sentence or two about each of their research.
– NOTE: Do not apply to a program if you have not
bothered to read at least some of the published work of
the faculty who you will be naming.
5. Summary/Conclusion
• Don’t just regurgitate earlier
sections.
• Use what has already been stated
to finalize the theme.
Challenges you’ve faced:
whether, how, and where to
include them
• What was the challenge?
• How did you get over it?
– What did you learn from it that will help you in graduate
school?
• Where to include this information?
– Introduction—or in a paragraph just after.
– Summary paragraph (conclusion)
Addressing Inconsistencies or
Challenges
– There are three schools of thought about how to deal
with academic blemishes or uneven preparation
• 1. Address inconsistencies head-on in your statement of
purpose and show how you resolved the problem (i.e., by
taking the class over again or reorganizing your
priorities).
– Having one minor blemish may be forgiven, but a low
grade point average will be a cause for concern.
– Some applications have a specific section/question
that asks you to address this.
2. Ignore negatives and focus on your strengths.
3. Ask one of your recommenders to address the issue in
her or his letter.
REVIEW
• In general the SOP should be around 2 pagesand
should tell the reader three things:
• Why graduate school?
• What are your ultimate professional goals?
• Why this school? (What’s the connection?)
• Why you? (Why you above other candidates?)
• What makes you different/special/interesting?
• What makes you a good FIT for this particular
program?
Final Steps
• REVISE
– Revise, revise, revise. Tighten, polish, add, subtract. Be
willing to make changes!
• PROOFREAD
– Double check spelling and grammar, polish prose.
• Ask colleagues or family to read it and to help you
check for readability and catch typos, etc.
• Get as much feedback as possible from friends,
mentors, TA’s, etc.
• Ask faculty mentors to read it and to advise you on
any details that may be discipline-specific.
Acknowledgements:
Zia Isola PhD
Associate Director
Diversity Outreach Programs
Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering
Jack Baskin School of Engineering
University of California at Santa Cruz
Monique Limón
Assistant Director:
McNair Scholars Program
University of California, Santa Barbara
Questions?
