During my application process to graduate school, I found that one of the most confusing and difficult parts of the process was the dreaded Personal Statement (AKA statement of purpose). It is quite different from the essays we wrote to get into undergrad, and advice across the internet about what to include or not include can be frustrating and confusing. Plus, writing about yourself, especially having to hype yourself up to a board of strangers, can be an especially difficult and even emotional process.
I know a lot of our tutors are interested in pursuing some sort of graduate degree, and I wanted to provide a resource on where to begin and what to include in statements! (something I very much wanted during my application process). I asked some of our graduate tutors to provide some advice, plus some advice from me, and have compiled it for you down below!
First of all, what even is the difference between a Personal Statement and a Statement of Purpose?
Nan D: “A ‘personal statement’ is asking for more background about you as a person and your academic experiences holistically, vs a ‘statement of purpose’ is primarily focused on your academic expertise and research interests. However, in my experience (Rhetoric/English programs) schools sometimes use these terms interchangeably– so it’s important to thoroughly read whatever prompt they give you.”
Nic J confirms that you should just focus on what the prompt is saying: “What questions is it asking you to answer? If the question is “Why do you want to be a teacher?” the focus of your response is that, with your experiences and why this specific program mixed in. If the focus is “Tell us about yourself,” then that’s the focus—with why you want to be a teacher and how this program will get you there thrown in.”
Grace S: Most programs will explicitly state in the application whether they want a personal statement or a statement of purpose. Focus on that, and if they don’t say, don’t worry about it!
What should be included in a Personal Statement?
Kathleen L: “A personal statement is often about other relevant factors that may have affected your academic achievements, intellectual interests, or perspective, but that do not necessarily relate directly to school. Did you grow up working class? Did race/gender/class impact you? How have your personal experiences shaped you as a student?
I would recommend starting with an anecdote to grip the reader and then to either develop it throughout or come back to it at the end of your statement. Each topic or experience that you discuss should be related back to some overarching theme/topic that shows them a certain quality or trait of yours. You may also want to try and analyze/reflect on these anecdotes/experiences to show your reader why they matter and why you are bringing them up in this context. Similarly, you need to balance how much personal information to divulge.”
What should be included in a Statement of Purpose?
Kathleen L: “A statement of purpose describes why you want to go to grad school academically. What do you want to study? Why do you want to study this? Why is this specific program a good match for you? What are your interests, how do you plan to develop them, and how is this specific program the best place for you to develop them? What qualifications/past experiences have you had that make you a good candidate for this program? What professors do you want to work with?”
“Begin with more general info about your academic interests (perhaps introducing them with an anecdote) and then move on to write 2-3 short paragraphs where each paragraph describes a different research interest/experience of yours. It is best to try to connect this information to 1) a reflection about yourself as a student 2) the specific details of the program you are applying to. You should also include the faculty you want to work with that are specific to the program you are applying to, or any other specific programs/details that draw you to the program. “
Nan D: “Include “professors [you] want to work with and why. Also, how you got to the point of wanting to apply for grad school. Did you take a particular class/have an internship that made you want to continue studying in a field? Describe that motivation your introduction.”
What should I avoid including in my statements?
Tyler P. and Kathleen L. suggest avoiding overly personal anecdotes. Don’t trauma dump, and it is best not to bring up mental health struggles. Try not to include personal stories that do not directly relate to your academic/professional experiences. Think of anecdotes that can directly explain your motivation for attending graduate school.
Nic J. suggests avoiding the life story approach. If you’re going to include an anecdote, make sure it is not general, overused, and relates to your academic goals. Nic explains, “…statements like “ever since I was little.”… are often openers, because it’s a tempting impulse to show passion for something by claiming we’ve ALWAYS been passionate about it. However, it’s actually a lot less convincing than an anecdote about a particular experience. For instance, I shared how a particular book had such a huge impact on me, that I carried a copy with me whenever I traveled —that I wanted to make that sort of impact on someone else someday. “I’ve loved reading since I was a kid” is much more generic.”
Grace S: I suggest avoiding cliche phrases as well, similar to what Nic says. “Discovering your passion” or “knowing your purpose in life” might be a bit too much and too overused for these essays. Show, don’t tell, that you’re passionate, dedicated, a leader, through your experiences.
Nan D. points out that you should write a different statement for each school you apply to. “Your statement should be customized to the program, and mention specific people in the department and reasons that department makes sense for your work. You might re-use paragraphs about your background and interests, but you should be customizing each one based on that program.”
How should I start the writing process?
Tyler P. suggests reflecting on your experiences. “Honestly, updating my resume first was useful. Doing so helped me name exactly what I had been doing for the past 4 years of undergrad and how that led me to applying to a grad program.”
Nan D. suggests brainstorming first and thoroughly researching the programs you’re applying to. “It’s an argumentative essay about two things: why you’re a good fit for this program, AND why this program is a good fit for you. You should brainstorm reasons why you’re qualified as well as reasons why this school/department is an ideal place for you to study. Look on the program’s website for professors you want to work with and jot down some points about why their particular research aligns with your interests and goals.”
Grace S: Reflect on your big moments. I thought of 2-3 experiences that made me realize what I wanted to study or why I wanted to go to grad school, and wrote about all three. Eventually, one stood out to me as being the most interesting and most compelling reason for my motivation to attend and study what I was going to study.
What is a suggested writing timeline?
The consensus from everyone seemed to be to start the summer before your applications are due, for a fall deadline. (so, about 4-6 months before your deadline, depending on your workload outside of applications and depending on how many essays you’re writing). If you aren’t taking a gap year, starting to draft and think about your statements early is preferred, so you don’t have to balance it with your semester workload. Have people read them, and rewrite, rewrite, and rewrite.
From my experience, I wrote 5 essays total, and spent roughly 3-4 months on them. I rewrote my statements tons of times, and edited them all the way to the day before they were due for each program—so the more time, the better. I wish I started earlier on some of them.
Plus, remember to factor in taking exams (like the GRE), reaching out to people in the program, and asking people for recommendations (which would ideally be about 6-8 weeks before you need them).
General advice for writing statements?
Nan D. mentions the importance of peer tutoring! “Have people read your statements– recommenders, Writing Center tutors, your academic advisor, or anyone else who’s willing. You re-read your own statement(s) so many times during the application process that it becomes hard to catch mistakes or make edits without another set of eyes.”
Tyler P. reminds us that the goal of any program is to “convince the board that you are a good fit for the program, to show the board that you have done your research about the program, and are invested in doing a good job as a student and future professional. Brag about yourself!! And use confident language to do so! Don’t say “I think I am a good candidate,” say “I am a great candidate because…” Confident and concise language is really effective!”
Grace V. points to the importance of showing your personality: “This may not apply to everyone (as no advice will), but be very honest and include your personality in your application. You want to be somewhere where your particular interests will be valued, so don’t feel like you should water them down too much in your statement! It’s cliche, but seriously be yourself!”
Finally, some extra advice for the grad school process:
Grace S: Reach out to professors you might want to do research with and admissions counselors in the program BEFORE you apply! The people in the program recognizing your name on the application can make a huge difference, and you can get a better sense of whether the program is the right place for you.
Also, ask for those reccomendation letters EARLY. In most cases, your recommenders can send their letter to the school way before you actually submit your application. Get it done with early and out of the way!
Tyler P, very importantly: “Whenever possible, go to grad school for free!! Several programs offer a variety of graduate assistantships, and school is stupid expensive, so look for those scholarships and assistantships!!”
Nic J reminds you to BELIEVE IN YOURSELF! “I know it’s hard, but it’s important to seem confident. You are a salesman pitching to a customer—only you are pitching yourself.”
And Grace V reminds us that life is not that serious: “Even if you take the time to apply and you get in, you don’t have to go, you can quit while you’re in it, or you can go back later! It may be just right for you at this moment in your life, but if you feel that it is taking too much of a toll on your mental or financial health, then don’t feel like you have to force it!”
From all of us, good luck with your applications!!