<p>Hi, everyone. I'm new to the forums, and was hoping I could get some info.</p>
<p>Currently I am applying to a year long MS program. However, the SOP topic isn't the usual "Why did you want to go into XYZ area of study?" They are asking me why I chose their university specifically and most SOP writing guides online don't cover how you should structure the essay around such a question.</p>
<p>If anyone could point me in the write direction, that would be much appreciated.</p>
<p>Not atypical at all: every SOP should address that question!</p>
<p>Can you give us the precise prompt, the expected length and what sort of program you are applying to?</p>
<p>If you have a 200 word limit, you might want to answer straight to the point. If you are expected to write 2 pages, feel free to go beyond “why this university?”. The nature of the program makes a difference too. My undergraduate department had a small PhD program that enrolled 1-2 students per year. If you applied there, it would actually be appropriate to elaborate for two pages on why you’d rather attend this tiny PhD program than a more standard program at another university.</p>
<p>All grad school statements of purpose need to be specifically written for the school you are applying to. You will be most effective if you speak about details of the school- different professors you want to research with, why your interests match those things that are currently being studied, etc. Grad school should be very, very specific.</p>
<p>Well…why DID you choose the university specifically?</p>
<p>I addressed this question in my SOP and here are some things I covered:</p>
<p>1) Professors there that I wanted to work with, and why their research excited me. I included how my past work intersected with their current work.</p>
<p>2) Resources that the university had that appealed to me, like various research centers and institutes.</p>
<p>3) The location. For me this was relevant, because I study issues of urban populations and my university is located in a very large city. I spoke realistically about how I would use the resources of the city in my work.</p>
<p>4) Tradition of excellence. This sort of hints at the school’s ranking/reputation, but doesn’t directly state it.</p>
<p>Other things you can mention:</p>
<p>5) Classes that were recently offered that look interesting to you and would be essential to, or enhance, your study of your field.</p>
<p>6) Internship opportunities and/or special programs the program might offer (is there a study abroad to a country you’d like to do research or work in, or are there internships that are specific to this school?)</p>
<p>7) Career services and/or alumni network, if you are familiar with this.</p>
<p>8) Ability to cross-register with other schools at the university, if there are related fields of interest (for example, a public health student with interests in city health planning may cross-register at the school of urban planning). You may also mention the possibility of collaborating with students and faculty at that school.</p>
<p>9) Special collections or libraries. My university has the largest East Asian holdings of any American university, which would be a boon to an East Asian languages/literatures scholar.</p>
<p>If it helps you, sit down and make a list of all the reasons why this university appeals to you. If you can’t think of more than 2 or 3 things and/or everything you think of is superficial (“city I’d want to live in,” “class titles look kind of interesting,” “not too expensive”) then you need to do more research.</p>