<p>Hello everyone. So I am applying to several graduate programs in biology, specifically biomedical sciences. I wrote up my personal statement for Yale's interdisciplinary program in biological and biomedical sciences (I plan to use its skeleton for other schools, personalizing for each school) and sent it to a few people to give me their opinions on it. 2 of them - henceforth referred to as prof A and prof B - are people who I have done research with. Prof A is an organic chem prof who I did summer research with, and prof B is a molecular bio prof who I did my senior thesis project with. (just some background, in case it's relevant)</p>
<p>Anyway, Prof B recommended that I add more of a hook to interest my readers. He also suggested that instead of a chronological re-telling of my research experiences, I should just write about my senior thesis, albeit in much more detail - hypothesis, approach, results, conclusion, etc. Prof A is of another mind: he prefers a more direct intro (the one I did, which is basically jump right into why Yale interested me, and what my goals) and he believes that I should stick to talking about all my research experience because it paints a better, interdisciplinary nature to my research experience.</p>
<p>I guess my question is: which approach do you think would be more effective? I am nervous to take Prof B's suggestion, because I am afraid it will exclude important research and how it affected my decision to choose to go to graduate school. However, I can see how writing solely about my thesis project might better show my research skills, since I will be able to go into detail. I mean, after all, I am also submitting a resume as part of my application process. </p>
<p>Thank you all for your help, much appreciated! If any more information is required, I'll be happy to provide more.</p>
<p>Prof B “… should stick to talking about all my research experience…”.
Do not waste readers time… just get to the point.</p>
<p>Hello BearFacts. Do you mean that if I stick with what I have written, where I have talked about my different research experiences, it may be wasting the readers’ time? Would focusing just on my thesis project be a superior method of portraying my ability as a researcher and preparedness for graduate school?</p>
<p>I started typing something and it was deleted so I’m going to write a condensed version. I will relay to you the advice I have gotten on my SOP (which has circulated around most of my department at this point - and the professors who sit on the grad committee have told me my SOP makes me a strong candidate).</p>
<p>In the sciences, you don’t really need a “hook.” Keep flowery language and personal stories out of your SOP. My introduction discussed why I thought my field of study was important and why I was a strong candidate for graduate school. I elaborated on the points from my intro (regarding my qualifications) in the body of my SOP.</p>
<p>I don’t have a ton of experience, so I just wrote down everything I had done, including relevant courses and name dropping professors who are well known in the field. I went into great detail when discussing my research, but only briefly touched on my other qualifications. If you have a prodigious amount of experience, then I would just focus on those things that are particularly pertinent to your intended graduate research. Don’t just make a laundry list of what you’ve done, talk about why it is important and relevant. But keep it as succinct as possible. It shouldn’t be more than a couple pages.</p>
<p>Oops… I meant Prof A “… should stick to talking about all my research experience…”.
Do not waste readers time… just get to the point. </p>
<p>And I agree with strudelle. Your SOP is a statement about what research you have done, what research you hope to do.</p>