Statement of Purpose

Graduate School
1

<p>I have a few questions about my statement of purpose for graduate school applications. None of the schools I am applying to specify any requirements that must be included in the statement, so it's pretty much left up to me. Should I also include why I want to attend each school?</p>

<p>I've gotten it all written up, but here is the overall outline:</p>

<p>-Background of why I originally started studying French (includes my 'hook')
-Details of my experience during a year-long trip to France
-Some courses I've taken at the undergrad level and what I wrote in them
-Cultural activities relating to my major done outside of class
-Why I want to go to grad school and what I want to do during and after</p>

<p>Can anyone think of anything else that might be important to add? It's at 3/4 page (single spaced) right now. I don't want it to be over a page.</p>

2

<p>Have you mentioned which professors you would like to work with at said univeristy and mentioned how their research would inform your desired field of interest? I’ve heard that’s one of the most important parts of an SOP. Everything else looks good to me!</p>

<p>And yes, DEFINITELY mention why you want to go to that particular school.</p>

3

<p>oh, I definitely need to mention specific professors. I’ll include an entire paragraph on the school and professors. That should make it about a page. Any idea if they would prefer it single spaced or double spaced?</p>

4

<p>I think they typically say single spaced (at least, that’s the standard in my field).</p>

5

<p>One of my schools has a 500-word limit. Is it acceptable to go over that limit? I’m at 570 words and pretty much finished with it.</p>

6

<p>Wow, that’s kind of short for a SOP. I had an issue with going over for one of my statements, but after I went back and edited out all the unecessary words and simplified a few sentences, I was just at the limit. I’d try doing that if I were you, especially since you’re not that much over. Also, I don’t think something like 10-25 words over will matter much unless you have to cut/paste it into a text box. If that’s the case, they might cut it off after 500 words.</p>

7

<p>I cut this one down to 544 words, so I think I’m good there for now. One school I am applying to only wants a 300 word statement. It’s going to be pretty tough to trim this down that much for that school.</p>

8

<p>You could try cutting some of the section on your undergrad courses just for that shorter statement since those would be listed in albeit less detail on your transcript. I don’t know if that would work, but it seems like that would be the best place to cut if you’re that limited.</p>