Here’re the top 15 graduate school statement of purpose examples that got their writers accepted! In this article, you will learn how to increase your chances of getting into graduate school by submitting a statement of purpose that stands out among thousands! Let’s get started!
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Graduate School Statement of Purpose Example #1
This graduate school statement of purpose got 5 acceptances!
“Architecture is the will of an epoch translated into space.” I was 16 when I first read this quote by Mies van der Rohe, and, back then, I thought I really understood what it meant. Thinking of this quote one summer evening, as I walked around my beloved New York City, I was inspired to commit to a future in architecture. At that early stage, I cherished romantic ideals of designing grandiose buildings that would change a city; of adding my name to the list of architectural geniuses who had immortalized their vision of the world in concrete, steel, glass, and stone. It was in college that I became passionately interested in the theoretical design and engineering concepts that form the basis of architecture, while also exploring in greater detail the sociological and economic impact of architecture.
The true breakthrough for me took place in my sophomore year of college, when I was volunteering at The Bowery Mission, a women’s shelter situated in Queens, New York. The shelter was in a poorly ventilated building, with an essentially non-functioning air conditioning system. The little bit of relief for the people who stayed there was a small park nearby, a patch of green between suffocating buildings. One day when I was working the afternoon shift there in the peak of summer, I looked out to see bulldozers in the park. It was being torn up to make room for yet another building. I saw that completed building a year later – a grey block of steel that did not utilize any of the original park space. Witnessing this injustice, while learning every day about how climatology, materials technology, and engineering mechanics intersect with urban planning and architectural design, ignited a passion for sustainable design in me. [BeMo2] How can we, as architects, minimize our harm to communities and eco-systems? How can we design buildings with a view to sustain long-term energy and resource efficiency without sacrificing immediate economic viability? What are the eco-conscious solutions that architects can put forward to address the environmental changes of the 21st century? These were the questions that plagued me then and I have pursued the answers to these questions throughout my academic career so far.
I found the answers to some of these questions in the robust curriculum I pursued at ABC College of Architecture, New York. I took up advanced coursework in Engineering Mechanics, Surveying, Soil Mechanics, Steel Structures, Model Making etc. which helped me hone my technical skills. As my interest in sustainable architecture developed, I became curious about the social and anthropological impact of architecture. I studied Art History, African American Literature, Anthropology, and Cultures of Ancient Greece, which helped me develop a deeper understanding of the socio-ecological impact of architecture and ethical responsibilities of architects. With this strong background of academic exploration, my architectural philosophy continued to evolve. I became interested in cutting-edge design techniques and their application to sustainable design. In my junior year at college, I participated in the New Dimensions of Architecture conference held in New York City, presenting my own paper on “Analyzing the Implications of the Weiszman Design Theory for the Sustainable Architecture of the Future”. In fact, it was at this conference that I met Professor Richard Wright, the esteemed architect and professor emeritus at the Architecture department of XYZ University. Talking with him was one of the most enlightening moments of my life. We discussed our shared passion for ecologically efficient and socially cohesive architectural solutions, and he introduced me to the works of Leonard Nieman, Mary Andrews, and other cutting-edge green architecture firms that are making a real contribution to ecologically sustainable urban planning.
In fact, the possibility of learning from and working directly with Professor Wright is one of my main reasons to seek admission into your M.Arch program. His innovative design theories have a tremendous potential for sustainable architecture solutions. I would love to learn from him and collaborate with him to continue to explore my interest in these topics. I am also deeply interested in the scope of studies afforded by your wide-ranging curriculum that focuses on the latest architectural innovations as well as socio-economic evolutions in architecture. Moreover, for a budding green architect, nothing is more attractive than your quarterly line-up of seminars and conferences that frequently feature the names of the architects at the forefront of design innovation. With my strong academic background in both the technical and socio-economic aspects of architecture, and my focused passion on sustainable architectural solutions for the future, I think I am a perfect candidate for your master’s program. This education is exactly what I need to launch me into the next phase of my career, where I hope to gain experience at one of New York’s top green architecture firms, working on problems of low-budget housing, eco-friendly factory designs, and organic city planning. Eventually, I hope to specialize in sustainable, low-budget urban planning for socio-economically disadvantaged neighborhoods.
It’s funny to think how far I’ve come from my early romanticized ideals of what it meant to be an architect. Those sunset walks around New York city from my teenage years, surrounded by the works of Mies van der Rohe and Rem Koolhas, inspired in me an awe for the cultural power an architect can wield. It was an early lesson that a building can both represent and transform spaces. Today when I walk around my beloved city, what I see are the innumerable missed architectural opportunities to organically inhabit and improve any given space with sustainable design. And now, when I consider Mies van der Rohe’s famous quote, I no longer think of my own petty will or the limited scope of individual genius; I think of the will of an entire generation committed to saving our planet with teamwork, collaboration, and true passion, and how grateful I am to be a part of this generation of architects. (998 words).
Graduate School Statement of Purpose Example #2 - Clinical Psychology
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Graduate School Statement of Purpose Example #3 - Public Health
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Graduate School Statement of Purpose Example #4 - History
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Graduate School Statement of Purpose Example #5 - Anthropology
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Graduate School Statement of Purpose Example #6 - Mechanical Engineering
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Graduate School Statement of Purpose Example #7 - Religious Studies
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Graduate School Statement of Purpose Example #8 - International Relations
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Graduate School Statement of Purpose Example #9 - Social Work
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Graduate School Statement of Purpose Example #10 - Petroleum Engineering
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Graduate School Statement of Purpose Example #11 - Public Health
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Graduate School Statement of Purpose Example #12 - Education
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Graduate School Statement of Purpose Example #13 - Bioethics
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Graduate School Statement of Purpose Example #14 - Musicology
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Graduate School Statement of Purpose Example #15 - Nuclear Engineering
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What is a Graduate School Statement of Purpose?
A graduate school statement of purpose provides the admissions committee with a way of understanding more about you as an applicant and is a very common graduate school requirement. This essay gives them the opportunity to assess your suitability for their particular program and institution.
A statement of purpose is not a cover letter or a resume, although it contains elements of both. Finding the right fit between an applicant and a graduate program is crucial for both parties, and your statement of purpose is your opportunity to explain to the admissions committee why you believe this graduate program is right for you.
“I found the graduate school statement of purpose to be the hardest application component, as I was not sure which experience to include and which to exclude. Additionally, it was difficult to know how to present me as a unique candidate; someone who will be a good fit for the graduate program. My biggest advice for writing the statement of purpose is to keep a balance between academic and non-academic aspects of your background.” – Dr. Shiti Malhotra, Ph.D.
With this in mind, it is important to use the statement of purpose as a way of showcasing what led you to graduate school and your chosen program, and what you hope to achieve if accepted. Here’s a quick list of what should be included in your grad school statement of purpose:
- Why you are pursuing a PhD, Master's, or other graduate school program
- Why you are interested in a field more generally and the program specifically
- How you have prepared yourself academically and professionally for a career in this field
- What you will contribute to the program
- Your future career goals and how the program will help you achieve them
How to Write a Graduate School Statement of Purpose
You need to lay some groundwork before you even start drafting your statement of purpose. Here are the steps you need to take to prepare yourself.
#1 Set Aside the Time
Just as many other aspects of the graduate school timeline, preparing and writing a statement of purpose is not a quick undertaking. Since the statement of purpose itself will also require several drafts before reaching its final form, always keep in mind that this is not something to leave to the last minute!
Ideally, you should give yourself 6-8 weeks to write your statement. You will not be working on it every day, but you should leave lots of time to send out drafts to others and to give yourself a break from the writing process to come back with fresh ideas.
If you are currently in school or have a full-time job it may make sense to start this process even earlier to ensure you don’t rush.
#2 Research Your School and Program
Visit the school’s website and pay close attention to any mission statements or values that are stated. Visit the pages dedicated to your department and program of choice to glean clues regarding their academic culture. Key things to research are: faculty that align with your research interests, specialized equipment or institutes that are of interest to you, and areas of expertise or targeted areas of growth that you could contribute to. Not only will this come in handy while writing your SOP, but this research will be useful down the road for answering questions in your grad school interview.
#3 Brainstorm How and Why You Would Fit into the School and Program
It’s not enough to want to attend a particular school just because of their good reputation or nice location. While learning about your program of choice and its faculty, you should be constantly reflecting upon how and why you would fit in as a member of that community.
Think about what you can contribute to the school and how the program will help you achieve your career goals. Remember that graduate school is a both an academic and a professional program. Schools want excellent academics who will excel in their programs, but they also want students who are willing to learn and have something to gain from graduate school.
You can review common grad school interview questions such as “why do you want to do a PhD?” or “Tell me about yourself” when trying to brainstorm ideas.
#4 Contact Potential Mentors and Supervisors
If during your research you have discovered a faculty member whose work sounds intriguing to you, reach out to them to introduce yourself. Forming a direct connection with a faculty member could significantly boost your candidacy, especially if the faculty member is willing to supervise you or write you a graduate school recommendation letter. Plus, you can mention your interest in their research in your statement:
"My advice for writing [a statement of purpose] is to always include some specific faculty members and their research that was interesting to you. Look into their research! Find some recent publications that you can offer some ideas for!” – Dr. Hanlin Liu, PhD, University of Toronto
#5 Make a List of Any Requirements
Every program is unique. Make sure you understand the specifics of what they are looking for, e.g. length, emphasis, any required formatting guidelines. Many graduate schools will provide prompts to make your writing process easier.
Make sure to read the prompt carefully, as they provide clues as to what the admissions committee expects to see in your statement. Grad schools can receive many applications and you don’t want yours to be weeded out early because you make a simple mistake.
#6 Choose Experiences to Include
“The hardest part was narrowing down my experiences into a concise impactful narrative. The biggest advice for a SOP is to highlight specific experiences that align with the specific program/research you are applying for.” – Dr. Reem Sabry, PhD
To make this process simpler, make a short list of which experiences and achievements you would especially like to highlight in your statement. Ideally, include 1 to 3 experiences in your SOP. Note down specific examples of achievements you want to highlight. Make sure your experiences reflect WHY you are pursuing a graduate degree.
Make sure the experiences you choose align with the program’s mission and culture. Think of your accomplishments and strengths in relation to what you know about the school. Do they value research? Share your top undergraduate research experience. Does the program tout the importance of community? Discuss any community service you have participated in.
How to Structure Your Graduate School Statement of Purpose
When you are ready to write, take a moment to review the length requirements. A statement of purpose is typically between 500 to 1,000 words long.
The statement of purpose should have a clear introduction, main body, and conclusion. Going through each section we can give you tips on how to make sure your statement of purpose gets you accepted!
Introduction:
You need to grab your reader’s attention. Start with a compelling first sentence: choose an anecdote, a quotation, or jolt the reader with a gripping personal fact. Your opening statement would make a reader stay with you to the end.
The second half of your introduction should provide a brief snapshot of what you will cover in greater detail in the main body of your statement.
If you find yourself struggling to write your introduction, set it aside until you have written the body and conclusion of your statement, since you will then know how the introduction could tie it all together.
Main Body:
The main body of your statement should highlight 1-3 formative experiences that led you to grad school. Avoid making your statement of purpose just another grad school CV – you need to create a narrative!
The amount of detail you go into will depend on the program and whether or not you are applying to a masters or a PhD. Make sure you tailor your statement of purpose to the program you are applying to. The more research-intensive your program is, the more research should be included. Whereas if you are applying to an MBA program you might want to emphasize your professional experience.
Remember, it’s more important to show why you are a great candidate, rather than simply talk about it.
Conclusion:
Your conclusion needs to tie everything together and should leave the reader wanting to know more about you. Try to leave your reader with one last compelling thought or insight as you reflect upon what enrolling in the program would mean to you.
You could speak about the current challenges faced by experts in your discipline, and your own eagerness to become more involved in contributing to the field.
Otherwise, your conclusion might also be a good place to address your future career plans. You could end by specifying how the program will help you achieve your professional goals such as working in the industry after academia, especially if you can link it a specific aspect of the program itself.
Checklist for Submitting Your Statement of Purpose
Click here for the checklist.
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BeMo Graduate School Admissions Consulting Reviews
Preparing your graduate school applications? Our admissions experts are here to help! Check out some of our BeMo reviews from one of our students:
"I had a great experience with Dr. Liu. He helped me edit my resume for graduate school applications and has helped me fine-tune my gameplan for writing a statement of purpose with the intention of applying to multiple labs all under one unified graduate program. Thank you so much Dr. Liu and I look forward to working with you more in the future!" - Clayton, BeMo student.
"I had a great experience with the review process for my statement of purpose for applying to grad school at Princeton. I especially appreciated the dedication of my reviewer in giving feedback to my drafts five different times, and now I am very happy with my document. Thank you!" - Ludovica, BeMo student.
FAQs
1. What is the goal of a graduate school statement of purpose?
A strong statement of purpose offers a compelling narrative about your interests, abilities, and experiences, to show the committee that you are a strong applicant and the right fit for their institution and graduate program.
2. How long is a typical grad school statement of purpose?
A graduate school statement of purpose usually ranges between 500 and 1,000 words in length. Be sure to check the specific requirements stated by the program as you prepare to apply.
3. How should my graduate school statement be structured?
A graduate school statement of purpose should contain an introduction, a main body based on 2 or 3 experiences, and a conclusion. Your statement should be clearly written and well-organized to help the reader follow the flow of your narrative.
4. What should my graduate school statement of purpose include?
A statement of purpose should include four main elements: your research interests in your chosen field, your academic and professional preparation, and your career plans.
5. IS A STATEMENT OF PURPOSE THE SAME AS A RESEARCH INTEREST STATEMENT?
No! While they may have similar components, a research interest statement is a more specific document that only mentions research, while your SOP may include a more holistic view of yourself.
6. WHAT SHOULD I AVOID IN A GRAD SCHOOL STATEMENT OF PURPOSE?
You must never plagiarize your statement of purpose. Avoid using clichés and tired phrasing to keep your writing original and fresh. It is also important to favor clarity over artfulness, so be sure to avoid using overly-fancy language so that the focus is always on the substance of what you’re saying. Also avoid technical or overly specialized language unless absolutely necessary, and be sure to define any technical or specialized terms that you must use.
7. SHOULD I WRITE A DIFFERENT STATEMENT OF PURPOSE FOR EVERY PROGRAM I APPLY TO?
Yes, your statement of purpose should be tailored to each program you apply to. However, you can use the main structure and likely some of the experiences and examples between schools.
8. IS A GRAD SCHOOL STATEMENT OF PURPOSE IMPORTANT?
Yes! Graduate school, more so than other professional schools, is all about individual fit to a program. It is important to showcase your unique abilities and fit for the program in your statement of purpose.
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21 Comments
Ablie
great
ReplyAyman Alfadil
Thanks a lot for your information. If my intended field of Ph.D. research is quite different from my previous research experiences, what am I suppose to do to link my previous interest with the new one? and Is it possible to have feedback on my writing?
ReplyJoana Smith
This is indeed the best Statement of purpose ever ,I love everything written here! It has really help me thank you!!!
ReplyAsra Tabassum
Hi...I want the sample for statement of purpose (for masters) where the student changes his filed/background/majors from science to IT... Atleast one sample which helps me to write my own. Thank you.
ReplySegun Abiri
I am so much in love with the way you make a big and difficult task simple. As a practitioner in adult education in Nigeria with over 6 years of experience, I intend to further my experience by having a Masters program in Canada. Problem is, my first degree is not in education, but Arts - Philosophy. I hope to scale through. Thank you for this great write ups.
ReplyChika happiness nwachukwu
Hi,indeed is the best statement of purpose ever,please I want the sample for statement of intents for masters,where the student changes his field,background/ majors from accounting education to educational foundations that will help me write my own. Thank you.
ReplyBob Zhang
Hi, I wonder if you can only help me with SOP edits? Thanks.
ReplyNwabueze Kewulezi
Hi, this is the best article on SOP I have read. Please, I need your advice. I am very passionate about teaching. I studied English, but my M.A. thesis is related to pragmatic. How do I relate both to my deep flare for education?
ReplySamuel Frimpong
Can i get samples of these write-ups in Music?
ReplyChisa Amadi
Good morning, please I want to start up personal statement but don't seem to know how to go about it am applying for Agricultural science soil and water option. Please I will need a guide. Thank you
ReplyLucy Lizzy
hey, thanks for the clear explanation, can you please help me write purpose statement for a journalism degree course
ReplyFrimpong
This piece is extremely helpful
ReplyAnne
Thank you for sharing this useful tips on SOPs.
ReplyElif Ülkü Türkoğlu
Thank you so much, this will be super helpful for my MA applications.
ReplyRaphael Barrack Wangusu
Currently struggling with SOP preparations..i pursued Law for my bachelor degree and i wish to apply for masters scholarships in CANADA, UK, SWEEDN and USA. Thank you.
ReplyJoy Chuks
Amazing content! I've never seen it explained the way you guys did it here!! Thank you!!!
ReplyTumie
It made me understand clearly what i have to do. thank you
Replyshabnam
i cant find any sop become related to food science. I really need a sample to help me. Could you help me please
ReplyMichael
I have enjoyed reading every bit of this document. I am so enlightened by it. Thank you.
ReplySulaiman
Hello, can I get my grad SOP edits?
ReplyRosa
Can I get a review of my statement of purpose?
Reply