Writing the Statement of

Purpose for Graduate School

Student Academic Success Center
111 South Hall
(530) 752-4475

What is a Statement of Purpose?

The central aim:
n

Clearly discuss the reasons you are interested in

attending a specific graduate program
q

Illustrate your reasons by demonstrating that you have had

experiences which have prepared you for graduate school
Show the admissions committee that you have potential
for success in graduate school

Nuts and Bolts

n

Well-organized

Concise

Free of grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors

Original and interesting

Typically 3-4 pages, typed and double spaced

Keep in Mind . . .
n

There is no one right way to write an essay

Remember your audience experts in the field

Establish your voice

q Confident, straightforward
q Do not make excuses

Answer the question

Turn weaknesses into strengths

May serve as a writing sample

Organization
n

How did you become interested in the field?

What kind of activities or experiences have

contributed to your preparation for or understanding
of this field?

What is your career objective?

What are your research interests?

Matching statement

How Did You Become Interested In

the Field?
n

When and how did you originally become interested in this

field?
n

What have you since learned about your field or yourself

that stimulates your interest in graduate study?
n

Specific example or experience

Motivation to pursue a graduate degree

Convince the committee that you are well-suited to the

field.
n
n

Genesis and evolution of your research interests

Show that graduate school is the next logical step

What Activities or Experiences Have Contributed

To Your Preparation for or Understanding of the
Field?
n

Typically the longest section

Discuss relevant experience

q Research project, internship, summer job, volunteer experience
n

What did you do?

What did you learn?

n
n

If several, discuss how they are related to each other

What skills, abilities, values did you gain and/or develop

Relate back to graduate school and future goals

What sets you apart from other applicants?

What is Your Career Objective?

n

Degree
q

Master s or Ph.D.
n

Sub-discipline

Career
q
q
q
q
q

Professor
Industry
Private Practice
Public Service
Other?

What Are Your Research Interests?

n

State topics of interest to you

q
q
q

What you plan to accomplish while in graduate school

Dont confine yourself too narrowly
But dont appear to have so many interests as to be
unfocused

Do not state an interest too broadly or too narrowly

Make clear how your research interests parallel

those of the faculty

Matching Statement
n

Explain why admittance to a program is necessary

q Why you need this program

Find out specifics about each graduate program from websites

Write different matching statements for each program

Name a research area, institute, faculty member(s), or special

program
q Shows you have researched the institution

Highlight institutional fit

q The better the match, the higher the chance of being admitted

End Result
n

The reader should be able to:

q

Ascertain the origin of your interest in a field of

study
See the growth of that interest over a period of
time
Clearly see that graduate school is your next
logical step

Difficult Circumstances
n

Fold into the body of the paper

OR
Add an addendum (depending on the
situtation)
Turn negatives into positives

Getting Help
n

Be sure to get several perspectives/responses to your drafts

Statement of purpose critiques

q Pre-Graduate Advising, 111 South Hall, (530) 752-4475

Help with writing skills

q Learning Skills Center, 2205 Dutton Hall, (530) 752-2013

Books
q How to Write a Winning Personal Statement by Richard Stelzer
q Graduate Admission Essays, What Works, What Doesn t and
Why by Donald Asher