I.

INTRODUCTION: THE ADMISSIONS ESSAY

Writing a college admissions essay is an admittedly daunting task. Most likely, you have been
repeatedly told that these five hundred painstakingly crafted words must complete the intimidating
mission of distinguishing yourself from the legions of other college applicants, in order to leave
your own personalized mark on the admissions officers. You’ve probably been reminded that your
essay should strike a balance between being compelling and insightful, but not too contrived.
You’ve likely heard varying accounts of how important the admissions essay actually is: from
those who swear by their writing and predict that this little essay steered them clear of the rejection
pile; to others who humbly say they were probably accepted in spite of their essay. With all the
academic and extracurricular work that consumes what spare time you have outside of the
application process, it’s almost certain that college essays aren’t what you’d like to be worrying
about on your weekends.
At the same time, the admissions essay can be a boon to your application if approached carefully.
Each year, college admissions rates plunge as the number of applicants grows, and the size of
résumés and activities lists expands. For applicants to competitive universities and Ivy League
schools, having a top grade point average (GPA) along with sporting and musical prowess may
not guarantee admission. The personal statement, however, is a blank slate that allows you to share
and emphasize the qualities that make you stand out. It permits you to make a creative, distinctive,
and even emotional appeal directly to the admissions officers. In a process dominated by test scores
and statistics, the admissions essay provides a much-needed human touch. But where do you even
start to find ideas for the essay, let alone write?
That’s what we’re here to help you do: navigate the confusing advice and vague guidance that
pervades the current essay-writing process. We’ve provided you ten tips for writing a st andout
admissions essay, and we’ve included fifty real essays written by students who were ultimately
accepted to Harvard College—with the expectation that these will give you a clearer sense of what
works and what doesn’t. As fellow students who have been through the college application
process, we understand the questions and concerns that essay-writers often face, and in this book,
we seek to provide straightforward and realistic advice that will help steer you toward success .
In the end, however, there is no single formula to writing a successful admissions essay—just as
there is no single recipe for being a successful college applicant. In many cases, you’re given free
rein to write what ever you wish. You’re the only one who can identify your greatest strengths and
most debilitating weaknesses, and only you can weave that insight into a personal statement. Only
you are able to articulate how different people and different experiences have molded you into the
person you are today. The immense control that you have over your statement’s content and style
is what makes the college admissions essay so challenging to write—and incredibly revealing.
The Harvard Crimson has compiled some tried-and-true guidelines that will be helpful for writing
almost any college admissions essay. Here are ten tips for you to keep in mind as you embark on
the writing process:

1. Start thinking about the essay early. We understand that it isn’t always feasible to start writing
months in advance. Nevertheless, as you barrel through your senior fall, keep an eye out for
potential essay topics. Read through some essays that have worked in the past to get an idea of
what an admissions essay ought to look like. Consider what you’re passionate about and why.
Think back through your years and identify experiences, people, places, or lessons that have
shaped your character and personality. Finding an essay topic is arguably the most challenging
part of the whole process, so give yourself plenty of time to think of something that you really care
about. Don’t be afraid to scrap ideas, even late in the process, if you come across something
better—you’ll find that if your topic is heartfelt, the writing will come naturally.

2. Think strategically. The admissions essay is your opportunity to set yourself apart, to elaborate
on who you are beyond your grades, test scores, and extracurricular activities. Spend the necessary
time to reflect on yourself and your experiences, and get to know your strengths and weaknesses.
This will help guide you in searching for a good essay topic. When writing, don’t rehash what’s
already evident in your résumé or application, and don’t take on too much—you only have five
hundred words. It’s often better to delve deeply into a single experience, showing that you a re an
observant individual capable of honest self-reflection, than to provide a superficial exposition of
interesting aspects of your life. Talk about your hobbies, play up your unusual talents or areas of
expertise, or describe something formative from your past. The possibilities are endless—be
creative and find something that will supplement the rest of your application well.

3. Realize that the topic isn’t everything. Sure, some ideas—such as winning the state soccer
championship—have probably been written about many, many times before you came along, and
you should try to avoid those topics unless you can add something unique to the tale. Remember
that your topic doesn’t have to be grandiose or sweeping—sometimes, seemingly mundane
experiences, such as that summer job you once had, can be the launching point into a colorful and
telling insight. Not everyone has exotic experiences or prodigious talents to showcase, but certainly
every applicant has a unique and interesting background to illuminate. Creativity, thoughtful
analysis, and skilled writing can make even the most routine happenings exciting. Take the time
to think about your topic from various angles and figure out the best way to couch the material;
showing that you can explain the “how” and the “why” of your topic is often more important than
simply stating the “what.”

4. Answer the question. If you’re given a specific essay prompt, make sure your essay addresses
those questions. Don’t take an essay and stretch it to fit five completely different prompts; if your
essay wasn’t intended to answer a specific question, it becomes awkward and unconvincing. If
different schools ask you why you’d like to attend their college, do your research and think through
your responses carefully. Simply drafting a universal response and filling in the blanks will not
demonstrate to admissions officers that you have the ability to think critically and to understand
nuance. Finally, try to show that you’ve put some genuine thought into the essay and the question
at hand. As with any good essay, use evidence, supporting facts, and examples to prove your point.

5. Be careful with gimmicks. Some people have successfully written poems or drawn comics for
their personal statements, but they are few and far between. If you’re confident that your creative
efforts will turn out well, go for it. Just remember that, especially with this personal statement,
execution is everything. A piece that is inauthentic most likely will not be distinctive in the way
that you had hoped.
6. Know your thesis. As we suggested before, take the time to think through your essay topic and
make sure that you know what points you’re trying to make. What is the purpose of your essay?
Why will an admissions officer want to read and remember your essay? What message do you
want people to take away from your essay? You’ll need to think through these questions in order
to make sure that your message is on point and successfully delivered to the admissions officer.
Knowing these answers ahead of time will also make your writing genuine, clear, and compelling.
Avoid making clichéd statements and broad generalizations—everyone says they’ve learned from
their mistakes and triumphed over adversity. Be tactful, try to write insightfully and critically, and,
most of all, make sure that your message is clear.

7. Be yourself. The college admissions essay is a personal statement. Each person has his or her
own writing style and tone, and essays should reflect that fluidity. It’s all right to include some
humor and wit, but make sure it comes naturally and isn’t excessive or fabricated. While it’s a
good idea to have a couple of knowledgeable individuals read over your essay and give suggestions
for improvement, make sure that the end product is truly satisfactory for you. Don’t let too many
people provide input, and don’t let even those people you trust manhandle the content and style of
your essay. This is your chance to speak directly to admissions officers and to highlight what’s
most distinctive about you, and you shouldn’t let that opportunity be diluted by the voices of others.

8. Be honest. Once you settle on an essay topic, don’t fall into the trap of exaggerating your
experiences or the lessons you’ve learned. Instead, think critically about your topic, even if it seems
mundane to you, and try to understand and articulate why that experience was valuable for you—
not why it might be interesting to the admissions officer who’s reading your essay. Also, don’t use
words you don’t know or wouldn’t ordinarily use—that’s what the SAT is supposed to test. There’s
nothing quite as distracting in an essay as misused words. Don’t use a longer word if a shorter
word captures the sentiment just as well. The admissions officers want to see that you’re a clean
and capable writer, and they want to get a sense of who you are and why ...

11 Tips for Writing a Powerful Statement of Purpose [Sample SOP Included]

The Statement of Purpose is probably one of the most misunderstood aspects of graduate
applications. Most students pass it off like it is just another essay about themselves, and naturally,
write monotonous stuff that doesn’t stand out. That is why, the university admissions committee
puts a hefty weight on statement of purposes and their structure – they want to see whether
you take the interest in letting them know how much you want to study at their university.

Most Statements Of Purpose Start Off Like This:

“I am applying to the Master of Science program in Something Engineering at the University of

Example because I believe my technical skills will blossom at your program as it is a place where
I will be challenged and where I can develop my scientific and technical knowledge.”

Or Like This:

“I am honored to apply for the Master of Science program at the University of Example because
for as long as I can remember, I have had a love affair with science. Since I was a kid in school, I
have known I wanted to be a scientist/engineer.”
Now, almost 99% of the statements are structured similarly, and often times, students copy-paste,
and edit statement of purposes from their seniors or friends, making it sound even more generic or
irrelevant to their applications. If you want to stand out from the crowd; if you want the admissions
committee to remember your essay at the end of the day, even after going through hundreds of
applications; if you want to gain that extra advantage by being somewhat special and unique, you
will have to draft a great statement of purpose. Great, but original.

How Can Your Statement of Purpose Stand Out from The Crowd?

How do you write a great statement of purpose that sounds original, but at the same time gives the
admissions committee what they are looking for? Simple. Basically, every university expects a
student to answer to some basic questions that the admissions committee has. They may not ask
you openly, but these are generally what they expect you to answer:

 What you want to study at graduate school?

 Why you want to study only this degree?
 Why do you want to study at this particular college? What do you like in us?
 Why did you choose to study in this particular country? What do you like about it?
 How much and what kind of experience you have in your field?
 Is your experience related to you choice of degree?
 If you are already experienced, what additional skills are you planning to gain from the
degree?
 What you plan to do with your degree after graduation?
 Would you choose to end up with a job or take up research?
 What are your expectations from both the graduate program, and the university?
 Would you like to study or do research under any particular professor? If yes, why only
them?
 How can you contribute to our university and our program? What specific skills do you
bring to the table?
 Apart from work and education, what are your hobbies, interests, and habits? What are you
like, as a person?
 What do you understand about our student community and culture? Why do you think you
will fit in?
 What is that one unique aspect/characteristic about you that we should know? Why does it
matter to us or to the fellow students of your class?
Now, these are the questions you will have to consider before starting off with your statement of
purpose. Write down answers separately to each of the questions asked above, and try to build a
story that the admissions committee would love to read. Remember, unlike an MBA program, you
won’t be having any personal interviews for a graduate program, so the only way to impress the
admissions officers is by telling your story through the statement of purpose. You will have
to convey your story in the best possible way, such that the committee finds you interesting enough.
And if you are interesting enough to them, you will end up with not only admission, but also a
decent scholarship as well.

Strategies to Write a Powerful Statement of Purpose

It is important that you follow a specific strategy when it comes to drafting your statement of
purpose. Though most students write whatever comes to their mind, or whatever they see on the
internet, you are not most people. You would want your statement of purpose to sound
brilliant, and original. And for that, you’ll need some strategies.

1. Write Stories. Not Statements

If given a choice, would you prefer reading a novel or a newspaper?

A novel, without a doubt. Do you know why?

Because while a newspaper gives you mere news and some eye-catching headlines, a novel tells
you a story; a beautifully written piece of literature that you will be emotionally connected to.
It brings those humanly feelings out of you, and involves you in its storyline. You imagine yourself
in place of the narrator/character, and understand why he/she has done that, or taken such
decisions. We remember stories much easier than statements.

Because stories connect to us, statements don’t.

For example, most people say this:

“I used to work in a multinational software company in the development team, and I had to do the
same job every day: code stuff. There was nothing new for me to learn at work, and there was
nothing very exciting about going to the office. One day I decided that I had to get out of there, so
I applied to college to study higher courses and get a better job.”

Doesn’t that sound like most stories? Albeit, a very normal story? Instead, how about saying this:

“Late in the night one Monday, I had found myself in the middle of a deserted office, and fifteen
thousand lines of code. Full of caffeine in my bloodstream, and an empty life beyond office, I
realized that the computers started coding my brain, and controlling my life. No longer wanting to
let the machines feed on me, I decided that college would be my salvation.”

Both the stories come to about four lines. But which narrative do you think will keep the
admissions committee reading? Which story do you think will be remembered by them even after
reading 5000 applications?

Think again. Do you want your statement of purpose to read like a novel or a newspaper? If
the former is your answer, then you need to put in a lot of effort to tell your story. Think about
‘why’ you want to study what you want to study. Is there a strong reason behind it? Is the reason
emotional, economical, or any other? Think hard, and you will find a connection. The reason might
not seem obvious in plain sight, but when you think hard enough, you will understand that there
is strong reason why you want to study a particular course/degree.

Now, when you have found this strong reason, tell it as a story. Write a short, but great narrative
about what made you make this choice. About why you have chosen to study this course at this
university. Impress the committee with your creative storyline, and you will reap the benefits big
time.

2. Quantify Your Stories

Even though we asked you to write a story, you will have to remember that your story should not
read like a thesis. It should rather serve as the best source of information about you. And when it
comes to information, numbers play a key role. Your story should be not only qualitative, but also
quantitative. And that means, your story must contain measurable quantities instead of just
stories, so the reader can understand the depth of it.
For example, if you have worked for a local NGO teaching math to primary kids, you could say:

“During my engineering days, I helped a local NGO by joining as a math tutor, where I taught
basic math concepts to school children.”

Now even though this sounds really good, it doesn’t give the reader the entire picture and they
certainly do not know how much of an impact you made on those children.

So, you could change that bit to something like this:

“During my second year of engineering, I joined ‘Teach Math’, a local NGO, where I was a part
of the Math tutoring team. For a period of 10 months, I taught basic math like algebra, geometry
and arithmetic to more than thirty 5th and 6th grade students. And every single student I taught
to, secured an A in math that year. I’ve never been prouder in my life.”

Do you see the difference? These numbers suddenly give a whole new perspective to the readers,
and their respect for you is suddenly multiplied. That’s the power of numbers; they add
authenticity, and authority to your stories. If you can quantify your stories properly, and show
the results instead of just actions, the committee will not forget your name. You can use the same
strategy for the rest of your story, no matter what it is about.

Whether it is a research project you did, or a college fest you organized, or a college sports team
you led, whatever it is, add numbers to your stories, and make them sound more realistic, and more
beautiful.

3. Be Specific

You have to make sure that whatever you say in your statement of purpose, you need to be very
specific with it. Don’t just say something because you think it will impress the admissions
committee. Whatever you say, you have to really dig into details. Be introspective. Don’t just
say “I chose this degree because I love this field.” Explain clearly why you love this field, what
made you decide that you want to work in this field for the rest of your life, what skills you are
trying to amass, why it completes you as a person, etc.
Don’t beat around the bush like you normally would, when you talk to your friends. Don’t use
ideal sentences like ‘I want to change the world’ or ‘I want to find my inner self’ or any of those
cheesy lines. Just be straightforward and always to the point, but not so much as to come off as
arrogant. Find your reasons and then find a nice, memorable way to say it.

Grad school admissions officers require the statement of purpose not just because they want to
find about you and your dreams. More importantly, they want you to think for yourself, as to
why you are taking such a life-changing step; why you think this is the best thing that can happen
to you; and why you think you truly need it to succeed in life.

The ‘why’ is always profoundly important, and also an extremely difficult question to answer,
which is why, if you can find answers to all the whys, then you are almost in.

4. Customize Your Essay

One of the biggest mistakes students make is to prepare a basic template for their statement of
purpose, and if they are applying to more than one university, they simply change the relevant
names and details. But the rest of the statement is an exact copy.

This is never a good idea, because though they might seem quite similar to each other, every
university is vastly different from the others. Each of them has a diverse set of characteristics that
define them, and their cultures, methodologies, visions, values, mottos, strengths, weaknesses,
etc., vary greatly. These things are much more important than the departments, or university
rankings, or number of Ph.D.’s or other materialistic qualities.

So, if you are applying to multiple universities, you need to factor in all these qualities of every
university, and customize your statement accordingly. Mere changes in names and details won’t
suffice. You need to tailor your essay such that the admissions officers think you will fit in well
into their community. Remember, every student community is like a family, and if you give
hints that you cannot fit into a family or their culture, you may not be welcomed easily.

Speaking of cultures, different countries obviously have different cultures, but even a large country
like the US has different cultures in different parts of the country. So, before you begin writing,
try and research the general culture within the region in which your target university is, and learn
something about it. It may also help in aiding your decision process; if a culture doesn’t attract
you much, then there’s no point in wasting an application.

5. Use a Formal But Conversational Tone

Nearly all statements or essays come under two categories: The super formal, and the super
friendly. The first category is when you write a statement of purpose that is so formal, it looks like
you are writing to your lieutenant in the military. The second one, of course, looks like a casual
email to a friend. Now, when asked which one seems like a better choice, most students say the
formal way is the way to go, and super friendliness is a big no. And still, a minor set of applicants
think they can outsmart the admissions committee by sounding friendly, welcoming, and funny.

But, on further reflection, you would understand that neither of the approaches is ideal. And you
are right, neither of them is right. Like we talked about it already, your statement of purpose should
read like a novel: slightly formal language, but still a tinge of fun and uniqueness. That is what
you need. A conversational tone is the best and the safest way to go. Write like you are talking to
someone, but avoid using casual language.

Imagine you are talking to your dean, or the director of your college. What would your
language be like? That’s how your statement of purpose should sound. Now, occasional humor is
okay, but you shouldn’t try to sound too funny or too smart. No intentional jokes or funny lines
should find their way into your statement. After all, it’s a statement of purpose, and the purpose
is to pursue a graduate degree, not to impress people with your sense of humor. So, if what you
write brings a smile on the readers face, then it’s perfectly alright. But it shouldn’t make them
throw away your application because you didn’t seem serious enough to them.

6. Decide How You Want To Portray Yourself. And Learn How to Portray Indirectly.

You must see that the statement of purpose serves as a medium to convey your attitude, your
personality and your character. Alright, those are some heavy words, and it can actually be difficult
to them on paper. So, what you can do is, learn what your statement of purpose should portray
you as, in terms of a few criteria, which tell the admissions committee that you are:

1. Very passionate about the field of study you have chosen.

 2. An Intelligent student who can withstand the academic workload of a graduate program.
3. Well-prepared academically and personally, and eager to study new courses.
4. Able to take on the challenges of studying at an international graduate school.
5. Able to build and maintain a good rapport with professors and fellow grad students.
6. Able to finish the graduate degree within time, and graduate with a good percentage.
7. A potential remarkable representative of that grad school in your future career.
8. A successful alumni of the grad school who in the future can help in recruiting graduates.
9. A responsible alumni who in the future will help raise funds for the grad school, to spend
on research, infrastructure, facilities, student scholarships, etc.

These are basically the parameters that grad school admissions officers look at, when they decide
who is joining their class.

Now, you might be wondering that the statement of purpose can only be as long as 1000 words,
and that there’s quite a lot to cover in that little space. This is where your writing skills should
come in. You simply can’t just go ahead and write “I am very passionate about the field of study
I have chosen.” That is the last think you would want to write. What you should instead write is a
sentence that indirectly means the same. You will have to choose your words wisely so as to
indirectly communicate your “passion. You can use brief examples to show why you are so
passionate about it.

For example, you can say something like:

“My grandfather was a car mechanic. I remember when I was nine, he took me to his garage for
the first time and showed me how he could repair my damaged bicycle so I could ride it again.
When he passed away a few years later, he left me the entire garage. It was a turning point in my
life. Some of my best days were spent inside the garage, where after coming back from school, I
tried fixing various appliances in the house. That was what led me to choose to be a Mechanical
Engineer.”

The above paragraph speaks volumes about you as a person and your passion for Mechanical
Engineering without you actually saying it. Any admissions officer in the world wouldn’t reject
an applicant with such a deep reason, and such a wonderful story behind him/her. Now,
remember, you don’t have to lie. Try and remember stories from your life that have shaped your
decisions. And connect them beautifully to your goals and dreams.

Now similarly, your “intelligence” can be conveyed by how you write. The quality of the
statement of purpose, the organization, expression, etc. of your statement tells how intelligent you
are. Demonstrating knowledge of the field, and using related jargon shows that you are “well-
prepared”. Showing what you have done already describes your ability “to take on the challenges
of grad school”. Your grades and your previous performance prove your ability “to finish the
graduate program in time”. Being a “future remarkable alumni” can be implied by your being a
commendable representative of your previous institutions, like your high school, or undergraduate
school. Similarly, you will have to try and represent all the qualities mentioned above in an
indirect, but powerful way.

7. Don’t Create Stories. Be Yourself

Because we asked you to write stories, there would naturally be an inclination to “create” stories
out of thin air. Do not do this at all. Write great stories only if you have great stories. Some
people might come from normal backgrounds, who had normal lives, and probably didn’t achieve
anything spectacular. It’s completely okay. If you don’t have anything great to write, don’t
write it. Be normal, and write normal stories.

It is better to be normal than to pretend to be someone you are not. The admissions officers are
expert psychologists, and they can spot a true applicant from a false applicant with just one
reading. So, you will badly hurt your chances of getting into your dream school if you try to be
someone else. Just be yourself, and write only about the things that have happened to you, and the
things that you are passionate about.

For instance, saying “I love research” just because you think they will like it, isn’t going to help
you a lot. Whatever you say just for the sake of it, won’t appeal much to the committee, as they
would look for relevant evidences in your stories and in your past. So, don’t even think about
fooling the committee with a false storyline. Try and be yourself throughout the essay.

8. Address Your Problems

The Statement of Purpose is a great opportunity for you to address some of your problems. If you
have had any problematic academic background, or a gap year in your career, or if you had any
work-related problems, you can address them on the statement of purpose in order to reassure the
admissions committee. You must try and be as honest as possible, and talk about your problems
in a matured manner.

Instead of trying to defend yourself, you can point out the actual reasons that led to the problems,
but more importantly, you should highlight ‘how’ you overcame the situation, and ‘what’ you have
learnt from the experience. For example, let’s say that you got all C’s or all D’s in one semester.
This normally isn’t the kind of academic profile a good grad school would want from you, unless
there is a strong reason behind it. So, take some time and dedicate a few lines to explain whatever
happened.

If you had a health problem during your semester exams, or if you faced any emotional setback
during that time, if you experience any personal loss, or if you had to take up additional family
responsibilities other than studying, you can mention that in your statement. But, more importantly,
you should not forget to demonstrate how your grades have been steadily improving since then,
and that you now have a decent grade-point average in the discipline.

If you can spin this story well enough for the committee to empathize with you, then your story
will enhance the admissions committee’s image of you as a matured student, with the abilities
to “take on additional challenges” and “to finish on time”, even when things are against you.

9. Do Your Homework

This is one very important point you should exercise while you are writing a statement of purpose.
You should be thorough with the details of all the universities you are applying to, and list down
all the things you like about each university, before you write the essays.

Most students simply write generic sentences like “I am impressed by the importance your
university gives to research” or “I would like to study here because you have 100 Ph.D.’s and 20
Nobel prize winners.” etc. No, that is not how you do it. The admissions committee knows how
great their college is; you don’t have to remind them again and again. But, you should let them
know what exactly you like about them, that you so badly want to be there. The specifics are
really important.

For example, you could say something like this. (Excuse the random jargon, it is only to give you
an idea.)

“I would fully utilize the resources that the Wallenberg Hall provides, as I am particularly
interested in the field of molecular chemistry. The special 24/7 laboratories provided for student
research on molecular processing is exactly the kind of opportunity I am looking for, as I could
totally see myself working in the labs day and night.”

And something like:

“I especially want to study under Dr. Mark Adams, Ph.D., as I have been an avid follower and
admirer of his work in the field of quantum chemistry, which is not only the field I would choose
for my research study, but also is a topic that I am zealous about, personally. I would be more than
honoured if I can earn a spot in his research group.”

Do you see how professional it sounds? Such things show how well prepared you are, and how
eager you are to study at that university. Now, to write something like this, you obviously need
to do lots of research both online and offline, and be very thorough about the college, its facilities,
courses, and professors. Yes, it is very difficult, but you better believe it is completely worth all
the hard work.

10. Proofread, Edit, and Re-edit. Ask Friends and Family To Grade Your Essay

Another mistake students make is, they try and keep their essays to themselves. Maybe they are
shy, or maybe they think their friends and family aren’t necessarily experts on the subject. So they
think there’s no point in asking friends and family to critique on their essays. Wrong. Your
statement of purpose speaks about you as a student, as an individual. Yes, there is technical slang
involved, and yes your family members may not be experts on that. But, they sure are experts on
‘you’. Which is exactly why you should approach them.
They can not only give you additional points to add, but they can give you valuable stories about
your childhood or schooling days, which you probably won’t remember. Plus, it’s very easy to
say something about others, but at the same time, it’s painfully difficult to describe yourself to
someone. Which is why someone very close to you, like friends and family, can describe you
accurately. You will get new perspectives on your stories, which sometimes are better than your
own versions, and including them in your statement of purpose will do you a lot of good. Also,
remember to proofread your statement time and again, and keep on re-editing content until you,
your family and friends think you have the best statement in the world.

Remember that your statement of purpose is a literary picture of ‘you’ as a person, and it is
representing on your behalf. So, make it a top priority to avoid typos, misplaced commas and
semicolons, overused quotes, being too wordy, using too many complex words and sentences, and
being too straightforward. Be careful. Be a perfectionist when it comes to writing. It shows how
much you care about going to a particular college. And, once you are done with everything, do not
forget to ask your friends and family to grade your statement of purpose, and ask them to criticize
it accurately, so you can avoid submitting a less than perfect copy of your statement.

11. Take Advice From Professors.

If you know a professor at your undergrad institution, don’t hesitate to approach him/her for advice
regarding your statement of purpose. They are of course very experienced prospects, and they
might have seen thousands of statement of purposes and students in their careers. So, it wouldn’t
hurt to ask for their opinion. Plus, since unlike your family, they are technically sound, they can
also provide you valuable insights on how to project your technical expertise and project works in
the statement.

After all, a professor knows what another professor looks for in a prospective student, so it
would only help if you approach your college professors. And, if they are really close to you, you
can also ask them for a really good letter of recommendation. So whichever way you look at
it, there are only benefits for you.

Checklist for a Powerful Statement of Purpose

Here’s a basic checklist designed to help you draft a flawless Statement of Purpose. Make sure
you write in an organized manner, and cover your points in a proper order. We have given this
checklist so that you can write your statement of purpose without confusing yourself and the
readers. Following a meticulous order like this will make your statement of purpose a lot better
to read and understand about you and your story. Feel free to add anything else to the list if you
think it will boost your chances, but remember to not write too much because you would then be
exceeding the word limit.

Organization:

 Introducing yourself in a unique manner.

 Demonstrating your passion for the field.
 Story about your background or experience in the field you’ve chosen.
 Description of your academic background in the field you’ve chosen.
 Specific classes or special courses you have taken, that are related to your field of interest.
 Some of the professors you have studied under, especially if they are well-known in that
field.
 Co-curricular and Extracurricular activities in the field of you interest.
 Publications or other professional accomplishments in the field (perhaps conference
presentations or public readings)
 Any community service or leadership experience while in college.
 Explanations about problems in background (if needed)
 Explanation of why you have chosen the specific grad school and other related questions as
discussed in the beginning of this article.
 Mention what you like about the university you are applying for, and why: facilities,
infrastructure, etc.
 Mention names of one or two professors in that school and what you know of and appreciate
about their work, and why you want to study or work under their guidance.
 Specific features of the grad program and the university, which attract you personally. And
why.
 Get advice from several of your professors, family, and close friends. Ask for stories about
yourself.
 Proofread and edit; ask friends and family to proofread for you as well.
 So, those are some strategies and tips for you to write a powerful statement of purpose, impress
the committee, and thereby ace the admissions process. Make sure you do every one of these
things, and you won’t be far away from the college of your dreams. Do you have any strategies
that worked well for you? Do let us know in the comments section.

We almost forgot! We are giving away a sample Statement of Purpose for download, so you can
get an actual glimpse of how the aforementioned tips and strategies have been incorporated in a
real Statement Of Purpose. But remember, this should serve only as an inspiration to your
own Statement of Purpose, but not a source to copy from. Close to 10000 students check this space
regularly, and if every single one of them uses the same phrases in their own statement of purposes,
very soon, everyone will be held for plagiarism. So, try and copy only the framework and the
organization, but not the actual content. Happy Writing!

How to start your personal statement

Firstly, don't begin with the overkill opening.
One of the dangers of trying to come up with a great opening sentence is that you can end up
overthinking it, and going overboard. As one admissions tutor said: 'Be succinct and draw the
reader in, but not with a gimmick. This isn't the X Factor.

Admissions tutors often mention this. They emphasised the need for candidates to engage the
reader with your (relevant) perceptions or ideas, not by something flashy.
Beginning your personal statement – tips from the experts
We spoke to a number of admissions tutors to get their number one tip for starting a personal
statement. This is what they said:

 'Don't waste time trying to think of a catchy opening; it's often a complete turn-off.'
 'Your interest in the course is the biggest thing. Start with why you chose it.'
 'The best personal statements get to the point quickly.'
 'Start with a short sentence that captures the reason why you are interested in studying the area
you are applying for and that communicates your enthusiasm for it.'
 'Go straight in. Why are you excited about studying this course?'
 'The opening is your chance to introduce yourself, to explain your motivation for studying the
course and to demonstrate your understanding of it.'
 'It's your enthusiasm for the course we want to know about. Start with that.'
 'Write what comes naturally.'
 'What you want to study and why should be in the first two sentences. What excites you about
the course and why do you want to learn about it more?'
 'Be specific from line one.'
 'Talk about you and your enthusiasm for the subject from the very start.'
 'In your opening paragraph you need to show that you know what you are applying for. Don't
waffle or say you want to study something just because it's interesting. Explain what you find
interesting about it.'
 'It's much better to engage us with something interesting, relevant, specific and current in your
opening line, not 'from a young age' or 'I have always wanted to'. Start with what's inspiring you
now, not what inspired you when you were six.'

Maybe don't begin at the start?

Some tutors even suggested you shouldn't even begin at the start...

 'I think the opening line is the hardest one to write, so I often say leave it until last and just try
and get something down on paper.'
 'Don't spend too long on the introduction. Concentrate on the main content of your statement and
write the introduction last.'
 'I often advise applicants to start with paragraph two, where you get into why you want to study
the course. That's what we're really interested in.'

The best statements tend to be genuine and specific from the very start. So you'll be on the right
track if you explain your enthusiasm for the subject or course, your understanding of it, and what
you want to achieve from it.
Five cliche statement beginnings to avoid
However, try to avoid the most obvious opening sentences in your personal statement, so you
stand out from the first line. To help, every year UCAS publishes a list of the most common
opening lines in personal statements, and urges applicants to avoid using these
hackneyed phrases. Previous years' top five included:

 'From a young age…'

 'For as long as I can remember…
 'I am applying for this course because…'
 'I have always been interested in…'
 'Throughout my life I have always enjoyed…'

And at number eleven was a Nelson Mandela quote, which brings us on to our next section...

And don't rely on someone else's words – ditch the opening quotes
Quotations are top of the list of admissions tutors' pet hates. They particularly dislike it if you put
a quotation in right at the start – and it's even worse if you don't actually explain why it's there.
It's your statement, after all. They don't want to know what Nelson Mandela thought – they want
to know what you think!

Connect the beginning of your statement to the end

A final thought. One technique that can be effective is the 'necklace approach'. This is when you
make a link between your opening sentence and closing paragraph, reinforcing and adding an
extra dimension at the end to what you said at the start.

For example, if you started with an interesting line about what is currently motivating to study
your chosen degree course, you could link back to it in your closing paragraph, perhaps with
something about why you would love to study this further at uni.

How to end your personal statement:

what to write
While you don’t have to cover all of these, here are a few ideas for what you may want
to talk about in the conclusion of your personal statement:

Tie it back to what you’ve written earlier

Book-end your personal statement, by revisiting the key points you’ve already spoken
about in the main body of your personal statement, and re-emphasise them here in your
conclusion.

A key academic skill at degree-level is being able to form a structured written argument,
including a conclusion that summarises the key points (and does it with a punch).

Reiterating key skills, interests and experiences you’ve already touched on can give
your statement a satisfying sense of closure and is one last chance for these to hit
home.

Is the start of your personal statement the best it can be? Check out our guide to
writing a killer statement opening.
Talk about the future
Looking ahead to the future is an optimistic way to conclude your personal statement.
This indicates that you’re goal-oriented – an admirable quality – and you’ve carefully
thought about how this university course fits into your plans.

This doesn’t mean you have to have the next five to 10 years of your life planned out,
though. Even if you have a broad sense of the different career paths you might want to
pursue – or any related life ambitions you want to fulfil – it’s worth mentioning them here
(and more importantly, how this course will help you achieve those).

Just be careful about throwing out too many different career possibilities.

Learn more about career prospects for your subject (and more) in our subject
guides.

Your university experience

An alternative approach to your conclusion is to talk a little more generally about what
you want to get from your overall university experience – but only if you’re certain
you’ve effectively communicated your passion, knowledge, and skills for the
course elsewhere.

For instance, would you like to build your confidence meeting people from a variety of
backgrounds, having grown up in a small town or village? Are you hoping to engage
with a local community through a mutual passion or vocation, such as a religious
community, a special interest group, or similar?

Also, talk about how will you be an asset to your chosen university.

Tips when writing the end of your personal statement

Here are a few things to keep in mind when you sit down to finish your personal statement:

Take a break and come back to it

We wouldn’t recommend writing your personal statement in one sitting. But if you’ve written a
large chunk of your statement already, it’s worth putting your laptop away and coming back to
tackle the conclusion.
The main body of your statement – consider it the ‘main course’ of the meal – is the key part that
will do most of the talking for you, and likely take the most time. So you don’t want to write
your conclusion – your ‘dessert’, so to speak – half-heartedly or just to get the whole thing over
with.

Take a break and come back to the conclusion with a fresh pair of eyes and invigorated
enthusiasm.

Note, this is a good reason to leave yourself plenty of time to write your personal statement,
rather than rushing to get it done. The UCAS deadline for most courses is 15 January, but you’ll
probably have to get your statement into your school long before then.

Read back what you’ve written

Read back your statement a few times to remind yourself what you’ve said already (especially if
you’ve taken a break from it).

This might inform what you reiterate in your conclusion. You might surprise yourself, and find
that the ingredients for your conclusion are already there, or that some parts fit better in your
conclusion where they’ll have more impact.

Alternatively, reading your statement back over can help you decide what you don’t need to
bother saying again, which will save you doing the below…

Don’t waffle
Keep the ending of your personal statement short, concise, and to the point.

Don’t drag your conclusion out unnecessarily. This will only hurt the strong impression the rest
of your statement has worked hard to create.

Like the start of your personal statement, try to avoid cliches, quotes, or asking rhetorical
questions that you’re not going to answer. It will leave an admissions tutor wanting more, but not
in a good way.

You don’t want them looking ahead at how much they have left, rather than reading what you’re
actually saying.
Make notes as you write
Inspiration can strike when you least expect!

In fact, the absolute perfect ending might come to mind while you’re still getting the main 'meat
and potatoes' of your statement right. This might even be a few impactful phrases, but it all
helps.

Rather than push it to the back of your mind when you get to the end, make a note now, either
further down the page or in a separate doc. That way, you already have something to work from.

Keep a document on your phone to make notes on-the-go until you’re next in personal statement
mode. That way, you’re not struggling to remember that great idea you had on the bus a week
earlier.

What do your UCAS choices have in common?

While you can’t make specific references to a particular university or course at a university, you
can talk generally about things that apply to all of your choices.

The only thing to keep in mind is that if you pursue a different university (or course)
through Clearing later, they may see this.

Search for a course and learn more about your choices, including modules, graduate stats, and
student satisfaction scores.

What not to write when concluding your personal statement

Finally, here are some things you should definitely not do in the conclusion to your personal
statement:

The exact same information you’ve written elsewhere: while you can use your conclusion to
reiterate key points, careers expert Alan Bullock warns against simply regurgitating that which
you've already said, especially if it doesn't add something new or interesting:

'I often read statements that end with a bland, unsubstantiated claim, like: "In conclusion, I
believe that my passion for business and my strong work ethic make me a perfect candidate for
this course."

'This might be true, but it does nothing to differentiate you from other applicants. The most
effective conclusions tend to be ones that add an extra dimension to your message and keep the
reader engaged right up to the end of line 47.
'For example, give them one more little insight into your ideas, interests, or skills, or be specific
about something you personally want to achieve from the course or from your wider university
experience.'

Ask yourself what it’s adding to your statement by using this critical spot to talk about it.

Lots of new information: that said, you don’t want to introduce lots of new points in your
conclusion, especially key information that might be better placed in the main body of your
statement, where you can explore this in more depth.

Your conclusion should be simple and concise, rather than open up lots of new areas (that you
won’t even address satisfactorily).

Questions you won’t answer: rhetorical questions are one of those things that you should leave
out of your personal statement as a whole – especially in your conclusion, where you’re
wrapping things up.

It’s all too easy for these to sound like you’re padding things out or filling your word count –
your conclusion has a purpose, after all.

Famous quotes: many applicants use these in the beginning of their personal statement to grab
attention. However, an admissions tutor wants to know more about you as a candidate, and what
you have to say – not what a famous figure in your field said.

Anything too specific: remember that all of your UCAS choices will see your personal
statement.

Therefore, don’t name-drop anyone specific, as it will give the impression that you’re not that
interested in applying to any other universities.