BY ON JULY 11, 2023 IN APPLICATION TIMELINE, ESSAY TIPS, OTHER ADMISSIONS TOPICS
When applying to graduate school, the statement–whether statement of purpose or personal statement–is one of the most daunting tasks. Hard questions can add to your stress: What are the key elements of a successful statement of purpose? How do you ensure your personal statement is authentic? Making sure what you write in your application will be compelling enough for admission can be overwhelming and intimidating. For that reasons we’ve offered some great advice about how to write your own statement of purpose as well as multiple posts about grad school application essays.
The truth, however, is that advice alone isn’t enough to make your statement for grad school stand out. Even the best advice can feel very abstract once you sit at the keyboard and start typing–there is still no guarantee that your statement is saying both what you want it to say and what it needs to say to be effective. You may find yourself wondering where to start, or feeling stressed about whether you’re writing an effective and persuasive essay that also reflects your experiences and goals. That is where seeing statements of purpose from successful applicants can provide invaluable help in crafting your own. On this page we offer a couple examples from our extensive (and growing) library of statements that worked. These statements from our library have gotten students into graduate university programs of all sorts. They aren’t always perfect, but they are always useful. In fact, we include insightful commentary from Magoosh Experts on important elements of the statement that suggest ways to make it work better, and point out what could be done differently. We do this with the goal of helping you create an impactful statement of purpose which you can be confident in including with your materials.
STEM or Humanities
When applying to graduate school, it is important to understand the differences between programs in STEM and those in the humanities. While both types of programs require a statement of purpose, there are key differences that should be taken into account when crafting your application materials. STEM programs typically place greater emphasis on research experience and technical skills. On the other hand, applications for humanities programs may focus more on your familiarity with the key authors and concepts that define you research interests. Understanding these nuances of self-presentation can help ensure that you create an effective application package tailored specifically to your desired program!
Statement of Purpose Example: An Essay from a STEM PhD application
This STEM applicant scored a 155 Verbal & 167 Quant on the GRE. The Statement of Purpose was part of an PhD application in Finance accepted at SUNY Buffalo, Oklahoma State, and the University of Kentucky.
Statement of Purpose or Personal Statement?
We’ve written on the difference between a personal statement and a statement of purpose, so check there for an in depth examination. Still, it is important to note there is a difference between a statement of purpose and a personal essay. A personal statement may focus more on your experiences and experiences. Your goal in a personal statement is an authentic narrative of who you are and why that matters to your goals in graduate school. Meanwhile the statement of purpose explains what your academic passions are and why they are good basis for graduate level research interests. While both can be strong elements in your application portfolio, make sure that you identify what you’re being asked to provide so that you present yourself and your goals clearly and effectively – remember, authenticity is key!
Personal Statement Example: A Real Essay from a humanities MA application.
This applicant had an undergraduate degree in Philosophy from Augustana University, and the Personal Statement was part of an MA application in Environmental Philosophy accepted at the University of Montana.
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