In plain and simple terms, a Statement of Purpose is an extended essay stating the purpose of applying for a particular program at a specific university. The gist of this essay specifically covers who you are, who you want to become, and your readiness to pursue the program in question.
Aside from seeking to understand the applicant’s aims and goals, a Statement of Purpose for grad school is meant to throw light on their life, motivations and events, and incidents that may have influenced their career path.
Universities receive hundreds and thousands of applications yearly, most from students who may be as good as the next. Therefore, writing a compelling Statement of Purpose is essential to stick out and be picked from other applicants of similar academic standing.
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Most universities require applicants to write a Statement of Purpose to enquire about what they wish to pursue and why they wish to pursue it, especially at the particular university the applicant has applied to. This requirement touches upon the subjective side of the application, while the objective part is largely covered by GPAs, Academic Transcripts, and the like.
So, in essence, what is a Statement of Purpose for grad school? It is a document that provides an opportunity for the candidate to showcase their strengths, weaknesses, aims, objectives, and motivations, along with a brief background and an insight into the chosen career path. Therefore, it is one of THE primary requisites of a complete application to a graduate school program.
Seeing as a Statement of Purpose is subjective by nature, there is no specific template or format an applicant must follow. However, there are certain basic dos and don’ts that one needs to keep in mind, starting with the size of the font that is used for the actual content that goes into the Statement of Purpose.
A graduate school Statement of Purpose template broadly consists of a few major sections and components that follow a simple yet logical layout. One could spruce things up a little by adding some color, styles, and graphical elements, but overdoing all of that could very well rob the thunder from the actual content. It is, therefore, essential to strike a fair balance between “decoration” and content.
A Statement of Purpose should have certain key sections logically and sequentially. Additional sections or components may be added, provided they lend cause and character to the document and further complement or substantiate the points you wish to make.
A sample Statement of Purpose for graduate school would have outlined all the checkpoints effectively, which can be used to write a new and fresh one from the ground up.
Not all the following sections/components must make it to a Statement of Purpose for grad school. Depending on what the university’s requirements are, including them would be prudent:
A graduate school Statement of Purpose template contains certain sections, components, and formatting requisites, all put together for good presentability and easy reading. While there is no set or best graduate school Statement of Purpose template, one can create one that suits one’s needs while adhering to general norms and the university’s specific requirements, if any.
Since formatting is part of a good template, paying attention to presentability and the actual content is essential. To do so, one must maintain adequate margins on all four sides of the document, pick a generic, crisp, and legible font, choose a consistent font size for headings and paragraph text, and keep an acceptable line space of 1.2pt or 1.5pt. Most Universities accept the ‘US Letter’ as a standard size, but some accept this and the ‘A4’ size as well. It is always advisable to read the university’s instructions before writing a Statement of Purpose.
There is a simple solution to how to write a State of Purpose for grad school. Contrary to popular belief, writing one is not rocket science. So long as one can furnish all the details expected to be written in the document, one can successfully and quite easily get down to writing an excellent SoP. Having said that, keeping to simple and basic guidelines without overdoing anything is important, failing which the SoP may be discarded for want of expected content or clarity. The process outlined below is simple, easy to follow, and standard practice:
In the interest of being admitted to a particular program at a specific university, it is common enough for applicants to be overenthusiastic about a Statement of Purpose and its intent. There are a few things to bear in mind and avoid if the document is to be read and not set aside, such as:
A good Statement of Purpose should always leave a mark on the reader and make it evident why the applicant is the ideal candidate for the program being applied to. There are thousands of Statement of Purpose grad school Examples available online, but in tune with all that has been outlined so far, here is an example that may serve as an indicator of how one should be written:
Statement of Purpose: Master of Science (Computer Technology), Colorado State University
I was seven when my father brought home our first computer. To me, it was a true wonder, a magical machine that could mysteriously do so much. My fascination for it grew by the day, and it would not be long before I decided to make Computer Science my elective throughout my academic life. Fortunately, being blessed with a creative and logical mind, I could see endless possibilities to deal with complex problems and find simple solutions with the aid of Computers. I always found and continue to find the running of my code to be exceedingly exhilarating and exciting each time it fulfilled its purpose, and it is this feeling and love for programming has propelled me to apply for an MS in Computer Science.
Dabbling with computers and pursuing my strong interest in Computer Science has helped me develop and hone my analytical and reasoning skills. Throughout my four-year Bachelor of Science (Computer Technology) program at the University of Denver, Colorado, I acquired adequate knowledge to top the class while developing a deeper insight and overall perspective of this scientific discipline. Further strengthening my interest in the subject was Object Oriented Programming and Database Management, two areas that captured my attention and resulted in my involvement with several projects. Soon and sure enough, I found myself helping with programming and prototyping at our university’s Incubation Center.
My keen interest in Computer Science and my ever-increasing quest for knowledge took me beyond the university Campus and into the research and development labs of Apple Inc., where I participated in summer projects and eventually interned. I was explicitly trained in Event Handlers and blockchain, two areas I went on to love and understand more than I ever imagined. I teamed up with two classmates for my final dissertation at the University of Denver to develop an iOS App for dyslexic learners. Supported by Boulder Labs, we crafted complex algorithms and scripts that would elicit the desired response from a dyslexic user to a specific requirement from them. In recognition of our efforts and innovation, we were judged ‘The Most Promising Technology’ for the year 2020 by Boulder Labs and also graciously accepted the ‘Seeking Change for the Greater Good’ award from Helping Hand Charitable Foundation, Denver, Colorado.
While Computer Science was my driving force throughout my academic life, it did not prevent me from undertaking other pleasures and pursuits at all. I participated in a wide range of extracurricular activities that improved my overall personality development. When presented with an opportunity, I participated in debates, group dancing, elocution, and chess challenges, fulfilling my curiosity with photography and pottery. Being wiry in form helped me in athletics and the team sport of basketball, showing me how I could work alone or work as a team. Apart from this, I was the Student Representative of the Department of Computer Science for four years, which had me liaising between the students and the administration – scheduling additional lectures for a class, assisting the faculty advisor in the running of the department, and resolving any issues students may have encountered. This experience bolstered my administrative abilities while bringing my leadership and social skills to the fore.
Having acquired a solid foundation in Computer Science through a robust undergraduate program, my various projects, assignments, and internships in the IT industry, participation in extracurricular activities, and considerable exposure to administrative and social responsibilities, I am convinced beyond doubt that this is the right time to pursue my graduate studies. I desire to understand the nuances of Computer Science further, amass new knowledge, understand the latest technologies and take advantage of the vast industry of Information and Technology. My ability to constructively work with both the creative and logical worlds, am sure will present ample opportunities to address some of today’s and tomorrow’s problems and find simple, effective, and practical solutions to them. My deepest desire is to one day build technology that will enable challenged and slow learners to be on par with their abled peers and consequently make them upright and outstanding individuals.
The MS in Computer Science offered by Colorado State University will undoubtedly provide me with an astute education, complete with the right skills, knowledge, and exposure to pursue my dreams to the fullest. The invaluable combination of coursework, research programs, and lab work will allow me to enhance my understanding of the subject while honing the skills necessary for executing it. All things considered, an MS in Computer Science at Colorado State University will strengthen and further build my knowledge base while adding (tremendous) potential to realize my professional goals.
By the time I finish my Bachelor of Science, I shall be ready to take on my MS in Computer Technology with focus, intent, and fervor.
This graduate school Statement of Purpose example broadly covers the major sections and components that are required to go in. It is concise and relays all the information relevant to the applicant, their accomplishments, the program, and the university.
The best way to begin preparing a Statement of Purpose for grad school is to brainstorm, collect ideas and points, and then pen them down, not necessarily in a logical or chronological order. Composing thoughts and deciding what must go in is perhaps the most crucial part of writing a Statement of Purpose.
Several journals can be found in libraries and many websites to help write an excellent Statement of Purpose for grad school. However, reading too many tips and sample SoPs may cause a great deal of confusion and make the whole experience of writing an SoP rather frustrating. Therefore, we advise caution when seeking help from external resources, some of which are listed below:
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