a sample statement of purpose for phd

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Statement of Purpose for PhD in Computer Science (MIT Accepted)

We analyse three SOP samples, two accepted at MIT and one at the University of Washington.

Statement of Purpose for PhD in Biomedical Engineering (MIT Accepted)

In this article, we analyse a Biomedical Engineering SOP that was accepted at MIT, Stanford, and Georgia Tech

Letters of Recommendation: A Guide and Sample for your Recommenders

Statement of Purpose Sample for Nursing (Undergraduate) (Highly rated)

Description: We describe in detail how to write a statement of purpose for nursing. In the SOP, the applicant underscores the areas of nursing she’d focus on and how she was suited for the school.

Statement of Purpose Sample for Ph. D Nursing (Compelling)

Description: In this Statement of Purpose Sample for Nursing Ph. D, the applicant identifies the field of interest and specialization that he’s interested in early, details professional and research work, then points out the skills he would like to gain from this program and how the university will help in this endeavor.

Statement of Purpose for MBA (Ivy school)

Description: We start by providing a step by step guide that should help with generating ideas for your MBA SOP and then crafting one while adhering to certain tips. We then provide 3 ivy school samples.

Statement of Purpose Sample for Computer Science  (Highly rated)

Description: In this Statement of Purpose Sample for Computer Science, the applicant describes how a local mobile money sending application in rural parts of Africa inspired his love for computing.  The applicant explains a clear career path after graduating. You can get a similar SOP by ORDERING HERE

Statement of purpose sample for computer science 2 (Recommended)

Description: In this SOP, we provide the blueprint of writing a SOP for computer science. We follow it with two highly rated samples.

Statement of Purpose Sample for Cognitive Science (Good)

Description: In this SOP, the applicant describes how personal struggles with Dyslexia, and the inspiring story of  Akeelah in the Akeelah and the Bee film, motivated a desire to understand how the human brain works and how it can be trained to optimize the good while negating the bad.

MBA Statement of Purpose Example  (Excellent)

Description: In this Statement of Purpose Sample for MBA, the applicant evokes the loss of family business and a business degree that didn’t equip him with practical skills as the motivation for applying for an MBA. The applicant brings out the steps that he has taken to remedy this lack of practical experience and the skills that he looked forward to getting from the MBA program.

Statement of Purpose Sample for MBA with Engineering Background (Compelling)

Description: The applicant underscores professional experience managing people, financial, and operational processes. He emphasizes possession of transferable research experience, the result of which is a successful Statement of Purpose for MBA that got him acceptance to a top business school. You can get the same HERE

Statement of Purpose Sample for Masters in Public Health Science (Good)

Description:  In this SOP, the applicant underscores her teaching and research experience and show how they would be transferred to a role of a public health educator. If you’re applying for university admission in a field other than you did your bachelor’s, we can help with standardizing your SOP. Speak to us today HERE

Statement of Purpose Sample for  Psychology Graduate School (Great)

Description: In this SOP, the applicant explains how growing up in a crime-ridden neighborhood with a police father informed her early views on crime prevention and the place of psychology. She places this early observations in their proper context by profiling the background of teenage offenders thereby underling the place of early trauma on future behavior.

Statement of Purpose Sample for Mathematics (Highly rated)

Description: This sample explains the applicant’s love for numbers and top achievement as well as suitability for the university.

Statement of Purpose Sample for Business Management (Highly rated)

Description: The SOP demonstrates how professional experience not deemed relevant to business management may be captured as an example of work ethics

Statement of Purpose Sample for Nursing

Statement of Purpose Sample for Nursing PhD

Statement of Purpose sample for MBA

Statement of purpose sample for computer science 2

Statement of Purpose Sample in Cognitive Science

Statement of Purpose sample for mathematics

Statement of Purpose sample for MBA with Engineering Background

Statement of Purpose sample for Masters in Pyschology

Statement of Purpose Sample for Computer Science

Statement of Purpose sample for Business Management

Statement of Purpose sample for Masters in Public Health

Statement of Purpose for MBA Sample (Ivy school)

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How to Write a Statement of Purpose for PhD Admission

The dreaded doctoral statement of purpose — every PhD program asks for it, but why is it so difficult to write? Writing a strong statement of purpose is essential to getting into your top PhD programs. A PhD statement of purpose gives admissions committees an introduction to your research interests and why their specific program is of interest to you.

Like a cover letter for a job application, a great statement of purpose allows you to highlight your strengths, interests and experience. If you need statement of purpose advice, keep reading for guidance on how to write a successful statement of purpose that will make your PhD application stand out.

Statement of purpose vs. personal statement

Though the two may sound similar, they’re not necessarily interchangeable. A personal statement gives insight into who you are, while a statement of purpose is meant to showcase what you want to do. Rarely will you be asked to write a personal statement for a PhD program.

As you go through the PhD application process, you will likely see schools requesting either a statement of purpose or a research statement. In most cases, they're both looking for the same thing. Admissions committees want to know about your academic background, your research goals and what you hope to accomplish as a candidate in a PhD program.

Your research goals should align with faculty research

Being admitted to a PhD program is a great feeling, but if you enroll in a program that doesn’t match your research interests or help support your career goals, you may be setting yourself up for disappointment later down the road.

Applying for admission to a program is all about fit. Faculty reviewers are looking for students who best represent the department’s mission and will help them obtain their research objectives.

By the time you apply, you should have a solid understanding of what the department’s primary research and content areas are, as well as which faculty members you’d like to work with more closely. This might mean finding information about what their labs do and reading published articles related to their work.

Be sure to include how your interests and past experiences align with the work that they do and how you would be an active contributor to those endeavors. This approach shows that you took the time to look into their program, so the committee will be more willing to invest theirs in reviewing your application.

Don’t be afraid to address your weaknesses

Many people assume they should avoid listing their shortcomings in their essays. The whole point of applying to a program is to impress the reviewers, right? But constructively addressing your weaknesses can be a great way to demonstrate how this program can help you achieve your academic goals.

Look at the catalog and read through the courses that are part of the program. If there is a particular class that fascinates you, talk about how it could help you obtain a new skill or a better understanding of a concept that you’ve struggled with before.

This demonstrates that you are actively seeking programs to help you better your education. It also exhibits that you’re mindful of what areas of your knowledge need some improvement, which shows maturity and the ability to self-assess.

Keep it succinct

If your program of interest does not specify a page word or word limit, it’s best to assume that your statement should not exceed two pages total. It should be enough to give them a glimpse of who you are and what you have to offer but not share your life story.

The aim is to communicate how and why this particular program will help you meet your academic and career goals. Limited space means you must prioritize what you include in your statement.

Create an outline before you start writing to ensure you are including points that are relevant to your application and the program to which you are applying. Your statement is also an example of how well you can write. By framing your essay before you write it, you can avoid stream-of-consciousness writing that can often come across as undefined and incoherent.

Proofread! And read it over and over

When you think you have a finished product, read your essay out loud. This makes it easier to catch typos, poor grammar, and oddly worded sentences. If you have a friend who is also applying to grad school, help each other out by editing each other’s essays.

Having someone else read your statement and ask questions can help you clarify your points and make it more compelling. Your statement is your one chance to present yourself professionally in your own words. The occasional mistake is excusable, but messy writing will make them think you lack attention to detail.

Before you hit submit on that application, be sure that you have attached the correct document for the right institution. It can be very embarrassing if your statement mentions the wrong faculty member’s name or refers to another school’s library! It could also cause the reviewers to think you are not as serious about their program.

You’ve spent a good amount of time perfecting your application, so take your time to review everything before you submit it so you can rest easy knowing you’ve presented your best.

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Gre prep online guides and tips, 7 successful statement of purpose examples.

Not sure what graduate schools are looking for in a statement of purpose? Looking at successful graduate school statement of purpose samples can help! In this guide, we’ll orient you to what makes a great statement of purpose or letter of intent for graduate school. Then we’ll provide you with four successful statement of purpose examples from our graduate school experts. We’ll also provide analysis of what makes them successful. Finally, we’ll direct you to even more helpful examples that you can find online!

The Graduate School Statement of Purpose: An Overview

A statement of purpose (also called a letter of intent or a research statement) introduces your interests and experience to the admissions committee. For research-focused programs, like most PhDs and many master’s degrees, your statement of purpose will focus primarily on your past research experience and plans. For more professionally-focused graduate programs, your statement of purpose will primarily discuss how your pursuit of this professional program relates to your past experiences, and how you will use the skills from the program in your future career.

A statement of purpose for grad school is also where you sell the admissions committee on why you belong in their program specifically. Why do you fit there, and how does what they offer fit your interests?

What’s in a Great Grad School Statement of Purpose?

Here are the essential elements of a strong graduate school statement of purpose:

Clear Articulation of Goals and Interests

A strong statement of purpose will clearly and specifically lay out your goals in undertaking the program and what you hope to accomplish with the degree. Again, for a research-focused program, this will focus primarily on the research project(s) you want to undertake while you are there. For a more professional program, discuss what interests you within the professional field and what skills/knowledge you hope to gain through the program.

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You should be as specific as possible in discussing what interests you. Use examples of particular phenomena, tools, or situations that you find exciting. If you are vague or say that everything in the field interests you, you run the risk of seeming unfocused or not actually that passionate.

Don’t worry that being too specific will box you into a particular research area or subfield during your entire tenure in graduate school. Your program understands that interests change—they won’t be pulling out your research statement to cross-reference with your dissertation proposal!

Evidence of Past Experience and Success

A great graduate school statement of purpose will also show programs that you have already been successful. They want applicants that will be able to follow through on their research/professional plans!

To this end, you’ll need to provide evidence of how your background qualifies you to pursue this program and your specific interests in the field. You’ll probably discuss your undergraduate studies and any professional experience you have. But be sure to draw on specific, vivid examples.  You might draw on your thesis, major projects you’ve worked on, papers you have written/published, presentations you’ve given, mentors you’ve worked with, and so on. This gives admissions committees concrete evidence that you are qualified to undertake graduate study!

Interest and Fit With the Program

The third essential ingredient to a great statement of purpose is to clearly lay out why you and the program are a good fit. You should be able to identify both specific reasons why your work fits with the program and why the program suits your work/interests! Are there particular professors you’d like to work with? Does the department have a strong tradition in a certain methodology or theory you’re interested in? Is there a particular facet to the curriculum that you’d like to experience?

Showing that you and the program are a match shows that you chose the program thoughtfully and have genuine interest in it. Programs want to admit students who aren’t just passionate about the field. They want students who are genuinely enthused about their specific program and positioned to get the most out of what they have to offer.

Strong Writing

The final essential piece of a strong statement of purpose or letter of intent is strong writing. Writing skills are important for all graduate programs. You’ll need to demonstrate that you can clearly and effectively communicate your ideas in a way that flows logically. Additionally, you should show that you know how to write in a way that is descriptive but concise. A statement of purpose shouldn’t ever be longer than two pages, even without a hard word limit.

Admissions committees for humanities programs may be a little more focused on writing style than admissions officers for STEM programs. But even in quantitative and science-focused fields, written communication skills are an essential part of graduate school. So a strong statement of purpose will always be effectively written. You’ll see this in our statement of purpose for graduate school samples.

Real, Successful Statement of Purpose Samples

In this section, we’ll present four successful graduate school statement of purpose examples from our graduate school experts, along with a brief commentary on each statement. These statements come from a diverse selection of program types to show you how the core essentials of a statement of purpose can be implemented differently for different fields.

Note: identifying information for these statements have been changed—except for example four, which is my statement.

• Statement of Purpose Sample One: Japanese Studies MA

This statement of purpose is notable for its great use of space and its vivid descriptions. The author is able to cram a lot into about a page. She discusses how she came to her two primary research interests (and how they are connected). She integrates this discussion of her interests with information on her past experiences and qualifications for pursuing the course of study. Finally, she includes details on her goals in pursuing the program and components of the program that interest her. Her examples are specific and fleshed-out. There’s a lot very cleverly included in a small amount of page space!

Additionally, the language is very vivid. Phrases like “evocative and visceral” and “steadily unraveling,” are eye-catching and intriguing. They demonstrate that she has the writing skills necessary to pursue both graduate study and her interest in translation.

• Statement of Purpose Sample Two: Music MM

This sample is fairly long, although at 12 point Times New Roman it’s under two pages single-spaced. The length of this statement is partially due to the somewhat expansive nature of the prompt, which asks what role music has played in the applicant’s life “to date.” This invites applicants to speak more about experiences further in the past (in the childhood and teen years) than is typical for a statement of purpose. Given that this is for a master’s degree in music, this is logical; musical study is typically something that is undertaken at a fairly young age.

This statement does an excellent job describing the student’s past experiences with music in great detail. The descriptions of the student’s past compositions and experiences performing new music are particularly vivid and intriguing.

This statement also lays out and elaborates on specific goals the student hopes to pursue through the program, as well as features particular to the program that interest the student (like particular professors).

• Statement of Purpose Sample Three: Economics PhD

One of the first things you’ll likely notice about this statement is that it’s a little on the longer side. However, at 12 point Times New Roman font and single-spaced, it still comes in under 2 pages (excluding references). It makes sense for a PhD statement of purpose sample to be longer than a master’s degree statement of purpose—there’s more to lay out in terms of research interests!

The writing style is fairly straightforward—there’s definitely a stronger focus on delivering content than flashy writing style. As Economics is a more quantitative-focused field, this is fine. But the writing is still well-organized, clear, and error-free.

The writer also gives numerous examples of their past work and experience, and shows off their knowledge of the field through references, which is a nice touch.

• Statement of Purpose Sample Four: History of the Book MA

This is actually my statement of purpose. It was for a program that I got accepted to but did not end up attending, for a Master’s in the History of the Book. You’ll notice that the two essay prompts essentially asked us to split our statement of purpose into two parts: the first prompt asked about our research interests and goals, and the second prompt asked about our relevant experience and qualifications.

I’ll keep my comments on this graduate school statement of purpose sample brief because I’ll do a deep dive on it in the next section. But looking back at my statement of purpose, I do a good job outlining what within the field interests me and clearly laying out how my past experiences have qualified me for the program.

Obviously this statement did its job, since I was accepted to the program. However, if I were to improve this statement, I’d change the cliche beginning  (“since I was a child”) and provide more specificity in what about the program interested me.

Deep Dive Analysis of a Sample Statement of Purpose for Graduate School

Next, we’ll do a paragraph by paragraph analysis of my statement, statement of purpose sample four. I’ll analyze its strengths and suggest ways I could shore up any weaknesses to make it even stronger.

Essay 1: Academic Interests

To refresh, here’s the first prompt: Please give a short statement that describes your academic interests, purpose, objectives and motivation in undertaking this postgraduate study. (max 3500 chars – approx. 500 words)

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Paragraph 1

Since I was a child, my favorite thing has always been a book. Not just for the stories and information they contain, although that is a large part of it. Mostly, I have been fascinated by the concept of book as object—a tangible item whose purpose is to relate intangible ideas and images. Bookbindings and jackets, different editions, the marginalia in a used book—all of these things become part of the individual book and its significance, and are worth study and consideration. Books and their equivalent forms—perfect bound, scrolled, stone tablets, papyrus—have long been an essential part of material culture and are also one of our most significant sources of information about the human historical past. Through both the literal object of the book, the words contained thereon, and its relationship to other books—forms of context, text and intertext—we are able to learn and hopefully manage layers of information with which we would otherwise have no familiarity.

First, the good: this paragraph does a good job introducing my academic interest in the book-as-object, and shows off pre-existing knowledge both of the study of material culture and literary theory. Additionally, the language is engaging: the juxtaposition of “tangible” and “intangible” in the beginning and phrases like “perfect bound, scrolled, stone tablets, papyrus” lend life to the writing and keep the reader engaged.

If I were to go back and improve this paragraph, first, I would absolutely change the first sentence to something less cliche than talking about my childhood. I might try something like “My love of books is a multifaceted thing. I don’t only love them for the stories and….” Second, I would chill out on the em dashes a little bit. Three sets in one paragraph is a little excessive. Finally, I might actually cut this paragraph down slightly to make more room word-wise later in the statement to discuss what specific things about the program interest me.

Paragraph 2

Furthermore, blogs, webcomics, digital archives, e-readers, and even social media sites like tumblr and Facebook have revolutionized the concept of the book by changing how we share and transmit ideas and information, just as the Gutenberg printing press revolutionized the book all those years ago in the fifteenth century. Once again there has been an explosion both in who can send out information and who can receive it.

This paragraph briefly and effectively introduces my other main academic interest: how new technology has changed the concept of the book-as-object. The tie-back to the printing press is a nice touch; it’s a vivid example that shows that I’m aware of important historical moments in book history.

Paragraph 3

I am deeply interested in the preservation of the physical book, as I think it is an important part of human history (not to mention a satisfying sensory experience for the reader). However I am also very concerned with the digitization and organization of information for the modern world such that the book, in all of its forms, stays relevant and easy to access and use. Collections of books, archives, and information as stored in the world’s servers, libraries and museums are essential resources that need to be properly organized and administered to be fully taken advantage of by their audiences. My purpose in applying to the University of Edinburgh’s Material Culture and History of the Book is to gain the skills necessary to keep all forms of the book relevant and functional in an age when information can move more radically than ever before.

This paragraph actually has a focus problem. Since it covers two topics, I should split it into two paragraphs: one on the integration of my two interests, and one on my goals and interests in the program. I could also stand to expand on what features the program has that interest me: professors I’d like to work with, particular aspects of the curriculum, etc.

In spite of these things, however, this paragraph does a good job clearly integrating the two academic interests related to the book I introduced in the first two paragraphs. And the language is still strong —“satisfying sensory experience” is a great phrase. However, I’ve been using the word “information,” a lot; I might try to replace with appropriate synonyms (like “knowledge”) in a couple of places.

Paragraph 4

Additionally, I intend on pursuing a PhD in Library and Information Sciences upon completion of my master’s and I feel that this program while make me uniquely suited to approach library science from a highly academic and interdisciplinary perspective.

This final paragraph offers just quick touch on my future goals beyond the program. It’s typically fine for this to be relatively brief, as it is here, just so long as you can clearly identify some future goals.

Essay 2: Relevant Experience

The second prompt just asked me to describe my relevant knowledge, training, and skills.

As a folklore and mythology student, I have gained a robust understanding of material culture and how it relates to culture as a whole. I have also learned about the transmission of ideas, information, stories and pieces of lore among and between populations, which is an important component of book history. Folklore is also deeply concerned with questions of the literary vs. oral lore and the tendency for text to “canonize” folklore, and yet text can also question or invert canonized versions; along with this my studies in my focus field of religion and storytelling have been deeply concerned with intertextuality. One of my courses was specifically concerned with the Heian-period Japanese novel The Tale of Genji and questions of translation and representation in post-Heian picture scrolls and also modern translations and manga. In addition to broader cultural questions concerned with gender and spirituality both in historical Japan and now, we considered the relationships between different Genji texts and images.

This is a strong, focused paragraph. I relate my academic background in Folklore and Mythology to my interests in studying the book, as well as showing off some of my knowledge in the area. I also chose and elaborated on a strong example (my class on the Tale of Genji ) of my relevant coursework.

I also have work experience that lends itself to the study of the book. After my freshman year of college I interned at the Chicago History Museum. Though I was in the visitor services department I was exposed to the preservation and archival departments of the museum and worked closely with the education department, which sparked my interest in archival collections and how museums present collection information to the public. After my sophomore year of college and into my junior year, I worked at Harvard’s rare books library, Houghton. At Houghton I prepared curated collections for archival storage. These collections were mostly comprised of the personal papers of noteworthy individuals, categorized into alphabetical folders. This experience made me very process-oriented and helped me to understand how collections come together on a holistic basis.

This paragraph also has a clear focus: my past, relevant work experience. Discussing archival collections and presenting information to the public links the interests discussed in my first statement with my qualifications in my second statement. However, if I were to revise this paragraph, I would add some specific examples of the amazing things I worked on and handled at Houghton Library. In that job, I got to touch Oliver Cromwell’s death mask! An interesting example would make this paragraph really pop even more.

Finally, in my current capacity as an education mentor in Allston, a suburb of Boston, I have learned the value of book history and material culture from an educational perspective. As a mentor who designs curriculum for individual students and small groups, I have learned to highly value clearly organized and useful educational resources such as websites, iPad apps, and books as tools for learning. By managing and organizing collections in a way that makes sense we are making information accessible to those who need it.

This final paragraph discusses my current (at the time) work experience in education and how that ties into my interest in the history of the book. It’s an intriguing connection and also harkens back to my discussion of information availability in the paragraph three of the first statement. Again, if I were to amp up this statement even more, I might include a specific example of a book-based (or book technology-based) project I did with one of my students. I worked on things like bookbinding and making “illuminated manuscripts” with some of my students; those would be interesting examples here.

This statement is split into two parts by virtue of the two-prompt format. However, if I were to integrate all of this information into one unified statement of purpose, I would probably briefly introduce my research interests, go in-depth on my background, then circle back around to speak more about my personal interests and goals and what intrigues me about the program. There’s not really one correct way to structure a statement of purpose just so long as it flows well and paragraphs are structured in a logical way: one topic per paragraph, with a clear topic and concluding sentence.

More Statement of Purpose Examples

We’ve provided you with four great graduate school statement of purpose examples from our graduate school experts. However, if you’re looking for more, there are other sample letters of intent and statements of purpose for graduate school online. We’ve rounded up the best ones here, along with some strengths and weaknesses about each example.

Majortests Statement of Purpose Sample

This is a fairly straightforward, clearly written statement of purpose sample for a biology program. It includes useful commentary after each paragraph about what this statement of purpose is accomplishing.

• This statement of purpose sample is well-organized, with clear topic sentences and points made in each paragraph.
• The student clearly identifies what interests her about the program.
• The student proactively addresses questions about why she hasn’t gone directly to graduate school, and frames her professional research experience as a positive thing.
• She gives a tiny bit of color about her personality in a relevant way by discussing her involvement with the Natural History Society.
• In general, discussing high school interests is too far back in time unless the anecdote is very interesting or unusual. The detail about The Theory of Evolution is intriguing; the information about the high school teacher seems irrelevant. The student should have condensed this paragraph into a sentence or two.
• While this statement is cogently written and makes the candidate sound competent and well-qualified, it’s not exactly the most scintillating piece of writing out there. Some of the constructions are a little awkward or cliche. For example, the “many people have asked me” sentence followed by “the answer is” is a little bit clunky. This is probably fine for a STEM program. But just be aware that this statement is not a paragon of writing style.

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UC Berkeley History Statement of Purpose Sample

This is a graduate school statement of purpose example from the UC Berkeley History department’s PhD program, with annotations from a professor as to why it’s a successful statement.

• The author is able to very clearly and articulately lay out her research interests and link them to past work she has successfully completed, namely, her thesis.
• She is able to identify several things about the program and Berkeley that indicate why it is a good fit for her research interests.
• She addresses the time she spent away from school and frames it as a positive, emphasizing that her use of time was well-considered and productive.
• Her writing is very vivid, with excellent word choice and great imagery.

While very well-written and engaging, this sample statement of purpose for graduate school is a little bit on the long side! It’s a little over two single-spaced pages, which is definitely pushing the limits of acceptable length. Try to keep yours at 2 pages or less. Some of the information on the thesis (which comprises over half of the statement of purpose) could be condensed to bring it down to two pages.

Pharmacy Residency Letter of Intent Sample

This is not technically a sample letter of intent for graduate school because it’s actually for a pharmacy residency program. However, this example still provides illumination as to what makes a decent graduate school letter of intent sample.

• This is a serviceable letter of intent: the writer clearly lays out their own goals within the field of pharmacy, what qualifications they have and how they’ve arrived at their interests, and how the program fits their needs.
• The writing is clearly structured and well-organized.
• The main weakness is that some of the writer’s statements come across as fairly generic. For example, “The PGY-1 Residency Program at UO Hospitals will provide me with the opportunity to further develop my clinical knowledge, critical thinking, teaching, research, and leadership skills” is a generic statement that could apply to any residency program. A punchier, more program-specific conclusion would have amped up this letter.
• While the writer does a decent job providing examples of their activities, like working as a tutor and attending the APhA conference, more specificity and detail in these examples would make the statement more memorable.
• There’s a typo in the last paragraph —a “to” that doesn’t belong! This is an unprofessional blip in an otherwise solid letter. Read you own letter of intent aloud to avoid this!

NIU Bad Statement of Purpose Example

This is an ineffective graduate school statement of purpose example, with annotations on why it doesn’t work.

As you might imagine, the main strength in this document is as an example of what not to do. Otherwise, there is little to recommend it.

• The annotations quite clearly detail the weaknesses of this statement. So I won’t address them exhaustively except to point out that this statement of purpose fails at both content and style. The author includes irrelevant anecdotes and lists without offering a decisive picture of interests or any particular insight into the field. Additionally, the statement is riddled with grammatical mistakes, awkward sentence structures, and strange acronyms.
• You’ll note that the commentary advises you to “never start with a quote.” I agree that you should never start with a freestanding quote as in this example. However, I do think starting with a quote is acceptable in cases like the Berkeley history example above, where the quote is brief and then directly linked to the research interest.

Graduate School Statement of Purpose Examples: 4 Key Points

Graduate programs ask for statement of purpose to hear about your interests and goals and why you think you and the program would be a good fit.

There are four key elements to a successful statement of purpose:

• A clear articulation of your goals and interests
• Evidence of past experiences and success
• Interest and fit with the program
• Strong writing

We’ve provided you with four successful statement of purpose samples from our graduate school experts!

We also provided additional statement of purpose samples (and a sample letter of intent) for graduate school from other sources on the internet. Now you have all kinds of guidance!

What’s Next?

If you’re looking for more information on graduate school , see our guide to what makes a good GPA for grad school .

Not sure if you need to take the GRE ? See if you can get into graduate school without GRE scores .

Want more information about the GRE? We can help you figure out when to take the GRE , how to make a GRE study plan , and how to improve your GRE score .

Ready to improve your GRE score by 7 points?

Author: Ellen McCammon

Ellen is a public health graduate student and education expert. She has extensive experience mentoring students of all ages to reach their goals and in-depth knowledge on a variety of health topics. View all posts by Ellen McCammon

How to Write a Statement of Purpose for Graduate School

Congrats! You’ve chosen a graduate program , read up on tips for applying to grad school , and even wrote a focused grad school resumé . But if you’re like many students, you’ve left the most daunting part of the application process for last—writing a statement of purpose. The good news is, the task doesn’t have to feel so overwhelming, as long as you break the process down into simple, actionable steps. Below, learn how to write a strong, unique statement of purpose that will impress admissions committees and increase your chances of getting into your dream school.

What is a statement of purpose?

A statement of purpose (SOP), sometimes referred to as a personal statement, is a critical piece of a graduate school application that tells admissions committees who you are, what your academic and professional interests are, and how you’ll add value to the graduate program you’re applying to.

Jared Pierce, associate director of enrollment services at Northeastern University, says a strong statement of purpose can be the deciding factor in a graduate student’s admission.  

“Your statement of purpose is where you tell your story about who you are and why you deserve to be a part of the [university’s] community. It gives the admissions committee the chance to get to know you and understand how you’ll add value to the classroom,” he says.

How long should a statement of purpose be?

“A statement of purpose should be between 500 and 1,000 words,” Pierce says, noting that it should typically not exceed a single page. He advises that students use a traditional font at a readable size (11- or 12-pt) and leave enough whitespace in the margins to make the statement easy-to-read. Make sure to double-space the statement if the university has requested it, he adds. 

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How to Write a Statement of Purpose: A Step-by-Step Guide

Now that you understand how to format a statement of purpose, you can begin drafting your own. Getting started can feel daunting, but Pierce suggests making the process more manageable by breaking down the writing process into four easy steps.

1. Brainstorm your ideas.

First, he says, try to reframe the task at hand and get excited for the opportunity to write your statement of purpose. He explains:

“Throughout the application process, you’re afforded few opportunities to address the committee directly. Here is your chance to truly speak directly to them. Each student arrives at this process with a unique story, including prior jobs, volunteer experience, or undergraduate studies. Think about what makes you you and start outlining.”

When writing your statement of purpose, he suggests asking yourself these key questions:

• Why do I want this degree?
• What are my expectations for this degree?
• What courses or program features excite me the most?
• Where do I want this degree to take me, professionally and personally?
• How will my unique professional and personal experiences add value to the program?

Jot these responses down to get your initial thoughts on paper. This will act as your starting point that you’ll use to create an outline and your first draft.

2. Develop an outline.

Next, you’ll want to take the ideas that you’ve identified during the brainstorming process and plug them into an outline that will guide your writing. 

An effective outline for your statement of purpose might look something like this:

• An attention-grabbing hook
• A brief introduction of yourself and your background as it relates to your motivation behind applying to graduate school 
• Your professional goals as they relate to the program you’re applying to
• Why you’re interested in the specific school and what you can bring to the table
• A brief summary of the information presented in the body that emphasizes your qualifications and compatibility with the school

An outline like the one above will give you a roadmap to follow so that your statement of purpose is well-organized and concise. 

3. Write the first draft.

Your statement of purpose should communicate who you are and why you are interested in a particular program, but it also needs to be positioned in a way that differentiates you from other applicants. 

Admissions professionals already have your transcripts, resumé, and test scores; the statement of purpose is your chance to tell your story in your own words.

When you begin drafting content, make sure to:

• Provide insight into what drives you , whether that’s professional advancement, personal growth, or both.
• Demonstrate your interest in the school by addressing the unique features of the program that interest you most. For Northeastern, he says, maybe it’s experiential learning; you’re excited to tackle real-world projects in your desired industry. Or perhaps it’s learning from faculty who are experts in your field of study.
• Be yourself. It helps to keep your audience in mind while writing, but don’t forget to let your personality shine through. It’s important to be authentic when writing your statement to show the admissions committee who you are and why your unique perspective will add value to the program.

4. Edit and refine your work.

Before you submit your statement of purpose:

• Make sure you’ve followed all directions thoroughly , including requirements about margins, spacing, and font size.
• Proofread carefully for grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• Remember that a statement of purpose should be between 500 and 1,000 words. If you’ve written far more than this, read through your statement again and edit for clarity and conciseness. Less is often more; articulate your main points strongly and get rid of any “clutter.”
• Walk away and come back later with a fresh set of eyes. Sometimes your best ideas come when you’re not sitting and staring at your computer.
• Ask someone you trust to read your statement before you submit it.

Making a Lasting Impression

Your statement of purpose can leave a lasting impression if done well, Pierce says. It provides you with the opportunity to highlight your unique background and skills so that admissions professionals understand why you’re the ideal candidate for the program that you’re applying to. If nothing else, stay focused on what you uniquely bring to the classroom, the program, and the campus community. If you do that, you’ll excel.

To learn more tricks and tips for submitting an impressive graduate school application, explore our related Grad School Success articles .

Editor’s note: This article was originally published in March 2017. It has since been updated for thoroughness and accuracy.

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Statement of Purpose 

The statement of purpose is very important to programs when deciding whether to admit a candidate. Your statement should be focused, informative, and convey your research interests and qualifications. You should describe your reasons and motivations for pursuing a graduate degree in your chosen degree program, noting the experiences that shaped your research ambitions, indicating briefly your career objectives, and concisely stating your past work in your intended field of study and in related fields. Your degree program of interest may have specific guidance or requirements for the statement of purpose, so be sure to review the degree program page for more information. Unless otherwise noted, your statement should not exceed 1,000 words. 

Personal Statement

A core part of the Harvard Griffin GSAS mission is to identify and attract the most promising students to form a dynamic and diverse community. We are committed to educating individuals who reflect the growing diversity of perspectives and life experiences represented in society today and who will contribute to our commitment to sustain a welcoming, supportive, and inclusive environment. Please share how your experiences or activities will advance our mission and commitment. Your statement should be no longer than 500 words.

Writing Sample 

Please visit Degree Programs and navigate to your degree program of interest to determine if a writing sample is required. When preparing your writing sample, be sure to follow program requirements, which may include format, topic, or length. 

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How to Write a Statement of Purpose for Graduate School

When writing your statement of purpose for graduate school, focus on your specific plans and how the graduate program and its faculty will help you meet these goals. Graduate study is not for slackers. It takes focus and determination to pursue an advanced degree. That's why admissions committees examine your statement of purpose (also called a letter of intent or research statement) very closely—they want to see whether you have the right stuff to succeed in grad school. Follow these tips to write an effective graduate school statement of purpose.

1. Know what grad schools are really asking.

Different grad school programs have different prompts. Nonetheless, they're all asking for the same four pieces of information:

• What you want to study at graduate school?
• Why you want to study it?
• What experience you have in your field?
• What you plan to do with your degree once you have it?

Admissions committees look for candidates with clear, well-defined research interests that arise from experience. With that in mind, your statement of purpose should reveal that you care deeply about your chosen discipline and that you have the background to support your ideas and sentiments. It should also demonstrate that you're a diligent student who will remain committed for the long haul. Always answer the question asked of you. Being substantive and direct is much better than being creative or flashy.

2. Be selective about the details you include.

Grad schools don’t care that you make a great chicken casserole or play intramural bocce ball. They do care about those activities that speak to your suitability for graduate work. As a graduate student, you'll be called upon to do difficult coursework and research. You may have to teach undergraduate classes within your field and conceivably even design a course. And you'll have to get along with a diverse group of colleagues who will sometimes work very closely with you. Any experience in school, work, or your extracurricular life that speaks to those abilities is worth talking about.

Read More: 5 Tips for Choosing a Grad School

3. Make your statement of purpose unique.

While it's important to be focused, there's no need to be boring. To distinguish your essay, add unique (yet relevant) information. One of the best ways to do this is to discuss—briefly—an idea in your field that turns you on intellectually. It's an effective essay-opener, and it lets you write about something besides yourself for a bit.

Remember, the idea you choose to talk about can tell an admissions committee a lot about you. And it demonstrates your interest in your field, rather than just describing it.

4. Ask for feedback.

Be sure to show your statement of purpose to someone you respect, preferably the professors who are writing your recommendations, and get some feedback on the content before you send it in. Have someone else proofread your essay for spelling and grammar. A fresh set of eyes often picks up something you missed.

Finally, don't just reuse the same statement of purpose for each school to which you apply. You can recycle the same information, but make sure you change the presentation to fit each individual program.

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Statement of purpose (SOP) for PhD: How to Write and Samples

Securing admission to PhD programs in the university of your dreams might seem difficult—however, it is not impossible. If you can convince the selection committee of your dedication and genuine interest in your research topic, you stand a fair chance of getting that seat. The key to your admission lies in a well-crafted and compelling statement of purpose that will sway the decision-makers in your favour. 

A statement of purpose is your chance to prove to the admissions committee that you have the potential and skills as a researcher. If you are hoping to pursue a PhD, you must put in the time and effort to craft an impressive SOP. This blog will help you understand how to write an interesting yet concise SOP with examples. 

Table of Contents

• How to Write a Statement of Purpose (SOP) for a PhD

General Examples of Statement of Purpose for PhD

• 10 Steps to writing an SOP for a PhD course

How to Write a Statement of Purpose (SOP) for a PhD Course?

Your statement of purpose for PhD must express your sincere interest in the subject matter. The following 10 tips will help you to draft an impactful SOP:

10 Steps to writing an SOP for a PhD course 

• Introduce yourself:

The whole purpose of the essay is to show the university who you are and your goals. It is better to get straight to the point and explain what inspired you to take up research in your particular field of study. Even if you do not have full clarity on your research topic, you can talk about what you are interested in exploring. Make sure you explain your field learning and what made you take up the specific topic. 

• Answer the question, "Why":

Next, it's time to answer some questions. Why do you want to obtain this degree? Why did you choose this particular field of study? Why have you chosen this university to pursue your higher education? 

• Explain how you will be a good fit: 

It would help if you answered why you think you will be a good fit for the program and why they should consider you a potential candidate. For this, you should have a relatively strong knowledge of the program to express how your interests align with it. 

• Express your intellectual curiosity:

You can discuss what excites you about the program and your chosen field of study. Explain why you enjoy doing research and ensure to substantiate your claims with relevant examples.

• Demonstrate your skillset and experience 

In this section, you can highlight any previous experience you have in doing research and explain briefly about it. You can also describe the skills that you think might be relevant. For instance, you can mention your skills in programming languages like C++ and Python if you are doing research in the field of Computer Science. Make sure to mention the recognitions you have received for the skills. 

• Mention work experience, if any 

If you have any relevant work experience, be sure to mention it in your Statement of Purpose for PhD. However, only emphasise this experience if it is directly related to your proposed research.

• Be open about any past setbacks: 

If you have any "black marks" on your record, such as poor grades, leaving a college program or any other issues, it is strongly advised that you do not try to hide these from the admissions committee. Instead, address them head-on in your letter. Showing how you successfully rebounded from setbacks will bode well for you.

• Short and long-term goals:

It's always good to give a brief of your short-term and long-term goals and how this degree will assist you in achieving them. It is also essential to consider any future research areas you may want to explore and how they could potentially impact the community. Your vision for your career 10-15 years from now is a crucial indicator of your thought process and how you plan to integrate your degree into your life.

• Edit and proofread several times: 

To avoid your essays having any typos, poor grammar or other mistakes that could have easily been fixed, ensure that you always edit and proofread your work. A well-written essay is a sign of a competent researcher.

• Circulate your statement:

Asking your recommendation writers to review your college application essays is a great way to get feedback. It will also help ensure that what they write is consistent with your thoughts and experiences. If you have drafts of your essay completed early enough, don't hesitate to ask for their input. Most faculty members are more than willing to help their former students, given adequate notice.

Read more:  How to write an effective statement of purpose?

If you are looking for PhD SOP samples, it is essential to remember that there is a specific way to provide all of your relevant information to the institutions. It is crucial to keep your statement concise but informative. Here are two samples to help you give an idea.

PhD SOP Sample 1

I've always been interested in how physics can explain the things we see and experience in our everyday lives and phenomena beyond our usual perception. My childhood fascination with Physics led me to choose my college major and, ultimately, my career path. 

My interest in complex phenomena only grew during my studies. I am passionate about understanding the impacts of radioactive waste on our world. I pursued an interdisciplinary degree in Physics and Environmental Science to develop the skills needed to become a researcher in this field. My goal is to find effective methods for reducing the harmful effects of radioactive waste on our environment.

After completing my degree, I gained valuable work experience at an Environmental Protection Agency, where my responsibilities included examining sites for radioactive leakage and measuring the damage. This experience motivated me to pursue a PhD in Physics so I could find ways to control such situations. I want to be equipped with the necessary knowledge that will allow me to conduct meaningful research and find effective ways of managing radioactive waste.

The University of Essex is my top choice for several reasons. First and foremost, it has an excellent reputation. Secondly, the opportunities and mentorship available for the particular subject are incomparable. And finally, I know that I would be able to make a meaningful contribution to the community here. I am confident that my practical experience and strong motivation will be significant assets as I pursue my studies and career.

PhD SOP Sample 2

My parents are farmers, and I grew up helping them with crop production and food preparation. I was always curious about the scientific basis for farming, canning, and cooking methods, which led me to major in nutrition and food science. I want to understand the science behind what my family has been doing for generations and use that knowledge to improve our food habits. 

I completed my undergraduate studies in biotechnology and then went on to do a master's in food technology. For my dissertation, I chose the topic of "XXX", which was of great interest to me. My training at XYZ gave me insight into industrial-level operations concerning nutrition, microbiology and contaminants in the food industry.

Whilst doing my master's, I became particularly interested in food safety and quality assurance, as well as post-harvest technology of fruits and vegetables, food processing and bioprocess engineering. I did a little project on "ABC" and wrote my dissertation on "XYZ". Through working in various laboratories across the country during my studies, I gained experience with multiple techniques used in food preservation.

I am passionate about researching food commodities, fruits and vegetables, and their wastage to synthesise nutritional and bioactive components and convert them into functional foods. I believe that food safety is of the utmost importance, and I hope to learn more about this topic through this doctoral program.

There are numerous reasons for choosing Southern Cross University, and one of the main reasons is your highly competent faculty. The research work done by Prof. ABC on Fruits and Vegetables sparked my interest. I am interested in researching independently and working collaboratively with a team on projects that directly impact smaller communities and society as a whole. I am sure that Southern Cross University will help me achieve my goals and better serve society. I promise you won't find me lagging in my quest or effort, and I pledge to do my best in all the assigned tasks.

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Statements of Purpose: Drafting Your Statement

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Write one essay for each program. Although they may sound similar, each program’s statement prompts asks for slightly different pieces of information about who you are. You may be fortunate to have two or three similar prompts for a few programs, but even then, remember that you must meld your own interests with the opportunities available at each particular program--so, no two statements should read exactly alike. In essence, be prepared to draft (and continuously revise) dedicated statements for each program application. Don’t send out a boilerplate essay.

Attempt to create one unifying theme in your narrative. Some applications ask you to include the answers to broad prompts in your statement. For instance, the only instructions you get may be: describe your goals and preparation to pursue graduate study in no more than 1500 words. Conversely, others may ask you to answer a series of very specific questions such as your reasons for applying to their program in particular, how your background fits into your professional goals, how your past achievements would aid you during your time in graduate school, and what you have learned from your prior professional experience. Regardless of the particular kind of writing situation, attempt to fit your narrative into one unifying theme. For example, if your essay focuses on how family has played an important role in your decision to go to graduate school, do not throw in an experience from your trip to a foreign country as another factor in your decision making process unless it is strongly tied with the overall theme of family. Also, be sure to stick to the word limits.

Strong statements of purpose answer four important questions that inform admissions committees of who you are professionally and personally.

Professionally, statements of purpose answer two questions for the committee.

First: what kind of work are you interested in doing in graduate school?

Be specific, don’t make the mistake of thinking that being vague in your focus will reach a wider audience. For instance, if you mainly want to study business ethics with two prominent faculty members who focus on that topic, write that in your statement. Do not worry that you are pigeonholing yourself by being specific and instead list several other areas that you could be interested in. There will not be enough time to go into all of these areas and it will make your statement sound aimless and disconnected.

Second: why is the program you are applying to a good fit for you?

This is where your online research on each program comes into play. Be specific about what makes the program that you are applying to your ideal choice. Avoid general statements such as “your program is one of the best in the country.” Focus more on the specific things that you think make it great—for you and your research in particular. If it has a good instructor to student ratio, how will that benefit you? If what separates the program from the rest is that it provides excellent field training before you graduate, how will you take advantage of this? Be specific. You may also talk about your goals after grad school. Where do you see yourself? Does the program have a good history in helping other students get there? You don’t have to be one hundred percent certain about your future plans; no one will pull your application essay before you graduate and express shock and disappointment if your interests happen to change. But generally, going to graduate school is a huge commitment. Admission committees want to know that you understand this and that you envision some type of gain for your dedication.

A word of caution: Avoid changing your statement just to get into a program if it is a bad fit for you. You’ll save yourself time and money down the line.

Be aware that while it is generally a good idea to be as honest about your intentions as possible, avoid being too candid about your reasons for applying to a certain school if they are less than scholarly. For instance, admission committees do not want to hear that you are applying to their program primarily because of the school’s proximity to significant others, family, friends; because it is located in a place with a great college town feeling; or, because it offers a variety of funding opportunities (however, you could probably mention this last one in passing if their funding is outstanding among other programs, signaling a dedication to its students’ goals).

Personally, statements of purpose also answer two questions for the committee.

First: What matters to you—and why?

The committee will receive a lot of data about you. The statement of purpose allows you to give that data meaning. It is important that you not just rephrase whatever is on your CV or resume because this won’t get at the meaning behind your experiences. A job or a class may have lasted only a few months, but it may have been the impetus for you to go to graduate school because of a unique experience that occurred there. The statement of purpose should give the committee a sense of who you are and how you have personally interpreted events in your life.

Second: How are you unique from the other candidates?

Above all, avoid playing it safe with bland language. It can be tempting to resist making yourself stand out in your statement because you don’t want to ruin your chances by “sounding weird.” Ironically, this type of information may be what makes you the most compelling candidate. Graduate program committees receive dozens—sometimes hundreds—of applications each year. Make your voice stand out among the rest by showing that you are not only professional but that there’s a person behind the important decisions you have made. What was the human element that motivated you to get you to where you are?

Many people wonder whether they should mention their minority status. Generally, you should mention your minority status only if it pertains to your studies. For instance, did working with a minority group (that you belong to) motivate you to go to graduate school? How so? Are you interested in undertaking minority issues once you have earned your degree—and, if so, in what capacity? For example, once you earn your Masters in Social Work, are you hoping to help Hispanic individuals who suffer from serious and persistent mental illness? Tie this with your background to give this goal some context.

Remember to switch over between other graduate application tasks such as asking for letters of recommendation, ordering your transcripts, filling out the questionnaire for each school, and so forth. This will break up the writing task and help to re-energize you.

Works Consulted

Getting In: A Step-By-Step Plan for Gaining Admission to Graduate School in Psychology . Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. 1997. Print.

Kaplan, Inc. Get into Graduate School: A Strategic Approach . New York: Simon & Schuster. 2003. Print.

Stelzer, Richard J. How to Write a Winning Personal Statement for Graduate and Professional School . 3rd. ed. Lawrenceville, NJ: Peterson’s Publishing, 2002. Print.

Stewart, Mark Allen. Peterson's How to Write the Perfect Personal Statement . Lawrenceville, NJ: Peterson’s Publishing, 2009. Print.

Writing the Statement of Purpose

The statement of purpose should convince the admissions committee that your achievements show promise for your success in graduate study. Think of the statement of purpose as a composition with four different parts.

Make sure to check on the appropriate departmental website to find out if your statement should include additional or specific information.

Part 1: Introduce yourself, your interests and motivations

Tell them what you’re interested in, and perhaps, what sparked your desire for graduate study. This should be short and to the point; don’t spend a great deal of time on autobiography.

Part 2: Summarize your undergraduate and previous graduate career

a) Research you conducted. Indicate with whom, the title of the project, what your responsibilities were, and the outcome. Write technically, or in the style of your discipline. Faculty are the people who read these statements.

b) Important paper or thesis project you completed, as well as anything scholarly beyond your curricular requirements.

c) Work experience, especially if you had any kind of responsibility for testing, designing, researching or interning in an area similar to what you wish to study in graduate school.

Part 3: Discuss the relevance of your recent and current activities

If you graduated and worked prior to returning to graduate school, indicate what you’ve been doing: company or non-profit, your work/design team, responsibilities, what you learned. You can also indicate here how this helped you focus your graduate studies.

Part 4: Elaborate on your academic interests

Here you indicate what you would like to study in graduate school in enough detail to convince the faculty that you understand the scope of research in their discipline, and are engaged with current research themes.

a) Indicate the area of your interests. Ideally, pose a question, define a problem, or indicate a theme that you would like to address, and questions that arise from contemporary research. This should be an ample paragraph!

b) Look on the web for information about departments you’re interested in, including professors and their research. Are there professors whose research interests parallel yours? If so, indicate this. Check the specific program; many may require you to name a professor or professors with whom you might work.

c) End your statement in a positive manner, indicating your excitement and readiness for the challenges ahead of you.

Essential Tips

1. What the admissions committee will read between the lines: self-motivation, competence, potential as a graduate student.

2. Emphasize everything from a positive perspective and write in an active, not a passive voice.

3. Demonstrate everything by example; don’t say directly that you’re a persistent person, show it.

4. If there is something important that happened to you that affected your grades, such as poverty, illness, or excessive work, state it. Write it affirmatively, showing your perseverance despite obstacles. You can elaborate more in your personal statement.

5. Make sure everything is linked with continuity and focus.

6. Unless the specific program says otherwise, be concise; an ideal essay should say everything it needs to with brevity. Approximately 500 to 1000 well-selected words (1-2 single space pages in 12 point font) is better than more words with less clarity and poor organization.

Kshitij Tiwari Ph.D.

Statement of Purpose (SOP) for PhD programs [FREE Template]

When applying for a PhD program, you must do 2 things as pre-work: 1.) Make sure you are convinced that PhD is the right choice for you ; 2.) Make sure you have identified the ideal supervisor .

Once that much is done, the next step is preparing your application packet to start applying for available PhD positions.

As a part of your application packet, you will be required to write a Statement of Purpose, more commonly known as an SOP . It is a 1-2 page essay of up to 1000 words that tells a story about who you are and why you want to pursue a PhD in the subject you have chosen.

Let us look into how to write an engaging SOP for your PhD program and build a FREE to use template that generalizes for various PhD programs.

DISCLAIMER: The template is meant to help you get started with organizing your thoughts. Using this template, by no means is meant to encourage to copy-paste the same SOP across multiple applications. Use this to structure your thoughts and iteratively improve over the write up.

Table of Contents

What is an Statement of Purpose (SOP)?

Is SOP same as Letter of Intent (LOI)?

How to write an sop for phd, [free] sop template, formatting your sop.

• Should you create a unique SOP for each program?

Key takeaways

What is a statement of purpose (sop).

A Statement of Purpose (SOP) is a narrative essay that outlines your academic and professional background, your qualifications, and your reasons for wanting to pursue a doctoral program. It’s an opportunity to showcase your unique experiences and talents and explain how they make you a great fit for the particular school and program. An SOP should be written in a professional yet personal tone, as it should capture your personality, as well as your academic and work experience.

Short answer : No, an SOP and a Letter of Intent (LOI) are not the same. LOI is more of an outline whereas SOP is an in depth statement.

Long answer : An SOP focuses on your academic and professional background, while an LOI focuses more on personal and professional goals and objectives. An SOP should share how your background and experiences have shaped who you are today and how these qualities will enable you to excel in your chosen field. An LOI should be more detailed and specific, and should include more information about your goals and objectives. Additionally, an LOI should provide an overview of you, your skills, and the value you can bring to the program.

Writing an SOP can feel intimidating and overwhelming. However, there are some steps you can take to make the process easier. When writing your SOP, it is important to be honest and sincere. Start by understanding your purpose, writing a clear outline and identifying the key points you want to make. Additionally, use active language and provide evidence to support your claims. Finally, once you have completed your essay, make sure to edit and proofread it thoroughly before submitting.

When writing your SOP, it is important to create an engaging essay that stands out. Make sure to highlight unique elements of your background and experiences, such as your achievements, volunteer work, awards, and other accomplishments. Mention any research you’ve conducted and any internships you’ve completed. This will show the admissions committee that you are committed to the program and the research it encompasses. Additionally, make sure to tell stories, describe how you overcame challenges, and emphasize the impact your work has had on others.

Below is a free SOP template that you can use to get started on writing your own statement for the PhD program of your choice .

The key thing to keep in mind while writing an SOP is to show evidence how you can build on your prior experience to excel in your PhD. It is possible that you may not have the exact skill set or even prior publications but that’s OK as long as you make a convincing case as to how your broader skills generalize.

Think of it this way- you want to convince the University that if given a chance, you are willing to go the extra mile to make sure you succeed and make their investment in you, worthwhile.

Subject: Statement of Purpose for P h D program at [Name of University] *** Introduction *** My name is [Name], and I am applying to the [Name of Program , mention Term for which you are applying ] at [Name of University]. I am a [field] professional with [X] years of experience in the [relevant field]. In the past, I have worked in various capacities, including [list relevant positions], and I am dedicated to furthering my education and pursuing my passion in the field of [field]. *** Body Paragraph 1 *** In my current role as [role – can be as a UG student ], I am responsible for [ broadly list responsibilities]. In this role, I have had the opportunity to \[list accomplishments\] and \[mention research projects\] that I have conducted. I have also gained valuable insights into the field of \[field\] and the potential impact it can have on society. This experience has reaffirmed my commitment to pursuing a P h D and has provided me with the motivation to continue my studies. *** Body Paragraph 2 *** I am confident that the \[Name of Program\] at the \[Name of University\] is the great place for me to continue my studies. I have been impressed by the \[list qualities\] that \[Name of University/Program /Potential supervisor \] has to offer and I am confident that I will receive the support I need to excel in my studies. *** Conclusion *** In conclusion, I am excited for the opportunity to pursue a P h D in \[field\] during \[term\] and I believe that the \[Name of Program\] at \[Name of University\] is the perfect place for me to do so. With my prior experience, knowledge and dedication, I am confident that I will be successful in my studies and make a meaningful contribution to the field of \[field\].

While most of the programs may not impose rigid formatting guidelines, as a rule of thumb, keep your SOP within 1-2 pages. As for the fonts, try using at least 12 pts to make it easier to read, underline the key takeaways so that the reviewers can get the gist even if they glance through it. For page margins, keep the standard page formatting for an A4/ Letter paper.

Should you create unique SOP for each program?

Yes , it is important to create an individual and unique SOP for each program you are applying to. Each program has its own requirements, and your SOP should be tailored to each specific program.

Additionally, it is important to include information that is relevant to the program you are applying to. This will help you stand out to the admissions committee and demonstrate how you can contribute to the program and the field as a whole.

Having a template at hand should help you save some time but that should in no way be an indicate to copy-paste SOPs across applications as this will diminish your chances of standing apart from the rest of the applicant pool.

Writing an SOP is an important part of applying to any PhD program. To be successful, it is important to be honest and sincere, use active language and provide evidence to back up your claims. Additionally, make sure to highlight unique elements of your background and experiences and tell stories that capture your personality and experience. With these tips in mind, you can create an impactful SOP that will be sure to catch the eye of the admissions committee. Finally, make sure to create a unique SOP for each program you are applying to, as this will help you stand out and demonstrate your commitment to the program.

Related resources

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Statement of Purpose Examples: Two Graduate Applications

Applying to graduate school excites and challenges applicants. It demands a Statement of Purpose (SOP) that weaves your academic journey, professional goals, and unique contributions into a compelling narrative. Far from a mere formality, the SOP serves as your distinct voice among countless applicants, telling your unique story. This article presents expert feedback on two real student statement of purpose examples, guiding you to craft your standout document.

Successful Statement of Purpose Examples

We’ve curated a special feature to guide you through crafting a statement of purpose that stands out. We present two SOPs from graduate students each embarking on distinct academic adventures. Their stories are annotated with expert feedback from our seasoned admissions consultants.

Statement of Purpose #1: First, this SOP for SUNY Buffalo explores finance, showcasing a passion for financial markets and their global impact. It recounts overcoming challenges and making innovative contributions to financial econometrics, highlighting resilience and curiosity. Our experts spotlight its strengths, including a strong narrative and detailed examples, and suggest areas for refinement to enhance clarity and impact.

Statement of Purpose #2: Secondly, this statement of purpose for Tufts explores international affairs, showing a dedication to ethical global development and security. It traces the applicant’s journey from a pivotal experience in Nicaragua to a dedicated career in development and security. Our experts emphasize the engaging storytelling and focused narrative, recommending adjustments for consistency and depth to boost its persuasive impact.

Elevating Your SOP: Expertise and Support at Your Fingertips

At Magoosh, we understand the critical role a statement of purpose plays in your graduate school application. As such, we have personal experience writing successful SOPs for our own graduate applications. Whether you’re navigating the complexities of financial markets or aspiring to make a global impact in international affairs, our guidance is designed to highlight your unique story and academic ambitions.

We invite you to dive into the detailed annotations and feedback provided for each statement of purpose example. These insights are a window into the meticulous crafting of an SOP that not only meets but exceeds expectations. Our blog is a treasure trove of resources , tips, and strategies for prospective graduate students, embodying our commitment to supporting your academic and professional journey.

In conclusion, writing a statement of purpose can be overwhelming. However, with the right guidance and resources, your SOP can make your potential and aspirations shine. Explore our blog, engage with our experts, and let us help you articulate your purpose with conviction and clarity. Your dream graduate program is within reach, and your story deserves to be heard.

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Write a Grad School Statement of Purpose in 12 Simple Steps

August 10, 2023

If you need to write a graduate school statement of purpose, we’ve got good news. Writing cover letters, a snappy Twitter bio, or a college essay has prepared you for this moment. However, there are a number of qualities that make the graduate statement of purpose a form of its own. We will discuss them here, as well as how to make your statement of purpose for grad school stand out from hundreds of other grad school statements of purpose penned by your competition.

Crafting an amazing graduate school statement of purpose is not just helpful for getting into grad school. The act of writing out your career goals, and reflecting on your academic and professional journey can be extremely helpful for choosing where and what you want to study. It’s also a great opportunity to appreciate how far you’ve come.

Spoiler alert: the number one guideline that you’ll see in the following steps to writing a smash-hit statement of purpose is specificity. The clearer you are about who you are, why you’re drawn to this field, what you’ve accomplished, and what you want to achieve, the more excited admissions officers will be. Plus, the more specific you are in writing, the more you’ll know which grad school would make a great match.

Click here if you are looking for Examples of a Statement of Purpose for Graduate School.  

What Is A Graduate School Statement of Purpose?

To apply to graduate school in any field, you need to submit a document called a Statement of Purpose (or SOP). The SOP is kind of like the introduction to your transcript and CV and other application materials. Usually a one-page document, the statement of purpose synthesizes all the other information to explain why you and the program you’re applying would be a mutually good fit.

What makes a good fit? First of all, your SOP should display your past preparation in your specific field. Secondly, it should show that you are capable of graduate-level study in general: independent, collaborative, intensive, and academically challenging. Third, it should show how your goals align with what the program offers, and that you have something to offer the program.

Put simply, the graduate school statement of purpose is an essay proving why you are the best person for this specific program in this particular field. Return to these words often as you write, and try to make sure each sentence is connected to this aim.

Statement of Purpose Grad School (Continued)

On the admissions side of things, the statement of purpose has two functions. One is to evaluate if you are a qualified match : i.e. if you will be successful in their program. They are not trying to admit people who will fail out, bully the rest of the cohort, or transfer because their research interest isn’t being met. Second, the SOP is a tool for remembering you. By understanding the candidate’s profile in a condensed way, the jury can talk quickly about “The one who is so into X” or “The one who did Y.” These are both things to keep in mind while crafting your own graduate school statement of purpose.

Think of graduate school as a desert island, where everyone is bringing something with them. (You often will end up spending a ton of time with these people, also like a desert island.) Your knowledge and skills will contribute to the range of tools people are bringing so that everyone can grow together. The SOP is meant to show in a clear, concise way what you’re bringing to the island.

By the end, it should be clear:

• Why you want to go to graduate school
• How you’ve prepared for graduate school
• What specific field of focus you want to study
• Why X University/program

For this reason, a good place to start is to be clear on what graduate school is . If you’re applying for a Master’s degree instead of a PhD. program, be clear on your reasons for that too. And once you’re sure about the type of degree you’re applying for, make sure you know the types of programs in your field, be it an MFA in Creative Writing or a Master’s in Psychology .

What a Graduate School Statement of Purpose Isn’t

Your SOP is not a personal statement. Your love of Wiz Khalifa, Boston terriers, or fly-fishing with your grandfather do not belong in this essay (unless they connect meaningfully to your field of study). This is also not the place to share anecdotes of overcoming hardship–that kind of information is more suited to a personal statement, which is meant to introduce more of your voice, personality, and life history.

Think of a job interview: a NASA employer does not care that your favorite taco filling is chorizo. They care about your preparation in rocket science. Your SOP should follow this principle.

The Central Skill of a Graduate Statement of Purpose

How do you exhibit that you would be a successful student, beyond what’s written on your CV and transcript? You may think these lists of stellar grades and research experiences are enough to show your qualifications. Instead, the SOP is meant to create a unified narrative that connects all these documents into a whole.

What’s the best way to do that? By interpreting experience .

For a statement of purpose for grad school, you will need to interpret your experiences in a way that:

• a) unifies all your experiences into a kind of ‘thesis statement’ about who you are (“The student who is passionate about studying PTSD in adolescents with amazing grades who wants more clinical experience.”)
• b) organizes your experiences into different paragraphs to show different qualities about you (“My four years of top grades in college don’t just reflect my work ethic, but my evolving passion for clinical psychology.”)
• c) interprets individual experiences to show their meaning (instead of “I worked in Professor Kurtz’s lab on adolescent behavioral psychology,” interpret what the experience meant to you: “My time in Professor Kurtz’s lab on adolescent behavioral psychology showed me how fundamental this under-studied life stage is to understanding adult psychology, and ignited my passion for this research focus.”

Interpret experience. If you’re doing this every step of the way, your graduate school statement of purpose is going to have a strong start and require fewer drafts in the future.

Writing A Graduate Statement of Purpose in 12 Simple Steps

Phase 1: research & soul searching.

#1: Study your CV and past academic experiences: Pull out a highlighter. Highlight specific moments on your CV/transcript that helped you discover your passion. Then, highlight moments of major growth. Lastly, highlight trends of long-term commitment. Track how your trajectory changed over time. For example: maybe you studied political science in college, but you discovered your obsession with international relations working for the NSA.

#2: Reflect on why you want to go to graduate school: Brainstorm a list of reasons you genuinely want to go to graduate school. Be as specific as possible about why you decided to pursue graduate study in your chosen field at this time in your life. Think about experiences that led you to this decision.

Above all, think about the goals graduate school will help you achieve. If you don’t have any goals, now is the time to dream of them. The higher you aim, the more effective your graduate experience will be.

#3: Analyze yourself from an admissions perspective: Graduate school is intensive. It requires hard work at a high level. It requires independent work, yet strong interpersonal skills. Which experiences show that you’re ready for graduate school? What would you bring to a graduate studies community? And what type of community is that? Is it a small MFA program, where cooperation and community are important? Would you be on a MSci research team that prizes collaboration? Do you need the self-starting nature to do months of research alone, in a lab, or in the field?

#4: Research your program and institution: Knowing the specifics of each program will help you tailor your core essay to match your profile with their needs. Make sure you know the strengths and research areas of each program, the unique mission of each institution, and the faculty. This is also a way of making sure the program is a good fit for you.

Phase 2: Writing the Draft

#5: Read the instructions carefully and directly respond to the question: The first test of the SOP is your ability to follow directions. Make sure you follow the word limit, and the question at hand.

#6: Outline, outline, outline: It is highly likely that your first try at the SOP is not going to be your final version. To save time, it can help to try a few different outlines. Feel free to make up your own outline, as long as it answers the question in an organized way.

The Goal Oriented SOP

P1: Overview of your goals

P2: Why you want to pursue these goals (Experience 1, 2)

P3: How you arrived at these goals (Experience 3, 4)

P4: How these goals link to the field

P5: Why this is the best program for these goals

P6: Short recap

The Who-What-When-Where-Why SOP

P1: Who: Who you are, and a summary of what you’ve done

P2: What: what you want to do, based on concrete examples of what you’ve done

P3: When: why do you want to go to grad school now ? (Using examples of what you’ve done)

P4: Why: why you want to go to grad school, what you want to do in the future

P5: Where: why this program?

P6: Conclusion

The Chronological SOP

P1: Overview of who you are and where you want to go

P2: Academic experience

P3: Work experience

P4: Why this research focus now?

P5: Goals for the future

The Thematic SOP

P1: Introduction of different reasons you want to go

P2: Reason 1, as shown through Experiences/Goals 1, 2, 3

P3: Reason 2, as shown through Experiences/Goals 1, 2, 3

P4: Reason 3, as shown through Experiences/Goals 1, 2, 3

P4: Conclusion showing why you want to go to grad school/Discussion of Particular Program

#7: Be specific about details: Let your dork flag fly! The SOP is a great place to get nitty-gritty about what topics or ideas excited you in college/work, and what your research interests are. Instead of copy-pasting experiences from your CV––show us examples of what you did and how you did it. Mentioning times when learning felt electric will show in your writing.

Here’s a quiz about specificity. Which answer is more convincing and memorable?

• “I participated in a research lab on primate behavior,”
• “As I cradled the baby chimpanzee in my arms, I realized how crucial understanding primates is for the future of our planet.”

#8: Overwrite, and then cut: It’s always better to cut down than have too little. Once you’ve written monster paragraphs filled with examples, select the strongest ones that display your most meaningful and impressive experiences. To fit within the word count, don’t be afraid of lists: “The sculptural influence on my paintings is grounded in extensive experience in the medium: I completed a multi-room solo show, won several competitive undergraduate awards for my work, and received positive critique from renowned sculptors Louise Bourgeois and Eva Hesse.

Phase 3: Drafts of Glory

#9: Tailor your draft to each program: First of all, do not, and I mean do not, forget to change the name of the school in each draft! Second, make slight changes to your original draft so that it uses your research about each program. Let yourself get passionate and specific. This is a great opportunity to imagine yourself in each program, and think about why you would be a great fit. “I would love to study at X in particular because I would get to do Y.”

#10: Clarity and precision: The SOP is a way for graduate schools to evaluate if you can communicate at a graduate level. In any graduate school situation, you will be practicing communication skills–from writing articles to giving presentations. Make sure the ideas flow clearly and are organized in paragraphs with a specific focus. Make sure you use concise, clear language to express yourself. Avoid fancy words, but do make sure the writing is thoughtful and shows how much you care.

#11: Peer review: Have your recommendation writers comment on your statement. As experts in the field you are entering, they will likely have insightful comments to make your statement even better. Next, have someone who cares about you and knows your CV comment on your statement. Are you selling yourself short? Are you forgetting to highlight something awesome about yourself? Lastly, have a brutal editor comment on your statement. Ask them: What’s unclear? What’s vague?

#12: Spelling and grammar: Grad school is competitive to get into, and very detail-oriented. For these reasons, spelling and grammar errors can be excuses for panels to mark your application down. Don’t let that happen!

The final step is to take a breath of relief! You’ve created a document that will be a touchstone for remembering your goals and motivations. Any self-help guide or tech CEO will tell you that visualizing your goals clearly is the first step to success. And now you’ve taken that step. Good luck with your applications!

Final Thoughts Grad School Statement of Purpose

If you enjoyed our 12-step writing process for the graduate school statement of purpose, you may also find the following relevant resources to be of use:

• The 19 Best Online Master’s in Data Science
• 130 GRE Vocab Words You Need to Know
• How Long Does it Take to Get a Master’s Degree?
• Graduate School Admissions

Julia Conrad

With a Bachelor of Arts in English and Italian from Wesleyan University as well as MFAs in both Nonfiction Writing and Literary Translation from the University of Iowa, Julia is an experienced writer, editor, educator, and a former Fulbright Fellow. Julia’s work has been featured in  The Millions ,  Asymptote , and  The Massachusetts Review , among other publications. To read more of her work, visit  www.juliaconrad.net

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Perfect History PhD Statement of Purpose (Example)

Embarking on the path toward obtaining a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in History is no small feat . This advanced degree signifies the highest level of academic achievement and requires a great deal of hard work and dedication. But before enrolling in a PhD program, you must first submit a statement of purpose , which outlines your motivations, experiences, and goals. Crafting an effective statement of purpose can be challenging. It is also a valuable exercise in self-reflection and can make the difference in gaining admission to a top program. Your statement of purpose should highlight your skills, experiences, and goals. It should also provide insights into why you are a good candidate for your desired program. In this blog post, we will delve into the importance of writing a strong history PhD statement of purpose. We will also offer tips on how to craft an effective document. Finally, we will provide you with a history PhD statement of purpose example to give you an idea of the tone you should adopt to increase your chances of admission.

How Important is the Statement of Purpose When Applying to PhD Programs in History?

The statement of purpose is an essential part of the application process for a PhD program in history. The statement of purpose is typically the first item that admissions committees review when evaluating candidates . Its quality plays a crucial role in helping committee members decide whether to investigate the rest of an applicant’s file. As a result, prospective PhD students have only a brief window to make a good impression. A poorly written or unclear statement of purpose can often harm an applicant’s chances of acceptance.

There is no strict rule about the order of presentation. The structure of the SOP should follow that of a well-crafted essay. In general, it is advisable to divide the document into several sections. Each section should be devoted to different aspects of your academic and professional interests in history.

It should provide information about your background, and experiences that have led you to pursue a PhD in history. It should also provide space for an exploration of your research goals as they relate to the field. You may discuss any specific topics or areas of focus within history that interest you most deeply. Also, it can provide detail into any relevant prior research and publications conducted in the field.

Finally, it should discuss of how skills and interests align with the program’s curriculum, faculty, and research opportunities. Overall, your SOP should be an intelligible narrative that allows readers to gain insight into your unique background and motivations. As demonstrated in our history PhD statement of purpose example, you must have a well-structured version that reflects your personality.

Reflect on Your Academic Journey

Your academic journey thus far is an essential thread to weave into your statement of purpose. Start by reflecting on the ways that your previous research has shaped your intellectual curiosity and current research interests. What specific courses have been most influential to you? What scholarly works have resonated with you and why? Engage in self-reflection and think critically about the ramifications of previous research and how it can impact your future research. 

Address Your Research Interests

Your statement of purpose should showcase your passion and interest in the field of history. This is an opportunity to demonstrate your intellectual curiosity and research skills. You should highlight your specific research interests and discuss how they fit into your long-term academic and career goals. Being specific and clear about your research interests demonstrates that you have put considerable thought and effort into your application. 

As illustrated in our history PhD statement of purpose example, demonstrating a strong familiarity with the field is key. You should identify gaps in the existing research that you want to address. It is also important to justify the importance of your project and place it in the wider context of historiography. Explain what makes it significant and novel, and how it can contribute to the current understanding of historical phenomena. This is your chance to demonstrate your knowledge of the field and your passion for specific topics. Be specific and avoid broad generalizations. Make sure that your interests align with the research expertise of the department and faculty you are applying to.

Emphasize Your Skills and Preparation

History PhD programs require rigorous preparation. Outline your preparation to date, including specific coursework, relevant internships, and research experience, and qualify it with academic excellence. Showcase the technical skills you have acquired and how they are relevant to pursuing advanced research in history. Highlight any language proficiency, archival research experience, or data analysis expertise. These skills are highly sought after in the field. Describe any research projects or papers you have written, academic awards, or scholarships you received. This information will help showcase your scholarly abilities and prepare you as a competitive candidate. 

Discuss Your Future Goals 

The statement of purpose is an evaluation of your current readiness. It is also an assessment of your future potential. Discuss your future career goals and the impact you want to have in the field of history. Share how you plan to use your PhD in history to make a significant contribution to the field. Let the admissions committee know about your have long-term career goals.

Connect your goals to the program’s offerings

When applying to a PhD program in history, explaining how the program will help you achieve your goals is key. A statement of purpose should include specific examples that illustrate how you plan to use the programs resources. These resources could be faculty advisors, courses, guest speakers, and research opportunities. For instance, if you are interested in applying a digital humanities approach to ancien history, you could explain how faculty members who specialize in this field would allow you to develop these skills. You can also discuss any collaborations that could help you explore new topics or deepen your understanding of existing ones.

Additionally, stating how extra-curricular activities outside of the classroom would help you become a well-rounded scholar is also important. For example, attending lectures and seminars held by experts in the field or participating in scholarly clubs may supplement your academic experience. Finally, connecting your goals to potential future career paths should be included in your statement of purpose as well. Explaining how a PhD program has the courses, faculty members, research projects, and extracurricular activities to prepare you for postdoctoral work or professional positions demonstrates that you have thoughtfully planned out your academic trajectory. By explaining specific examples of how the program will support your educational and career objectives in your statement of purpose, you can demonstrate why it is an ideal choice for you.

Demonstrate confidence and clarity

Your statement of purpose should demonstrate confidence and clarity. Use clear, concise language, and avoid using jargon or overly-complex terms. Avoid vague and unsupported statements and make sure to provide evidence of your experience and skills. By demonstrating confidence and clarity, you show your potential advisor that you are a serious candidate capable of excelling in the program.

Review and Edit

Once you have completed a draft of your statement of purpose, take the time to revise, edit, and proofread. Have a trusted friend, family member, or consultant review your statement and offer feedback. Make sure that your writing is clear, concise, and error-free. Polish your statement so that it presents you in the most compelling and professional manner possible.

History PhD Statement of Purpose Example:

“As my studies progressed throughout high school and into college, I became increasingly fascinated by this pivotal era in history and its impact on modern society. After completing a bachelor’s degree with honors in History at ABC University in 2019, I am now eager to pursue a doctoral program in Medieval History.

At ABC University, I conducted extensive research on the role of women during the Middle Ages through period texts and archaeological sites. In my honors thesis, titled…. I investigated…. In addition to developing an impressive range of research skills during my undergraduate studies, I also worked closely with esteemed faculty members such as Professor X who encouraged me to take on ambitious projects and provided me with invaluable guidance. I am now confident that I possess the skills needed to conduct advanced research at an independent level.

In my doctoral program, I am particularly excited to focus on studying women’s status in the Middle Ages through various lenses such as politics, social customs, and religion. By extending this research into other areas of medieval history, I hope to eventually write a dissertation that will form a substantial contribution to modern scholarship in this field. Additionally, I look forward to building upon the knowledge I gained during my undergraduate studies by engaging with experts in the field, taking advantage of diverse resources in libraries and archives around the world, and exploring groundbreaking methodologies for interpreting primary sources.

At XYZ University, I am eager to enroll in A, B, and C courses because…I am also looking forward to taking advantage of….etc.

After graduation, I plan on seeking employment as a tenure-track assistant professor in history at a liberal college, and in the long term, I intend to continue to teach and conduct research on…

My commitment to achieving excellence is undiminished and I am confident that I have the skills, knowledge, and passion to succeed in a doctoral program. I am excited to take my research to the next level and contribute to our understanding of an era that continues to shape modern society.”

No matter how daunting the challenge of writing a strong history PhD statement of purpose may seem, the immense rewards associated with gaining admission into a top program make it an endeavor well worth pursuing. We hope that our history PhD statement of purpose example provided you a much better understanding of how to craft an effective document that will improve your chances of success. Additionally, we’ve provided you with a sample statement of purpose to use as inspiration as you work towards achieving your dream PhD program admission.

Finally, if you’re looking for professionals who can provide guidance and support through the sometimes overwhelming process of applying for grad school, take some time to check out our PhD application services . In the end, taking the right steps to maximize your prospective PhD candidate profile will pay huge dividends that will certainly benefit your academic career and beyond. So don’t hesitate and start crafting and/or improving your statement of purpose today! Got questions about the application process, or would like to get a quick assessment of your SOP? Sign up for a consultation , or send us your draft for an estimate. It’s FREE!

With a Master’s from McGill University and a Ph.D. from New York University, Dr. Philippe Barr is the founder of The Admit Lab . As a tenure-track professor, Dr. Barr spent a decade teaching and serving on several graduate admission committees at UNC-Chapel Hill before turning to full-time consulting. With more than seven years of experience as a graduate school admissions consultant, Dr. Barr has stewarded the candidate journey across multiple master’s and Ph.D. programs and helped hundreds of students get admitted to top-tier graduate programs all over the world .

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Can you write my papers for history PhD application? a. SoP b. Personal Statement c. Statement on Diversity and Inclusion

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