Statement of Purpose
statement,of,purpose,latex,模板
竭诚为您提供优质文档/双击可除statement,of,purpose,latex,模板篇一：statement_of_purpose京大篇二：ps(personalstatement)和sp(statementofpurpose)的写作精髓ps(personalstatement)和sp(statementofpurpose)的写作精髓我想说的是，经过这次一对一边改边交流，我的重大发现是：原来大家的对ps的理解本身就是错的。
初衷就是错的！当然，回想两年前，我也是一样错的。
初衷都是报着个如何写出一篇我这辈子写过的最优美地道的英语范文。
（check一下自己不是吗？）而不是真正的“peRsonal”！“statement”！人家招生委员，看漂亮散文，多了去了。
你要拿美文，以语言之美，来打动一个本地人，好像并不是一个smaRt的愿望。
写ps的同学们大都需要洗脑，你现在的目的，不是写一篇漂亮的英文作文，而是：平实的、老实的、诚实的讲述自己！我在写ps的时候，脑子里想的面向对象都是那模糊的远在世界不知道有没有的角落的一个严肃的审稿的影子，那是错的。
如果你跟我一样这样想象，那是错的。
那样就会直接导致你ps的结果是：假大空。
因为你所假想的说话对象，是在一个“大”学校的一“空”旷的位置上的（在我的想象的画面里没有墙壁和门的巨细的一个“假”想的对象。
你所想象的读者是个假人，那么你的说话的内容和口气必然是假的、虚的。
因为你没有一个solid一个实在的具体的环境，一个看着你的有肉有骨头有牙床的脸，你在跟假象的对话说话，说的话的内容必定是虚无的，就像你跟自己说话，说话的内容也必定是“啊我好怕，啊我希望明天会好，啊老天爷爷保佑”。
你一定不会跟自己或者老天爷爷说，“我刚才在麦当劳外卖窗口看到的那个女生帽子下面露出来的头发的那一束挑染的蓝色很美”只有当你在跟一个真人说话的时候，人家问“谁？谁？哪个麦当劳？我怎么没看见？哪个mm？左耳右耳？”你才会非常巨细的解释、描述出来。
Statement of Purpose
Statement of Purpose(Statement of Intent/ Personal Statement)示例写作原则：1，用真实，具体的事例来说明自己的研究经验/学术背景/对专业的独到理解，突出自己与众不同的独特经历，以及这些经历对自己专业方面的影响。
2，在PS中最好能够列出比较详细完整的研究计划，美国学校欢迎有准备/有计划的学生；3，PS中比较关键的内容可以用黑体或斜体加以强调。
Sample 1●PrefaceAs a 20-year-old graduate student, I have had the definite academic goal as to be a highly successful scientist. My undergraduate and Master-oriented graduate studies have given me well knowledge in both Electronics and Physics. Electronics is the foundation of modern industry, while Physics is the foundation of science. My doctoral graduate study in Engineering School of Stanford University, if admitted, will be devoted to interdisciplinary study in about Electronics, Physics and some other topics.●Past Y earsMy parents had enlightened me since I was born. With strong desire to study I entered the primary school when 5-year-old and finished its 6-year program in 5 years. I studied hard and entered the high school when I was 10 and finished the 6-year program in 4 years. In my high school years I was very interested in mathematics and physics, and obtained many honors in related contests. Six years ago, I, a 14-year-old boy, enrolled in the Special Class for Gifted Children (SCGC) at XXX University as the youngest student. SCGC is the most selective and competitive class in XXX Univ., yet I kept the highest GPA and was the monitor of the class.The aim of SCGC is to give the young gifted students formal and strict training in mathematics and physics that is more advanced than that of normal undergraduate students.My study at SCGC bestowed me a competitive spirit toward challenges and an intense curiosity in Electronics.I took specialized study in the Department of Electronics at XXX Univ., the only departmentfounded for BsMajor in China. I also took physics major coursed in the Physics Department, many of them were taught in English and used the best books. With the physics foundation I received, it was easier for me to grasp the essential concepts in BsMajor and faster my study. I was the first student who finished the 4-year undergraduate program in 3 years. Although the grading system is strict, my GPA was top 1among 50 students. My under-graduate study brought me many honors, such as the Huawei Prize, awarded to “most brilliant and diligent”students only. In 2000 I was among the 10 “most excellent” university students who received Wusi Prize. In 2001 I graduated from XXX Univ. with the Bachelor of Engineering degree,. I won the honor “Most Outstanding Graduate” that is awarded to top 1% students only.With the intention of studying further Physics in an applied viewpoint, I enrolled in theDepartment of Physics at XXX University。
申请美国研究生怎么写StatementofPurpose？
申请美国研究生怎么写StatementofPurpose？如果已经决定要在美国读研的，首先学生们得有专注与决心，这也是让学生写SOP的原因。
学校需要从学生的SOP中去判断学生有没有相应的品格。
就到看看美国的SOP是怎么写的。
基本上美国的这些学校都希望能从学生的SOP之中看出四种信息。
学生们读研的时候想学到什么？为什么要读这个专业的研究生？之前有相关的什么经验？最后取得学位时想要做什么？更确切的说学校是希望学生是有在经过相关实践后对该专业或者是研究项目有兴趣，而不是一时的兴起要申请。
所以在大家的SOP就该表现出自己所申请的项目是自己在经过考虑之后所决定的，在之后的就读中也会一直追求这方面的目标。
这样子回答才足够的真实。
既然是要申请研究生，那么其余无关的内容学校根本就不在意，它们所在意的是那些跟研究生学习有关或者是有用的内容。
在研究生的学习之中，学生要学难度较高的课程，也得做很复杂的研究。
有的时候还得给本科生上课，上课的内容也有可能不是自己的专业领域，也就是另外制定一门课程。
所以在大家的SOP 之中，跟这些相关的内容，不管是在学校里的还是在工作等等方面的，都是有必要写的。
在sop之中确实要专注于重点，其余一些无关的没必要去写。
其实能够简单清晰的把自己在这个领域之中有怎样的想法去做展开说明，就已经足够了。
不过也可以稍微的写一些另外的东西，这样是可以让学校对于自己有更多的了解。
也可以写写自己对于这个领域有怎样的兴趣，而不是只写自己喜欢这个领域就行了。
写完了SOP之后，一定要让别人也看看，最好是让自己的导师或者是学校的教授们来看看，听听他们对于这份SOP会有怎样的反馈与建议，因为有一些问题可能是自己压根看不出来的。
最重要的是别用一个SOP申请许多个学校，在SOP之中内容可以重复，但不能写得一模一样，最好是把展示方式改变一下。
sample statement_of_purpose
Sample Statement of PurposeStatement of Purpose:Please describe your aptitude and motivation for graduate study in your area of specialization, including your preparation for this field of study, your academic plans or research interests in your chosen area of study, and your future career goals. Please be specific about why UC Berkeley would be a good intellectual fit for you.The writer of the statement below was admitted into UC Berkeley's History Department. With her permission, I reprint her essay parsed with my commentary about why it works as a winning essay."Luscious fare is the jewel of inordinate desires,"1cautions2the author of The Gentlewoman's Companion (1673), one of many early modern conduct books I surveyed this past year for an honors thesis entitled "'Chaste, Silent, and Hungry': The Problem of Female Appetite in Early Modern England, 1550-1700."3As indicated by the title, this project explores a provocative but as of yet scarcely studied facet of early modern gender constructions: female food desire.4I use the word "desire" here rather deliberately, as early modern definitions of appetite extended well beyond the physiological drive to eat to encompass all those physical (and shameful) longings associated with the body. And, in a culture where women were by definition immoderate and sensual, female food appetite, I argue, constituted an unruly5desire that demanded both social and moral discipline. In brief, my research concerns the patriarchal control of women's bodies in sixteenth and seventeenth-century England vis- -vis a cultural idea about food desire and satiation as suggestive and immodest.6In lieu of a formal introduction of my research interests and aspirations I offer a summary of my senior thesis, which earned me the 2003 Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research at the University of California, Davis.7This first venture into serious historical scholarship has affirmed my passion for early modern culture and history; and it has given me the confidence to assert and contest my opinions regarding the status of women in early modern Europe and the current state of early modern historiography.8Continuing along these avenues of research in graduate school, I would like to use my thesis as the basis for a future dissertation. Though I remain wary about committing myself prematurely to a specific topic of research, I am also eager to elaborate, modify, and complicate9 my original assertions about the nature of the "problem" of female appetite in early modern England. Indeed, many of the conclusions reached in the thesis, such as my claim that the cultural eroticization of feminine appetite in early modern England betrayed a deep-seated masculine mistrust of female sexuality and sexual power, serve as starting points10 for future research and study.On a more basic level, writing a thesis gave me the chance to become better acquainted with the essentials of historical research. Suspecting that normative discourses in early modern England participated aggressively in the monitoring of women's appetites, I navigated the sea of early English printed sources in pursuit of the slightest mention of food and diet. Those sources I encountered during my research, which ranged from the popular conduct book, The Education of a Christian Woman by Juan Luis Vives, to the anonymous sex manual, Aristotle's Masterpiece, challenged my basic understanding of history and the original premise of my thesis in ways notanticipated. From deciphering esoteric type-fonts to developing an awareness of the importance of time and funds, I experienced the mundane realities of research that inevitably stunt the historian's aspirations. Even more important was my gradual acceptance of the fact that early modern sources, no matter how we read them, do not always accommodate modern biases and expectations.11Though I cannot predict the course this project might take in graduate school, I expect that it will address the following themes and issues. First is the overarching issue of distinguishing the phenomena I observe from other forms of food restriction and obsession, namely the modern ritual of dieting and its most extreme manifestation, an eating disorder. Though not willing to evade those complicated (and controversial) parallels between modern and early modern usages of food and food symbolism to control the lives of women, I also wish to offer as an historian a nuanced portrayal of how early modern conceptualizations of female appetite were infused with contemporary, historically contingent notions of sexuality and gender.Furthermore, the question of female agency in a project devoted almost exclusively to male prescriptions for diet and behavior demands further discussion. Admittedly, on more than one occasion, my own extensive use and analysis of conduct books and various obstetric manuals, works composed primarily by educated men, caused me to pause and wonder whether it was best to relate a history about women's actions or the patriarchal apparatus under which those actions were oppressed. While I refuse to see women as simply passive receptacles of masculine command, I neither wish nor aspire to focus solely on their achievements; for, in my mind, the history of women and the history of patriarchy are inextricably related.12My goal, then, will not be to detail just another example of how women in history were dominated by men, but, rather, to interrogate the means, in this case food, or, better yet, the cultural meaning of appetite, by which women's desires were suppressed or denied.13Indeed I am proud of my thesis and, given extra time, could say much more. But I should also stress that that at the heart of my specific research concentration lies a more general interest in early modern European history, cultural and women's history to be more exact.14To date, my knowledge of the early modern period has been informed and my imagination sustained by an array of courses on early modern history and literature (I was a joint history and English major), including a graduate seminar on Renaissance urban culture taught jointly by Professors Margaret Ferguson and Deborah Harkness. My personal penchant for cultural history stems largely, I believe, from my training in literature and literary criticism, where sensitivity to the importance of language and metaphor is a necessary skill. Also of crucial importance to a professional career in history are my growing skills in Latin and French, and my fluency in Spanish.15This year I find myself in that difficult and frustrating transitional period between undergraduate and graduate studies. Though I would have preferred to directly continue graduate school after graduation, I opted to take a year off. A year away from school, I reasoned, would afford me the time needed to recuperate from an exhaustive undergraduate education, gain some perspective, and work on fulfilling the language requirement for a doctorate in European history. In fact, I am currently enrolled in a French course at a nearby university and plan to take a subsequent course during the upcoming spring semester. This academic hiatus, moreover, has imposed some much- needed distance between myself and my thesis, which I can now reread from a more critical, lessinvested stance. And, finally, a break from school has given me sufficient time to search and research for graduate programs that best suit my needs.16UC Berkeley's history program looms large in my mind, largely because of its outstanding faculty and interdisciplinary approach to history. In my own quest for a suitable graduate program, I was thrilled to learn that Professors Thomas Laqueur and Carla Hesse both taught at Berkeley. Professor Laqueur's book, Making Sex: Body and Gender from the Greeks to Freud, stands out among the many books I read during my undergraduate education; and I credit his book with introducing me to the nascent but fascinating field of the history of sexuality and the body. Together, Professor Laqueur's cutting edge research and Professor Hesse's knowledge of early modern women's history would make my experience at Berkeley a challenging and enjoyable one.17In addition, Berkeley provides an ideal climate for me to develop my cross-disciplinary interests. In particular, I am interested in pursuing a designated emphasis in women, gender, and sexuality, a unique option that distinguishes Berkeley's history program from that of other institutions. The cross-disciplinary nature of Berkeley's graduate program would foster, I hope, fruitful discussions with other departments, notably the department of English and Women's Studies, thus broadening and enriching my research as well as my general understanding early modern culture and history.18• 1 The writer begins with a vivid quote that grabs the reader's attention right away.• 2 "Cautions" is an excellent verb choice. Careful word choice makes for lively writing.• 3 Note how neatly in one well-packed sentence, the writer gets right to the point of her current research.• 4 "Provocative" is an apt and colorful word choice. This sentence explains the nature of her study and situates her subject in historical and thematic context.• 5 "Unruly" is another aptly chosen adjective. Adjectives can create "dead places" in writing if they add nothing significant to the noun that it is describing.• 6 The summary sentence not only recaps the gist of the first paragraph, but also provides further nuance of the subject at hand.•7 This first sentence makes clear that research first and foremost will be central to her argument in the essay. Mentioning the "Chancellor's Award" in the context of herresearch is a clever way of boasting without seeming to.•8 It is a very good idea to explicitly state the chosen subfield within history: early modern Europe. You can't assume that your readers will make the inference from the researchtopic alone. To "assert and contest" opinions is, of course, the marksmanship ofhistorians; making reference to "the current state of early modern historiography"conveys familiarity with the subject on the one hand, and confidence and intellectualpoise on the other. Notice how much more powerful is such a statement as compared to one poorly written, such as "I am passionate and committed to my interest in earlymodern Europe."•9 Again, to say that as a historian, she will "elaborate, modify, and complicate" the subject matter is to show that she really understands the work of historians. A less experienced candidate might have written that she wants to uncover the "truth" in history.•10 "Starting points" --referring to her research interests--is a very measured way of saying that she knows what tugs at her heart, has done enough research to have some hunches, but is open to surprise endings. A beautiful rendition of a historian's sentiment. You may turn off your readers if you come off sounding overly confident. Maintaining a measured tone is very important.•11 This paragraph details further specific lessons and skills earned through this research project. Note the use of colorful verbs such as "navigated" and "stunt."•12 Note the nuanced and carefully measured way of speaking about her subject. Clearly the writer is well-read in theory and shows strong ability in critically evaluating hersubject. Moreover, she tries to be the "objective" scholar in that she does not champion any cause. That is, she does not champion the cause of women even as she conveys deep empathy.•13 The reference to a parallel example of female appetite in contemporary culture as holding interest for the writer is aptly placed here. Were she to have mentioned it any earlier, it would have clouded the primarily historical nature and focus of her venture. •14 It is wise at this point to zoom out a bit and show that the writer's interest lies more broadly in early modern Europe and the history of women. Zooming in and out from the narrow to the general shows that you are capable of becoming a specialist without being overly narrow.•15 Showing interdisciplinarity and your abilities in language are key to your academic biography. In this case, the reader learns that she is a historian with training in literary and critical theory.•16 This is a model paragraph for showing what you did in your "time off" from school.Note how nothing extraneous to her study is mentioned in this paragraph. The paragraph shows that the time off was spent wisely in preparing herself for graduate school.•17 She demonstrates a thorough-going knowledge of UC Berkeley. She mentions not one but two key scholars with whom she could pursue her studies. She mentions how their area of specialty dovetails with her own research interests. Note how she does not make empty, flattering remarks about the professors or the school.•18 She continues to list bounties beyond the department strengthening the argument that Berkeley is well-suited for her. The reader will be impressed with the research and the seriousness with which she has examined UC Berkeley as an option for graduate school.A well-written essay unveils much information about the writer, not only in herintellectual capacity, but also about her character and core values. Through her writing, she makes a distinctive impression.。
Statement of Purpose - PhD (Economics)
Statement of Purpose - PhD (Economics)
When introduced to economics in high school I realized that it interestingly qualified as a subject of both Arts and Science. It was an area defined by precise rules, principles and axioms and yet there was tremendous scope for self-expression in the form of interpretation and analysis. This facet of economics intrigued me very much and I decided to pursue further studies in Economics.
I want to study at UCLA, as it emphasizes on the rigor and analytical tools that are necessary for academic research. I have well-developed analytical and mathematical skills and I want to exploit these skills to the greatest extent. I feel the help and guidance that can be provided to me by the distinguished faculty of your university will be invaluable. I am sure if I am given the opportunity to study at your university that attracts some of the best students from all over the world, it will provide an environment competitive enough to bring out the best in me.
Statement of Purpose - Civil Engineering (SOP)
During the eight week Summer Training at the Development Consultants Ltd.,I was assigned to the Cement Cell, where I received a detailed knowledge of the cement manufacturing processes. As an Industrial Intern, I was assigned a project on Cement Plant Design (1800 TPD), which encompassed Raw-Mix Design and Capacity Calculations for various equipment. Here, I got aquainted with the Pollution and Energy Conservation problems faced by the Cement Industry and devoted a significant portion of my project to the pollution abatement methods.
Statement of Purpose - Civil Engineering (SOP)
Statement of Purpose - Civil Engineering (SOP)
In this essay I outline my academic and extra-curricular accomplishments. Also discussed are my career objectives and the motivation to pursue the graduate program in Civil Engineering at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
statement of purpose的格式
statement of purpose的格式[你的名字]日期：XXXX年XX月XX日一、介绍自己1. 自我介绍：简述自己的姓名、年龄、教育背景和专业方向等基本信息。
2. 个人背景：简要介绍自己的家庭背景、成长经历、课外活动、荣誉奖项等，展示自己的综合素质。
二、明确目标1. 职业目标：明确自己的职业目标，如从事XX行业，担任XX职位等。
2. 学校背景：说明选择该学校的原因，突出学校在XX领域的优势，展示自己的选择与职业目标的契合度。
3. 具体目标：详细阐述未来几年内，在学术、实践和职业发展方面的具体目标。
三、个人优势与特长1. 专业能力：阐述自己在专业领域内的优势，如扎实的知识基础、熟练的技能操作等。
2. 实践经验：介绍自己在校内外各类实践活动中所取得的成就和经验，突出自己的团队协作能力和领导能力。
3. 个人品质：说明自己在面对困难和挑战时所表现出的品质，如坚韧不拔、积极进取等。
四、选择该专业的理由1. 兴趣爱好：阐述自己对XX领域的兴趣和爱好，说明该专业与自己兴趣爱好的契合度。
2. 发展前景：分析该专业的发展前景和市场需求，说明该专业对自己的未来职业规划的重要性。
3. 学术氛围：阐述自己对学校XX学科的学术氛围和教学质量的高度认可，表达对该专业的向往之情。
五、未来规划与展望1. 毕业后的职业规划：说明毕业后将从事的职位和行业，以及在该行业中的发展目标。
2. 学术规划：阐述自己在学术方面的追求，如发表论文、攻读硕士或博士学位等。
3. 展望未来：展望未来几年的职业发展计划，包括参加行业培训、拓展人脉等，为实现自己的职业目标而努力。
六、总结与致谢1. 总结：简短总结自己的目标和计划，强调自己为实现目标所付出的努力和决心。
2. 致谢：感谢学校提供的宝贵学习机会，感谢家人和朋友的支持与鼓励，以及对老师的敬意。
总之，一份好的《Statement of Purpose》应该清晰地表达自己的职业目标和学校选择理由，突出自己的个人优势和特长，以及自己对未来的规划和展望。
statement of purpose模板
statement of purpose模板问题，并充分展开思想。
[Statement of Purpose 模板] 以中括号内的内容为主题，写一篇3000-6000字文章，一步一步回答问题，并充分展开思想。
【Statement of Purpose 模板：为什么我选择攻读研究生？】Introduction:在引言部分，我将阐述自己为什么决定攻读研究生，并简要介绍个人背景和相关学术经历。
1. 我的学术背景及激情在这一部分，我将描述我在本科期间的学术背景和对学术研究的激情。
我会谈论自己在某一领域或项目中的成就和对该领域的追求，以及为什么我认为攻读研究生是实现这一追求的合适途径。
2. 对所选领域的兴趣接下来，我将详细介绍我对所选领域的兴趣和热爱。
我会谈论自己在该领域的背景和学术经历，还会提到一些与该领域相关的经历或项目，以展示我对该领域的深入了解和热情，以及我如何计划在研究生阶段进一步探索和扩展自己的知识和技能。
3. 对所选学校的兴趣在这一部分，我将详细介绍我对所选学校的兴趣和研究资源。
我会谈论该学校在我所选领域的声誉和研究实力，以及我为什么认为这是一个理想的学术环境来实现我的研究目标。
我还将提到我对该学校的认识和了解，以及我为什么认为这所学校对我的学术发展和职业目标具有积极影响。
4. 研究目标和计划在这一部分，我将详细介绍我的研究目标和计划。
我会说明我计划在研究生阶段进行的研究方向和项目，以及我在该领域的贡献和影响。
我还将提到我希望在研究生期间获得的特定技能和知识，并说明这些将如何帮助我实现我的职业目标。
5. 职业目标在这一部分，我将详细介绍我的职业目标。
我会谈论我希望在毕业后从事的领域和职业，并说明我为什么认为攻读研究生是实现这些目标的理想途径。
我还将提到我希望在该领域内对研究和发展作出的贡献，以及我如何计划推动该领域的进步和创新。
Conclusion:在结论部分，我将总结我为什么选择攻读研究生的原因，并再次强调我对所选领域的激情和追求。
创作阐述万能模板英语作文
创作阐述万能模板英语作文英文回答：Statement of Purpose。
A statement of purpose is a personal essay that is typically required as part of an application for graduate school or a fellowship. The purpose of the statement is to explain why you are interested in the program or fellowship, how your background and experience have prepared you for it, and what you hope to gain from the experience.The statement of purpose is an opportunity to introduce yourself to the admissions committee and to show them why you are a good fit for their program. It should be well-written, clear, and concise, and it should highlight your strengths and qualifications. The statement of purpose should also be tailored to the specific program orfellowship that you are applying to.Components of a Statement of Purpose。
A strong statement of purpose typically includes the following components:An introduction that grabs the reader's attention. This is your chance to make a good first impression, so start with a strong hook that will make the reader want to keep reading.A brief overview of your background and experience. This should include your educational background, your work experience, and any other relevant experience that has prepared you for the program or fellowship.A discussion of your research interests. This is your chance to show the admissions committee what you are passionate about and why you are interested in the program or fellowship.A discussion of your career goals. This should explain how the program or fellowship will help you achieve yourcareer goals.A conclusion that restates your main points. This is your chance to leave the reader with a lasting impression, so end with a strong statement that summarizes your key points.Tips for Writing a Statement of Purpose。
How to Write a Great Statement of Purpose
How to Write a Great Statement of PurposeVince GoteraEnglish Language and LiteratureUniversity of Northern IowaJanuary 2006The Statement of Purpose required by grad schools is probably the hardest thing you will ever write. (Incidentally, the statement of purpose may also be called an Application Essay, Objectives for Graduate Study, Personal Background, Cover Letter, or some comparable title.)I would guess virtually all grad-school applicants, when they write their first draft of the statement of purpose, will get it wrong. Much of what you have learned about writing and also about how to present yourself will lead you astray. For example, here's an opening to a typical first draft:I am applying to the Master of Fine Arts program in creativewriting at the University of Okoboji because I believe my writingwill blossom at your program since it is a place where I will bechallenged and I can hone my writing skills.How's that? It's clear, it's direct, and it "strokes" the MFA program, right? Wrong. All of it is obvious and extraneous.The admissions committee knows you are applying to their MFA program because everyone in the stacks of applications they are reading is applying for the same thing. The admissions committee will also know that your writing will "blossom" there since they feel they have a strong program. Of course you will be challenged — all undergrads going on to a grad program will be challenged, no matter how well-prepared they think they are. And of course the new grad student will "hone [her] writing skills" — isn't that the main purpose of the MFA program?Let's assume the required length of this particular program's statement of purpose is 300 words. Well, with this opening you will have used up 15% of your space saying virtually nothing. 15%!In fact, not only is this opening paragraph obvious, extraneous, and space-stealing, it's boring! Imagine who's reading this and where: five professors "locked" in a room with 500 applications. Do you think thisopening paragraph will command their attention? Will they read the rest of this statement of purpose with an open mind that this applicant is the kind of student they want? Will they remember this application later? You be the judge.Remember what you learned in first-year composition? You need a "hook."A former student of mine applying to enter a master's program in library science had a great hook. I don't remember Susan's exact words, but the opening paragraph of her statement of purpose went something like this:When I was eleven, my great-aunt Gretchen passed away and leftme something that changed my life: a library of about five thousandbooks. Some of my best days were spent arranging and reading herbooks. Since then, I have wanted to be a librarian.Okay ... it's clear, it's direct, it's 45 words, and, most important, it tells the admissions committee about Susan's almost life-long passion not just for books but for taking care of books. When the committee starts to discuss their "best picks," don't you think they'll remember her as "the young woman who had her own library"? Of course they will, because having had their own library when they were eleven would probably be a cherished fantasy for each of them!Suppose Susan had written this opening paragraph instead:I am honored to apply for the Master of Library Science programat the University of Okoboji because as long as I can rememberI have had a love affair with books. Since I was eleven I haveknown I wanted to be a librarian.That's 45 words too. Do you think the admissions committee will remember this application among the 500 applications they are wading through? Probably more than half of the applications, maybe a lot more than half, will open with something very similar. Many will say they "have had a love affair with books" —that phrase may sound passionate until you've read it a couple of hundred times.All of us have had some event, some experience, like my student's personal library at eleven, which drives us toward the discipline(s) we inhabit.I was speaking to a group of students recently about this. One student — let's call her Jennifer — said she wanted to get a master's degree in speech therapy. When I asked her why, Jennifer said she had taken a class in it for fun and really loved it. But then I pressed her: was theresome personal reason she found that field significant enough to spend her whole life doing it? At first Jennifer said no, but after more questioning she revealed that her brother had speech problems. This was a discovery to her; she had not entered the field with that connection in mind — at least not consciously. But there it was; Jennifer now had her hook.You have to really dig. Be introspective. Don't settle for "I love this field." Why do you love this field? Why do you want to work in this field for the rest of your life?Why does it complete you? Cut through the bull you tell your parents and relatives and friends. What is your truth? Find it and then find a memorable way to say it. Grad schools require the statement of purpose not only because they want to find about you as an applicant, they want you to really think about why you are taking such a life-changing step — truly and profoundly why.Okay, back to the scene of the five professors surrounded by stacks of applications, maybe more than 500. Do you know who they are? What they want? What they like to eat? Obviously, no. Conversely, do they know you? Well, no. But ... the statement of purpose is your chance to help them get to know you! Your statement of purpose should portray you as a person, not just an application among hundreds of others. Not just paper and ink.Here's one way to do it. When I was an undergrad senior first applying for grad schools, I knew a grad student —I'll call him Nigel —who told me he had written a three-sentence statement of purpose to get into Stanford:I want to teach English at the university level. To do this, Ineed a PhD. That is why I am applying.That was the whole thing. That's only half of 45 words. It certainly portrays Nigel as brash, risk-taking, no-nonsense, even arrogant. If this is how you want to portray yourself, then by all means do this. But you should also know that Nigel's statement of purpose is an all-or-nothing proposition. You can bet there will be members of probably any admissions committee who will find Nigel's statement of purpose offensive, even disrespectful. And they might not want such a student at their school. But then I suppose Nigel wouldn't want to be a student at that school, either.Try to make your paper-and-ink self come alive. Don't just say, "I used to work on an assembly line in a television factory, and one day I decided that I had to get out of there, so I went to college to save my own life." How about this: "One Thursday, I had soldered the 112th green wire on the same place on the 112th TV remote, and I realized the solder fumes wererotting my brain. I decided college would be my salvation." Both 35 words. Which narrative do you think will keep the admissions committee reading?Tell stories (briefly). Use vivid language. Be specific. Be dynamic. Liven up a moment in the lives of those five professors trapped with those 500 applications. Maybe 600. Maybe more.At the same time, be careful not to be glib. Don't be slick. Don't write your application in a sequence of haiku. Don't put in photos. Just be yourself, but a more heightened version of yourself in words (since face-to-face nuance and gestures won't be there to help).Remember your statement of purpose should portray you as (1) passionately interested in the field; (2) intelligent; (3) well-prepared academically and personally; (4) able to take on the challenges of grad school; (5) able to have rapport with professors and fellow grad students —in other words, collegial; (6) able to finish the graduate degree in a timely fashion; and (7) a potentially outstanding representative of that grad school in your future career.That's a lot to cover in a few hundred words (the length of a statement purpose, as required by different schools, tends to be around 300 to 1000 words). "Passionate interest in the field" will be covered by the kind of hook I have described above. "Intelligence" will be conveyed by the overall writing, organization, expression, etc. of your statement. Being "well-prepared" can be demonstrated by using the lingo of the field (theory, craft, etc.), describing the specific kinds of coursework and other accomplishments you have in the field. Ability "to take on the challenges of grad school" can be shown by describing the rigor of the work you have done. "Collegiality" is not particularly important but is nevertheless a factor —if you can show yourself as a generally nice and cooperative person, that will do —just be true to your own style. Ability "to finish the graduate program" can be conveyed implicitly by your success thus far and more explicitly if you can tell some (brief) story about adverse obstacles you have overcome. Being a "future outstanding representative" can be implied by your being an outstanding representative of your undergraduate school — for example, don't "bad-mouth" your current college or professors.Often, grad schools will ask you to address other or similar qualities as I've listed above. Just use common sense in focusing on each. Don't address them in the same order as the grad school has listed. Combine them; rearrange them; do whatever you need to do to show yourself as an imaginative person, not a parrot following a line of Brazil nuts to crack.If you have some problematic academic background, address that as well to reassure the admissions committee. For example, let's say that you got all C's one semester. Take a (brief) paragraph to explain that you had some emotional setback that semester but then demonstrate how your grades have been sterling since then, and that you now have a 3.83 grade-point average in the discipline. If you spin this well, your story will enhance the admissions committee's image of you as someone with the abilities to "take on challenges" and "to finish on time."Here's an organization I would recommend: (1) passionate hook; (2) segué to your background in the field; (3) specific classes by title and professors you have had (especially if well-known in the field); (4) related extracurricular activities (especially if they hint at some personal quality you want to convey); (5) any publications or other professional accomplishments in the field (perhaps conference presentations or public readings); (6) explanations about problems in your background (if needed); and (7) why you have chosen this grad school (name one or two professors and what you know of their specific areas or some feature of the program which specifically attracts you).I should probably expand on item 7. This is a practical issue as well. If you are applying to ten grad schools, it's a mismanagement of time to write ten separate, tailored statements of purpose. Items 1 through 6 above can be exactly the same for all the statements. Then when you get to item 7, put in a different paragraph for each school. Remember this means the ten statements will all be as long, in terms of word count, as the shortest required length among the ten schools. If the shortest length is 300 words, probably that length will be okay for the 500-word school (in fact the admissions committee at the 500-word place may see you as savvy for not going on and on). But those 300 words will clearly not work for the 1200-word school, so you'll need to expand that one. Don't pad. Find other engaging material in your background.About mentioning professors at each grad school: doing this will portray you as someone "who has done her homework," as someone who is genuinely interested in the field, enough to have done some prefatory work in that area. Don't just mention their names (anyone who can browse a web site can do that). Say something of substance about each professor by name, something that reveals you know and appreciate that person's work. Don't necessarily pick the most famous professor at the grad school; chances are many other applicants will do the same, and the admissions committee members will soon be unconsciously filtering those mentions out. (Besides, the most famous professor doesn't always work with all graduate students or may be out of town half the year, and you may come off as naive if you say you're looking forward to working with her.) Find a lesser-knownprofessor whose work truly intrigues you (and truly is the operational word here). Then say something about what you know of that professor's work — remember that person may be on the admissions committee. Don't suck up — don't be a sycophant. Be fair and honest.Be sure to show your statement of purpose to several professors. Remember they will have different ideas about what constitutes an appropriate and effective statement of purpose. If one of your professors has a connection with a specific grad school, she may have some inside knowledge about what kind of statement of purpose will work best at that school. Make your final editing decisions based on what will convey you most accurately as you see it. Again, be specific, be dynamic, come alive on paper. Continue to get advice from your professors on later drafts.Proofread your statement of purpose. Copyedit for consistency, accuracy, and style. Ask your friends to copyedit and proofread your statement; perhaps you can do the same for them if they are also applying for grad school.Remember that style in writing can be parallel to style in dress: the second affects your image in person while the first affects your image when you may not be present. Leaving in typos and misplaced commas is like dressing in your grubbies for a coat-and-tie / cocktail dress event. Being too wordy is comparable to dressing in an evening gown or a tuxedo for a casual get-together. Being too glib, too mannered, may be like wearing a furry rabbit costume to a party which turns out not to be a Halloween bash. Be careful. Be a perfectionist.Keep working on your statement of purpose even after you have sent it to the school(s) with the earlier deadline(s). You might have a later epiphany about your personal and academic background, your motives for applying for grad school, your long-term plans, and this epiphany may be just the thing that gets you into the school(s) with the later deadline(s).To close, the statement of purpose, in the eyes of Department Heads, Program Chairs, and Admissions Committee members, can be the most important document in the application. Other parts of yourgraduate-school application — test scores, transcripts, letters of recommendation, writing samples —do not say as much about you as a person as the statement of purpose can: your proudest accomplishments alongside your fondest hopes and dreams.Checklist for Writing a Statement of PurposeVince Gotera | University of Northern IowaOrganization ...[ ]A "hook" that demonstrates your passion for the field[ ][ ]Segué to your background in the fieldDescription of your academic background in the field[ ]Specific classes you have taken, given by name[ ]Specific professors you have had, especially if well-known in that [ ]fieldExtracurricular activities in the field[ ]Publications or other professional accomplishments in the field [ ](perhaps conference presentations or public readings)Explanations about problems in background (if needed)[ ]Explanation of why you have chosen the specific grad school[ ][ ]Mention one or two professors in that school and what you know of and appreciate about their workSpecific features of the grad program which attract you[ ][ ]Get advice from several of your professors —philosophical advice as well as specific writing adviceProofread and copyedit; ask friends to proofread and copyedit as well [ ][ ]Keep working on the statement of purpose, even after you have already sent it to school(s) with earlier deadline(s)。
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Statement of PurposeApplicant: (Name of Student)Proposed Department and Degree: Ph.D. in Computer ScienceSemester and year that the student is applying for: Fall Semester, 2001Introduction and Undergraduate BackgroundAs an applicant to Carnegie Mellon University's doctoral program in Computer Science, I am very glad to have an opportunity in introducing my study objectives to you.I received a B.S. degree from Yeungnam University, which is considered to be among the best engineering schools in South Korea, in February 1996.I majored in Computer Engineering. Throughout four undergraduate courses, I completed the several fundamental courses related to both software and hardware areas of research. The courses were as follows: Operating Systems, Data Structures, Numerical Analysis, Mathematics, Engineering Mathematics, Compilers, Software Engineering, Programming Languages and Practice, DBMS, System Programming and Practice, Data Communication, Digital Logic Design, Microprocessor Laboratory and VLSI System Design. Moreover, as a term project, I designed an 8-Bit microprocessor.Work ExperiencesMy work experience started in 1996. I was employed at the Business Communication R&D group in Samsung Electronics company. Samsung is one of the top research &development company in several business areas in South Korea, and in the telecommunications and semiconductor sectors in the international economy. I was assigned to the Business Communication Developing team at Samsung and developed DBMS of the digital Keyphone switching system. Due to the characteristics of the Keyphone exchange system, we did not use a commercial DBMS product. I developed a DBMS product, using HP UNIX and C languages in two years and six months. The management's strategy at Samsung Electronics was in supporting wireless telecommunications technology as one of major information & communication business areas. I was selected as one of the most qualified engineers to join the Wireless Communication Development group in July 1998.The wireless team was developing CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) and GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) cellular phones. I was assigned to the GSM team. My job was developing a GSM cellular phone, whichused satellite communications technology. As a preceding project of developing a cellular telephone that uses satellite telecommunication technology, we developed GSM/DCS dual band cellular telephone (SGH-2200). In this project, I developed a MMI (Man Machine Interfaces) of SGH-2200 using Visual Basic for the menu frame and Borland C++ for the main modules.I also developed a GINI debugging tool that analyzed the content of signals between phone and base stations in a GSM network. Moreover, I went on business trips to Europe to test our product in the field where service providers operate GSM networks, and on these business trips, I acquired practical experience in the field.While developing telecommunication network systems in several countries, I was strongly motivated in applying both theory and practice in research. For example, I learned about the relevant theories in university and acquired the professional and technical skills in designing and implementing products in the field. While doing so, I realized that I wanted to increase and deepen my knowledge in computer science. Therefore, I decided to leave Samsung in August 1999 and work as a researcher at the KwangJu Institute of Science and Technology (K-JIST).Graduate StudiesIn September 1999, I was enrolled in graduate courses as a full time student at K-JIST. K-JIST is a fully government supported research institute of higher education and a cutting edge of research center in South Korea. K-JIST is a leading research institute of higher education for the following reasons. The ratio of students to professors is 5:1; Graduate students are few in number and high in international academic standards Research is conducted in conjunction with industrial and governmental support and acts as a catalyst in the technology transfer process.Since the medium of instruction at K-JIST is English, and we study with both international students and faculty, I enhanced my English writing and conversation skills. I completed both intermediate and advanced technical writing and English conversation courses. English skills specific to professional communications and science and technical subjects were acquired inK-JIST 's English for Science and Technology (EST) language program.My academic interests were distributed systems and mobile software agent. I completed related courses such as Advanced Discrete Mathematics, Distributed Algorithms, Distributed and Parallel Computing, DatabaseDesign, Selected Topics on Distributed Systems, Concurrent System Theory.I received both praise and strong support from my professors in these areas of research.Research and Project ExperienceMy research interests are designing distributed systems and mobile software agents. For example, I was assigned to do a project in designing and implementing a mobile agent system. The project was one of the projects of KOSEF (Korea Science and Engineering Foundation) and it was entitled "X-MAS: Mobile Agent Platform for Workflow systems" (July 1998). I designed and implemented an inter-agent communication infrastructure using Java software. After that, I wrote a thesis about my research result and it was entitled "Design of Inter-Agent Communication Infrastructure for Agent-based Workflow System" (April 2000). The thesis was accepted by KIPS (Korea Information Processing Society) in a Spring Conference (April 2000) and I received the top award.Research Interests and Specific GoalAfter considering my interests and reviewing all information about departments of computer science in several universities, I decided to apply to Carnegie Mellon University's doctoral program leading to a Ph.D. degree at Carnegie Mellon University. Professor M. Satyanarayanan's current research interests and projects are very likely to meet my expectations regarding a Ph.D. research project.My research interests are as follows:1) Mobility and Scalability in distributed systems2) Reliable distributed file system3) High-performance distributed computingAs a computer engineer, I have a strong background in computer science, professional and technical skills in programming and about four year's development experiences in the field. As a researcher, I have a strong theory base in distributed systems and project experiences in design and implementation of mobile agent systems. I am familiar with all the fundamentals and practical experiences in my research field.What I hope to gain from doctoral studies at Carnegie Mellon University is an acquisition of advanced knowledge and the ability to carry out independent research. Upon completion of my Ph.D. degree, I willseek to pursue my studies with the aim of applying my knowledge towards the solution of specific problems in the field of distributed systems at Carnegie Mellon University, or another research institute. It is my hope that my participation in relevant research projects will contribute in the development of new and significant knowledge in the field of information and communications technology.I appreciate your attention and consideration in reading this statement.Sincerely yours,。