Session 10

Statement of purpose: on matters of current interest to trade, commerce,

industry & profession, statement writing from given facts & data.

Writing Your Statement of Purpose

Overview What is a Statement of Purpose?

Important things to know about statementsHow to write a statement

Important dos and don’tsThe process of writingReaders’ pet peeves

Some examples of how to ‘frame’ statementsAnswers to your specific questions

What is a Statement of Purpose?

A written essay (usually 2-5 double spaced pages) that addresses a variety of topics:

Past experiences Future goals

Reponses to specific application questions

A reflection of who you are and where you are headed

Likely the most important part of your graduate application… so take your time

How are they used? A narrative format for your experiences (but not

simply a narrative of your CV)Assessing whether you are a good fit

Assessing your excitement for their specific program

A place to (briefly) explain deficienciesEvaluation of your writing skills

A note on the process of how universities often review applications…

Important things to know about statements

Mentorship model Do I need to write separate statements for

each job? Only if you want to be accepted

Can I just change the last paragraph to say ‘company X and profile Y is a great match for

my interests because …’No

Important things to know about statements

Mentorship model (continued)Good statements tell a story, theme, or

focus on an idea/concept throughoutExcellent statements tie that theme to a

specific mentor’s researchThis, of course, means that those who write excellent statements write several different

statements

Important things to know about statements

General model programsSimilar to mentorship programs although:

OK to focus on ideas that may or may not relate to a specific faculty

Very important to speak to interests and match with the goals of the overall program

Your goals should match with those of students who have recently graduated from that program

Important things to know about statements

Remember your reader!Reads dozens of these

Probably overworked, tiredWants you to excite them about you

Good writing requires good editingStay within the requested limits

Editing does NOT include:Changing the font size, margin or spacing (11-12pt

TNR!)If it is ‘a little long,’ something needs to be cut

Important things to know about statements

Balance is the key to good statementsExcitement but professionalism

Detailed but not jargony Unique/creative but not disturbing

Be ‘humbly boastful’ (don’t minimize or overstate experiences)

Excitement … not hyperbole

How to write a statement

Tell your story Grab the reader in the intro – you have only

a few sentences to do this What is unique about you & your interests?

What got you interested in this field?Create a theme or story that weaves in:

Unique aspects of yourself Your experiences

Your goal in their program & your career direction (e.g., academia)

How to write a statement It is OK to write a linear narrative but:

This is not a place to re-write your CVKeep it interesting

Make the narrative a theme – focused around unique aspects of your experience

and interestsWrite about IDEAS & concepts

Consider cutting anything that diverges from this theme, except:

Frame ‘tangential’ experiences (clinical or research) as creating a foundation

How to write a statement: General format

Introduction – opening paragraphGrab the reader’s attention

Begin the main theme of your statementProgram & career goals

Middle sectionExperiences, how the program fits

Mentor fit (for mentorship programs)Concluding paragraph – wrap up themes

Note: This is just a guideline – It’s OK to be creative!

How to write a statement – Other important points

Be specific – Depth over breadthAll research (& sips/ojts) experience is good

experience (even if it doesn’t fit your theme) E.g., “This research helped lay the foundation for my

understanding of…” E.g., “This sip/ojt experience broadened my understanding

of …” Express your excitement about all of your research (and

sip/ojt) experiences OK to express excitement about what you learned in a

course (especially about ideas)

How to write a statement – Other important points Self-disclosure – Do I do it?

Generally not a good idea in research oriented programs

May be necessary for practice-oriented programs that ask for an autobiography or for

some form of self-reflectionBut, be: judicious, thoughtful, and insightful…

Should reflect growth (not an endpoint of enlightenment)

Have others read this closely!

How to write a statement – The process of writing

Good writing is difficultRemember this is a statement about you. It

is not you. Let it go. Ask as many people (professors, friends,

family) to read it as possible Ask someone to read it who does not know

you wellRead other successful statements (people

will be flattered that you asked)

How to write a statement – The process of writing Good writing is difficult

(continued)Reward yourself (internally &

externally) for even a little progressPut it away for a week or two and come

back to it laterDon’t be afraid to ‘start over’

In fact, good statements require several completely different versions

Statement readers’ pet peeves

10 point font or less, small margins Rambling, directionless statements

Statements that are vague and/or filled with undefined jargon

Mentorship model programs: No real interest or statement about working with a specific

faculty member Not responding to specific questions

Typoes

Some examplesWrite a candid description of yourself, stressing those personal qualities, assets, and liabilities that you feel will influence your

graduate work. Describe what you consider to be your most important professional and / or academic achievement to date.If one were to ask my friends to describe me they would describe

me as a very pleasant, diverse, active and intelligent woman. I think one of my most distinguishing characteristics is the diversity of experiences I possess. I am a science student with a flair for the

arts. I am a woman with technical aptitude and an interest in management. I also have a passion for traveling and

understanding different cultures of the world. All these elements have given me a very broad outlook, with varying degrees of

knowledge in a range of topics. I strongly believe that although some are not related directly, all these qualities will influence my

graduate work.

SAMPLE STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: MBAIndia is home to thousands of entrepreneurs. I want to be one of them.My country needs more skilled innovators who can create and launch cutting-edge products and services to keep India at the forefront of the technological tide. But we don't have many first rate entrepreneurial studies programs like those that have produced the top Silicon Valley leaders.XXXX University has exactly the kind of program I am seeking. The Center forEntrepreneurial Studies holds exciting events with venture capitalists and entrepreneurs, offering networking opportunities and first hand experience that I plan to take full advantage of to extend my learning. I’m also very excited by the Global Business Plan Competition. Your business incubator encourages students to launch their own businesses, something that I aspire to myself.

I grew up in a family of medical practitioners. My parents are both doctors who hoped I might follow in their footsteps. Although I heard my parent’s wishes, business has always

fascinated me more than medicine. I have followed with great interest some of India’s pioneering business leaders such as XXXX and XXXX who created successful technology companies from scratch. I look forward to studying in the heart of Silicon Valley where many Indian-born entrepreneurs have launched start ups and others have opened U.S. offices of their India-based companies. If I were accepted by your program,I would aspire to pursue an internship such a company during the summers.Since I completed my studies at XXXX, where I focused my studies on finance andmarketing, I have worked at two successful Mumbai software start ups, XX and XX,where I was responsible for marketing new products to local companies. There I learned what makes a young, ambitious company succeed and how to work with a team to develop innovative products.As I said, my future goal is to launch my own software company, and the best way to achieve that goal is to get an MBA with an entrepreneurial focus like your school offers.I am especially interested in studying with people like <NAME OF PROFESSOR> who teaches entrepreneurial studies. Also I look forward to learning from other students with entrepreneurial ambitions like mine. I believe my experience at XX and XX, coupled with the solid education I received at XX, will give me the grounding to excel in your program. I hope that the committee will look favorably on my application.