Writing your way to success: how to write a statement of purpose and study objective

Alissa Harvey

Workshop Plan:
Statement

of Purpose Study Objective Question & Answer time

Meet Julia

Meet Julia
She is 18 years old and lives in Sidoarjo.

Meet Julia
She is 18 years old and lives in Surabaya.
Her hobbies are surfing the internet and fixing peoples computers.

Meet Julia
She is 18 years old and lives in Sidoarjo.
Her hobbies are surfing the internet and fixing peoples computers. She would like to attend college to study computer science.

Meet Julia
She is 18 years old and lives in Sidoarjo.
Her hobbies are surfing the internet and fixing peoples computers.

She would like to attend college to study computer science.

She will apply to colleges in the United States because she wants to work for Google.

Meet Julia
She is 18 years old and lives in Sidoarjo. Her hobbies are surfing the internet and fixing peoples computers.
She would like to attend college to study computer science. She will apply to colleges in the United States because she wants to work for Google.

What must she do?

The Plan
Desire
College and scholarship applications

The Plan: Part 1

Desire
College and scholarship applications

Essays a.Personal Statement b.Statement of Purpose

What do you see?

What do you see?

What is a SoP?

Brainstorming

Think big!

A SoP is NOT

An SoP shows

What you did not say on your resume How your life experiences led you to this field of study That you know about the university you are applying to

That you took the time to write a careful essay

Example Prompt
Honest Strengths Challenges
Write a candid description of yourself, stressing those personal qualities and assets, that you feel will influence your (undergraduate / graduate) work. Describe what you consider to be your most important professional and / or academic achievement to date.

Experience

Start: Catchy Introduction

Paint a picture Tell a story Describe your hero Quote Short, but powerful statement Focus on the field of study

Paint a Picture

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 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 undergraduate work.

End with your goal statement!!!

Start: Catchy Introduction

Tell a story

I remember the day as if it were yesterday. During my second year in college, I was attempting to transmit a group of characters comprising my name from one computer to another. I connected the computers using RS-232 cable, wrote the necessary programs and executed them. I typed my name on one terminal and rushed to the other to see the results. "Wow, this is magic!" I exclaimed as I read 'Tom' on the screen. Now, four years later, I know that Networking makes possible a plethora of applications, from videoconferencing over the Internet to linking banks through private networks. It still seems like magic. Or rather, a grand adventure one that I most certainly want to be part of.

Whats next: Share your experience

What experiences have you had that form your

What experiences can you include?

Personality?
Goals?

Dont just tell the story; discuss how the experience shaped you
Demonstrate that you already know something about the field of study through your experiences

Whats next: Share your experience

_________ Experience: _________ Experience: During my undergraduate studies at the Electronics & Communication department of M.K. College of Engineering, subjects like Microprocessors, C-Programming, Computer Networks interested me the most. I was awestruck by the potential of Intel 8086 microprocessor, more so by the manner in which its faster and more powerful cousins revolutionized the working of computers in a decade. I was now determined to focus on microprocessors during my Final Year project.

During high school, I was fascinated with electronic gadgets. Soon thereafter, designing and building basic circuits started as a hobby. Along the way, however, I realized that the problem-solving aspect of making electronic gadgets was what I enjoyed the most. Engineering was a natural career choice after this.

Whats next: State your goals

Why do you want to continue your studies? What challenges (liabilities) do you still have?

Why will this program help you?

Whats next: State your goals

_______________________: ______________________:

While my present job has helped me develop a thorough insight into project handling, the industry environment that I am currently in cannot support my desire for research. I possess industryhardened skills in Computers, but I must build on these to achieve my goal of undertaking cutting-edge research in advanced computing, with specific reference to Computer Networks. I therefore believe that I must return to the academic world for further growth.

I am applying to Washington University because it is reputable for its research facilities and computing resources. The department web site revealed a very strong faculty involved in extensive research in the area of Computer Networks. This has strengthened my resolve to study at Princeton University.

Whats next: Conclusion

Remind the committee of what you bring to the table Remind the committee of what program you want to enter

Convince the committee that you will be a positive addition to the program!

I bring along a strong grasp of fundamentals in Electronics and Computers, an aptitude for teaching and team work, a zest for challenges and an enthusiastic desire to learn all I can. I would like to take with me, in addition to knowledge of Computer Networks, a network of strong and lasting relationships with my teachers and fellow-students. I hope that my background and qualifications are found suitable for an MS in Computer Science at Princeton University.

Take a deep breath.

The Plan: Part 1

Desire
College and scholarship applications

Essays a.Personal Statement b.Statement of Purpose

The Plan: Part 2

Desire Bachelors Degree More specific study purpose

Graduate school and scholarship applications

Essays a.Statement of Purpose b.Study Objective

Study Objective

Purpose of a Study Objective Essay

To communicate:
what what what

you plan to study skills you wish to learn

you plan to do with the knowledge and skills you acquire

In other words
Where you are Where you want to go

Where your destination will take you

Basic Structure
1. Introduction 2. Clearly explain what you want to study. Give examples Explain the major field of study and the areas of specialization in detail. 3. Give three key reasons why you want to study the areas that you mention in the paragraph before. 4. Explain your future objectives and how your study plan will help you achieve them.
5. Conclusion: state your primary study objectives and

summarize what you hope to accomplish as a result of your gaining the degree.

Basic Structure

1. Introduction

Basic Structure
1. Introduction 2. Clearly explain what you want to study. Give examples Explain the major field of study and the areas of specialization in detail.

Basic Structure
1. Introduction 2. Clearly explain what you want to study. Give examples Explain the major field of study and the areas of specialization in detail.

3. Give three key reasons why you want to study the areas that you mention in the paragraph before.

Basic Structure
1. Introduction
2. Clearly explain what you want to study.

Give examples Explain the major field of study and the areas of specialization in detail.

3. Give three key reasons why you want to study the areas that you mention in the paragraph before.

4. Explain your future objectives and how your study plan will help you achieve them.

Basic Structure
1. Introduction
2. Clearly explain what you want to study.

Give examples Explain the major field of study and the areas of specialization in detail.

3. Give three key reasons why you want to study the areas that you mention in the paragraph before. 4. Explain your future objectives and how your study plan will help you achieve them.

5. Conclusion: state your primary study objectives and summarize what you hope to accomplish as a result of your gaining the degree.

Back to Julia

Back to Julia
1. Introduction 2. Clearly explain what you want to study. 3. Give three key reasons why you want to study the areas. 4. Explain your future objectives and how your study plan will help you achieve them. 5. Conclusion: state your primary study objectives and summarize what you hope to accomplish as a result of your gaining the degree.

Back to Julia
EXAMPLE:

1. IntroductionStory: Proposing new grading software for the school; installation and training.

Back to Julia
EXAMPLE:

2. Proposed field of study: computer science with a focus in social media.

Back to Julia
EXAMPLE:

3. Three reasons: (a) she wants to work at Google, (b) she she wants to design a new social media application (c) she wants to share the knowledge she gains with students back in her country

Back to Julia
EXAMPLE:

4.

Future: Julia will return to Indonesia and teach computer programming to students

Social Purpose= How will the people of Indonesia benefit from your study abroad?

Back to Julia
EXAMPLE:

5. Conclusion: connect it all together and complete the introduction story.

Do:

Have a social purpose.

Read the question carefully. Have an organized essay format.

Write the length of essay they ask for.

Check your grammar, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization carefully. Ask people to proofread it. Do multiple drafts and edits Give yourself plenty of time to write and edit.

Do:

Read the question carefully.

Have an organized essay format. Write the length of essay they ask for.

Check your grammar, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization carefully. Ask as many others as possible to proofread your work for writing stylegrammar, spelling, etc. Do multiple drafts and edits

Give

yourself plenty of time to write and edit.

Do not:

Try to be funny. Flatter the university. Be too arrogant or apologize for who you are.

Use slang, technical jargon, or long quotations.

Use overly common phrases (i.e. Ive always wanted to be a . . .) or use too many common words (i.e. meaningful, beautiful, challenging, rewarding, etc. ). Wait till the last minute before the deadline for writing the study objective.

Do not:

Try to be funny. Be too arrogant. Flatter the university. Apologize for who you are.

Be dishonest about yourself.

Use slang, technical jargon, or long quotations.

Use overly common phrases (i.e. Ive always wanted to be a . . .) or words (i.e. meaningful, beautiful, challenging, rewarding, etc. ).

Wait

till the last minute before the deadline for writing the study objective.

Take-away Questions
1. Reflect on your schooling. What is your favorite school subject? Why? What or who influenced your interest (i.e. academic role models)? 2. Why do you want to do research in your topic (s) or field of study? 3. What are your career goals? Where do you see yourself in 10 years? What do you hope to accomplish? What motivates you?