I have been planning a career in geological sciences for several years, but as an

undergraduate I concentrated on getting a solid background in math and science.

After graduation, I took a job to allow myself time to thoroughly thin k through my
plans and to expose myself to a variety of work situations. This strategy has been
very valuable to me in rounding out my career plans.
During the past 18 months I have had firsthand experience with computers in a
wide array of business applications. This has stimulated me to think about ways in
which computers could be used for scientific research. One idea that particularly
fascinates me is mathematical modeling of natural systems, and I think those kinds
of techniques could be put to good use in geological science. I have always enjoyed
and been strong in areas that require logical, analytical thought, and I am anxious
to combine my interest in earth science with my knowledge of, and aptitude for,
computer related work. There are several specific areas that I have already studied
that I think would lend themselves to research based on computing techniques,
including mineral phase relations in igneous petrology and several topics in
structural geology.
I have had both lecture/lab and field courses in structural geology, as well as a short
module dealing with plate tectonics, and I am very interested in the whole area. I
would like to explore structural geology and tectonics further at the graduate level. I
am also interested in learning more about geophysics. I plan to focus on all these
areas in graduate school while at the same time continuing to build up my overall
knowledge of geology.
My ultimate academic goal is to earn a Ph.D., but enrolling first in a master's
program will enable me to explore my various interests and make a more informed
decision about which specific discipline I will want to study in depth. As far as long term plans, I hope to get a position at university or other institution where I can
indulge my primary impulse, which is to be involved in scientific research, and also
try my hand at teaching.
My decision to focus on math and science as an undergraduate and to explore the
computer industry after college has equipped me with a unique set of strengths to
offer this program. The depth of my interest in geology has only grown in my time
away from academia, and although I have identified several possible areas of
specialization through prior studies, I look forward to contributing my fresh
perspective on all subjects.

11 Tips for Writing a Powerful Statement of Purpose [Sample SOP Included] By Jitta
Raghavender Rao GradSchool Admissions 29 Comments Last updated November 3, 2015
The Statement of Purpose is probably one of the most misunderstood aspects of graduate

applications. Most students pass it off like it is just another essay about themselves, and
naturally, write monotonous stuff that doesnt stand out. That is why, the university admissions
committee puts a hefty weight on statement of purposes and their structure they want to see
whether you take the interest in letting them know how much you want to study at their
university. Most Statements Of Purpose Start Off Like This: I am applying to the Master of
Science program in Something Engineering at the University of Example because I believe my
technical skills will blossom at your program as it is a place where I will be challenged and
where I can develop my scientific and technical knowledge. Or Like This: I am honored to
apply for the Master of Science program at the University of Example because for as long as I
can remember, I have had a love affair with science. Since I was a kid in school, I have known I
wanted to be a scientist/engineer. Now, almost 99% of the statements are structured similarly,
and often times, students copy-paste, and edit statement of purposes from their seniors or friends,
making it sound even more generic or irrelevant to their applications. If you want to stand out
from the crowd; if you want the admissions committee to remember your essay at the end of the
day, even after going through hundreds of applications; if you want to gain that extra advantage
by being somewhat special and unique, you will have to draft a great statement of purpose.
Great, but original. Exclusive Bonus: Download the sample Statement of Purpose and use it as a
framework to write yours. How Can Your Statement Of Purpose Stand Out From The Crowd?
How do you write a great statement of purpose that sounds original, but at the same time gives
the admissions committee what they are looking for? Simple. Basically, every university expects
a student to answer to some basic questions that the admissions committee has. They may not ask
you openly, but these are generally what they expect you to answer: What you want to study at
graduate school? Why you want to study only this degree? Why do you want to study at this
particular college? What do you like in us? Why did you choose to study in this particular
country? What do you like about it? How much and what kind of experience you have in your
field? Is your experience related to you choice of degree? If you are already experienced, what
additional skills are you planning to gain from the degree? What you plan to do with your degree
after graduation? Would you choose to end up with a job or take up research? What are your
expectations from both the graduate program, and the university? Would you like to study or do
research under any particular professor? If yes, why only them? How can you contribute to our
university and our program? What specific skills do you bring to the table? Apart from work and
education, what are your hobbies, interests, and habits? What are you like, as a person? What do
you understand about our student community and culture? Why do you think you will fit in?
What is that one unique aspect/characteristic about you that we should know? Why does it matter
to us or to the fellow students of your class? Now, these are the questions you will have to
consider before starting off with your statement of purpose. Write down answers separately to
each of the questions asked above, and try to build a story that the admissions committee would
love to read. Remember, unlike an MBA program, you wont be having any personal interviews
for a graduate program, so the only way to impress the admissions officers is by telling your
story through the statement of purpose. You will have to convey your story in the best possible
way, such that the committee finds you interesting enough. And if you are interesting enough to
them, you will end up with not only an admission, but also a decent scholarship as well.
Strategies to Write a Powerful Statement of Purpose It is important that you follow a specific
strategy when it comes to drafting your statement of purpose. Though most students write
whatever comes to their mind, or whatever they see on the internet, you are not most people. You
would want your statement of purpose to sound brilliant, and original. And for that, youll need

some strategies. 1. Write Stories. Not Statements If given a choice, would you prefer reading a
novel or a newspaper? A novel, without a doubt. Do you know why? Because while a newspaper
gives you mere news and some eye-catching headlines, a novel tells you a story; a beautifully
written piece of literature that you will be emotionally connected to. It brings those humanly
feelings out of you, and involves you in its storyline. You imagine yourself in place of the
narrator/character, and understand why he/she has done that, or taken such decisions. We
remember stories much easier than statements. Because stories connect to us, statements dont.
For example, most people say this: I used to work in a multinational software company in the
development team, and I had to do the same job every day: code stuff. There was nothing new
for me to learn at work, and there was nothing very exciting about going to the office. One day I
decided that I had to get out of there, so I applied to college to study higher courses and get a
better job. Doesnt that sound like most stories? Albeit, a very normal story? Instead, how about
saying this: Late in the night one Monday, I had found myself in the middle of a deserted office,
and fifteen thousand lines of code. Full of caffeine in my bloodstream, and an empty life beyond
office, I realized that the computers started coding my brain, and controlling my life. No longer
wanting to let the machines feed on me, I decided that college would be my salvation. Both the
stories come to about four lines. But which narrative do you think will keep the admissions
committee reading? Which story do you think will be remembered by them even after reading
5000 applications? Think again. Do you want your statement of purpose to read like a novel or a
newspaper? If the former is your answer, then you need to put in a lot of effort to tell your story.
Think about why you want to study what you want to study. Is there a strong reason behind it?
Is the reason emotional, economical, or any other? Think hard, and you will find a connection.
The reason might not seem obvious in plain sight, but when you think hard enough, you will
understand that there is strong reason why you want to study a particular course/degree. Now,
when you have found this strong reason, tell it as a story. Write a short, but great narrative about
what made you make this choice. About why you have chosen to study this course at this
university. Impress the committee with your creative storyline, and you will reap the benefits big
time. 2. Quantify Your Stories Even though we asked you to write a story, you will have to
remember that your story should not read like a thesis. It should rather serve as the best source of
information about you. And when it comes to information, numbers play a key role. Your story
should be not only qualitative, but also quantitative. Which means, your story must contain
measurable quantities instead of just stories, so the reader can understand the depth of it. For
example, if you have worked for a local NGO teaching math to primary kids, you could say:
During my engineering days, I helped a local NGO by joining as a math tutor, where I taught
basic math concepts to school children. Now even though this sounds really good, it doesnt
give the reader the entire picture and they certainly do not know how much of an impact you
made on those children. So, you could change that bit to something like this: During my second
year of engineering, I joined Teach Math, a local NGO, where I was a part of the Math tutoring
team. For a period of 10 months, I taught basic math like algebra, geometry and arithmetic to
more than thirty 5th and 6th grade students. And every single student I taught to, secured an A in
math that year. Ive never been prouder in my life. Do you see the difference? These numbers
suddenly give a whole new perspective to the readers, and their respect for you is suddenly
multiplied. Thats the power of numbers; they add authenticity, and authority to your stories. If
you can quantify your stories properly, and show the results instead of just actions, the
committee will not forget your name. You can use the same strategy for the rest of your story, no
matter what it is about. Whether it is a research project you did, or a college fest you organized,

or a college sports team you led, whatever it is, add numbers to your stories, and make them
sound more realistic, and more beautiful. 3. Be Specific You have to make sure that whatever
you say on your statement of purpose, you need to be very specific with it. Dont just say
something because you think it will impress the admissions committee. Whatever you say, you
have to really dig into details. Be introspective. Dont just say I chose this degree because I love
this field. Explain clearly why you love this field, what made you decide that you want to work
in this field for the rest of your life, what skills you are trying to amass, why it completes you as
a person, etc. Dont beat around the bush like you normally would, when you talk to your
friends. Dont use ideal sentences like I want to change the world or I want to find my inner
self or any of chose cheesy lines. Just be straightforward and always to the point, but not so
much as to come off as arrogant. Find your reasons and then find a nice, memorable way to say
it. Grad school admissions officers require the statement of purpose not just because they want to
find about you and your dreams. More importantly, they want you to think for yourself, as to
why you are taking such a life-changing step; why you think this is the best thing that can happen
to you; and why you think you truly need it to succeed in life. The why is always profoundly
important, and also an extremely difficult question to answer, which is why, if you can find
answers to all the whys, then you are almost in. 4. Customize Your Essay One of the biggest
mistakes students make is to prepare a basic template for their statement of purpose, and if they
are applying to more than one university, they simply change the relevant names and details. But
the rest of the statement is an exact copy. This is never a good idea, because though they might
seem quite similar to each other, every university is vastly different from the others. Each of
them has a diverse set of characteristics that define them, and their cultures, methodologies,
visions, values, mottos, strengths, weaknesses, etc., vary greatly. These things are much more
important than the departments, or university rankings, or number of Ph.D.s or other
materialistic qualities. So, if you are applying to multiple universities, you need to factor in all
these qualities of every university, and customize your statement accordingly. Mere changes in
names and details wont suffice. You need to tailor your essay such that the admissions officers
think you will fit in well into their community. Remember, every student community is like a
family, and if you give hints that you cannot fit into a family or their culture, you may not be
welcomed easily. Speaking of cultures, different countries obviously have different cultures, but
even a big country like the US has different cultures in different parts of the country. So, before
you begin writing, try and research the general culture within the region in which your target
university is, and learn something about it. It may also help in aiding your decision process; if a
culture doesnt attract you much, then theres no point in wasting an application. 5. Use a Formal
But Conversational Tone Nearly all statements or essays come under two categories: The super
formal, and the super friendly. The first category is when you write a statement of purpose that is
so formal, it looks like you are writing to your lieutenant in the military. The second one, of
course, looks like a casual email to a friend. Now, when asked which one seems like a better
choice, most students say the formal way is the way to go, and super friendliness is a big no. And
still, a minor set of applicants think they can outsmart the admissions committee by sounding
friendly, welcoming, and funny. But, on further reflection, you would understand that neither of
the approaches is ideal. And you are right, neither of them is right. Like we talked about it
already, your statement of purpose should read like a novel: slightly formal language, but still a
tinge of fun and uniqueness. That is what you need. A conversational tone is the best and the
safest way to go. Write like you are talking to someone, but avoid using casual language.
Imagine you are talking to your dean, or the director of your college. What would your language

be like? Thats how your statement of purpose should sound. Now, occasional humor is okay, but
you shouldnt try to sound too funny or too smart. No intentional jokes or funny lines should find
their way into your statement. After all, its a statement of purpose, and the purpose is to pursue a
graduate degree, not to impress people with your sense of humor. So, if what you write brings a
smile on the readers face, then its perfectly alright. But it shouldnt make them throw away your
application because you didnt seem serious enough to them. 6. Decide How You Want To
Portray Yourself. And Learn How to Portray Indirectly. You must see that the statement of
purpose serves as a medium to convey your attitude, your personality and your character. Alright,
those are some heavy words, and it can actually be difficult to them on paper. So, what you can
do is, learn what your statement of purpose should portray you as, in terms of a few criteria,
which tell the admissions committee that you are: Very passionate about the field of study you
have chosen. An Intelligent student who can withstand the academic workload of a graduate
program. Well-prepared academically and personally, and eager to study new courses. Able to
take on the challenges of studying at an international graduate school. Able to build and maintain
a good rapport with professors and fellow grad students. Able to finish the graduate degree
within time, and graduate with a good percentage. A potential remarkable representative of that
grad school in your future career. A successful alumni of the grad school who in the future can
help in recruiting graduates. A responsible alumni who in the future will help raise funds for the
grad school, to spend on research, infrastructure, facilities, student scholarships, etc. These are
basically the parameters that grad school admissions officers look at, when they decide who is
joining their class. Now, I know that the statement of purpose can only be as long as 1000 words,
and that theres quite a lot to cover in that little space. This is where your writing skills should
come in. You simply cant just go ahead and write I am very passionate about the field of study
I have chosen. That is the last think you would want to write. What you should instead write is,
a sentence that indirectly means the same. You will have to choose your words wisely so as to
indirectly communicate your passion. You can use brief examples to show why you are so
passionate about it. For example, you can say something like: My grandfather was a car
mechanic. I remember when I was nine, he took me to his garage for the first time and showed
me how he could repair my damaged bicycle so I could ride it again. When he passed away a few
years later, he left me the entire garage. It was a turning point in my life. Some of my best days
were spent inside the garage, where after coming back from school, I tried fixing various
appliances in the house. That was what led me to choose to be a Mechanical Engineer. The
above paragraph speaks volumes about you as a person and your passion for Mechanical
Engineering without you actually saying it. Any admissions officer in the world wouldnt reject
an applicant with such a deep reason, and such a wonderful story behind him/her. Now,
remember, you dont have to lie. Try and remember stories from your life that have shaped your
decisions. And connect them beautifully to your goals and dreams. Now similarly, your
intelligence can be conveyed by how you write. The quality of the statement of purpose, the
organization, expression, etc. of your statement tells how intelligent you are. Demonstrating
knowledge of the field, and using related jargon shows that you are well-prepared. Showing
what you have done already describes your ability to take on the challenges of grad school.
Your grades and your previous performance prove your ability to finish the graduate program in
time. Being a future remarkable alumni can be implied by your being a commendable
representative of your previous institutions, like your high school, or undergraduate school.
Similarly, you will have to try and represent all the qualities mentioned above in an indirect, but
powerful way. 7. Dont Create Stories. Be Yourself Because we asked you to write stories, there

would naturally be an inclination to create stories out of thin air. Do not do this at all. Write
great stories only if you have great stories. Some people might come from normal backgrounds,
who had normal lives, and probably didnt achieve anything spectacular. Its completely okay. If
you dont have anything great to write, dont write it. Be normal, and write normal stories. It is
better to be normal than to pretend to be someone you are not. The admissions officers are expert
psychologists, and they can spot a true applicant from a false applicant with just one reading. So,
you will badly hurt your chances of getting into your dream school if you try to be someone else.
Just be yourself, and write only about the things that have happened to you, and the things that
you are passionate about. Saying I love research just because you think they will like it, isnt
going to help you a lot. Whatever you say just for the sake of it, wont appeal much to the
committee, as they would look for relevant evidences in your stories and in your past. So, dont
even think about fooling the committee with a false storyline. Try and be yourself throughout the
essay. 8. Address Your Problems The Statement of Purpose is a great opportunity for you to
address some of your problems. If you have had any problematic academic background, or a gap
year in your career, or if you had any work-related problems, you can address them on the
statement of purpose in order to reassure the admissions committee. You must try and be as
honest as possible, and talk about your problems in a matured manner. Instead of trying to defend
yourself, you can point out the actual reasons that led to the problems, but more importantly, you
should highlight how you overcame the situation, and what you have learnt from the
experience. For example, lets say that you got all Cs or all Ds in one semester. This normally
isnt the kind of academic profile a good grad school would want from you, unless there is a
strong reason behind it. So, take some time and dedicate a few lines to explain whatever
happened. If you had a health problem during your semester exams, or if you faced any
emotional setback during that time, if you experience any personal loss, or if you had to take up
additional family responsibilities other than studying, you can mention that in your statement.
But, more importantly, you should not forget to demonstrate how your grades have been steadily
improving since then, and that you now have a decent grade-point average in the discipline. If
you can spin this story well enough for the committee to empathize with you, then your story
will enhance the admissions committees image of you as a matured student, with the abilities to
take on additional challenges and to finish on time, even when things are against you. 9. Do
Your Homework This is one very important point you should exercise while you are writing an
statement of purpose. You should be thorough with the details of all the universities you are
applying to, and list down all the things you like about each university, before you write the
essays. Most students simply write generic sentences like I am impressed by the importance
your university gives to research or I would like to study here because you have 100 Ph.D.s
and 20 Nobel prize winners. etc. No, that is not how you do it. The admissions committee
knows how great their college is; you dont have to remind them again and again. But, you
should let them know what exactly you like about them, that you so badly want to be there. The
specifics are really important. For example, you could say something like this. (Excuse the
random jargon, it is only to give you an idea.) I would fully utilize the resources that the
Wallenberg Hall provides, as I am particularly interested in the field of molecular chemistry. The
special 24/7 laboratories provided for student research on molecular processing is exactly the
kind of opportunity I am looking for, as I could totally see myself working in the labs day and
night. And something like: I especially want to study under Dr. Mark Adams, Ph.D., as I have
been an avid follower and admirer of his work in the field of quantum chemistry, which is not
only the field I would choose for my research study, but also is a topic that I am zealous about,

personally. I would be more than honoured if I can earn a spot in his research group. Do you see
how professional it sounds? Such things show how well prepared you are, and how eager you are
to study at that university. Now, to write something like this, you obviously need to do lots of
research both online and offline, and be very thorough about the college, its facilities, courses,
and professors. Yes, it is very difficult, but believe me, it is completely worth all the hard work.
10. Proofread, Edit, and Re-edit. Ask Friends and Family To Grade Your Essay Another mistake
students make is, they try and keep their essays to themselves. Maybe they are shy, or maybe
they think their friends and family arent necessarily experts on the subject. So they think theres
no point in asking friends and family to critique on their essays. Wrong. Your statement of
purpose speaks about you as a student, as an individual. Yes, there is technical slang involved,
and yes your family members may not be experts on that. But, they sure are experts on you.
Which is exactly why you should approach them. They can not only give you additional points to
add, but they can give you valuable stories about your childhood or schooling days, which you
probably wont remember. Plus, its very easy to say something about others, but at the same
time, its painfully difficult to describe yourself to someone. Which is why someone very close to
you, like friends and family, can describe you accurately. You will get new perspectives on your
stories, which sometimes are better than your own versions, and including them in your
statement of purpose will do you a lot of good. Also, remember to proofread your statement time
and again, and keep on re-editing content until you, your family and friends think you have the
best statement in the world. Remember that your statement of purpose is a literary picture of
you as a person, and it is representing on your behalf. So, make it a top priority to avoid typos,
misplaced commas and semicolons, overused quotes, being too wordy, using too many complex
words and sentences, and being too straightforward. Be careful. Be a perfectionist when it comes
to writing. It shows how much you care about going to a particular college. And, once you are
done with everything, do not forget to ask your friends and family to grade your statement of
purpose, and ask them to criticize it accurately, so you can avoid submitting a less than perfect
copy of your statement. 11. Take Advice From Professors. If you know a professor at your
undergrad institution, dont hesitate to approach him/her for advice regarding your statement of
purpose. They are of course very experienced prospects, and they might have seen thousands of
statement of purposes and students in their careers. So, it wouldnt hurt to ask for their opinion.
Plus, since unlike your family, they are technically sound, they can also provide you valuable
insights on how to project your technical expertise and project works in the statement. After all, a
professor knows what another professor looks for in a prospective student, so it would only help
if you approach your college professors. And, if they are really close to you, you can also ask
them for a really good letter of recommendation. So whichever way you look at it, there are only
benefits for you. Checklist for a Powerful Statement of Purpose Heres a basic checklist designed
to help you draft a flawless Statement of Purpose. Make sure you write in an organized manner,
and cover your points in a proper order. We have given this checklist so that you can write your
statement of purpose without confusing yourself and the readers. Following a meticulous order
like this will make your statement of purpose a lot better to read and understand about you and
your story. Feel free to add anything else to the list if you think it will boost your chances, but
remember to not write too much because you would then be exceeding the word limit.
Organization: Introducing yourself in a unique manner. Demonstrating your passion for the field.
Story about your background or experience in the field youve chosen. Description of your
academic background in the field youve chosen. Specific classes or special courses you have
taken, that are related to your field of interest. Some of the professors you have studied under,

especially if they are well-known in that field. Co-curricular and Extracurricular activities in the
field of you interest. Publications or other professional accomplishments in the field (perhaps
conference presentations or public readings) Any community service or leadership experience
while in college. Explanations about problems in background (if needed) Explanation of why
you have chosen the specific grad school and other related questions as discussed in the
beginning of this article. Mention what you like about the university you are applying for, and
why: facilities, infrastructure, etc. Mention names of one or two professors in that school and
what you know of and appreciate about their work, and why you want to study or work under
their guidance. Specific features of the grad program and the university, which attract you
personally. And why. Get advice from several of your professors, family, and close friends. Ask
for stories about yourself. Proofread and edit; ask friends and family to proofread for you as well.
Now Its Your Turn So, those are some strategies and tips for you to write a powerful statement of
purpose, impress the committee, and thereby ace the admissions process. Make sure you do
every one of these things, and you wont be far away from the college of your dreams. Do you
have any strategies that worked well for you? Do let us know in the comments section. We
almost forgot! We are giving away a sample Statement of Purpose for download, so you can get
an actual glimpse of how the aforementioned tips and strategies have been incorporated in a real
Statement Of Purpose. But remember, this should serve only as an inspiration to your own
Statement of Purpose, but not a source to copy from. Close to 10000 students check this space
regularly, and if every single one of them uses the same phrases in their own statement of
purposes, very soon, everyone will be held for plagiarism. So, try and copy only the framework
and the organization, but not the actual content. Happy Writing!
Read more at CrunchPrep: 11 Tips for Writing a Powerful Statement of Purpose [Sample SOP
Included] https://crunchprep.com/gre/2014/powerful-statement-of-purpose