Comments | applyingtograd: Statement of Purpose Version 2

loveridden88 in applyingtograd

Statement of Purpose Version 2

Oct 28, 2009 15:58

Hello everyone! I'm back and bringing a brand new statement of purpose. If you don't remember my previous statement of purpose, it was posted approximately two- three weeks ago in regards to Langston Hughes' "The Need For Heroes." After receiving tons of feedback from friends, peers, and professors, I decided to completely scrap that idea and go a ( Read more... )

master of arts, statement of purpose, english

Comments 11

homericlaughter October 28 2009, 21:35:54 UTC

(*showing my age) Can you change the font on this to something larger and more legible? I can still read it but it's small enough to make me not want to. I imagine you'll get a few more responses if you change it.

loveridden88 October 28 2009, 21:48:45 UTC

Haha, I do apologize! I hope this is better!

mallyns October 28 2009, 22:21:39 UTC

What the heck is with the yellow?

loveridden88 October 28 2009, 22:24:33 UTC

Ignore the yellow, it is for me. I purposely left it so that I know which professors are needed for which school.

"Also, the section highlighted is to help me distinguish between the professors at the respective schools.
"

Thread 5

homericlaughter October 28 2009, 22:57:19 UTC

In my formative years, reading books was merely a pastime done strictly for enjoyment.

Huh. When I read Goodnight Moon, it was strictly for analysis of the astronomical data contained therein. Seriously, it's your opening sentence so it's the first impression you get to make. I'm not sure how strong an opener "I used to think books were just for fun" is no matter how well it's worded.

I would often wander about with a book strategically placed in my hand.

Strategically? It makes it sound like you didn't think books were for fun, you thought carrying a book around was a way of achieving some hitherto unrevealed but certainly devious plan.

This was my world-a world that no one else could see or even imagine. A fairytale world filled with kings, queens, and mystical beings. I don't think you should say that no one else could imagine your world. For one, if it really arises from books, the whole point is you're imagining something that someone else has imagined before. Maybe passerbys were oblivious to the depth of your engrossment ( ... )

loveridden88 October 28 2009, 23:51:35 UTC

Thank you for your comments! This was really helpful...I think "what sets you apart from other applicants" is quite possibly one of the most difficult questions to ask yourself! Who knew writing the sop would be such a long, exhausting, arduous process?

homericlaughter October 29 2009, 01:13:35 UTC

Haha, well it's only one of the most important documents you'll ever write, so why should it be difficult?

It's something that we all struggle with but it's so important to make a strong impression on the reader. They're reading so many SOP's that all but the most interesting ones will just blend together after a while.

Good luck with your applications!

homericlaughter October 29 2009, 01:24:49 UTC

P.S. Have you looked at any books or internet resources on how to write SOP's? Some of them have some good pre-writing exercises in them that can help you identify what makes you a special candidate.

Check out Chapter 4 in this book (the chapter is online in its entirety so you don't need to buy it):
http://books.google.ca/books?id=g28gN7qo_OoC&lpg=PR14&ots=Ompz7b9MQo&dq=Graduate%20Admission%20Essays%20Chapters&pg=PA68#v=onepage&q=&f=false

I don't think this book is the be-all-end-all by any stretch, but if you do all the pre-writing exercises they could prove very useful in coming up with 'talking points' for your SOP.

I also found this link useful:
http://www.uni.edu/~gotera/gradapp/stmtpurpose.htm

Thread 6