For many grad school hopefuls, the most daunting part of the application process is writing the statement of purpose. This narrative essay highlights your interests and achievements and (hopefully) shows the admissions committee why they should select you.
If this describes you, don’t fret. Instead, look at the statement of purpose as a golden opportunity: a chance to write from your heart. Use the personal statement to tell your story — to explore the experiences, talents and passions that are inspiring you to pursue the next chapter in your learning journey.
Here, we share some time-tested strategies for writing a great statement of purpose, adapted from our video with Seattle-area writing coach Debby Bacharach. Use these tips to help make a great first impression and increase your chances of getting in.
1. PUT YOUR PERSONALITY ON THE PAGE
The committee has all your grades, test scores and other data. This is your chance to make all that come alive — show them the person behind the numbers! The opportunity is especially valuable if you aren’t applying to grad school straight out of undergrad.
Time to let your personality shine. What inspired you to apply? What makes you unique? What gets you excited? Tell your story: the hurdles, your triumphs and the lessons you’ve learned along the way.
2. DON’T PANIC — BRAINSTORM
If you experience anxiety staring at a blank page, or find yourself obsessing over every word and punctuation mark, try to relax. Instead, start out by brainstorming a list of topics.
Think about different categories: jobs you’ve had, awards you’ve won, skills you’ve developed and other areas related to the degree you’re pursuing. (You can even list categories that don't relate, just to keep your thoughts flowing.) Then start filling out your list, including bad ideas that probably won’t make it into your final statement. It’s a great way to get the creative juices going.
3. GET ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE
Now, let that list sit for a little bit, and then ask a friend to take a look. Often other people can see things we can’t; let your trusted friend help you identify themes or ideas that stand out. These are likely to be the best angles for telling your unique story in a way that will catch the eye of the admissions committee.
4. LET IT ALL FLOW AND EDIT IT LATER
Try some free writing. Tell that inner critic to take a break, set a timer for 10 minutes and just write down whatever comes to you — achievements, failures, hobbies, volunteer work, likes and dislikes. This approach lets you tap into your subconscious and allows powerful images and ideas to emerge. (Remember, this is not your final draft; it’s just a way to get moving.)
5. KEEP YOUR WRITING LIVELY
Once you’ve figured out what you want to say, your next challenge is to make your prose interesting. Just because this is a professional document doesn’t mean it has to be formal or stilted. It shouldn’t be totally casual, but your writing needs to be vivid.
Try using sensory details: sights, sounds, touch, taste and smell. Use concrete nouns — leave out words like “things” and “aspects.” Instead of writing, “There are many things about your program that I like,” try something more specific, such as, “I want to attend your program because of the psycho-educational diagnostic intervention center.” This shows the committee that you’ve done your homework and wrote your essay just for their program.
10 Tips for Writing an Effective Statement of Purpose
Veteran writing instructor Debby Bacharach shares her top tips and strategies for writing a statement of purpose that will boost your chances of getting into graduate school.
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6. FOLLOW THE RULES
Evaluators who sift through thousands of applications may be easily frustrated by an applicant who didn’t read or adhere to their instructions. If the application asks for an answer of 500 words or less, don’t give them 503. If a question has three parts, make sure you answer all three. Following instructions shows that you respect the process, and that you pay attention to detail.
It’s also crucial to perfect your grammar and punctuation. Eliminate all typos, misspellings and other inaccuracies. Get help with this if you need to.
7. SHOW YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROGRAM
One mistake that many applicants make is writing a generic statement of purpose that they can then reuse for multiple applications; admissions committees tend to frown on this practice. Avoid this trap by mentioning why this particular program appeals to you — a specific professor’s research, perhaps, or a school of thought that the program is known for. The evaluators will notice.
8. MAKE SURE YOUR STATEMENT REFLECTS YOUR OWN WORK
We’ve talked about having a friend look at your list of categories or help you with your grammar. It’s OK to seek advice; this is what professionals do. Some people come from cultures where they aren’t encouraged to ask for help, but in this context, you should.
Remember, however, that we’re talking about getting feedback on your own work. We’re not saying, “Go ask your friend the English teacher to write your statement for you.” That’s not OK.
9. GIVE YOURSELF ADEQUATE TIME
If you write your personal statement the night before the application is due, you won’t be giving yourself the best chance to succeed.
As a tutor and professional writing coach, Debby says she often holds four one-hour sessions with students, one each for prewriting, drafting, revising and proofreading — and that’s in addition to the time the writers spend working on their own. Make sure you devote enough time to produce your best work.
10. TAP INTO FREE RESOURCES
Take full advantage of the help available to you. The University of Washington offers writing assistance to all students (including those earning a UWPCE specialization or certificate), faculty and staff. Start with this list of writing resources , which includes on-campus help and online options.
LEARN MORE
Want to discover more helpful content about grad school? Check out our go-to guide for applying to graduate school for links to additional articles.