by Lira Djuraeva Director of Advising and Career Services Advising and Career Services Build your Future “The elevator to success is out of order. You’ll have to use the stairs... one step at a time” Joe Girard

by Lira Djuraeva Director of Advising and Career Services Writing a Statement of Purpose for Grad School Failure to prepare is preparing to fail. Benjamin Franklin

by Lira Djuraeva Director of Advising and Career Services What is statement of purpose? SOP content Making your SOP unforgettable Other useful tips in writing a winning SOP Statement of Purpose

by Lira Djuraeva Director of Advising and Career Services What is SOP? A letter that defines: –Your reasons to go for Grad School –Your interest in this particular major –Your future aspirations –Your personality – skills, strengths, qualities relevant to succeed in GS

by Lira Djuraeva Director of Advising and Career Services SOP is NOT The story of your life Your resume in prose Research paper for a professor (but!) Lecture for a reader List of your achievements Course paper in your major

by Lira Djuraeva Director of Advising and Career Services Before writing SOP Define your goals and aspirations Articulate your potential research interests Make them clear and logical Research and choose program and school Find out about the school and program as much as possible

by Lira Djuraeva Director of Advising and Career Services SOP content Pre-Opening part must be eye catching! Opening part: –Introducing yourself –General reasons for pursuing GS –Importance of GS for you

by Lira Djuraeva Director of Advising and Career Services SOP content Main part: –Explanation for choosing this field –Motivations –Relevance of Undergrad Studies to GS –Specific experience relevant or inspiring for GS –Other relevant info: public service, social life, extracurricular activities, awards, honors, etc –Your background (couple of sentences)

by Lira Djuraeva Director of Advising and Career Services SOP content Closing part: –Strong impression –Link it to the opening part –Keep the unifying theme –Show your match to the school and the program –Convince the reader that you will succeed in GS, that you are prepared for advanced academic work

by Lira Djuraeva Director of Advising and Career Services Unforgettable SOP Make your SOP personalized: –Personal approach –Attitude towards the field of study –Writing style –Think critically while writing –Use appropriate vocabulary –Think of what you can offer the program in return

by Lira Djuraeva Director of Advising and Career Services Unforgettable SOP Detail, specificity, and concrete examples will make your essay distinctive and interesting

by Lira Djuraeva Director of Advising and Career Services Other useful tips SOP should be : –Typed –Objective but self-revelatory –Honest –Coherent –Clear, concise, and complete –Well-organized and easy to read

by Lira Djuraeva Director of Advising and Career Services Other useful tips Correct grammar Length – not longer than 2 pages Format: –Single or 1,5 spaced –10, 11, 12 font size –Times New Roman, Arial, Book Antiqua –1 inch margins

by Lira Djuraeva Director of Advising and Career Services Other useful tips When you are done: –Read it out loud several times –Spell check and proof read –Ask faculty member, career counselor, someone from the family, friend, colleague to check it for you –Make sure you like the way it sounds –Be confident in yourself!

by Lira Djuraeva Director of Advising and Career Services Useful links /articles/grad/gradessaysecrets.htmlhttp://education.yahoo.com/college/essentials /articles/grad/gradessaysecrets.html /articles/grad/writing-statement-of- purpose.htmlhttp://education.yahoo.com/college/essentials /articles/grad/writing-statement-of- purpose.html s.aspxhttp:// s.aspx

by Lira Djuraeva Director of Advising and Career Services Questions… Thank you !

by Lira Djuraeva Director of Advising and Career Services Good luck!