Writing the Statement of Purpose

Dr. Carla Trujillo

UC Berkeley College of Engineering

THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND:

1. What they read between the lines: motivation, competence, potential as a graduate student

2. Emphasize everything from a positive perspective.

3. Demonstrate everything by example. Don't say directly, for example, that you're a persistent person; you must demonstrate it.

4. You don't want to make excuses, but you can talk about the mistakes you've made as a learning experience.

5. If there is something important that happened (poverty, illness, excessive work, etc.), which affected your grades, go ahead and state it but write it affirmatively; that is, in a way that shows your perseverance.

6. Make sure everything is linked with continuity and focus.

7. 500-600 words, 1 to 1-1/2 pages typed, single-spaced.

ACTUAL WRITING OF THE STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

There are 3-4 parts to the statement:

PART 1: INTRODUCTION

This is where you tell them what you want to study. For example, M.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering with an emphasis in dynamics and controls.

PART 2:

Summarize what you did as an undergraduate:

Important class or classes you took which stimulated your desire for graduate study; specific project or class?
Research you might have done. Indicate with whom, the title of the project and what your responsibilities were. Write technically; it's professors, not secretaries, reading this.
Work experience, especially if you had any kind of responsibility for testing, designing, or researching a product or apparatus.

PART 3:

If you graduated and worked for a while and are returning to grad school, indicate what you've been doing while working: company, work/design team, responsibilities, what you learned.

PART 4:

Here you indicate what you want to study in graduate school in greater detail. This is a greater elaboration of your opening paragraph.

Indicate area of interest, then state questions you might have which are associated; i.e. what you might be interested in studying. You should have an area selected before you write the statement.
If you can, contact the department for information and find out what the professors are doing for research. Are there people whose interests match yours? If so, indicate this as it shows a sign that the student has done his or her homework and is highly motivated. (Be sincere, however. Don't make up something bogus just to impress people.)

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