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How To Write A Graduate School Statement Of Intent

Date Added: November 11, 2010 03:07:17 PM
Author: amandacooper
Category: Arts & Humanities: Education
 
The statement of intent is one of the most important components of a graduate school application. While test scores, letters of recommendation, and transcripts will show off what the applicant has achieved in the past, the statement of intent is meant to show why graduate school is important to him, how his past work, school, and life experience has helped to shape him, and what his professional goals are for the future. A lot hinges on the statement of intent, so it is important to write as comprehensive a statement as possible. Below are some tips for creating a stellar statement of intent. How a Statement of Intent Should Sound If possible, applicants should limit the statement to one page, or two if necessary. The readers (professionals and instructors in the field) will be interested in who the applicant is and how she can contribute to their graduate program, but not interested enough to read several pages worth of a personal statement. Concise and efficient wording is the key. The applicant should prioritize what she wants the program directors to know about her. She should make sure the statement seems complete, but watch out for redundancies or irrelevant information. This disciplined style will also show the applicant’s willingness to put effort into her work. Tone is important in a statement of intent. A successful statement displays the applicant’s ability to write professionally and intelligently; it shows he is capable of intensive graduate-level work. At the same time, the professors and program directors who will read the statement also want to know that the applicant is a real person. Expressing genuine emotions about one’s graduate school intentions, or summarizing important events in one’s life that demonstrate personal interests and abilities, are perfectly acceptable options. For example, if the applicant is applying to an environmental biology program, providing a brief story about becoming interested in ferns at a young age will provide both human interest and relevant information. Applicants should keep an element of formality and professionalism present throughout the statement, but avoid overdoing it. The statement should be able to be read smoothly and clearly. Topics for a Graduate School Statement of Intent Graduate school is, in many ways, like a business. In addition to educating students and assisting in their research, schools have a responsibility to build and maintain their reputation in order to attract more students. In this way, applying to graduate school is similar to applying for a job. How will the applicant benefit the school? How will her research and abilities help it to develop? How will her future career represent the school? Applicants should discuss these objectives in the statement. Showing familiarity with the school’s program will also indicate that the applicant has a high interest in attending. Graduate school takes extraordinary effort and commitment to complete. The statement of intent should reflect a firm grasp of the applicant's future goals and how admittance into the graduate program will help him to achieve those goals. It should also display a passionate interest in the field and a desire to further the work or research involved in that field. Of course, the applicant may not have an entire professional career planned out at this point, and that's entirely okay. But demonstrating a sense of confidence and purpose regarding graduate school will help to show the school’s professors that the applicant is a good candidate for their program. philosophy essays

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