Notice in the previous example how the writer intentionally indicates their motivation to pursue this particular degree throughout their statement. The motivation comes from both her unique personal experiences and have expanded into specific research interests and career objectives. By starting her statement by saying “My initial interest in healthcare,” she prepares the reader to understand the purpose of the personal story. This motivation appears throughout the SoP in the form of both her personal experiences, research interests, and career objectives. Do you have a sense of of you might communicate your motivation for pursuing a graduate degree in your SoP?

Brainstorming (Part 1): Take time to respond to the following questions. It might be helpful to remember that at this point of the writing process, there are no right or wrong answers. Be honest with yourself and think fully about your responses to these questions. These notes are just for you; your purpose here is not to evaluate the ideas, but to explore your motivation as it pertains to applying to graduate school and your larger career objectives and research interests. If you’re struggling to respond to the questions, talk through these ideas with a friend or mentor.

This activity can also be downloaded: SoPBrainstormingQuestions [DOC]