Express Interest in the Graduate Program

The purpose of this strategy is to intentionally connect the applicant to the specific program and school. Importantly, you need to demonstrate how the program will help you achieve your objectives, which essentially shows the fit to the graduate program. You can do this by stating the name of the program and school; identifying how courses, research, and teaching opportunities are of interest and will be of benefit; identifying faculty that you are interested in working with; or communicating connections with faculty which have already been established.

In doing this, it is important not to simply state the program offers. The faculty know their program, and you don’t need to summarize the program website for them. They want to see how you see their program connecting with your research interests and career objectives. It’s through this that you create a fit to program.

The examples below show different ways to engage in this strategy; notice that both examples are specific in naming the program and/or professors.

 

Example
Because of my interests in developing soft robotics and flexible electronics, I would like to work with Prof. Chortos, Prof. Lee, Prof. Blumenschein, and Prof. Arrieta.
Example
As I aim to represent my community in healthcare and medical decision-making, health management and policy courses at Emory University will help me to succeed. For example, a degree in HPM will grant me an opportunity to work with CDC and other leading companies which will advance my acquisition of a public health job after completion of the degree. Additionally, the specificity in management classes will broaden my skills in leadership, decision-making, and healthcare management, which will prepare me for my career goal of being a successful health manager or an administrator. The required internship will expose me to administration duties and roles more in-depth. Therefore, I believe that Emory University’s HPM will add tremendous value to my pursuit of a career that aims to make positive societal changes.

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A Guide to Writing the Statement of Purpose for Graduate School Applications Copyright © by Erin Todey is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.