Section 4: Identifying and Writing About Your Program Fit
4.4. Express Interest in the Graduate Program
The main strategy writers use to achieve this third goal is to Express Interest in the Graduate Program.
The purpose of this strategy is to intentionally connect the applicant to the specific program and institution. Importantly, you need to demonstrate how the program will help you achieve your objectives, which essentially shows your 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 to; identifying faculty that you are interested in working with; and/or communicating connections with faculty that have already been established.
In doing this, it is important to not just state the program offers. The faculty know their program, and you don’t need to summarize the program website. They want to understand how you see their program connecting with your research interests and career objectives. It is through this that you indicate your fit to a 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.
