Getting Started

Most programs require you to answer at least one essay question as part of the application process, and this usually pertains to why you are seeking acceptance (i.e., a statement of purpose). On-line advice on how to write an effective application essay is maintained by the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Writing Center. In general, your statement of purpose will need to prove your interest in and dedication to the program's area of study, and do so in a way that sounds sincere. Admissions committees prefer essays that reflect a familiarity with the faculty's research interest and indicate how your own interests relate to the work being done by select faculty members. Note: If you find yourself "stretching the truth" in order to convey interest about a filed of study, you need to evaluate why you are applying in the first place

Resources

How to Write a Winning Personal Statement for Graduate and Professional School (Stelzer, 1997)