The Statement of Purpose, Post-Halloween Edition

How important is the SOP really? An important question, I think, to put things into perspective and to save yourself from potentially unnecessary stress. Based on what I've found, not as much as you think. Okay, so you can't come off arrogant or crazy or unable to write, but let's look at the facts. The first thing the vast majority of the programs will do is read your manuscript. It's something that I've read over and over again from a dozen different sources, and it makes sense as a rule. As a program you'll want to give due diligence to the most important aspect of an application before anything else; you'll want to give talent and ability -- what have you -- a first shot above everything else. Programs want that next star writer, they crave it. If a selection committee has gotten past your manuscript enough to give your SOP a chance, then you're already miles ahead of most everyone else -- i.e., the people whose manuscripts have already been disregarded.

So where does that leave the SOP? I've made it a habit of collecting SOPs from kind souls who have offered theirs online or personally (people who've been accepted and attend programs like Johns Hopkins, Western Michigan, Illinois University), and have come to the conclusion that there are two kinds of "basic" SOP styles. The first kind is the standard "business letter" approach. You state your goals for wanting to go to a particular program, outline your accomplishments and achievements, and mention why you'd be such a great addition to their community. It's a lot like a cover letter for a job, except longer, with perhaps a little more background information. The second kind of SOP is the "story" approach. A little quirky in practice, this method tries to charm the reader with a lot more personal, biographic information, told in a more casual voice. And of course, there are those that fall in between.

Quite a range, as one can see. And yet, all (I have five in total) of my examples of SOPs from ex-applicants are people who have gotten into some very good, reputable schools. I think this is valuable to realize because it shows there isn't a one-size-fits all kind of thought here. The plain truth of the matter is that if a school is reading your SOP, then they've already read your manuscript, and will plan to read your letters of rec, comb through your transcript, glance at your GRE scores. Basically, they've gotten to a point where they like your work, and are past the point of "Is this person talented enough?" and have moved to "Is this person a good fit?" It's an important distinction because your goals and SOP will be vastly different if your primary worry is to impress the committee rather than to convince them that you'd be a good, humble, and willing student.

So. My rules of thumb for the SOP: Be genuine (credited to my girlfriend). Be proud of your accomplishments. But be modest. Be willing to learn. Be generous with compliments to the program in question. And most of all, be honest.