You need to go to graduate school

Black Collegian, Oct 1998 by Rovaris, Dereck J Sr

When requesting these letters, always remember that they are just that- requests. They should therefore be requested courteously and thoughtfully. This means that you approach your faculty members early and that you provide them with enough information so that they effectively transmit their opinion of your potential. Follow up to make sure that they have mailed your recommendations and thank them in writing once they have done so. By all means, let them know when you get accepted and keep them informed of your plans.

IV. Write a statement of purpose and have it critiqued. The statement of purpose often distinguishes the winners and the losers. Those who get accepted almost always have better statements of purpose than those who do not. What makes for a good statement is its overall quality and its clear indication of potential for graduate study. A good statement will be concise: It says what you have to say as efficiently as possible (most are 1 to 1 1/2 pages). It is organized: Your essay is well thought out and structured. Working from an outline will help. It is clear: It says exactly what you want it to say without ambiguous references. It is honest: In it you do not pretend to be who you are not, but neither do you sell yourself short. It is personal: It is uniquely yours; it is a statement about you. You do not talk about the general, but about your specific interests. It is positive: It sells you by using positive attributes. It does not dwell on negatives like low grades or test scores.

What is included in a statement of purpose varies from school to school. Be sure to read each application carefully and provide the specific information requested. Typically you are asked to include answers to most of the following: why do you want to get a graduate degree? What are your specific goals for graduate study? How have you been academically prepared for these goals? What are your goals beyond graduate study. What tangible experiences helped prepare you (research projects, internships, professional and volunteer experiences, publications, exchange programs, etc.)? Why should you be admitted?

Address the individual requests of each school, so write a slightly different statement for each school to which you apply. Mention strengths, faculty members with whom you would like to work, or other reasons for selecting that particular school. Make sure your statement is personal and specific (e.g., "My desire to attend your university is based on the national reputation of your accounting program.") and make sure that it accurately reflects your understanding of the program and how it matches your academic plans.

Upon completion of your statement, show it to a friend and let them critique it. Ask whether it makes sense and whether it accurately reflects you. Correct it and then show it to a faculty member. Ask the same questions. Inquire about punctuation and grammar. Revise it, if necessary, and have it proofed one last time. Once you are satisfied, include it with the rest of your application. This process may seem tedious for a one-page statement, but you will seldom be asked to write a more important statement.