<p>One or two of the schools I’m applying to have the following instructions for the Statement of Purpose: indicate your purposes and objectives in undertaking graduate study, your special interests and plans, and your strengths and weaknesses in your chosen field</p>
<p>I’m applying to a cell and molecular PhD program and I’m not really sure how to answer the dreaded “strengths and weaknesses” question. Any thoughts on how to give it a positive spin?</p>
<p>I think that people should shy away from giving their weaknesses a positive spin, like using the cliched “I’m so stubborn; I never give up!” and “I work too hard!” not-a-weaknesses. Interviewers and admission committees see right through that. They’re not weaknesses, and few people who use them actually have them.</p>
<p>Instead, you should mention your weakness and immediately follow it up by talking about how you are working on that. Like if time management is an issue with you, say it mildly (“I’m currently working on how to effectively manage my time, given all of the competing activities in my day”) and then follow it up with what you are doing (“I’ve begun scheduling out my weeks, setting aside more than enough time for each activity. I’ve also become more selective about the commitments I take on - to make sure that I can give my all to the things I have decided to do.”)</p>
<p>And I would only list one weakness, and only because they asked about it.</p>
<p>Well, I wouldn’t bring up personal bad habits for that question. If it says “in your chosen field” I’d stick to that.</p>
<p>I don’t know anything about it, just feeling in the dark, but I’m thinking for instance, you could have not yet had a chance to take certain coursework or to do research in a particular area that you plan to rectify in grad school. Maybe there are areas where they can already see you are deficient so it is not a surprise to bring it up and address why you have a weakness there and how you plan to strengthen that area?</p>
<p>Hey that’s a great suggestion! I’ll just talk about how I wish I had more coursework background on certain aspects of what I want to study. Thanks!</p>