Statement of Interest - what do I want?

pgbovine
Wed, 25 Oct 2006 17:33:48 +0000

I agree with the above posters.



Is there a significant difference between undergrad essay and statement of interest?



The grad. school SOP (especially for a Ph.D. program) is NOTHING like the undergrad essay. In an undergrad essay, you want to show that you’re creative, unique, charismatic, etc. because colleges want a diverse, well-rounded, and interesting undergraduate student body. For graduate schools (I can only speak about Ph.D. programs from personal experience), they want someone who can do serious top-notch research, so your SOP should show your research experiences and potential.

Also, bear in mind who reads your grad school SOP - professors and graduate students who want to recruit smart and productive colleagues. Who reads your undergraduate essay? Admissions counselors who want to recruit a vibrant and healthy student body.

See here for more details: