Getting ready for grad school in the U.S.? The toughest part might just be the SOP (Statement of Purpose). In the U.S., your SOP isn’t just another document; it’s taken seriously and weighs heavily in the application process. It demands a good chunk of your time and careful thought.
In this post, I’m all about guiding you from that daunting blank page to a polished, complete Academic SOP. I’ll share detailed insights and tips to help you navigate this crucial part of your grad school application. Let’s dive in!
If you also need tips in writing an academic CV for graduate schools in US, you should check out my post below.
Table of Contents
SOP (Statement of Purpose) Overview
The SOP (Statement of Purpose) is a type of academic plan where an applicant explains why they want to pursue certain research, making it an important portion of an application where the applicant can highlight their strengths related to their research.
Conversely, from an evaluator’s perspective, it allows them to understand the applicant’s vision, as well as their short and long-term goals related to research.
So, when you’re writing your SOP, it’s crucial to lay out your research direction clearly. Show off your motivation, determination, and the skills to back it up.
In the following sections, we’ll first explore what content should comprise an SOP before diving into the actual writing. Once we have a general idea of the content, I’ll introduce practical methods for writing an SOP in the format generally expected in the US.
What Should Be Included in SOP for Graduate School?
While the content can be freely structured depending on the field and each applicant’s background, generally, the following elements are necessary:
- Field of Interest and Motivation: A brief introductory statement.
- Applicant’s Experience/Career Related to the Field: Research/development experiences that demonstrate the applicant’s capabilities.
- Research Goals: Short and long-term research objectives that the applicant aims to achieve during their graduate studies.
- Connection to the Applied University: Reasons for applying to this particular university (especially if there is a preferred supervisor).
Field of Interest and Motivation
Understanding the desired research field and motivation as an introduction to the entire academic SOP is advisable. It serves to guide the evaluator to the main content before discussing the research goals in detail. Therefore, it’s better if this section isn’t too lengthy. If the school requires a Personal Statement, it is recommended to detail the motivation there and keep the academic SOP’s introduction as brief as possible.
Let me explain using my academic SOP as an example. It consists of 4 sentences, roughly covering the following points:
- I want to research in [field of study].
- I developed this goal due to [past experience].
- Through my research, I aim to achieve [specific goal].
- This led me to apply to [applied university].
I believe this structure allows enough space to elaborate on the main content while ensuring it’s easy for evaluators to follow.
Related Experience and Career
When you’re talking about the field you’re passionate about in your academic SOP, spicing it up with your own experiences really helps to showcase your abilities. This part is key because it does more than just state your research direction; it shows how seriously you’ve thought about it and what you’ve managed to achieve with that drive.
For undergrad applications, it’s fine to lean heavily on motivation and enthusiasm. But for grad school? It’s all about showing that you’ve actually done something with that fire in your belly. Think of it this way: your experience is the proof in the pudding of your motivation. I’ve found some great material from Carnegie Mellon University that explains this beautifully – I’ll be sure to share it with you.
Let’s talk about what really makes your SOP stand out: showcasing your strengths. Here’s what usually works like a charm:
- Got papers published in your field? That’s gold.
- Interned in a research lab? Absolutely mention it.
- Worked in a job that fired up your passion for this field? That’s a story worth telling.
- Bagged some awards that show off your skills? Brag about them!
- Engaged in activities tied to your field? It’s all relevant.
Now, from my own journey, I know it’s not common to tick all these boxes, especially if, like me, you’ve been out of the academic loop for a while. The key here is to play to your strengths. Choose the parts of your experience that really shine and align with where you want your research to go.
In my academic SOP, I broke down my past gigs by field and highlighted my wins in each project. This wasn’t just about listing my experience – it was about weaving a story that connected the dots between what I’ve done and what I dream of researching.
I put a lot of emphasis on this part in my academic SOP. I figured, everyone’s got dreams and reasons, but not everyone can back them up with real-life proof. That’s what can set you apart.
Oh, and a pro tip: Make sure the cool stuff you talk about in your SOP also pops up in your CV. Consistency is key!
Research Goal
When it comes to your academic SOP, nailing down your research goals is a must. But remember, it’s not about writing an epic; it’s about being persuasive in as few words as possible. To really hit the mark, your academic SOP should gel with the rest of your application materials.
Break down your research goals into short-term and long-term. Focusing only on immediate goals might make you seem short-sighted, while only distant goals might lack credibility.
Short-term goals
These are what you want to achieve during your grad program. It’s good to get specific here. Instead of just saying ‘semiconductor design’ or ‘machine learning’, go into details, like focusing on increasing memory density in semiconductor design or improving human detection in image processing. (Just my two cents for non-experts!)
In my case, I zoomed in on Multi-Robot Systems within Robotics, which tied in with my past publications and aligned with my motivation and desired research direction.
Long-term goals
These are your big dreams, what you hope to achieve after graduation. For instance, if you’re into Human Detection, you might aim to make it so efficient that it can work with any standard camera feed, contributing to society in meaningful ways. Or, if you’re into Natural Language Processing, you might want to develop systems that can become essential companions for those in need.
Even with long-term goals, adding some details to make them more persuasive is a good move. One tip? Check out the research interests listed on the websites of the labs you’re applying to and blend those ideas with your own. While you can’t just lift these goals directly, they can definitely spark some inspiration. Sometimes, you’ll find gems on the professors’ personal websites or CVs too.
As you can see in my SOP, I proposed my goals by blending insights from the lab descriptions, professors’ CVs, and their seminar videos. It’s all about making your ambitions resonate with where you’re applying.
Why ‘This School’
Don’t forget to tie your academic SOP to the university and, especially, the potential advisor you’re aiming to work with. This part isn’t just about impressing the admissions committee; it’s crucial for persuading the advisor you’re hoping to study under. But, heads up: you’ll need to tailor this section for each university, so the more schools you apply to, the more research and customization you’ll need.
Lab Search
Before you get down to writing your SOP, you need to scope out the labs in the departments of the universities you’re applying to. Actually, it’s often better to pick the lab first and then the department. Depending on your field, you might only need to look at one department per university, but sometimes the labs you’re interested in might be in different departments across various schools. Since Robotics can be found in several departments, I spent quite a bit of time researching labs. If you haven’t nailed down your field yet, this step can be a real challenge, so it’s a good idea to at least have some keywords in mind related to your field before diving in.
Start your lab hunt on the department websites. You’ll find profiles of all the faculty members there. Some schools list research topics right on these profiles, while others might require you to hop over to individual lab websites for more details.
Take the University of Michigan’s Robotics Department, for example. You can see keywords related to each professor’s research interests right in their profiles.
Lab’s Research Goal
Once you’ve narrowed down potential labs by keywords, dive deeper to check if they’re really doing the research you’re interested in. Keywords can be a bit misleading, and you can’t get the full picture just from them.
The best way to get the scoop? Look up the lab professors on Google Scholar and check out their publications. This tells you exactly what they’re into and how their focus has shifted over time. Plus, if you find a professor whose work aligns with yours, citing their papers in your SOP can really boost your case.
When using Google Scholar, consider the following:
- First or Corresponding Author: If the professor isn’t listed first or last (corresponding author), they might not be as closely involved in that research.
- Citation Count: This varies by field, but generally, look at papers with higher relative citation counts.
- Publication Year: Even if it’s a first-author paper with lots of citations, if it’s too old, it might not reflect current research interests. Aim for papers published in the last 2-3 years.
Aligning Goals to the Labs
Once you know it’s a lab you would apply for, use your research to explain in your SOP why you’re interested in that specific lab or professor. The best way to persuade? Weave a story showing how your direction aligns with the lab’s. Toss in a couple of the papers you found earlier to really drive your point home. Convincing the professor you’re applying to could be the biggest win in the whole process.
For example, in my SOP, I wrote something like, ‘I’m hoping to work under Professor [Name] in [Field] at [University], and after reading [Paper], I found that my research goals align perfectly with their work.‘
It’s advisable to mention more than one professor if several are working in your area of interest. This not only showcases your thorough preparation but also provides alternatives if your primary choice isn’t available. However, limit your mentions to 2-3 professors to maintain focus and clarity in your SOP.
Summary on SOP contents
Before diving into writing your SOP, it’s crucial to lay the groundwork. The key to an effective SOP lies in seamlessly integrating three core elements: your [research objectives], your [previous career/experiences], and the [research direction of the lab] you’re applying to. Crafting your SOP around these interconnected components creates a cohesive and compelling narrative, effectively showcasing your fit for the program.
How to Start Writing SOP
Once you have a rough idea of what you want to include in your SOP, it’s time to start writing. Remember, it’s unlikely you’ll nail it on the first try, and that’s okay. The writing process itself helps you become comfortable with refining and enhancing your content.
While many default to using Word, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it. I initially tried it too but found it challenging to find a suitable template and to give it an academic look. However, if you’re comfortable with Word, it’s still a viable option.
I personally used Overleaf to write my SOP in LaTeX format, and I highly recommend this approach to others. LaTeX is essential for academic writing, and Overleaf is one of the most user-friendly LaTeX tools. It’s not only useful for SOP writing but also produces a format familiar to professors who frequently read academic papers. If you’re applying to graduate schools in the U.S., especially in engineering, you’re likely already familiar with LaTeX and Overleaf, so I won’t go into detail about them.
LaTeX Templates
For your SOP, you can find several templates on the Overleaf website. I chose one from there myself, specifically a template created by Soonho Kong. It’s a great starting point and can really help streamline the process.
Here are the Overleaf Gallery and a template I used.
If you decide to use a template from Overleaf, you can easily get started by using the ‘Open as Template’ feature. This allows you to begin writing immediately with the chosen template as your foundation.
Make certain words variables
Using LaTeX offers the advantage of variable-izing certain parts of your SOP. This is especially useful for changing university and department names without the risk of accidentally altering unintended sections, a common issue with standard Find & Replace functions. When applying to multiple schools, manually changing names can lead to errors, so it’s safer to variable-ize names like the university and department.
The method is straightforward. Simply define your variables at the top of your LaTeX document like this, and then use the variable names throughout your content. This ensures consistency and accuracy, especially when tailoring your SOP for different applications.
\newcommand{\programname}{Computer Science}
\newcommand{\collegename}{University of Texas at Austin}To this end, I hope to pursue a Ph.D. in \programname{} at \collegename.
In addition to the main content, it’s also convenient to apply this variable-ization technique to the section below the title, like ‘Applying for [Department/Program Name].’ This not only simplifies the process but also prevents any mishaps of incorrectly entering the department name. It’s a small but effective way to ensure precision in your SOP.
Applying for Ph.D. in \programname{}
Citing Papers
LaTeX, being a tool primarily designed for writing academic papers, is extremely convenient for citing your own or your prospective advisor’s papers. Let me show you how to do this with an example of citing my own paper.
Here is the link to a guide by Overleaf.
First, create a new file in your Overleaf (or any other LaTeX project) folder. Name this file ‘references.bib’.
You’ll need another file for formatting. Create a file named ‘IEEEtrans.bst’ in the same way. Both files should initially be empty.
Next, go to Google Scholar and find the paper you want to cite. There will be a ‘Cite’ button under the paper listing. Click it, and in the popup, click on the BibTeX link at the bottom. Copy the content that appears.
@inproceedings{ahn2022coordination,
title={Coordination of two robotic manipulators for object retrieval in clutter},
author={Ahn, Jeeho and Kim, ChangHwan and Nam, Changjoo},
booktitle={2022 International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA)},
pages={1039--1045},
year={2022},
organization={IEEE}
}Back in Overleaf, paste the copied content into your ‘references.bib’ file. Then, go to this link (provide a link) and copy all the text you find there into your ‘IEEEtrans.bst’ file. Finally, return to your main .tex document.
\clearpage
\bibliographystyle{IEEEtran}
\bibliography{references}
\end{document}If you’ve followed these steps, you’re all set to add more papers. Simply copy and paste the BibTeX text of other papers into your ‘references.bib’ file in no particular order. This will allow you to easily cite them in your main document whenever needed.
\paragraph{Multi-Robot Coordination}
I published a paper leveraging my previous work \cite{integ} on task and motion planning by extending the scope to multiple manipulators coordinating to retrieve an object faster \cite{coord}.
For citing papers, since it’s a commonly used feature, if you find the above explanation not detailed enough, you can easily find additional resources and tutorials by Googling. There are plenty of guides and forums online that offer step-by-step instructions and tips for citing papers in LaTeX using BibTeX.
SOP Writing Essentials
By now, you’ve probably got a pretty good handle on crafting your SOP, thanks to the tips shared earlier. Before we wrap up, let’s chat about some key things to remember that can really make your SOP stand out.
Stick to the Script About Research
We all wander off-topic now and then, especially when we’re passionate about something. It happens with SOPs too. My first drafts often drifted away from the main point – the research. It’s okay in your early versions, but make sure your final draft keeps circling back to your research plan.
One thing I noticed is how easy it is to get carried away while explaining what drives your research. You start with your motivation and before you know it, you’re sharing your life story! While these personal insights are great, they’re usually a better fit for your Personal Statement, not the SOP.
Keep It Concise
Length is a tricky thing with SOPs. While it varies from school to school, a good rule of thumb is to keep it between 1-2 pages. Personally, I found that sweet spot at about a page and a half. If it gets too long, you risk losing your reader’s attention, and you definitely don’t want that.
Flexible Research Goals
It’s important that your research goals align with your past work and the lab’s focus, but remember, they’re not set in stone. Things change, and that’s part of the academic journey. So, no stress about sticking rigidly to what you write in your SOP. It’s all about the direction you’re interested in right now.
Get Feedbacks
Trying to do everything solo is tempting, but trust me, a second opinion is gold. Even when you think you’ve nailed it, someone else might spot something you missed. Sharing your work might feel a bit awkward, but it’s so worth it. Just be careful not to over-edit based on one person’s feedback – you want to keep your own voice.
Use Writing Aids
Writing in English can be tough, even for native speakers. To convince the admissions committee, aim for top-notch writing. ChatGPT can help draft your ideas, and tools like Grammarly, which I personally invested in, are great for polishing up your grammar and spelling. They’re not just for non-native speakers; everyone can benefit from a little extra help.
Avoid SOP and Personal Statement Mix-up
Both your SOP and Personal Statement are about you, but they serve different purposes. Mixing up content between the two is easy but try to avoid it. Your SOP is your research showcase, while your Personal Statement is all about what makes you unique. Keeping them distinct will strengthen your overall application.”
Summary
In this post, I’ve walked you through the entire process of creating an SOP for U.S. grad school applications, from drafting the initial outline to the final write-up. While some schools might ask for a more free-form SOP or have you input the text directly into an application form, the core content remains similar.
It’s been a lengthy discussion, but the main takeaway is about creating a cohesive story in your SOP. This narrative should organically integrate with other parts of your application, aligning your motivations, chosen field, and prospective research lab.
It’s not an easy task, and it often involves a lot of introspection and sometimes regret. But remember, it’s a common journey for anyone applying to grad school in the U.S., and most applicants go through similar experiences. I hope this post helps you in your application process and I wish all of you aspiring grad students the very best in your endeavors!