Statement of Interest/
Research Proposal
Audience, Context, Purpose
Purpose
• Why do you want to go to grad school?
• What field are you interested in? (hint:
what paper, or course, or project did you
enjoy most? That’s likely the field you
want)
• You need to need to know this in order to
write the proposal in the language of the
field
Audience
• You will be writing for a committee that
has to view hundreds of applications. Be
sure yours uses clear, concise language,
uses the language of your field and
discipline, shows knowledge of the field
and the department to which you are
applying.
• Note professors you can work with in the
program.
Context
(how to tell them about you)
DO
• Be objective, yet self-revelatory. Write directly and in a
straightforward manner that tells about your experience and what it
means to you.
• Form conclusions that explain the value and meaning of your
experience, such as what you learned about yourself and your field
and your future goals. Draw your conclusions from the evidence
your life and academic experience provides (courses, research,
presentations, awards)
• Be specific. Document your conclusions with specific instances. Get
to the point early on and catch the attention of the reader.
• FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS!
(Thanks to the Berkeley Career Centre for some of this info)
Don’t
Use the "what I did with my life" approach.
Use the "I've always wanted to study/research
_____" approach.
Use a catalog of achievements. This is only a list
of what you have done, and tells nothing about you
as a person.
Lecture the reader. For example, you should not
write a statement such as
“communication/research skills are important in
this field." Any graduate admissions committee
member knows that.
Every time you use one of the words, you must
provide explanation and evidence as support
significant
interesting
challenging
satisfying/satisfaction
Appreciate
Invaluable
exciting/excited
enjoyable/enjoy
feel good
appealing to me
appealing aspect
it's important
I can contribute
meant a lot to me
stimulating
incredible
gratifying
fascinating
meaningful
helping people
I like it
ASK MANY
PROFESSORS
AND FRIENDS IN
GRAD SCHOOL TO
COMMENT ON
YOUR
STATEMENT.
DO NOT USE ALL
SUGGESTIONS;
CHOOSE WISELY.
Reminder about References
• Ask profs to write on your behalf with
whom you have taken more than one
class (preferably)
• Ask well in advance of the application due
date
• Send all info your referee might need plus
instructions for submitting the letter
Feel free to contact me
sarahumphreys@trentu.ca