Samples of Personal Statement Instructions for Schools
in the Rocky Mountain Region
University of Montana
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A 100-300 word statement of your background and goals is required.
Northern Arizona University
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A statement of interest (500-700 words of your personal and professional
qualifications, interests, and career goals)
University of Wyoming
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Include a one to two page statement describing your plans for graduate study and
professional career in psychology.
New Mexico Highlands University
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A letter describing your career goals in psychology, as well as any other information
you think would be helpful to determine your ability to succeed in our program.
Arizona State University
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The statement of purpose should be 500-600 words (clinical: 900 words) in length and
should contain a description of relevant work/research/volunteer activities, outline
future professional goals, and state your expectations of the graduate school
experience.
University of Nevada Las Vegas
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A Letter of Intent describing your clinical and research interests, educational and
professional goals, faculty whom you might be interested in working with, factors that
you would want the admissions committee to consider in evaluating your application
that are not evident from other materials, and some background information describing
how you became interested in these areas.
Montana State University
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On this or a separate page(s), please provide a clear, concise 1-2 page essay
summarizing your background in psychology (or related field), career objectives,
research experience, research interests, and why you are applying to Montana State
University’s M.S. program in Applied Psychology. Please be sure to read and sign the
signature page at the end of this document.
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Colorado State University
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A statement of your research interests which highlight areas of research that you
would like to pursue during your graduate training, specific faculty members with
whom you would like to work, and your previous or current research experience
A sample of your scientific writing ability such as a senior honors thesis, term paper
from a psychology course, laboratory report from an experimental course, or some
similar material
University of Northern Colorado
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Please answer the following questions in a 2-3 page essay. Your responses will
provide the MA Selection Committee with a more clear impression of your
professional goals and interests.
A. If accepted, what are your professional goals upon completion of this program? Explain
how these goals developed.
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To conduct your thesis research you will need to request supervision from a
faculty member with relevant expertise. It may be necessary for you to
modify, or deviate from, you first choice interest area in order to conduct a
project that fits within a faculty member’s ongoing research program. With
this in mind, please review the area of specialization and titles of recent
publications or presentations of individual psychology faculty, which can be
linked to at http://www.unco.edu/psychology/index.html before answering the
following questions.
B. What special interest area in psychology would you want to investigate in depth during
your M.A. program? What experiences have you had that have given rise to these special
interests? How are your specialized interests related to your professional goals described
above? Which faculty members(s) have research interests closest to your own?
C. Describe any relevant professional accomplishments/awards (e.g., publications,
professional presentations, research projects, volunteer experiences, etc.).
University of Denver
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Please prepare approximately 2-3 pages of typewritten, double-spaced
autobiographical material which will be considered confidential. If available include a
copy of your vita and E-mail address. (Please be aware that the review committees
may contain graduate student representatives.)
Indicate the source of your interest in psychology and the reasons why you wish to
pursue graduate studies in your chosen area of specialization. If you have had
practical experience (work or volunteer) in psychology, please describe it. If you have
been in another areas of academic study or employment, discuss your change. When
and how was your attention directed to our graduate program? Indicate how the
specific features of our training program would facilitate your professional goals, and
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indicate which faculty’s research interests represent a match with your own training
goals. What are your career plans? What would you ultimately like to do?
University of Colorado
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Clinical program: Your autobiographical sketch should answer the following
questions:
o What is the source of your interest in psychology?
o Why do you want to pursue graduate studies in clinical rather than another area of
psychology?
o Why do you want a clinical Ph.D. rather than a Psy.D. degree?
o Why are you applying to the University of Colorado?
o Which two (2) research mentors have you selected at the University of Colorado
and why?
o What has been your previous research experience? Provide letter(s) of
recommendation from your research supervisor(s) with their phone number(s).
o What has been your previous practical experience, paid or volunteer? Provide a
letter of recommendation from your clinical supervisor.
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All other programs: Your autobiographical sketch should address the following items,
numbering your answers as listed below:
o Describe your previous research experience.
o Why do you wish to pursue graduate studies in your chosen area of
specialization?
o Why are you applying to the University of Colorado?
o Which two (2) research mentors have you selected at the University of Colorado
and why?
Colorado State University
Applied Social Applicants
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A statement of your research interests which highlight areas of research that you
would like to pursue during your graduate training, specific faculty members with
whom you would like to work, and your previous or current research experience.
Behavioral Neuroscience Applicants

A statement of interest which describes how you became interested in behavioral
neuroscience, your training goals in our program, and why you are pursuing a career
in behavioral neuroscience. You are also encouraged to be as specific as possible in
describing your research interests and to indicate the faculty member or members with
whom you wish to affiliate.
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Cognitive Applicants

A statement of interest that describes how you became interested in cognitive
psychology, your training goals in our program, and why you are pursuing a career in
cognitive psychology. Because we follow a mentorship model, you are encouraged to
be as explicit as possible in indicating your research interests and the faculty member
or members who whom you wish to be affiliated.
Counseling Applicants

A personal statement, no longer than two or three typewritten pages. Write a
biographical sketch highlighting your interest in psychology and your previous or
current involvement in research, or applied psychology work. The Selection
Committee is concerned with how your interest in counseling psychology developed,
what you want from a graduate program, and an assessment of your personal strengths
and weaknesses.
Industrial/Organizational Applicants

A statement of how you became interested in I/O psychology , what you want to gain
from our graduate program, and why you are interested in pursuing a career in I/O
psychology.
University of Utah

Personal statement summarizing your specific research and career goals, the reasons
for your interest in our program (including discussion of faculty members with whom
you hope to work and the fit between their research interests and your own), your prior
educational and work experience, and any other appropriate information. This letter is
your chance to demonstrate that (1) you have the prior experience necessary to begin
graduate training in Psychology; (2) you have well-defined research interests and
know how to communicate them clearly; (3) there is an excellent fit between your
specific goals and interests and those of Utah's program and faculty.
Supplemental Instructions for Writing Your Personal Statement: Applicants to the Clinical
Program Only
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The personal statement is a very important part of your application. In addition to
basic academic qualifications, we are vitally interested in ensuring that our students
are committed to and satisfied with both the professional and research aspects of their
training. There is no template for writing a successful personal statement, and we are
mostly interested in whatever information you feel is important to include.
Nevertheless, the following information is often very useful in our admissions’
decisions. As you consider these issues, keep in mind that we realize incoming
students vary in how well articulated their interests and research ideas are. We simply
want information that will allow us to assess the fit between yours interest and our
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areas of concentration or expertise. We appreciate your time in preparing this
statement.
a. pertinent academic, clinical, and research experiences, and ultimate career goals.
b. Why you are applying to a scientist-professional program in Clinical Psychology
rather than (or in addition to) other forms of training in the mental health field
(such as psychiatry, social work, professional schools, etc.).
c. The type of clinical setting(s), populations of interest, and modes of service
delivery you envision working in either now or in the future, and how the role you
have described is important to you.
d. Research topics you would like to pursue in graduate school and beyond, with
some explanation of how you developed this research interest.
e. Any possible ties of your interests or proposed research studies to the ongoing
research programs of current faculty members.
f. If you are not applying directly after graduate training, please comment upon your
activities since graduation, and how you reached the decision to apply to graduate
school in Clinical Psychology. In the event that you have been enrolled previously
in a graduate program in psychology, please explain the circumstances of your
departure.
University of New Mexico
LETTER/STATEMENT OF INTENT:
ACADEMIC MASTER'S and Ph.D. PROGRAMS
What is it?
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Intellectual autobiography that conveys the continuum of experiences and events in
your academic life which have led you to desire an academic graduate education.
What you did academically, why and with whom,
What you want to do academically, where, why, and with whom
Before you write:
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DO YOUR HOMEWORK
Get the school’s catalogue
Confirm that the degree program offered matches your career goals
Review the courses offered by the school that pertain to your goals
Get the names of specific faculty members with whom you want to study
Ask your current teachers if they know any of the faculty members in the proposed
graduate program.
How is it organized?
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OPENING PARAGRAPH
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State the program to which you are making application, whether you are seeking a
master's or doctorate, and in a general sense, why you are applying to the program.
Begin in a direct manner
Avoid talking about personal, extracurricular or family background.
SUBSEQUENT PARAGRAPHS:
Your Qualifications and Background
Describe
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Experiences that have served as a foundation for your future graduate work, how your
interest in the field developed, and how you planned academically for your goal.
Discuss
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Undergraduate studies, in general, and
Your major and any specialization within the major, in specific terms.
Weave into the letter
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Any academic achievements or accomplishments
Specific learning experiences that demonstrate your motivation and inspiration for
continued study and/or research.
o independent study courses or research with professors
o teaching assistantships
o undergraduate research conference presentations
o published work
o laboratory experiences
o research internships
o seminar courses
o honors thesis
o relevant education abroad
o independent writing
o academic honors and/or very closely related work experience.
Discuss in detail:
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Qualifications that relate to your academic goal
Special academic and research experiences.
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Explain special projects or research
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Indicates ability to explore or master certain skills or particular knowledge about your
academic field
Illustrates to the committee that you have
o the initiative and ability to develop ideas
o the capacity to work through problems independently
o the determination to achieve your goals.
Mention special skills
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Laboratory techniques
Computer skills
Foreign language proficiency
Advanced quantitative and statistical expertise.
CLOSING PARAGRAPH: PLANNED ACADEMIC FUTURE
Explain
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Specifically why you wish to attend their particular program.
Specifically how the department's graduate curriculum matches your short and long
term academic and career goals.
Show evidence of your investigation of their program, its faculty and their research,
and their departmental resources and facilities
Indicate how your academic and intellectual interests form a match with the research
interests of one or more faculty in the program or department.
CONCLUDING STATEMENT
Tell the Graduate Committee
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That you are qualified and motivated
That you will be successful in graduate study and research
Summarize briefly
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Why you believe you possess the experience and skills to be admitted to their program
STYLE OF LETTER:
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Direct and straightforward manner
No contrivances or gimmicks
Place central points early
Use active, not passive voice
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Do not use words such as rather, quite, somewhat, fairly, pretty much
Be positive
o emphasize strengths
o explain anomalies
Be accurate and precise
EDIT RUTHLESSLY
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CUT OUT redundancy
Be organized, orderly, specific and concise.
Use examples where needed
Keep the statement to one or two typed pages.
Use transitions that tie each paragraph to the next.
Do not assume that the committee will understand everything.
o Explain course titles and research projects where necessary
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Guidelines to Help You Create Your Personal Statement
Many graduate programs require applicants to submit a personal statement (or statement
of intent, or autobiographical statement, or letter of intent). This activity is becoming more and
more important in the admissions process. It allows you to provide valuable background
information about yourself, and it also provides the graduate admissions committee with a
writing sample. The requirements for completing this task are about as varied as most graduate
programs—there is not a uniform method or procedure to follow. Hence, you need to make sure
that you completely satisfy the requirements of each school when you are preparing your
personal statement. Basically what you are being asked for:
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A statement of your interests in psychology and how you came to have those interests
What your goals and ambitions in the field of psychology are
How the program to which you are applying can help you to achieve those goals.
Osborne (1996) offered some valuable tips and feedback for those preparing personal
statements. As you write and rewrite your personal statement, try to keep these tips in mind:
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Do the personal details I have included in the statement seem relevant to my ability to
be a successful graduate student? [If no, then you may want to edit those details.]
Do the personal details I reveal demonstrate characteristics of my “self” that reflect
maturity, adaptability, and motivation?
Do the personal details convey a convincing portrayal of my abilities to succeed in this
school’s graduate program?
Try to focus on particular educational and occupational experiences that could account
for your interests, rather than personal experiences. Why? Add some detachment, add emotional
distance. With goals and ambitions, try to be as specific as possible. You need to be more
specific that "I just want to learn--I'm open minded" but not too specific, or you won't be a match
at very many schools. The "trick" is to lob your volley—you have some general areas of interest,
but are open to the types of topics that your graduate professors are studying. Don't limit yourself
to only one faculty member—faculty leave, have too many students, etc.
"Fit with faculty" is more important than most students think. You have to do your
homework and find out what the faculty are studying (literature from university web sites,
PsycInfo, etc.). Personalize each letter to the graduate program to show that you have done your
homework.
Keith-Spiegel and Wiederman (2000) found that in the personal statement instructions
that they examined, 13 themes emerged. One point to be stressed—do not write a single onesize-fits-all letter for all schools. Do your homework, and give the committee the answers it
wants, not a generic statement that vaguely addresses the school’s information needs. To help
personalize your responses, you may wish to closely examine the 13 themes listed below. Also,
addressing these issues should help you focus on why you want to go to graduate school, what
you want to accomplish with your degree, and how best to get from here to there.
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Career plans (Tell us about your plans; What do you see yourself doing five to
ten years from now?)
General interest areas (What are your academic interests?)
Research experiences (Have you had any research experiences? What did you
do as a research assistant?)
Academic objectives (Why are you interested in graduate study? What can our
graduate program do for you?)
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Clinical or other field experience/practicum/internship (Tell us about any
these experiences. What types of settings or populations did you work with?)
Academic background and achievements (What should we know about your
academic work? Are your GRE scores and GPA representative of your
ability?)
What do you see in us (Why did you choose us? What can you do for our
graduate program?)
Motivation (Why did you choose graduate study? What events shaped your
current career aspirations?)
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Personal material (Tell us about yourself. What do you think we should know
about you? Everyone has weaknesses; we ask that you discuss yours as
candidly as possible.)
Autobiography (Provide a brief biographical sketch. Tell us a bit about your
background.)
Specific graduate faculty of interest (Cite two faculty members who most
closely represent your own interests in psychology. Whom would you like to
work with in our graduate program?)
Anything else we should know? (Can be a dangerous question—don’t offer
too much!)
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Special skills (Languages known, mathematics or computer skills)
Final Instructions and Tips:
Don't start: I was born in a small town in the West...or…I want to help people (too cliché).
Make sure that your materials are presented appropriately. No typos, no stains, no handwriting.
Have somebody proofread for you (spell-checkers don't catch all typos). Use plain white paper of
good quality. Don't get fancy--print with a dark, easy to read font. Single-spaced, 1 inch margins,
APA format where applicable. Prefer one side of one page--no more than two pages, one piece of
paper (back to back). Always remember to follow the instructions of the school—exactly—even
if they contradict the suggestions just made.
One final note on this topic—be sure to answer the questions exactly. Graduate admissions
committee members will actually read your personal statement, so make sure that you answer the
questions that you are asked. Answer completely and concisely. If you can’t follow the
directions for applying to graduate school, what does that say about your chances for success
once in graduate school?
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