BlindBrick 0 #1 December 10, 2009 Trying to write my personal statement for this roudn of apps to ph. d. programs and was wondering if anyone had a copy of one they mgiht let em look at? -Blind"If you end up in an alligator's jaws, naked, you probably did something to deserve it." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AllisonH 0 #2 December 10, 2009 What kind of PhD program? I don't remember having to write one for mine, but I'll look through my computer and see. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ridestrong 1 #3 December 10, 2009 Yeah... they suck to write. Not sure I could find mine, but you can find many generic ones online and then make the necessary changes/additions to personalize it for yourself. I'd keep it short and to the point (about 3 paragraphs) and definitely less than a full page. 1st paragraph: about why you are applying. 2nd paragraph: personal statements about yourself. 3rd paragraph: tying in the first two, about why you are a good candidate for the position.*I am not afraid of dying... I am afraid of missing life.* ----Disclaimer: I don't know shit about skydiving.---- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TiaDanger 0 #4 December 10, 2009 I have my personal statement for medical school if you want it....Its a personal statement on steroidsNo, but really, (I think) it has everything that should be in a personal statement. If you want it just let me know. Your statement should not be dodgy, or scattered. It needs to flow and be succinct. Unfortunately, the length requirement of them doesn't let us say all the reasons we want to go down that future life path, but if you let them know who you are any why you are the one for the position versus every other applicant (i.e., why you stand out), that is a good start. And for the record: the appropriate ranking of cool modes of transportation is jet pack, hover board, transporter, Batmobile, and THEN giant ant. D.S. #8.8 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BlindBrick 0 #5 December 10, 2009 business one, but I've ehard that the format is the same for any research-oriented ph d program. I've found a few online, but none of them really showed how they tied a candidates research interests into the university's."If you end up in an alligator's jaws, naked, you probably did something to deserve it." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SuperGirl 0 #6 December 10, 2009 not sure how much it applies to your field... I'm in computer science... the advice a good friend gave me once was that the statement of purpose when you apply for a phd program should actually be called a "research statement" for the most part basically you need to show them that you can be a good research bitch for some professor in the department for a few years, and have what it takes to produce quality research and therefore make it through the program I'll look for my old one and send it to you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
d16842 0 #7 December 10, 2009 QuoteTrying to write my personal statement for this roudn of apps to ph. d. programs and was wondering if anyone had a copy of one they mgiht let em look at? -Blind I have mine somewhere. It says that I was a young and coming manager for a company that funds them in large amounts, and that I personally directed a considerable amount of that funding, And for those reasons alone, they should accept me. They did.Tom B Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sandi 0 #8 December 11, 2009 I think personal statements probably vary depending on what field you are in. I can only speak for psychology Ph.D. programs which are very competitive to get into and the personal statement is important. A mediocre statement will land you in the reject pile quickly. A few things to keep in mind: 1.It’s called a personal statement but it’s actually a professional statement, don’t make it overly personal. 2. For psychology programs it’s a research statement and that’s probably the case for most Ph.D. programs since that’s what you’ll be doing there. I know my program looks to match applicants’ research interests with a faculty member who does research in that area or at least a closely related area. If there is no one to match an applicant with then again, off to the reject pile. Spend some time on the department website and read the faculty research areas. You don’t what to end up somewhere doing research you have no interest in, believe me you’ll be spending countless hours on it. 3. Most applicants will have similar credentials as far as GPA and GRE, your personal statement is the place to set yourself apart and tell them why you are a good fit with their program and department. I think the more competitive the program, the more important the personal statement becomes. 4. Have a faculty member read it before you send it out. They can point out potential problems or places to elaborate. Those are my personal statement tips. May or may not be useful to you. Good luck!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nerdgirl 0 #9 December 11, 2009 What Sandi wrote. It's to your benefit, if you have the time, to individualize each for each school (really department at the grad level), if the dept is known for something (method, area, approach/theoretical framework). Good luck! /Marg Act as if everything you do matters, while laughing at yourself for thinking anything you do matters. Tibetan Buddhist saying Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
