newellrd

I am preparing my PhD statement of purpose and cannot decide which is better - starting it with my professional anecdotes or stating my research questions in the first sentence? After weeks of rewriting and rewriting, I decided to take the latter (starting with "the key research questions that I want to address through my PhD ~") but am afraid if it sounds less persuasive and comfortable to read. However, if I take the former approach, it gets too lengthy... Just wonder which approach most of you take for your successful PhD statement of purpose, it would be VERY HELPFUL and APPRECIATED if you could kindly share the first sentence or the first paragraph of yours, if possible. Thank you!

Hi all, I am eager to start my PhD after 6 years of working in the field. Will be appreciated if you can take a quick look and frankly tell me whether I will be getting into a PhD program at top 10 policy schools in the USA. - BA in History & Economics at No.1 school in my home country (GPA 3.9 out of 4.3) / MA in Policy Studies at Stanford (GPA 3.8 out of 4.0) - 6 years of working experience as equity/credit analyst in the financial industry; I have been covering social issues (related to workers) out of ESG (environmental, social, and government) risks facing companies while focusing on consumer/retail/e-commerce sectors, from which my area of interest has derived. - GRE: reading/writing above 85%, quant 98% (plan to take a test again to make it better if required) - No publications. Outstanding thesis award at undergrad. No MA thesis (policy project, instead) but one thesis-like writing sample for which a professor would write a letter. Another writing sample where I did quantitative/empirical research to prove my relevant knowledge. - Recommendation letters from professors - assistant professors at top tier school and one full professor at university in my home country. I could not secure recommendations from well-known, full professors at top tier but plan to rather seek recommendations from those who I've closely worked with and are willing to write some detailed comments about me. - I am thinking of applying for top policy schools in the US (Chicago Harris, Berkeley Goldman, Duke Sanford, etc.) as well as some other schools with faculty/programs that are relevant to my area of interest (Wharton business ethics, MIT institute for work and employment, etc.). Of course, I plan to apply for second tier to be safe as well. - Will appreciate your frank comments. It will help me see myself more objectively and adjust my application plans. Thank you!

Hi all, I am eager to start my PhD after 6 years of working in the field. Will be appreciated if you can take a quick look and frankly tell me whether I will be getting into a PhD program at top 10 policy schools in the USA. - BA in History & Economics at No.1 school in my home country (GPA 3.9 out of 4.3) / MA in Policy Studies at Stanford (GPA 3.8 out of 4.0) - 6 years of working experience as equity/credit analyst in the financial industry; I have been covering social issues (related to workers) out of ESG (environmental, social, and government) risks facing companies while focusing on consumer/retail/e-commerce sectors, from which my area of interest has derived. - GRE: reading/writing above 85%, quant 98% (plan to take a test again to make it better if required) - No publications. Outstanding thesis award at undergrad. No MA thesis (policy project, instead) but one thesis-like writing sample for which a professor would write a letter. Another writing sample where I did quantitative/empirical research to prove my relevant knowledge. - Recommendation letters from professors - assistant professors at top tier school and one full professor at university in my home country. I could not secure recommendations from well-known, full professors at top tier but plan to rather seek recommendations from those who I've closely worked with and are willing to write some detailed comments about me. - I am thinking of applying for top policy schools in the US (Chicago Harris, Berkeley Goldman, Duke Sanford, etc.) as well as some other schools with faculty/programs that are relevant to my area of interest (Wharton business ethics, MIT institute for work and employment, etc.). Of course, I plan to apply for second tier to be safe as well. - Will appreciate your frank comments. It will help me see myself more objectively and adjust my application plans. Thank you!