SOP - Style of writing?

[simmeringlife]

Hi all,

I'm working on a couple of essays for schools like LSE in Europe. I've heard that European schools tend to prefer straight-forward, to-the-point sort of essays and personal statements. Does this mean it is best to absolutely avoid creativity and experimentation in expressing oneself? For instance, I have a decent draft ready for LSE.. but it is in the form of an interesting short story describing a morning in my life. It covers all that I need to tell them about myself and why I want to study with them. But would the style of writing go down well with the selectors? Your thoughts?

Thanks!

[alleycat393]

Hi all,

I'm working on a couple of essays for schools like LSE in Europe. I've heard that European schools tend to prefer straight-forward, to-the-point sort of essays and personal statements. Does this mean it is best to absolutely avoid creativity and experimentation in expressing oneself? For instance, I have a decent draft ready for LSE.. but it is in the form of an interesting short story describing a morning in my life. It covers all that I need to tell them about myself and why I want to study with them. But would the style of writing go down well with the selectors? Your thoughts?

Thanks!

Hiya,

I study in the UK and had my British supervisor look over my SOP and the main feedback he had was that when your applying to Grad School in the UK they know that you're interested in the subject because you're applying-they really don't like the reflective 'I enjoy/got into this because ...'. They want to see professionalism in the statement and want to know what skills and qualities you have that make you a great to work with and that fit with what the lab requires. They aren't interested in your personal life unless it really affects your work and will ask about personal things they are interested in at interview. Hope the info helps!

[BrandNewName]

I studied and currently work in a European university and I would second the comment above. On the whole European schools don't give a squat about your morning or your struggle to deal with A, B, or C as a teenager...professionalism is the way to go. I've found that I grew accustomed to that style of writing quite quickly -- in many ways I think it's much easier -- trying to shift back into a more American style of writing proposals and application essays has proven incredibly difficult. That's neither here nor there though, I would say you should write something straightforward, I don't think cutesy or creative will get you very far with committees in the UK or Europe for that matter.

[simmeringlife]

Thanks a lot for the feedback! I guess I need to redo my essay..

[Paradeplatz]

I'll highjack this thread: How do US adcoms react to SOPs written in this European style?

Because honestly, the Berkeley sample (http://ls.berkeley.edu/soc/diversity/apply/samplestatement-1.html) is lyrical, not really helpful bullshit and writing an SOP in the style of a morning routine or in the form of conversations with other people (other thread)... really?

Can you get kicked out of the competition for valuing substance over form?