HELP! University of Minnesota/UMN Application

[hellowhatsnew]

Hi - I am applying to the University of Minnesota/UMN and am very confused about their application.

On UMN's application, there are two different places to include what is differently identified as something like a statement of purpose. On the main page, it asks for "Statement #1":

"Please provide a statement outlining your immediate educational and long-range career objectives in relation to your chosen field. If there is a particular faculty member with whom you wish to study, please give that person's name and explain why you want to study with that person. You may also wish to include other information, such as any undergraduate research experience, internships, or other experiences you may have had to document your preparation for advanced study in your chosen field."

Then, in the departmental section for American Studies it asks for a statement of purpose defined as an Academic Statement: A typewritten statement (not to exceed three double-spaced pages) outlining your interests and professional goals and how you think American Studies at Minnesota will provide focus and instruction toward your goals.) Here it also asks for the CV and writing sample.

I'm wondering if you recall if Statement #1 and the Academic Statement are the same thing?

Please help...

[eklavya]

The way I see this:

Statement 1: Write about your preparation - classes you have taken, research, internship, volunteer work, etc - and how that has shaped your interest in pursuing graduate degree. You can explain about what kind of things you've learned so far from your classes, research, internships, etc and how that is/will be valuable in future studies. You can also talk about why you want to work with a certain prof at UMN. This is a 'in general' type of question.

Statement 2: Now, be specific. Why American Studies, and why at UMN? You should focus 2/3rd of the essay on why are you interested in your program, and remaining 1/3rd on why you have chosen UMN. You can certainly relate that from your course and research experiences, you have decided to study American Studies, and how it will help/keep you working in Ammerican Studies in the future.

There is certainly a gray, unexplained area between the two, and the adcomm might not care that much on how much 'overlap' there is between the two essays. Just try to be original and less redundant in both essays. You'll be fine.

When I applied to UMN, the statement #1 asked to me was the same as yours but statement #2 was about how am I going to bring diversity to their campus. I did not have a departmental section like you do.. most probably because the field of study.

[maximalist]

I applied to the U's cultural studies program (and go here as an undergrad, so I've spoken to a few in the department about the application process) and treated them as the same document. I guess that might be my bad down the road though.

If it makes you feel better, the applications at the U go straight to the departments electronically...within an hour of submitting mine, I received an email from the Graduate School saying my program could view it immediately, and that the Graduate School would enter my application info into their university system online (which, when finished, you will be notified about).

Basically, I worried more about department requirements, as theirs ended up being in overlap with the Graduate School's on virtually everything.