Importance of work done as an undergraduate

[waylonrobert]

I finished by BA five years ago. Since then I have been working in the IT field, and I am looking to apply for a MSIT (MS Information Technology) program to further my education and career prospects.

 

I see a lot of advise here appears to be geared towards students who are making the jump from undergrad to grad without pause or delay. What advise is there for writing an SOP for someone like me who has not been in a classroom in five years but has been working? Additionally, my undergraduate work was in a completely different field (Political Science).

 

Anyone have any advice for a working professional composing an SOP? I'm struggling with this and I keep reverting back to the love of computers and technology since a child thing, and while true, I am concerned about it being a cliche and perceived to be as such.

 

Thanks in advance!

[are we there yet?]

hi,

 

you are right about avoiding childhood experiences.  You must have made a willing decision five years ago to switch from Pol Sci to IT, which warrants an explanation.  Your SOP should focus on what you have accomplished in the workplace and how it relates to your intended degree. Do any of your work projects or assignments relate to anything you would expect to study? If so highlight that.  Since you have extensive experience an effective SOP will draw upon the skills you have developed and how an MSIT will further said skills.

 

good luck

[waylonrobert]

Thanks kingofqueens for your response - that's exactly what I was looking for. I've heard differing theories though on the need to explain why you engaged in a particular field in undergrad and then pursued something outside of that field (either in terms of employment and/or education). What is your opinion on this? Do others have an opinion?

[iowaguy]

Maybe instead of a cliche "love of computers since childhood" statement, you could provide a couple of specific examples of projects you worked on related to IT (perhaps even in your undergrad you had some sort of IT-related experiences?).

 

I think you can just mostly focus on your last 5 years of IT experience, and where you see yourself in the future (and how the M.S. will help you get there).  In general, you should be talking about the present/future in your SOP and not focusing much on the past.  So, IMHO, just make a quick reference about some IT experience in undergrad, provide some detail about your last 5 years working (and why it has prepared you to embark on the M.S.) and most importantly, lay out a vision for your future and why that particular university's M.S. program is your best fit...  Best of luck!

[waylonrobert]

Maybe instead of a cliche "love of computers since childhood" statement, you could provide a couple of specific examples of projects you worked on related to IT (perhaps even in your undergrad you had some sort of IT-related experiences?).

 

I think you can just mostly focus on your last 5 years of IT experience, and where you see yourself in the future (and how the M.S. will help you get there).  In general, you should be talking about the present/future in your SOP and not focusing much on the past.  So, IMHO, just make a quick reference about some IT experience in undergrad, provide some detail about your last 5 years working (and why it has prepared you to embark on the M.S.) and most importantly, lay out a vision for your future and why that particular university's M.S. program is your best fit...  Best of luck!

Thanks for the input! 

[are we there yet?]

waylon...the reason I suggested that you at least offer an explanation is because think about your reading audience.  Remember your readers are human and possess some sense of curiousity so  a switch from pol sci to MSIT is rather unconventational, at least to me.  If I saw your profile, the first question I'd have is why?  How much you spend is stylistic but I do agree with Iowa do not spend 250 words of a 500 word prompt on it...maybe 20, maybe 120 lol

[zapster]

If you are still looking for advice !

 

I would not elaborate too much on why you made the shift from Pol.Sci. to IT unless you have something very substantial to say (i.e. completely avoid childhood experiences!) - the fact that you have made that choice earlier and are sticking to it if fine (it would have been more important to elaborate on it, for example, if you were pursuing this degree straight after your Pol. Sci. without any IT experience).

 

Instead focus more on (i) how your experiences in IT have led you towards the goal of pursuing the MSIT program and (ii) how it will help you fulfill future career goals.

[quick1]

This is a tricky one. I'm in psych and graduated undergrad with a biotech degree, shifted to psych and got an M.A. in it. Now I'm 2 interviews already finished for the doctoral clinical psychology programs. What's interesting is that for my Masters interview there was a lot of questioning about why the switch, why I did bad in certain subjects, why this field now, why not the other field. It was part genuine interest and part stress testing I think.

 

Last year i applied to all research PhDs and got rejections without interviews across the board. In my SOPs I focused on my shift from biotech education to the field of psychology and reasons why. This time I shifted focus away from that switch and focused more on the past 2-3 years of experience in the psych field and how I've honed my interests. That garnered at least 2 interviews with PsyD programs and possibly more waitlisted. The interviews entailed pretty much no questioning about my past differing education or shift to the field.

Edited February 12, 2013 by quickinstinct