SOP Help

[philoSophia12]

Hello everyone,

 

For the rest of you struggling to write the best SOP your committees will ever have written, I have found this to be massively helpful: http://schwitzsplinters.blogspot.com/2007/10/applying-to-philosophy-phd-programs_08.html

 

Professor Schwitzgebel also linked some sample SOPs which also helped me get the process started in the comments section of the post.

 

Happy writing! 

 

[gatewayselect]

Here are the links to the SOP's from applicants who were accepted into graduate school:

 

http://schwitzsplintersunderblog.blogspot.com/2012/05/sample-statement-of-purpose.html

http://schwitzsplintersunderblog.blogspot.com/2012/05/sample-statement-of-purpose-b.html

http://schwitzsplintersunderblog.blogspot.com/2012/05/sample-statement-of-purpose-c.html

 

For what it is worth, my SOP resembled the second one most closely (excluding the unnecessary opening joke). I had four paragraphs - an opening, and then a paragraph for each of my large interests. I then used the rest of the paragraph to list the figures and particular topics in which I took an interest, as well as how these interests would be facilitated by professors at the university to which I was applying. I listed names and evidence. I showed evidence largely by listing a publication that evinced there was a common research interest between the professor and myself, though sometimes I showed evidence by indicating the professor had once taught a graduate course on a topic matter that was important to my research interests.

 

This was also the preferred manner in which to write a SOP of the professor with whom I worked. A one page, incredibly no-nonsense and concise approach in order to let the department know that I (a) have specified interests I want to work on, and (b ) have demonstrated a compatibility with the department faculty.

 

I don't think the third SOP is all that much different from the second, but I did not have as much concrete evidence to discuss my involvement with these interests, like they were able to say they took such and such graduate courses or did a honors thesis on such and such. I'm also not a big fan of the first SOP because it includes a lot of details that can be gotten from an applicant's CV or application.

 

It should be noted however that the second and third SOP fall short for not displaying compatibility with a department. This is an important part of the SOP. These applicants may have been successful, but don't take that for a reason to skimp on your SOP.

 

I think it should also be noted what all these SOP's have in common: which is that they are strictly concerned about graduate school work in philosophy. I have seen far too many SOP's which are much too biographical. No one cares how you got your interest in philosophy. No one cares about how you were a successful musician but are now wanting to come to graduate school. Etc.

Edited July 1, 2013 by gatewayselect

[philoSophia12]

gatewayselect, Thanks so much for the evaluation/feedback. This has been the most stressful part of the apps for me and more advice is always helpful.