SOPs are mini research proposals...?

[monkeybrains]

Many successful applicants advise that statements of purpose are basically mini-research proposals.

 

I'm drawing a blank on what to write.

 

I'm applying to computational neuroscience programs, and I feel like I'm not well versed enough in the literature to make any claims about where there is room for improvement in anything other than fairly general terms. What is there to say other than "I think your research is cool. I too want to learn about how [xxx] system works."

 

What should I do? I know the general area I am interested in learning more about, but coming from a non-neuroscience background (EE & BME double), I feel slightly out of the loop. Any advice?

Edited November 25, 2014 by monkeybrains

[GeoDUDE!]

Write about what you want to do in graduate school.

[fuzzylogician]

It's really not a research proposal. You're not going to review previous literature or propose methods and a design for a study. The goal is to talk intelligibly about a research question or subfield that interests you. I think that good SOPs are able to articulate a particular interest with some amount of detail and also convey to the reader why they should care about this question. If you can't formulate a question or set of questions at the moment, you should still be able to define some specific areas or topics that appeal to you and explain why, even if you don't know what's the cutting edge research being done there now. You should still be able to tell us why we should care about whatever it is you want to study and what's exciting about it (to you). Conveying this kind of information about your research interests will show the adcom that you actually understand what you're getting into and that you have made an informed choice when you decided to apply to their program.

[spaceimmunology]

In my opinion, I don't think a statement of purpose requires any real discussion of concrete science. I don't think adcoms are overly concerned with your ability to come up with good research ideas. After all the purpose of PhD training is to get you to think about science critically and to learn the techniques, though processes, and existing literature well enough to be a full fledge scientist. Instead, I think adcoms are primarily concerned about identifying applicants who are mentally mature enough to take on the challenges of grad school and who's decision to apply for a PhD program was well thought out.

 

In this sense, I think a good SOP is a reflective story about how your academic and research experiences have led you to applying to grad school and what about grad school and science in general excites you and will help you reach some goal in the future. It should convey an examined understanding of your own experiences and how they have shaped your interests and desires for the future.

 

For example, I wrote briefly about three different research experiences and for each I explained what I did, how it broadened my perspective on science, and how it led me to pursue a new question or experience. I then tried to synthesize these perspectives into a coherent understanding of my guiding interest in science, and I explained what aspects of each institution I found to be important and a good match for me.

 

I think your non-standard academic background lends itself to this style very well and you could have a very attractive story to tell.

[Appsitude]

In my opinion, I don't think a statement of purpose requires any real discussion of concrete science. I don't think adcoms are overly concerned with your ability to come up with good research ideas. After all the purpose of PhD training is to get you to think about science critically and to learn the techniques, though processes, and existing literature well enough to be a full fledge scientist. Instead, I think adcoms are primarily concerned about identifying applicants who are mentally mature enough to take on the challenges of grad school and who's decision to apply for a PhD program was well thought out.

 

In this sense, I think a good SOP is a reflective story about how your academic and research experiences have led you to applying to grad school and what about grad school and science in general excites you and will help you reach some goal in the future. It should convey an examined understanding of your own experiences and how they have shaped your interests and desires for the future.

 

For example, I wrote briefly about three different research experiences and for each I explained what I did, how it broadened my perspective on science, and how it led me to pursue a new question or experience. I then tried to synthesize these perspectives into a coherent understanding of my guiding interest in science, and I explained what aspects of each institution I found to be important and a good match for me.

 

I think your non-standard academic background lends itself to this style very well and you could have a very attractive story to tell.

 

This is one of the most informative posts I have ever seen on this forum. Take this advice! I formatted my SOP the same way as spaceimmunology did and had resounding success (+ positive feedback on it during interviews) with it.