How the heck do you end an SOP

[ssynny]

Hi all,

 

I've revised my SOP a million times this fall, but keep skipping the ending because I just don't know how to do it! I'm trying to talk about how going to BLAH University will help me achieve my goal of teaching at the university level. But how to conclude? How did you guys end your SOPs? 

[mseph]

I usually ended my statement with what I will do after graduating from the program. It was rather vague, but I think the conclusions of statement of purposes are relatively vague compared to the body paragraphs--where we discuss our preparation and plan for the next five years. So my conclusions sounded something like this: "I am prepared as a PhD student because blah blah blah.. After graduating from PhD program at the X University, I pursue blah blah..." I hope this gives you some ideas how to end it!

[smg]

I reiterate that going to school X will allow me to conduct research Y. 

[kara.spinney]

I ended mine by reiterating why I am a good candidate for admittance into school x's program, and then signing...

 

Sincerely,

My Name,

My current university

[ashiepoo72]

I ended mine with a paragraph describing why I thought the school was a good fit for me, which professors I want to work with and why their research relates to mine, and included why the university/location as a whole was particularly suited to my research interests--like if there's a huge archive in the area or centers for research in my field, etc. I tried to be as specific as possible about why the program and I fit. (Not vague statements like "this program is strong" but "The department, with its strength in [X field] and [Y methodology], as well as Happy University's extensive [archive, collection, library], is an ideal place to support my research in XYZ.

 

Best of luck!

[eragon]

I agree with ashiepoo72

[ssynny]

Thanks for all the replies! I guess I'm just worried about it seeming too short/abrupt. But it seems like it kinda has to be somewhat.

[ssynny]

I ended mine by reiterating why I am a good candidate for admittance into school x's program, and then signing...

 

Sincerely,

My Name,

My current university

 

If I took a year off, would I still sign with my undergrad university?

[kara.spinney]

I'm not 100% sure about that question, but if it were me, I think that I still would.

[JoePianist]

"The End"   But seriously, I just ended mine by reiterating my unique strengths that I can offer to the school's program and that I would be honored to be a graduate student in their department. 

Edited December 17, 2014 by JoePianist

[drownsoda]

I ended mine with basically a reiteration of what my primary interests are within the field, and a rather vague outline of how I wish to apply that to my career goals. I think a reiteration that highlights your future plans is probably the most appropriate, in my opinion anyway.

[Crucial BBQ]

Hi all,

 

I've revised my SOP a million times this fall, but keep skipping the ending because I just don't know how to do it! I'm trying to talk about how going to BLAH University will help me achieve my goal of teaching at the university level. But how to conclude? How did you guys end your SOPs? 

For these reasons...  seems to be the typical ending.  

 

I ended mine with a period.  In retrospect, an exclamation point would have eloquently indicated my desires, too.   In all seriousness I restated my thesis, thanked them for their time, and wrote that I look forward to hearing from them.  

[ssynny]

You guys are a bunch of smart alecks hahaha! I kept the conclusion very brief in the end saying what I hope to do with the degree and reiterating that it's the ideal place to accomplish said goals. Thanks for all the help again

[Icydubloon]

"I believe that my experiences X, Y, and Z will allow me to be a successful graduate student at SCHOOL."

[StudyStar]

Like a conclusion for any kind of writing, the most important thing (as others have stated) is to briefly reiterate your main ideas and end on a positive note. Use strong, emphatic language. If you have some kind of "hook" or theme (and ideally, you should) tie it together in the final paragraph. I generally advise against saying "thank you and I look forward to hearing from you"; it's courteous but redundant, and, I think, better suited to a job application letter than an SOP (even if they are similar in nature.) Hope this helps!

 

David

Edited December 24, 2014 by fuzzylogician
edited to remove advertisement

[Page228]

Given the 500 word limit of one of my statements, I'm tempted to go with, "kthxbye."