differences between MA and PhD

[KieBelle]

It seems that most of the posts and advice in the threads are geared toward PhD programs. What are the differences between MA and PhD SOPs (if any)? Will MA adcoms be a bit more lenient on the writing sample and SOP?

[callmelilyb]

Lenient isn'ty necesssarily the word I would use. It is my understanding (and correct me anybody if I'm wrong), but generally when one applies to a PhD program you would have a more specified/solidifed area of focus that you would want to address in your statement. While your MA SOP may deal with why you want to earn an MA and what your eventual career goals are, this isn's so much the concern with PhD programs because it's assumed you'll teach or do research (depending on the field). At any rate, I don't think SOP's for MA vs. PhD are really too fundamentally different. You'll want to use them to convince an AdCom that you can be successful in their program...