Didn't start writing my SOP yet!!!!!!

[Nemog]

Hello everyone,

My first deadline is 1st December for Florida State University. I am in a soup right now. The only good thing about my situation is that I have received a positive and encouraging reply from one of the professors I want to work with. BUT yeah. No SOP till now. Not even the first draft. I am freaking out. Any advice anybody, to soothe my troubled soul?

[hippyscientist]

Start writing! It doesn't have to be pulitzer worthy, just start writing. "I want to come to FSU for Molecular and Cell Biology because... and I'd be a good fit because..." You can start moving the structure around, playing with words once you've got something down. There's plenty of great advice on these boards for fine tuning SOPs but really, you just gotta start writing! Stop panicking, start writing. 

I think my first draft was something along the lines of "I'm a geek. I like studying. I want to get more knowledge. I want to play with people with knee injuries. I have a good background for this - biomech lab, other stuff I've done, my own injuries. I'd fit good at these schools because cool people, nice weather, good reputation, awesome research. Why you should take me? I've overcome s***, i'm tough, I work hard, I help people - tutoring, working in a school - and you'll love me." 

Obviously that's not what I submitted with my application but it gave me the bare bones to start building what I actually wanted to say. Once I had a rough outline, then I could work on tying it all together in a pretty SOP package. I hope that helps you get started.

Edited November 15, 2015 by piglet33
spelling

[Nemog]

Hey piglet33! Thank you so much for the post. Yes, you are right, I need to start writing. I do have the points sorted out that I want to mention in my SOP. All this time, I just didn't have the courage to pen everything down, but now I know what to do. I will just take the points that I have in mind and form nice coherent sentences with it. Thanks again :)

[fencergirl]

Set a timer and just try to write without stopping for 25-30 minutes. Don't over-edit, just write first!