OFFICE HOURS: Writing Effective Statements of Purpose for Grad School

Are you applying for grad school in chemistry or a related STEM discipline, and wondering how to write an effective statement of purpose? If so, this video is for you!

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Topics:

0:50 - keeping the focus tight
2:22 - who reads your application?
2:55 - describing undergraduate research experience
5:35 - what if you don't have undergraduate research experience?
6:29 - persistence
7:11 - initiative
7:33 - program fit
8:15 - demonstrating teaching potential
8:34 - addressing bad grades
10:10 - length
10:35 - other resources on Statements of Purpose
10:05 - questions? comments? ideas for future videos?

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Resources on Statements of Purpose for STEM students:

ACS Graduate School Reality Check:


An outline of a typical statement of purpose in chemistry:
(note: most successful statements I have seen place more emphasis on undergraduate research than is suggested here, but the outline is otherwise pretty standard)

A good general guide to statements of purpose (NOT chemistry or STEM-specific, but useful):

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