engineering phd personal statement

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How to Write a Personal Statement for a PhD Program Application

Personal statement guidelines, general guidelines to keep in mind:.

• One size does not fit all : Tailor your personal statement to each program and department you are applying to. Do your research to learn what is unique about each of your choices and highlight how this particular program stands out.
• Yes, it’s personal : Showcase your unique strengths and accomplishments. Explain what influenced your personal decisions to pursue the program. Ask yourself, could this be applied to your friend or neighbor? If so, you need to be more specific and provide examples. Saying that you are a “good scientist” isn’t enough. Provide examples of your previous research experience, projects you’ve completed, and what technical skills you learned. Explain how you overcame any challenges along the way.
• Set aside enough time :  Although personal statements are generally short in length (approx. 700 words; 1-2 pages), give yourself ample time to write a strong, well-written statement. It takes more time than you think to develop a final draft for submission.
• Focus on your spelling, grammar, and vocabulary :  It’s important to present a well-written statement with good grammar and vocabulary. Write concrete, succinct sentences that flow well. Avoid flowery language. Visit the  Writing Center  for additional review and feedback.
• Proofread one more time:  Check your grammar and spelling again before submitting your final draft. Ask a friend, professor, or advisor to proofread your final draft one more time before sending it in. 

YOUR PERSONAL STATEMENT SHOULD ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

• Why do you want to complete further research in this field?  Write down a list of reasons as to why you are interested in pursuing further study in the field. When did you become interested in the field and what knowledge have you gained so far? Describe how your previous work provided the foundation and for further study.
• Why  have you  chosen to apply to this particular university ? Does the institution have a particular curriculum, special research facilities/equipment, or interesting research that appeal to you?
• What are your strengths ? Demonstrate how you stand out from other candidates. Highlight relevant projects, dissertations thesis or essays that demonstrate your academic skills and creativity. Include IT skills, research techniques, awards, or relevant traveling/ study abroad experience.
• What are your transferable skills?  Be sure to emphasize transferable skills such as communication, teamwork, and time management skills. Give examples of how you have demonstrated each of these with specific examples.
• How does this program align with your career goals?  It’s okay if you don’t know the exact career path you plan to take after completing your PhD. Provide an idea of the direction you would like to take. This demonstrates commitment and dedication to the program.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

For examples of successful personal statements, visit the  Online Writing Lab (OWL) .

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How to Write a Great Engineering School Personal Statement

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You have spent months researching and identifying the best engineering schools, studying for and completing the SATs, GRE, or other standardized tests, and filling out tedious college applications. You are on the verge of burnout when it hits you: you have to write a personal statement.

How important is it to write a great personal statement? Ask the admissions committee, and they’ll tell you that writing a personal statement is like applying for a job. Stephen J Aguilar, an assistant professor of education at USC, reported in 2020 to Inside Higher Ed that a personal statement should be less revealing and more persuasive. At its core, the personal statement needs to answer these two questions:

• Why are you applying here?
• How do your interests and experiences align with the program or the faculty you’ve identified?

However, the importance of reading and understanding the question prompts cannot be overstated. For example, the University of Iowa College of Engineering, which places 97 percent of its undergraduates in jobs post-graduation and currently has 284 master’s and doctoral students, goes one step further to differentiate personal statements from statements of purpose .

This institution wants to know in the statement of purpose , “Why is this program a good fit for you?” By contrast, the personal statement elicits answers to the question: “Who are you?” and allows applicants to explain themselves to admissions committees regarding academic achievements and life events that have shaped them and will positively influence the campus community.

That said, a personal statement is not just an essay. It has to be intelligent, engaging, typo-free, and capable of convincing admissions reviewers that you are a better fit for their program. Fret not. With lots of research and preparation, you can submit a college essay that reflects your passion and capabilities.

Read on to learn the what, the why, and the how-to of writing great personal statements to gain admission into engineering school.

How Is a Personal Statement Evaluated?

The title "personal statement" is generally synonymous with college essays. However, some admissions professionals use it to refer more specifically to written statements that explore applicants’ program readiness and intentions if admitted. The purpose of these statements for engineering school applicants is three-fold.

First, colleges want to know that they can write well, and not just from a technical perspective. Of course, grammar matters, but perhaps more important is the ability to communicate ideas.

Second, engineering schools want to know who a student is—the nuggets that are not conveyed through a conventional application or school transcripts. This is the written equivalent of the interview question “tell us about yourself” and is the applicant’s chance to share who they are, what they want to do, and how gaining admission to this program will be mutually beneficial.

Finally, colleges want to ensure applicants are familiar with and committed to the program. The best personal statements fulfill these goals, often in 700 words or less.

Does this sound like a tall order? Here are some tips for getting it right.

Six Tips for Writing a Stellar Engineering School Personal Statement

1. Do the research

It may sound simplistic, but one of the most important (and often overlooked) steps toward getting into the right school is taking the time to research a prospective engineering program, review its admissions policies and—this cannot be overstated—read and reread its application essay prompt. Candidates who don’t sufficiently answer an institution’s question or convey some misunderstanding about the prompt or its expectations are unlikely to be admitted.

Prospective students completing the Common Application should take the time to contact each engineering school they are applying to inquire about additional admissions requirements. The Princeton Review emphasizes that a personal statement should not repeat a previously discussed part of your application, nor should its information contradict another part.

2. Go deep, not broad

Personal statement prompts tend to be targeted. Engineering schools want to know what specific qualities or experiences make each student a good fit for their programs. Common inquiries include recalling a time you solved a problem, explaining why you applied, describing your academic goals and intentions, and addressing any extenuating circumstances that might have impacted your school record. Rather than offering a broad synopsis of your life, choose the experience or intent most relevant to the question and explore it in depth.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Graduate School offers advice for writing an in-depth personal statement for engineering schools using the “qualified match” approach. The steps include:

• Make a statement that fits the essay prompt, like “I am a dedicated and hard-working student.”
• Quantify your statement with specific details about your life. You might, for example, discuss how many hours per week you spend on school work and how you overcome any obstacles to committing that time.
• Interpret how those details make you a stronger applicant. To continue with the above example, that might include writing about the knowledge you gained during your studies, your time-management skills, your passion for learning, and your commitment to succeed despite challenges.

3. Be relevant

If a personal statement has only one goal, it is to be shown to a review committee that you are the right fit for its school. That’s why applicants to Stanford University’s Institute for Computational & Mathematical Engineering are asked to specify their personal and professional goals in their statement of purpose, as well as discuss their developments and intentions for study and life beyond their doctoral program.

Read the mission statements of each program to get a feel for what they are looking for and keep that in mind as you write. Rather than getting carried away detailing the hours you log volunteering each week, discuss experiences and activities as they relate to your academic and career goals or scientific interests. Also, be sure not to waste valuable ink rehashing information available elsewhere on your application, such as extracurricular activities or your stellar GPA.

4. Avoid gimmicks and cliches

Did you love playing with Legos as a kid? Did those plastic bricks lay the foundation for your drive to be an engineer? If so, the College of Engineering at the University of Washington suggests you are in good company, but not in a good way. Every year, the committee reads personal essays on how Legos were the building blocks of a student's career in engineering.

To stand out, engineering school applicants should avoid using cliches in their statements. Of course, setting yourself apart from other applicants is imperative, but you must do so in a meaningful and unique way. Admissions review panels have seen it all and are unlikely to be moved by creative gimmicks and attention-grabbers that do not get to the heart of what makes you a great candidate.

5. Mind your mechanics

This tip refers more to the mechanics of writing than any scientific drive, though the latter undoubtedly has a place in an engineering school personal statement. Remember when we said one of the goals of college essays is verifying applicants can communicate effectively? Applicants should consider the following elements as they prepare their outline (more on that next):

• Voice – Is your voice appropriate for the task? Is it too formal or casual? Are you using active language rather than passive and wishy-washy statements? Do you come across as academic?
• Structure – Do your ideas flow logically and support one main idea? If you are unsure where to start, know that following the reliable five-paragraph essay format is perfectly acceptable: introduction, three supporting paragraphs, and a tidy conclusion.
• Length – Engineering schools usually have a good reason for requesting personal statements with a specific word count. Those that are too short have too little to say, and those that are too long are likely to repeat the same concepts.
• Grammar – College students are expected to know and use basic grammar. Edit, edit, and then edit again.
• Completeness – Have you addressed the admissions essay prompt in full? What about any supplemental school or department-specific requests?

6. Edit, edit, edit

Writing a personal statement may seem like a herculean task, so it is tempting to push it aside when you type that final period and not look back. This is a mistake—and perhaps the biggest one you can make. Sometimes we get so caught up in our thoughts and ideas that we miss lapses in our writing, whether grammatical or contextual. To avoid this:

• Begin with an outline.
• Write the first draft.
• Write a second draft.
• Read the essay out loud.
• Review your essay again a day or two later.
• Ask parents, friends, teachers, and others to read your work.

There is never any excuse for typos, and even the slightest error can turn a committee review member off. Ask a friend or family member to review your essay for grammatical mistakes when in doubt. It may be intimidating, but the process is an excellent way to identify missing words or ideas. What's more, applicants today are blessed with the power of technology. Online tools like Grammarly are free to use and quickly catch any glaring typos.

Starting Your Engineering School Admissions Essay

One of the biggest challenges to writing a stellar college essay is simply getting started in the first place. Personal statements are, by design, personal, and that can be intimidating. Applicants also put significant pressure on themselves to write the perfect essay.

Fortunately, many colleges try to ease the burden by providing tips online. Purdue University’s Online Writing Lab offers examples of successful personal statements. Some engineering schools even post examples of successful personal statements, including MIT , Johns Hopkins University , and Cornell University . While your essay should be wholly original, these resources can guide you through creating a unique and inspirational narrative to impress admissions committees.

Aimee Hosler is a long-time journalist specializing in education and technology. She is an advocate for experiential learning among all ages and serves as the director of communications for a non-profit community makerspace. She holds a degree in journalism from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo.

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Writing the Personal Statement

Helpful tips and advice for drafting a compelling personal statement when applying for graduate admission.

Make sure to check the appropriate program website to find out if your statement should include additional or specific information.

What does this statement need to accomplish?

The personal statement should give concrete evidence of your promise as a member of the academic community, giving the committee an image of you as a person.

This is also where you represent your potential to bring to your academic career a critical perspective rooted in a non-traditional educational background, or your understanding of the experiences of groups historically under-represented in higher education and your commitment to increase participation by a diverse population in higher education.

What kinds of content belongs here?

Anything that can give reviewers a sense of you as a person belongs here; you can repeat information about your experiences in your research statement, but any experiences that show your promise, initiative, and ability to persevere despite obstacles belongs here. This is also a good place to display your communication skills and discuss your ability to maximize effective collaboration with a diverse cross-section of the academic community. If you have faced any obstacles or barriers in your education, sharing those experiences serves both for the selection process, and for your nomination for fellowships. If one part of your academic record is not ideal, due to challenges you faced in that particular area, this is where you can explain that, and direct reviewers’ attention to the evidence of your promise for higher education.

The basic message: your academic achievement despite challenges

It is especially helpful for admissions committees considering nominating you for fellowships for diversity if you discuss any or all of the following:

• Demonstrated significant academic achievement by overcoming barriers such as economic, social, or educational disadvantage;
• attendance at a minority serving institution;
• ability to articulate the barriers facing women and minorities in science and engineering fields;
• participation in higher education pipeline programs such as, UC Leads, or McNair Scholars;
• Academic service advancing equitable access to higher education for women and racial minorities in fields where they are underrepresented;
• Leadership experience among students from groups that have been historically underrepresented in higher education;
• research that addresses issues such as race, gender, diversity, and inclusion;
• research that addresses health disparities, educational access and achievement, political engagement, economic justice, social mobility, civil and human rights, and other questions of interest to historically underrepresented groups;
• artistic expression and cultural production that reflects culturally diverse communities or voices not well represented in the arts and humanities.

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How to write a personal statement for engineering

Do your reading, be creative and work out what admission tutors are really after. Tips for writing a winning Ucas application

I f you're planning on studying engineering at university, your Ucas application needs to be structurally sound. Most schools don't offer the subject, so reading up on it is all the more important. Luckily, there's no shortage of material to stoke your enthusiasm.

"The range of things you might get into is almost boggling – you never know where it's going to end up," Derek Clarke, admissions tutor for civil engineering at the University of Southampton, says. "Engineering contributes in so many different ways."

Kathy Simmons, admissions tutor for mechanical engineering at the University of Nottingham, ideally wants to see evidence of enthusiasm – work experience, a headstart course, a placement or a few months in industry. But she understands that not everyone has these opportunities.

She looks for evidence of scientific and analytical thinking, and a practical approach, but said mechanical engineers don't all need to be good with their hands.

Simmons says she receives some unimpressive statements stating: "I liked maths and physics at school and I didn't know what to do next".

There's no need to have a career plan but have an idea of the sorts of jobs engineering can lead to.

John Robinson, a chemical engineer from Nottingham, who coordinates admissions across the engineering faculty, reiterates the point: "Really it's about making the admissions tutor aware that you know what the subject's about."

Talk about how your interest was sparked. Was it a university open day, chatting with engineers, or researching on the IChemE (Institute of Chemical Engineers) website ?

At Nottingham, Robinson says, the personal statement is only really important if your grades are borderline – so explain why and what you're doing about it.

Both Simmons and Robinson agree that it's difficult to craft a statement if you're unsure what area of engineering you want to study. It can be very off putting when students enthuse about electronics throughout, with a throwaway comment about mechanical engineering at the bottom.

But Chris Williams, a structural engineer who teaches at the University of Bath, receives too many statements from students sure they want to be civil engineers.

"Do schools tell students to display such certainty?" he asks. "In reality the most interesting students are torn between different subjects and would like to do them all. So, for me at least, some discussion of this in a personal statement is good."

And some courses – such as Warwick, Exeter and Aberdeen – offer general engineering until the third year, so your personal statement doesn't have to be specific if applying to these.

Sam Hewlings, who has a degree in civil engineering from Warwick and is about to begin a master's in tunneling, made his personal statement look like a journey which ended up in engineering.

Make sure you understand what engineering is about, he says. Don't expect to be building models or dismantling rockets and racing cars from day one – there's a lot of theory and calculus, with some business thrown in at the start at Warwick, he says.

TV shows like Mega Engineering are often unrealistic. "If you compress building a skyscraper into a one hour programme then it's going to look exciting," Hewlings says. He suggests subscribing to magazines such as Concrete Quarterly for inspiration.

As for style, Hewlings says not to worry too much. "You don't have to write essays for engineering but you do need an eye for detail so it's important that you get spelling and grammar right."

Engineers often work in teams and need to be good communicators, says Ross Woodruffe, 23, who studied aerospace engineering at Liverpool and now works for Airinmar, which supplies aircraft components.

Aerospace engineering is one of the more specific branches, so if you're applying for it make sure you know why you want to work in that industry, says Woodruffe, who picked the course because he originally wanted to join the RAF.

Most courses are accredited by the Engineering Council , so it's a good source of information to use, he says.

Try to avoid clichés in your statement – Nottingham's Robinson advises against referring to famous engineers like Faraday or Brunel, who are "all dead and long gone".

And you won't be the only student to claim your inspiration stems from the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. Pick something more imaginative and personal to you, says Bath's Williams.

Different tutors look for different things. Sometimes it's best to contact them directly and ask for advice. While Robinson has no interest in reading about students' hobbies, Dr Kathleen Shennan, an admissions tutor for Aberdeen University, says she wants students to be well rounded.

"You are going to have to have some time out to do something else," she says, adding that you can learn a lot about someone from their extracurricular activities, including their ability to commit to something. "We want to know that they can cope with the stresses of being at university."

But it's no good just saying what you have done, talk about what you learned from it, says Shennan.

She often turns to the personal statement before looking at the course it relates to, to get a feel for an applicant's interests, so make sure you've mentioned engineering from the off.

With rapid technological changes, prospective engineers have an exciting future in front of them – make sure your personal statement reflects your desire to be a part of it.

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How to write a personal statement as a Graduate

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Your personal statement is there to give a brief summary about you. It helps grab the employer’s attention and is something we add to CV’s and job applications to stand out from the competition. It’s required for university and apprenticeship applications, so chances are you have written one before. However, when it’s for your first job, the process of writing one is slightly different and can feel very daunting on the first try. This article talks about what why a personal statement can be so important for an application and how to go about writing one for your CV.

Why do graduates struggle with a personal statement?

The idea behind a personal statement is to sell yourself to whoever is reading it. You want to persuade them to keep reading your CV in an easy-to-read paragraph. Overall, the point behind a personal statement is to provide the employer with a summary of your skills and why you are good for the role.

People fresh out of university or college can find it hard to get started on a personal statement. Usually, it’s the first thing you write for your CV, so the pressure from staring at a blank page for too long can get to you.

However, most of the time, graduate engineers struggle because they feel they don’t have enough experience to start telling employers why they should have the role. My main bit of advice is to forget the idea that you have no previous skills. You are qualified, you have experience and whether or not it is experience in a workplace, it’s still relevant and meaningful to employers. Start thinking about why you want the role and what does make you a good candidate.

There are a few questions you should ask yourself before writing a personal statement.

What should you be asking yourself?

Sometimes the hardest part of something is simply starting. Once you get going, the hardest part is over. So, write anything and everything down, you can edit and finesse it later.

Ask yourself

• What do you want to tell the reader?
• What skills do you have that set you apart from other candidates?
• What are your career goals and how did your degree fit into this?
• What do you know already?
• What made you want to choose this field of work?
• Why do you want this job in particular?

There are a lot of points here and it doesn’t have to be limited to this. Personal statements shouldn’t be too long but do need to pack in a lot of different bits of information. You can’t include everything, that’s why the rest of your CV is there. Only worry about adding in the best points and selling yourself.

The best way to get results is to personalise this for the different roles you apply for. You can keep a template and edit is as you apply for roles, but ensure you are taking parts from job specs and working them in. It can really help you stand out as a graduate job seeker.

How to write a personal statement

• You want to start with a strong opening sentence that gets the readers attention. Introduce yourself and mention where it is you have recently graduated from and what you studied.
• Next, add in some information about why you want this role. What skills can you bring and what makes your suitable for the job?
• Highlight skills you have that they have also mentioned in the job description. This will show them that you have taken the time to read it properly and shows you are a possible candidate for the job.
• Finish your statement with why you want the job. What are your career goals at this point in time and how does this role align with them?

It can feel hard to pack all of the information into one paragraph, but remember this is here to aid your CV. If you do feel like you have a lot more to share, then add this information into a cover letter.

As a graduate it can be nerve wracking to prepare your first CV and nothing is worse than staring at a blank page. Follow these tips and you’ll have a great personal statement ready to send in no time.

Related links

• How to Write a Graduate Cover Letter
• The Ultimate Guide to your CV
• How to tailor your CV to each job application

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Personal Statement for Engineering: Examples and Advice

In this article, we look at how to write a personal statement for engineering courses with examples and advice.

A roller coaster helped one student to decide to specialise in engineering, and her experience in coaching younger students helped her application.

Why did a student volunteering in Mississippi decide to study structural engineering? How much of your family history should you add in? Keep reading for useful tips and great examples.

Table of Contents

What is a personal statement for engineering, how to write an engineering personal statement, engineering personal statement example 1 – structural engineering, engineering personal statement example 2 – general engineering, engineering personal statement example 3 – marine engineering, faq (frequently asked questions), more personal statement tutorials.

It’s an important document used by universities to evaluate a student’s strengths, skills, experience and ambitions.

It is also used to show a student’s enthusiasm for engineering (either in general, or for a specific type such as civil or aeronautical), and what aspects of the subject they enjoy and why.

It is essential for an applicant to craft a 100% unique, yet effective personal statement as it allows universities to make an informed decision on who to admit to their engineering course.

Step 1: Start with your proudest achievement

Volunteering to help construct houses in Mississippi through Habitat for Humanity was a life-changing experience that made me want to become a structural engineer.

Starting with your proudest achievement in your engineering personal statement can help make your application stand out.

By mentioning your most impressive achievements first, the admissions committee will be able to quickly recognize your capabilities, dedication, and skills.

Step 2: Describe your ambitions and experience

In an engineering personal statement, it is important to clearly explain your ambitions and experiences that demonstrate your skills and passion for the field.

A good framework to follow is to first explain your motivation and enthusiasm for the course, and provide examples of any specific knowledge you already have.

Then, outline any relevant experience, insights, interests or achievements you have that relate to engineering, starting with the most impressive.

Step 3: Show evidence of being capable, by describing a project in depth

When writing a personal statement for engineering, it’s important to showcase your capabilities (skills) and qualifications to potential admissions committees or employers. Here are a few tips to help you demonstrate your capabilities in your personal statement:

• Highlight your technical skills: As an engineer, you will need to have a strong foundation in technical skills. Make sure to list the technical skills you possess and provide examples of how you have used them in your past experiences.
• Showcase your academic achievements: Highlight your academic achievements, including your GPA and any awards or honours you have received. This demonstrates that you have a strong academic foundation and are capable of handling challenging coursework.
• Discuss relevant work experience: If you have relevant work experience in engineering, make sure to discuss it in your personal statement. Highlight any projects you have worked on, problems you have solved, or skills you have developed in your previous roles.
• Emphasize your problem-solving skills: Engineers are problem solvers, so make sure to emphasize your ability to analyze and solve problems. Provide examples of how you have approached problems in the past and the steps you took to solve them. These can include time management, teamwork, or leadership

By focusing on one project and exploring it in depth, you can demonstrate your understanding of the subject and show that you are ready and committed to study engineering.

Step 4: Leave out (most of) your family history

Growing up, it was my job to fix anything that broke around the house. My father, a third-generation oil rig supervisor, was often away for months at a time and he taught me resilience and problem-solving along with practical DIY.

Why is it important to leave out (most of) your family history in an engineering personal statement?

The personal statement is an opportunity to tell a university or college about yourself and why you are a suitable candidate for the program.

Every word you spend writing about your family’s history and experiences is a word that you’re not using to tell the university about your own achievements, plans and passions.

Your family’s history and experiences may be influential on your choice of course, but keep it very brief – less than a sentence, to give a bit more context to your achievements, plans and aspirations.

By doing so, you can demonstrate to the university that you have the necessary skills and qualifications to succeed in their program.

Step 5: Include your hobbies

While hobbies may not be directly related to engineering, they can still be included in your personal statement to showcase your personality, interests, and skills.

Here are some tips on how to effectively include hobbies in your engineering personal statement:

• Choose relevant hobbies: Make sure to choose those that are relevant to your engineering career or showcase your technical or problem-solving skills. For example, if you enjoy building and programming robots as a hobby, you could mention this as evidence of your technical skills.
• Explain how your hobbies relate to your engineering goals: For example, if you enjoy designing and building furniture as a hobby, you could mention how this has honed your ability to create complex designs, which could be applicable to engineering projects.
• Showcase your teamwork and leadership skills: If you participate in team sports or volunteer in leadership roles, make sure to mention this in your personal statement.
• Avoid irrelevant or controversial hobbies: I f you enjoy partying or binge-watching TV shows, these hobbies may not be seen as relevant or professional.

Overall, including hobbies in your engineering personal statement can help the panel to get to know you a bit better and showcase your skills and interests beyond your academic achievements and work experience.

Step 6: Edit and proofread your statement

Editing and proofreading your engineering personal statement is an important part of the application process. To ensure your statement is professional and free of errors, follow these tips:

• Read your statement aloud slowly to catch any minor spelling or grammatical errors.
• Ask a friend or colleague to read it for you and provide feedback.
• Analyze your document with an online application to provide suggestions for improvement.
• Have a mentor, professor, or trusted friend look it over before you submit it.
• Make sure you dedicate enough time to the process by planning ahead and leaving time for editing and proofreading.
• Be truthful and concise, and ensure it is 100% unique.
• Avoid including unrelated information, maintain your professionalism, and make it a reflection of yourself.

By following these tips, you can make sure your engineering personal statement is as polished and professional as possible.

Growing up, it was my job to fix anything that broke around the house. My father, a third-generation oil-rig supervisor, was often away for months at a time and he taught me resilience and problem-solving along with practical DIY.

Volunteering to help construct houses in Mississippi through Habitat for Humanity was a life-changing experience. I worked with a group that included veterans being trained in construction skills and volunteers from all over the country. I saw first-hand how important it is to have a safe, well-run construction site and communicate clear expectations to the whole team.

As a result of an incredible team effort, families are able to transition from temporary, unsafe accommodation to having their own homes. I want to combine my love of construction, design and problem-solving in a career that makes a positive difference to people.

Already drawn to civil engineering, my fascination with designing made me want to become a structural engineer, specifically to design buildings. Majoring in structural engineering will allow me to further develop my IT skills by using computer-aided design technology, which I have been fortunate enough to learn to use during an internship with a local company this summer. I am already confident with using the AutoCAD program.

My time-management skills have been honed this year as I have combined volunteering, my internship and working 16 hours a week on a local construction crew to save for college while maintaining a 3.7 GPA. I am confident that I am well able to handle any workload asked of me.

I am highly analytical and can approach a problem from several angles. I am particularly drawn to your structural engineering program because of its reputation for hands-on, practical experience. I am confident that I will be a positive addition to the team and your program will provide me with the skills and experience I need to achieve my dream of becoming an outstanding structural engineer.

I am excited by the prospect of applying fundamental principles to real-world design challenges. Of all things, it was the mechanics of roller coasters, which I learned about in a lecture, that highlighted the practical applications of engineering principles and sparked my interest in pursuing a career in this field.

Studying engineering has always appealed to me because of its heavy reliance on problem-solving and its integration of two of my favourite subjects, Math and Science. The ability to apply logical reasoning to create solutions to complex problems is what attracts me to engineering as well as the huge range of specialisms to choose from further down the road.

My academic background has prepared me well for a degree in engineering. I have excelled in my Math and Science coursework, receiving high grades in all of my relevant subjects. I have also participated in extracurricular activities, such as robotics competitions and science fairs, where I have had the opportunity to apply my knowledge and skills in practical settings while mentoring and coaching younger students.

I am eager to pursue a degree in engineering to further develop my problem-solving skills and gain a deeper understanding of the principles and concepts that underpin this field. I believe that a degree in engineering will enable me to make a positive impact on society by contributing to the design and development of innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges, in a field in which women are still under-represented.

In addition to my academic and extracurricular experiences, I bring a strong work ethic, determination, and a passion for learning to my studies. I am confident that my skills, combined with the resources and opportunities provided by your engineering program, will enable me to excel in my studies and make meaningful contributions to the field.

I look forward to the opportunity to pursue a degree in engineering and whether I will be designing roller coasters or factory equipment, I will be making a positive difference in the future and hopefully, inspiring other young women to become engineers.

As an aspiring engineer, I am driven by the opportunity to apply fundamental principles to the design of complex systems. With a fascination for engineering plants and an interest in the sea, I have been drawn to the marine industry as a way to combine my passions with the challenge of problem-solving.

I have chosen a major in marine engineering because it will allow me to further explore the fascinating findings of physics and put my mathematical knowledge into practical application. It is my ambition to work in the submarine design industry and gain Chartered Engineer status, and I believe that pursuing a graduate degree in marine engineering will help me achieve these goals.

Throughout my academic and professional career, I have demonstrated a strong work ethic, determination, and a passion for learning. I have excelled in my coursework and participated in research projects, internships, and other extracurricular activities that have allowed me to apply my knowledge and skills in practical settings.

My own experience in the marine industry has given me a unique perspective on engineering and the challenges of designing complex systems in a dynamic environment. As a mature student, I am excited by the opportunity to further develop my skills and knowledge in a graduate engineering program and to apply these to real-world challenges in my chosen field.

I am particularly drawn to your graduate engineering program because of its reputation for academic excellence and its focus on hands-on, practical experience as well as strong links with the outstanding teams at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyards. I am confident that your program will provide me with the resources and opportunities I need to achieve my goals and make meaningful contributions to the engineering industry.

In conclusion, I am passionate about engineering and am committed to pursuing a career in this field. I am excited about the prospect of joining your graduate engineering program and am eager to continue developing my skills and knowledge in this dynamic and challenging field. Thank you for considering my application.

Some of these questions were already covered in this blog post but I will still list them here (because not everyone carefully reads every paragraph) so here’s the TL;DR version

What are the key components of a personal statement for engineering?

The key components of a personal statement for engineering include:

• expressing your enthusiasm for engineering
• conveying your strengths, skills, experience and ambitions
• being truthful, concise, and authentic
• providing specific examples of your interests, goals, and strengths.

Additionally, you should explain why you want to study engineering at the university level, back up everything with examples, and have a good introduction, middle, and conclusion. Finally, be sure to save time for editing and proofreading the statement.

What qualifications should I include in my personal statement for engineering?

In your engineering personal statement, you should include qualifications that are related to engineering as well as other academic or practical qualifications, such as project management.

What skills should I demonstrate in my personal statement for engineering?

In your personal statement for engineering, you should aim to demonstrate a range of skills that are important for success in this field. Some of the key skills that you may want to highlight include:

• Problem-solving: Engineering is all about solving problems and coming up with creative solutions to complex challenges.
• Technical knowledge: Engineering is a technical field, and it is important to demonstrate that you have a strong foundation in math, science, and other related subjects.
• Communication: Engineering often involves working in teams and communicating complex ideas clearly to a range of stakeholders.
• Creativity: While engineering is a technical field, it also requires a certain level of creativity and innovation. Highlight any projects or activities that have allowed you to demonstrate your creativity or come up with innovative solutions to problems.
• Leadership: As you progress in your engineering career, you may be called upon to lead teams or manage projects. Show that you have leadership potential and are able to work effectively with others.
• Adaptability : Engineering is a dynamic and ever-changing field, and it is important to demonstrate that you are adaptable and can handle uncertainty and change calmly and flexibly.

How should I structure my personal statement for engineering?

Writing a successful engineering personal statement can seem like a daunting task. But by breaking it down into smaller steps, you can make the process much easier. To get started, here are some steps you can take to structure your engineering personal statement:

• Start with an introduction: This should take up about 15-20% of your statement and answer the question “Why do you want to study engineering?” Talk about the experiences that shaped your love of the subject and the things about it that you find interesting.
• Add in body paragraphs: In these paragraphs, address questions such as “What have you done that has prepared you for this course?” “How have you cultivated the knowledge you need to succeed in this field?,” and “Did you receive high marks in the classes relevant to an engineering course?”
• End with a conclusion: Here you’ll sum up your personal statement and bring it to a close. Include any other extracurricular activities that might not be directly related to engineering, but are impressive enough that you want the admissions team to know about them.

What should I do to make my personal statement for engineering stand out?

To make your engineering personal statement stand out, follow these steps:

• Be truthful, concise, and authentic. Avoid plagiarism and cheating.
• Start your statement by explaining why you want to study engineering and which aspects of the field you enjoy.
• Back up everything with examples.
• Write your statement clearly and concisely, with a good introduction, middle, and conclusion.
• Take inspiration from engineering personal statement examples, but make sure yours is unique.

How do I avoid plagiarism in my personal statement for engineering?

In order to ensure that your engineering personal statement is completely original, here are some steps to take to avoid plagiarism:

• Research: Spend some time researching engineering topics and schools before writing your statement. This will help you to get a better understanding of the field and come up with unique points and ideas.
• Brainstorm: Take the time to brainstorm some ideas for your statement before putting your pen to paper. This will help you to come up with unique ideas, rather than using someone else’s.
• Outline: Create an outline for your statement that includes all of the points that you want to make. This will help you to stay organized and make sure that your statement flows naturally.
• Write: Once you have your outline and research, start writing your engineering personal statement. Be sure to use your own words and phrase each sentence the way you would say it.
• Check: Once you have finished your statement, it is important to double-check that all of your words and phrases are unique. Use a plagiarism checker (such as this one) to make sure that there are no similarities to any other statement.
• Proofread: Finally, make sure to dedicate enough time to the editing and proofreading stages after you have finished your first draft. This will help to ensure that there are no errors or mistakes in your statement.

By following these steps, you can be sure that your engineering personal statement is unique and free from plagiarism. Remember to be truthful, concise, authentic, and professional when writing your statement. Good luck!

What should I research when writing my personal statement for engineering?

When writing your personal statement for engineering, it is important to conduct thorough research to ensure that you are able to tailor your statement to the specific program or institution you are applying to. Some areas to research include:

• Curriculum: Look into the specific courses and areas of focus within the engineering program. This can help you highlight relevant coursework or projects you have completed that align with the program’s focus.
• Faculty and research: Look into the faculty members within the engineering program and their areas of expertise. This can help you tailor your personal statement to align with specific research areas or interests within the program.
• Industry partnerships and internships: Look into any partnerships the program may have with industry organizations or companies, as well as any internship or co-op opportunities offered through the program. This can help you highlight any relevant industry experience you may have and demonstrate your interest in pursuing practical experience in the field.
• University values and culture: Research the university’s overall mission and values, as well as the culture of the campus community. This can help you tailor your personal statement to demonstrate your fit with the university and program culture.

By conducting thorough research on these areas, you can tailor your personal statement to align with the specific program and institution you are applying to, demonstrating your interest and fit for the program.

How can I check my personal statement for engineering for errors?

Checking your engineering personal statement for errors is an important step in the application process. You should:

• Read your statement aloud to catch any minor spelling or grammatical errors.
• Ask a friend, colleague, or mentor to read your statement and provide feedback.
• Use online applications to analyze the document and suggest improvements.
• Seek advice from a careers centre or advisor to help polish the statement.
• mxddasasProofread and edit the statement multiple times.

By following these steps, you can ensure your engineering personal statement is professional and error-free before submitting your application materials.

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Anonymous samples of my work in engineering & closely related areas.

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Sample Statement of Purpose for the PHD in Systems Engineering, Brazilian Applicant

I have been richly blessed with enormous opportunity to put my undergraduate studies in the USA in Computer Science (1993-1997) to good use; especially with respect to E-Commerce in Sao Paulo, expanding my horizons personally as well as professionally.  I am fully confident that your PHD in Systems Engineering Program at CXX will serve me as the optimal springboard for the launch of a new phase in my career, helping my global fellowman to prosper, how to fish, metaphorically speaking. I calculate that I will be able to continue my full-time work load and family responsibilities and still study approximately half time, 20-25 hours per week. Thus, I especially appreciate the flexibility in this regard of your mostly online program at CXX.

Born and raised in Sao Paulo, Brazil, I first came to the United States when I was 19 years old (1991) to serve as full-time missionary for the Mormon Church in the Seattle area.  After my two-year service, I went on to attend Brigham Young University in Provo Utah and stayed until my graduation in 1997, returning to Brazil to begin my career in the computer technology/e-commerce industry. Ten years later, I immigrated to Canada with my wife and 3 children, in 2007.  We currently live in XXXX, British Columbia, in the Pacific North West, 30 minutes south of Vancouver.

10 years from now, I would like to be teaching at a college level, a practical, hands-on educator with a real-world focus. I do enjoy juggling theory and practice, however, especially when I build a robot, balancing the “chalk board” and “the lab” with a good deal of “trial and error.” My ideal job a few years down the road would be as an educator, teaching interdisciplinary technology courses, machine learning, robotics, and real-world applications.

For me, a “system” is a set of connected things or parts forming a complex whole; and systems engineering is the approach and means to enable the realization and successful integration of such systems. I now realize that I’ve been applying a systems-engineering approach to my work all along, just not fully aware of doing so. Being able to holistically envision how the different parts interact with each other and the processes needed to make them work together seamlessly is an ability that now, after many decades, thankfully, comes natural to me. Learning how to disassemble things since early childhood allowed me to combine the big with the small picture from early on and I feel strongly that I am now ready to give my finest contribution in systems planning, implementation, and operations.  

I hope to bring my most valuable gifts to CXX, an inquisitive mind and a great urge to learn and contribute to research, dedication to work hard coupled to a firm determination to succeed. It is my sincere hope that my many years of experience both at the strategic and tactical levels in several different industries will provide me with valuable things to share in discussions with my colleagues.

Community service has always been central to my heart and in many ways, I am still the missionary believer that I was during my two years (92-93) of full-time missionary activity with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I could not have been happier as an LDS missionary because of my profound joy of serving the community and feeling close to them. I continue to be very active in my community in Canada and this is another reason why I hope to be able to study part rather than full time at CXX.

 I currently serve as a volunteer youth leader at Scouts Canada, part of the Venture scouting program. I am responsible for organizing career-planning and skills development activities, etc. I also volunteer at a local “DIY (do-it-yourself) Maker’s Club” here in Surrey, BC.  I teach young people how to program electronics and create small robotics projects. I've been heavily involved with Arduino and Raspberry Pi hobbyists in my area, building and playing with all sorts of robot projects. Aside from being fun and challenging, this hobby allows me to maintain my critical thinking skills and develop further patience and resilience. Since last year I been taking flying lessons. Learning to fly a Cessna 152 has been a lot of fun and helped enhance my ability to interpret and react correctly in response to circumstances. I hope in the long run that flying will also contribute, perhaps in subtle ways, to making me a better technology professor in my old age. I thank you for considering my application to Systems Engineering at CXX.

Undergraduate & Graduate Engineering Programs, BS, BSc, MS, MSc, PHD. 

I see Engineering Advancement as Key to the Survival of our Planet. By helping you to draft a highly eloquent and effective statement so that you are accepted to graduate school, I will have the opportunity to feed my passion for Engineering still further; often, I do extensive research on the client’s behalf, to the point that it is called for in each case. I especially look forward to contributing my editorial expertise to those of you who have long term career plans in the areas of solar energy, energy from fusion, carbon sequestration methods, management of nitrogen cycles, providing access to clean water, urban infrastructure, health informatics and medication engineering, securing cyberspace and preventing nuclear terror, and advanced personal learning through the engineering of scientific discovery itself.

Sample 1st Paragraph Masters Civil and Structural Engineering

I have been interested in problem solving and drawing from a very young age, especially everything having to do with mathematics. Civil engineering, structural in particular, is where my heart is. Now that I have completed my bachelor’s degree, I look forward to the challenge of graduate school with keen anticipation; I am highly motivated to pursue the skills upon which I will continue to build for a lifetime as a structural engineer.

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I like it so much. Thanks for your time and help in writing this SOP. It is really awesome, I love it, thanks so much. I will recommend you to my friends who are applying for graduate studies. Thanks again. I hope in future to meet you personally.

HS (Applicant for Doctorate in Industrial and Systems Engineering, March 2011)

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Engineering Ethics

Since I hold a PHD in Social Ethics, I am especially sensitive to the importance of the engineer ensuring the continuous improvement of their knowledge, particularly of their profession, disseminate their knowledge, share experience, provide opportunities for education and training of workers, provide recognition, moral and material support to the school where he studied, in this way revert to the opportunities the company has received. It is the responsibility of the engineer who carried out their work efficiently and supports the laws. In particular, ensure compliance with the standards of worker protection provided by the law As professionals, engineers are expected to commit themselves to high standards of conduct.

Engineering and Global Development

The Humanitarian Side of Engineering

There are scores and scores of humanitarian jobs out there for engineers like you. Engineering is one of the most useful fields to get into, and its diversity offers you a lot of freedom.

Let’s look at some of the organizations that provide work placements and paid opportunities for engineers.

Engineers Without Borders

There are more than 60 independent Engineers Without Borders organizations out there, and they operate in different ways, but they are united by the belief that engineering can solve problems for people.

Engineers Without Borders UK works with partner organizations and the education sector to allow people to use science, technology and engineering to aid human development. In 2015 at Engineers Without Borders (EWB) UK, a flagship initiative addressing engineering education called the EWB Challenge was endorsed by both the Engineering Council and The Engineering Professor’s Council. They’ve worked in Rwanda, Bangladesh, Peru, the Philippines and Cameroon, and recruit and support graduate and early career engineers to volunteer oversees for between 3 and 12 months, but there are paid positions available too. Have a look at their site at ewb-uk.org.

If you’d like to work with Engineers Without Borders Canada, who also help people in developing countries use technology to improve their lives, check out www.ewb.ca .

Jobs at The United Nations

The United Nations also looks for engineers to work at its different agencies, but you’ll find it easier to get hired by certain agencies that others. For example, the IAEA, or International Atomic Energy Agency hires Nuclear Waste Technology engineers, and Unattended Monitoring Systems engineers. You might alternatively be called upon to work as a weapon inspector in a conflict zone.

UNOSAT is a free satellite mapping service for the humanitarian community that’s produced satellite image analysis for emergency response during 270 natural disasters over the last 10 years. You could join them as a Satellite engineer or an environmental engineer.

UNOPS, or The United Nations Office for Project Services isn’t very well known, but it’s the agency that other UN agencies contact when field operations are necessary. The team there have built roads in El Salvador, shelters in Haiti and schools in Afghanistan, and they hire civil engineers with more than 7 years’ experience.

UN HABITAT is the United Nations Human Settlements Program and promotes socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities. They hire Structural Engineers, Transport Engineers and others to help make cities in the developing world safer, greener and better for people with few resources.

For all the UN job openings an engineering could want to know about, check out unjobfinder.org, where you’ll see all the experience, education and competencies you’ll need to bag the positon.

For example, the Field Missions office was recently looking for an Engineer to analyze and advise on the planning, design, construction and maintenance of major systems and facilities and related structures needed for logistics support of UNAMID with a Master’s degree or equivalent in Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or another related field; a minimum of 7 years in progressively responsible roles in engineering or a related field. Engineering experience in international field/peacekeeping or military operations is highly desired.

So how are you going to gain all these career elements? Starting with a Master’s degree could work nicely. Let’s have a look at some of your options.

Masters Programs for Engineers With Humanitarian Intentions

The M.Sc. in Thermal Energy and Process Engineering at Aalborg University in Denmark focuses primarily on thermal energy technologies and systems, aspects of energy system modelling, heat- and mass transfer, control engineering and experimental work. This program is perfect for anyone passionate about the development of non-fossil fuels and the design of new, innovative energy technologies and systems to produce competitive and efficient solutions for the future.

At just over 12,500 EUR for international students at the time of writing, this 2-year, full-time course will set you up perfectly to later head towards humanitarian work with full force.

The M.Sc. in Sustainable Energy Engineering at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden, is another similar course aimed at providing you with a state-of-the-art education in solar energy, power generation, energy utilization, turbomachinery and the transformation of energy systems. Graduates of this program have gone into positions in industry, governmental agencies and consultancies, and there’s no reason why this degree couldn’t guide you into work abroad in the developing world.

Tuitions fees for international students are in the realm of 15,000 EUR at the time of writing. You’ll spend 2 years in one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world, studying Renewable Energy Technology; Airbreathing Propulsion; Applied Refrigeration and Heat Pump Technology; Design of Photovoltaic and Hybrid Systems; Strategies in the Global Climate Agenda; Theory and Methodology of Science for Energy Research; Global Energy Markets and Systems in Transition; plus many more amazing, modern courses.

For a similar program in the USA, what about the M.Sc. in Renewable (Solar) Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell? It offers professional training designed to prepare students to perform state-of-the-art work on energy systems. It costs over 24,000 EUR for international students.

The M.Sc. in Chemical Engineering offered at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, USA, is a course-work lead program you could study on for just over 38,000 USD a year, if you’re an international student. You’ll have the opportunity to research catalysis, reaction kinetics, complex fluids, microelectronics, microfluidics, bioinformatics, sustainable development, CO 2 capture, biomedicine, solar energy, thermodynamics, MEMS, cancer diagnostics and therapeutics, process synthesis and control, modeling, biofuels plus many more subjects.

The M.Sc. in Engineering Technology (Occupational Health and Safety) at Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, USA offers thesis and non-thesis options. You can do the M.Sc. in Engineering Technology with concentrations in Engineering Technology as well as Occupational Health and Safety, which will give you the opportunity to go into a broad range of technical and industrial management positions. You’ll over modules like Current and Future Trends in Engineering and Technology; Safety Technology and Engineering; Anthropometric Factors in Accident Prevention; Advanced Topics in Technology; plus many more subjects that could really help you make engineering more safe in developing countries.

For something a little different, there’s the M. Eng. Chemical and Biological Engineering Master’s program at the University of Colorado at Boulder, Colorado Springs, USA, which was ranked 14 th among all graduate programs, 8 th among public graduate programs and won research awards nationally.

The ChBe Department you would study at has an active program in renewable energy research, where they look into the production and use of hydrogen, the materials for photovoltaics, biorefining and biofuels research. This 2-year, full-time course also has modules in Chemical and Biological Engineering; Transport Phenomena; Chemical Reaction Engineering, plus many more.

Ready to dive into a Master’s program right away? There are a lot of options, especially in Europe where education is more affordable and the quality is high. Research and dissect every program that interests you, and when you need help writing your personal statement of purpose, shoot us an email. We have a long-standing history writing powerful statements for hundreds of students and engineers just like you.

Statements of Excellence for Admission to Graduate School in Engineering

PHD Engineering Statement of Purpose Sample, Saudi Applicant

After completing my undergraduate studies, I pursued a Master's program at Loyola Marymount University. During that period, I completed many challenging projects. For my Capstone Project, I concentrated on image compression and encryption – comparing two different approaches to design and assimilation.

I have always very much enjoyed technological research and have been a senior researcher at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) for almost two years now. Our work environment involves joint collaborative work on projects with high technological value, in order to transfer and settle technology in Saudi Arabia.  I have had the privilege of making major contributions to numerous projects. For example, our ASIP Project, for example, involves the design  processors having instructions with parallel operations. It also relates to methods of decoding long instructions which have multiple operations for such processors and for mapping input and output ports to the same addresses. I am also very excited about our EMTYAZ project which is a joint project with KACST& Saudi Signal Corps. Finally, we are working on EMTYAZ , Software Defined Radio (SDR). The objective of the project is to design a very high performance jamming resistant. 

My long-term vision is about technology transfer and settlement and owning the next big thing. I seek to contribute as much as possible to building up the infrastructure for scientific research within KACST where I am currently employed -inventing and developing useful technology for the world.  I seek to make a highly effective contribution to scientific research, enriching the lives of people worldwide through new technological innovation. I want to continue my education to improve my knowledge and research capabilities Thankfully, KACST is providing me with full funding to complete my PhD in Electrical Engineering at XXXX University.

I also very much appreciate the focus on sustainability that is pronounced in your program at XXXX as I seek to make it a central integral pillar of my own professional development and the systems that I look forward to developing in the future in the KSA, always expanding the circles of scientific production research and interdisciplinary communications. The greatest possible contribution that I can make to my society, Saudi Arabia, would be to distinguish myself in the area of research and development in Electrical Engineering, perhaps teaching the subject as well later on in my career

I look forward to a long lifetime of professional engagement in the support of local innovation, content generation of all kinds through development of nationally-qualified professional standards of communication development. I look forward to providing technical consulting services to government sectors that will lead to vast improvement in performance, productivity, and flexibility in electronic communications. As a graduate student in your program, I look forward to learning as much as I can, in particular, about Information theory and coding, signal and image processing, digital design, and communication theory.

I love the way in which rapid developments in electrical engineering require one to constantly stay abreast of the research in order to stay current on the latest technological advances. I feel very strongly that I am ready for both the challenges and the unavoidable failures that come with them. I understand that great research requires patience and that one must understand that results do not come automatically and that the road can be arduous. I persevere because that is where I find my joy, solving problems. I think about engineering challenges almost all of the time, out jogging, lying in bed before I go to sleep, and when I wake up in the morning. This will help me to excel as an investigator and developer.

What I enjoy most is always learning something new, always being in touch with people and learning from them, especially those with extensive experience in an area that I seek to master. I always keep myself up-to-date in software, hardware, publications, for example, and I have a lot of valuable connections with friends and associates who help me to learn what I need to learn as efficiently as possible. Research, networking, and staying up-to-date are all integral parts of my daily routine.

I thank you for considering my application to your world-class program in Electrical Engineering at XXXX University.

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Bioengineering Personal Statement Examples

Graduate School Statement of Purpose

Criteria for success.

Your statement of purpose, sometimes referred to by other names including “statement of objectives” or (rarely) “personal statement” should…

• convince a faculty committee that you are qualified for their program and that you are a good fit for their program’s focus and goals.
• show a select group of skills and experiences that convey your scientific and technical accomplishments and interests.
• include concrete and quantitative experiences, accomplishments, and qualifications.
• adhere to the length and formatting guidelines of the program to which you are applying (usually no more than 2 pages).

Structure Diagram

The graduate school statement of purpose should strengthen your chance of acceptance into a graduate program by demonstrating that you are a good match for the particular department or program. Matching goes both ways: they should be interested in you, and you should be interested in them. Your statement should make this match clear by telling your personal story as a researcher.

Analyze Your Audience

Your statement of purpose is typically read by a graduate committee, a handful of faculty from your program. They’re trying to determine if you will be a successful graduate student in their department, a positive force in the department’s intellectual life, and a successful researcher after you graduate. They are therefore interested in your qualifications as a researcher, your career goals, and how your academic focus matches their labs and department.

The graduate committee could read hundreds of applications a year. To make it easy for them to figure out that you are a good fit, make direct, concrete statements about your accomplishments and qualifications. To make it easy for them to remember you, create a narrative that “brands” you.

Create a personal narrative

PhD programs invest in the professional and technical growth of their students. Get the committee excited about investing in you by opening your essay with a brief portrait of what drives you as a scientist or engineer. What research directions are you passionate about, and why? What do you picture yourself doing in 10 years?

If you’re not quite sure what you want to do in graduate school, it’s still best to focus on a specific area or topic in your application. What would you work on if you had to start graduate school tomorrow? You can always change your research focus later.

Any personal stories should fit in the overall narrative of your research story. Avoid cliche openings like “ever since my childhood, I’ve been fascinated by…”. The statement of purpose, sometimes called a personal statement, is “personal” in the sense that it tells your unique research story, not your life story.  

Close your essay with a 2-3 sentence discussion of your career interests. No one will hold you to these plans; it simply helps your committee visualize your potential trajectory. Emphasize how the program you are applying to will help prepare you for these long-term goals.

Describe your experiences

Experiences are the “what” of your essay. What experiences led you to develop your skill set and passions? Where have you demonstrated accomplishment, leadership, and collaboration? Include research, teaching, and relevant work experience or extracurriculars. State concrete achievements and outcomes like awards, publications, or projects completed.

Achievements do not need to be directly tied to research projects or publications. However, they should relate to the type of work you expect in graduate school. For example, you can discuss significant, research-oriented class projects. Describe any collaborations with senior students or faculty that demonstrate your passion about relevant research topics. Computer science students can discuss projects from software internships that involved architecture design, algorithm design, security considerations, machine learning, etc. These experiences can inform your academic interests and demonstrate ability as well as more formal research experience. Also consider including experiences that demonstrate other skills that are crucial for a successful grad student such as good communication and self-motivation. 

Quantify your experiences to show concrete impact. How many people were on your team? How many protocols did you develop? How many people were in competition for an award? As a TA, how often did you meet with your students?

Describe actions, not just changes in your internal mental or emotional state. A statement of purpose is a way to make a narrative out of your CV. It is not a diary entry

Explain the meaning of your experiences

Meaning is the “why” or “so what” of the document. Why was this experience important to your growth as a researcher? What does it say about your abilities and potential? It feels obvious to you, but you need to be explicit with your audience. Your descriptions of meaning should also act as transition statements between experiences: try to “wrap” meaning around your experiences.

Demonstrate match to your target program

Demonstrate an understanding of the program to which you’re applying and about how you will be successful in that program. To do this:

• Read the program’s website. See what language they use to describe themselves, and echo that language in your essay. For example, the website for MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory displays three main research areas and the values of the lab .
• In some areas (often those with a more rigid lab structure), reaching faculty is very important. You should know what faculty members are taking new students and whether or not you would be a fit for their lab before applying. In other areas, contacting faculty is not expected and may be difficult. Reach out if in doubt and consult current graduate students, undergraduate professors, or graduate admissions officers if you are unsure what is typical in your area.
• State which professors in the program you would plan to work with. Show how their research areas align with your background and your goals. You can even describe potential research directions or projects. It can also be helpful to mention other departments or groups at the university that you might be interested in collaborating with or learning from.

Content adapted by the MIT Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Communication Lab from an article originally created by the MIT Biological Engineering Communication Lab .

Related Resource

For more information, see these statements from MIT EECS faculty about what they look for in a grad school application.

Resources and Annotated Examples

Annotated example 1.

Personal Statement submitted by graduate student enrolled at MIT in CSAIL 192 KB

Annotated Example 2

Personal Statement submitted by graduate student enrolled at MIT in EECS 292 KB

Annotated Example 3

Personal Statement submitted by graduate student enrolled at MIT in EECS 873 KB