Writing the SOP

[growingupgrr!!]

Hi,

Seems like many people on the thread just finished applying and are waiting & I thought I might enlist your help.

I'll be applying for applied econ (e.g. Strategy, BE) programs to start Fall 09 so have a bit of time to do the application.

Thinking ahead in structuring the SOP though, can anyone offer any advice on the following:

• How specific do SOPs need to be in terms of research interest. Did you list one or more general areas and questions you might like to study or were you very specific as to thesis
• From the school's perspective, what are they hoping to ascertain from your SOP? Presumably, the rest of your application lists your academic qualifications so is it your research potential and, if so, how does a good SOP show this?
• What was your strategy in writing the SOP for different schools? Did you try to match it to what their faculty interests were, etc?
• Any resources online that might help?

Thanks very much in advance for answering.

[bauble]

• How specific do SOPs need to be in terms of research interest. Did you list one or more general areas and questions you might like to study or were you very specific as to thesis

For US schools, as a rule you shouldn't be specific to a thesis. I've heard that there is more of an expectation in Europe that you have a thesis in mind right away. They are primarily interested in "why do you want to do this" more than "do you know how to formulate interesting research questions." I don't think many people have a good grasp on the latter going in (I still don't), and profs by no means expect this from applicants.

• From the school's perspective, what are they hoping to ascertain from your SOP? Presumably, the rest of your application lists your academic qualifications so is it your research potential and, if so, how does a good SOP show this?

Yes, passion and potential for research are a couple things they want to glean from the SOP.

• What was your strategy in writing the SOP for different schools? Did you try to match it to what their faculty interests were, etc?

Yes, matching to faculty interests is good, but you should try to give good reasons why you are interested. For people new to a field, this is not that easy. You might try, for example, relating it to your industry experience if you have some.