Determine your purpose in writing the statement and more

The graduate school statement of purpose is your chance to demonstrate your unique qualifications for and commitment to your chosen field by discussing those experiences, people, and events that compelled you to pursue it

The Statement of Purpose (also called "Letter of Intent" or "Application Essay" or something like that) is by far one of the most important parts of your application. Often it is the only way the admissions committee can evaluate your writing skills. Many applications will specifically tell you what they want you to address in this essay, but usually the instructions are vague. Here are some tips

Schools phrase their prompts for the statement of purpose in a variety of ways. They even name them differently

My decision to pursue graduate study in the United States is underscored by my desire to be a part of the graduate program at your institution. Purdue University offers the flexibility needed for such a vast and rapidly changing field. The research facilities and the faculty at the university are par excellent...

I remember the day as if it were yesterday. During my second year in college, I was attempting to transmit a group of characters comprising my name from one computer to another. I connected the computers using RS-232 cable, wrote the necessary programs and executed them...

The primary question admissions committee members ask themselves when they read a Statement of Purpose is: What does this essay tell me about the person who wrote it?..

I remember the day as if it were yesterday. During my second year in college, I was attempting to transmit a group of characters comprising my name from one computer to another. I connected the computers using RS-232 cable, wrote the necessary programs and executed them...