writing a statement of objective alissa

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    Writing your way to

    success: how to write astatement of purpose

    and study objective

    Alissa Harvey

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    Workshop Plan:

    Statement of Purpose

    Study Objective

    Question & Answer time

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    Meet Julia

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    Meet JuliaShe is 18 years old

    and lives in Sidoarjo.

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    Meet JuliaShe is 18 years old

    and lives in Surabaya.

    Her hobbies are

    surfing the internet

    and fixing peoplescomputers.

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    Meet JuliaShe is 18 years old

    and lives in Sidoarjo.

    Her hobbies are

    surfing the internet

    and fixing peoplescomputers.

    She would like to

    attend college to

    study computer

    science.

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    Meet JuliaShe is 18 years old and

    lives in Sidoarjo.

    Her hobbies are surfing

    the internet and fixing

    peoples computers.

    She would like to

    attend college to study

    computer science.

    She will apply to

    colleges in the United

    States because she

    wants to work for

    Google.

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    Meet JuliaShe is 18 years old and lives

    in Sidoarjo.

    Her hobbies are surfing the

    internet and fixing peoples

    computers.

    She would like to attendcollege to study computer

    science.

    She will apply to colleges in

    the United States because

    she wants to work forGoogle.

    What must she do?

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    The Plan

    Desire

    College andscholarship

    applications

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    The Plan: Part 1

    Desire

    College andscholarship

    applications

    Essays

    a.Personal Statement

    b.Statement of Purpose

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    What do you see?

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    What do you see?

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    What is a SoP?

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    Brainstorming

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    Think big!

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    A SoP is NOT

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    An SoP shows What you did not say on

    your resume

    How your lifeexperiences led you to

    this field of study

    That you know about the

    university you areapplying to

    That you took the time to

    write a careful essay

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    Example PromptWrite a candiddescription of yourself, stressing those personal qualities andassets, that you feel will influenceyour (undergraduate / graduate) work.

    Describe what you consider to be your most importantprofessional and / or academic achievementto date.

    HonestStrengthsChallenges

    Experience

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    Start: Catchy Introduction Paint a picture

    Tell a story

    Describe your hero

    Quote

    Short, but powerfulstatement

    Focus on the field ofstudy

    End with your goalstatement!!!

    Paint a PictureI think one of my most distinguishing

    characteristics is the diversity of experiences

    I possess. I am a science student with a flairfor the arts. I also have a passion fortraveling and understanding differentcultures of the world. All these elements havegiven me a very broad outlook, with varyingdegrees of knowledge in a range of topics. Istrongly believe that although some are not

    related directly, all these qualities willinfluence my undergraduate work.

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    Start: Catchy IntroductionTell a storyI remember the day as if it were yesterday. During my second year in

    college, I was attempting to transmit a group of characterscomprising my name from one computer to another. I connectedthe computers using RS-232 cable, wrote the necessary programsand executed them. I typed my name on one terminal and rushed tothe other to see the results. "Wow, this is magic!" I exclaimed as Iread 'Tom' on the screen. Now, four years later, I know that

    Networking makes possible a plethora of applications, from video-conferencing over the Internet to linking banks through privatenetworks. It still seems like magic. Or rather, a grand adventure -one that I most certainly want to be part of.

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    Whats next: Share your

    experience What experiences have

    you had that form your

    Personality?

    Goals?

    Dont just tell the story;

    discuss howthe

    experience shaped you

    Demonstrate that you

    already know something

    about the field of study

    through your

    experiences

    What experiences can you include?

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    Whats next: Share your

    experience_________ Experience:

    During high school, I was fascinated

    with electronic gadgets. Soonthereafter, designing and building

    basic circuits started as a hobby.

    Along the way, however, I realized

    that the problem-solving aspect of

    making electronic gadgets waswhat I enjoyed the most.

    Engineering was a natural career

    choice after this.

    _________ Experience:During my undergraduate studies at the

    Electronics & Communication departmentof M.K. College of Engineering, subjectslike Microprocessors, C-Programming,Computer Networks interested me themost. I was awestruck by the potential ofIntel 8086 microprocessor, more so by themanner in which its faster and more

    powerful cousins revolutionized theworking of computers in a decade. I wasnow determined to focus onmicroprocessors during my Final Yearproject.

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    Whats next: State your

    goals Why do you want to

    continue your studies?

    What challenges

    (liabilities) do you still

    have?

    Why will this program helpyou?

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    Whats next: State your

    goals_______________________:

    While my present job has helped medevelop a thorough insight into

    project handling, the industryenvironment that I am currently incannot support my desire forresearch. I possess industry-hardened skills in Computers, but Imust build on these to achieve mygoal of undertaking cutting-edgeresearch in advanced computing,with specific reference to ComputerNetworks. I therefore believe that Imust return to the academic worldfor further growth.

    ______________________:

    I am applying to Washington

    University because it is reputablefor its research facilities andcomputing resources. Thedepartment web site revealed avery strong faculty involved inextensive research in the area of

    Computer Networks. This hasstrengthened my resolve to studyat Princeton University.

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    Whats next: Conclusion Remind the committee of

    what you bring to the

    table Remind the committee of

    what program you want toenter

    Convince the committeethat you will be a positiveaddition to the program!

    I bring along a strong grasp offundamentals in Electronics andComputers, an aptitude for

    teaching and team work, a zest forchallenges and an enthusiasticdesire to learn all I can. I wouldlike to take with me, in addition toknowledge of ComputerNetworks, a network of strong andlasting relationships with my

    teachers and fellow-students. Ihope that my background andqualifications are found suitablefor an MS in Computer Science atPrinceton University.

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    Take a deep breath.

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    The Plan: Part 1

    DesireCollege and

    scholarship

    applications

    Essays

    a.Personal Statement

    b.Statement of Purpose

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    The Plan: Part 2DesireBachelors Degree

    More specific study purposeGraduate school

    and scholarship

    applications

    Essays

    a.Statement of Purpose

    b.Study Objective

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    Study Objective

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    Purpose of a Study

    Objective EssayTo communicate:

    what you plan to study

    what skills you wish to learn

    what you plan to do with theknowledge and skills you acquire

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    Where you are

    Where you

    want to go

    Where your

    destination will

    take you

    In other words

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    Basic Structure

    1. Introduction

    2. Clearly explain what you want to study.

    Give examples

    Explain the major field of study and the areas of specialization in

    detail.

    3. Give three key reasonswhy you want to study the areas that you

    mention in the paragraph before.

    4. Explain your future objectives and how your study plan will helpyou achieve them.

    5. Conclusion: state your primary study objectives and

    summarize what you hope to accomplish as a result of your

    gaining the degree.

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    Basic Structure

    1. Introduction

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    Basic Structure

    1. Introduction

    2. Clearly explain what you

    want to study.

    Give examples

    Explain the major field ofstudy and the areas of

    specialization in detail.

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    Basic Structure

    1. Introduction

    2. Clearly explain what you want to study.

    Give examples Explain the major field of study and the

    areas of specialization in detail.

    3. Give three key reasonswhy you

    want to study the areas thatyou mention in the paragraph

    before.

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    Basic Structure

    1. Introduction

    2. Clearly explain what you want to study.

    Give examples

    Explain the major field of study and the areas of

    specialization in detail.

    3. Give three key reasonswhy you want to study the areas

    that you mention in the paragraph before.

    4. Explain your future

    objectives and howyour study plan will

    help you achieve them.

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    Basic Structure

    1. Introduction

    2. Clearly explain what you want to study.

    Give examples

    Explain the major field of study and the areas of specialization in detail.

    3. Give three key reasonswhy you want to study the areas that you mention in the paragraph

    before.

    4. Explain your future objectives and how your study plan will help you achieve them.

    5. Conclusion: state your primary

    study objectives and summarize what

    you hope to accomplish as a result of

    your gaining the degree.

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    Back to Julia

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    Back to Julia1. Introduction

    2. Clearly explain what you

    want to study.

    3. Give three key reasonswhy youwant to study the areas.

    4. Explain your future objectives

    and how your study plan will

    help you achieve them.

    5. Conclusion: state yourprimary study objectives and

    summarize what you hope to

    accomplish as a result of

    your gaining the degree.

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    Back to JuliaEXAMPLE:

    1. IntroductionStory: Proposing new

    grading software for the school;installation and training.

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    Back to JuliaEXAMPLE:

    2. Proposed field of study: computer

    science with a focus in social media.

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    Back to JuliaEXAMPLE:

    3. Three reasons:

    (a) she wants to work at Google,(b) she she wants to design a new

    social media application

    (c) she wants to share the knowledgeshe gains with students back in her

    country

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    Back to JuliaEXAMPLE:

    4. Future: Julia will return to Indonesia

    and teach computer programming tostudents

    Social Purpose= How will the peopleof Indonesia benefit from your study

    abroad?

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    Back to JuliaEXAMPLE:

    5. Conclusion: connect it all together

    and complete the introduction story.

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    Do:

    Have a social purpose.

    Read the question carefully.

    Have an organized essay format.

    Write the length of essay they ask for.

    Check your grammar, spelling, punctuation, and

    capitalization carefully. Ask people to proofread it.

    Do multiple drafts and edits

    Give yourself plenty of time to write and edit.

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    Do:

    Read the question carefully.

    Have an organized essay format.

    Write the length of essay they ask for.

    Check your grammar, spelling, punctuation, and

    capitalization carefully. Ask as many others as possible to

    proofread your work for writing stylegrammar, spelling,

    etc.

    Do multiple drafts and edits

    Give yourself plenty of time to write and edit.

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    Do not:

    Try to be funny.

    Flatter the university.

    Be too arrogant or apologize for who you are.

    Use slang, technical jargon, or long quotations.

    Use overly common phrases (i.e. Ive always wanted to be a . .

    .) or use too many common words (i.e. meaningful, beautiful,

    challenging, rewarding, etc. ).

    Wait till the last minute before the deadline for writing the

    study objective.

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    Do not:

    Try to be funny.

    Be too arrogant.

    Flatter the university.

    Apologize for who you are.

    Be dishonest about yourself.

    Use slang, technical jargon, or long quotations.

    Use overly common phrases (i.e. Ive always wanted to be a . . .) or words (i.e. meaningful, beautiful,challenging, rewarding, etc. ).

    Wait till the last minute before the

    deadline for writing the study objective.

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    Take-away Questions1. Reflect on your schooling.

    What is your favorite school subject? Why?

    What or who influenced your interest (i.e. academicrole models)?

    2. Why do you want to do research in your topic (s) or field

    of study?

    3. What are your career goals?

    Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

    What do you hope to accomplish?

    What motivates you?