Purdue OWL: Graduate School Applications
A free, practical guide from Purdue University's writing lab on graduate applications: planning timelines, statements of purpose before, during and after drafting, and research statements. Clear advice on being specific about the programme instead of writing a generic essay.
Guide
Career Growth
Purdue University Online Writing Lab
2 to 3 hours
All
Free
What it is
The Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) is a free writing resource from Purdue University, used by students worldwide. Its Graduate School Applications section walks through the application process and the documents that matter most: an overview of the process and a planning timeline, statements of purpose from preparation through drafting to revision, and writing a research statement.
Why it is useful
Most weak statements of purpose share the same problems: vague motivation, a list of achievements copied from the CV, and nothing specific about the programme. The OWL pages address these directly. They advise being specific about what makes a programme a good fit rather than saying it is "one of the best", building a unifying theme, explaining what your experiences mean rather than listing them, and writing the opening last. They also cover what to do after you finish a draft: getting feedback, revising and proofreading.
Who it is for
Anyone writing a statement of purpose, personal statement or research statement for a masters or PhD, in any country. The advice comes from a US university, so some details reflect US conventions, but the principles of clear, specific, evidence-based writing apply everywhere, including to European motivation letters and scholarship essays.
How to use it well
- Read the overview and timeline pages at the start of your planning.
- Before drafting, work through the "before you draft" questions and write notes.
- Draft, then use the "after you finish a draft" page as a revision checklist.
- Ask a professor or someone who has been through admissions to review your statement against the same principles.
Is it worth it?
Yes. It is free, short and practical. Its limits: it gives principles, not programme-specific requirements, and you still need to follow each programme's prompt and word limit exactly. It will not tell you what a particular committee wants; the programme's own page and your research on it will.
Free or paid
Free.
Common questions
Is a statement of purpose the same as a personal statement? Not always. Some programmes use the terms differently; answer the exact prompt you are given.
Should I use a template? Use the structure advice, not someone else's text. Committees see many templated statements.
Ready to start?
Opens on Purdue University Online Writing Lab in a new tab.
Stuck on something specific?
Writing only gets you so far. If you want an answer to your situation rather than the general case, book a session and we will work through it together. Sessions are free for approved Sefism members, and a few slots open each week.
Follow along
New writing, resources and project ideas land here first.