Applying to graduate school...personal statement?

Question

Rumor has it that if a college or university considers you for a fellowship, they would like to see that you intend to obtain your Ph.D from them as well (and it should be mentioned as such in your personal statement). True or false? I have also heard that it's not a good idea to study at the same institution for your bachelors *and* masters. Does that hold true for masters and Ph.D degress too? What should I include and what should I not include on my personal statement? Any other general suggestions about the personal statement are welcomed. :-)
Thank you for your advice!

Answer 1

Actually, it is a myth that receiving your Masters & Ph.D. from the same institution is an unwise action; more often than not, many earn their Masters & Ph.D. from the same institution to consolidate their credentials and save time in transferring to another institution. It demonstrates continuity and personal steadfastness in one school's program.

Regarding your personal statement, many universities have the intent to award fellowships to those that they mark as being graduate candidates (this meaning Masters and post-Masters work). Fellowships are like a "teaching" or "research" grant, offered to entice a student to stay and study at that particular institution. In the personal statement, it is always worth mentioning how your application to that particular institution is made more interesting via the fellowship offer.

Also, regarding your personal statement, make sure to convey your genuine interest for that institution and why. Never mention the competition you have applied to, but instead focus on the zeal that you possess for the institution that you are addressing in your personal statement. Grades and accomplishments carry a lot of weight in graduate admissions, but a well-written and supported essay that effectively and heavily displays your desire is immeasureable. Good luck!

*Somehow, given how intelligent and personable you are, I think you'll do smashingly. ;-)

Answer 2

There is nothing wrong with getting your MA/MS and PhD from the same place (in which case, the masters is just a formality and you don't necessarily even get the diploma). It's just not advisable to go all the way from the BA/BS to PhD all at one place. The rumors are right--you have a better chance if you plan to stick it out for the PhD at the school you're applying to.

Your personal statement should include (not necessarily in this order:
1. Why you want a Ph.D. (career goals)
2. What you intend to study (research interests/intended specialization, as specifically as you can)
3. Why you want a Ph.D. at the dept. of ____ at ____ University--what makes them a good match for your interests and personality and vice versa
4. Whom you want to work with (intended supervisor[s]) and why

To answer 3 and 4, it helps to do some digging to see what the department's known for, what special opportunities or resources they have that others don't, recent faculty publications and courses offered, etc.

Sometimes other things merit mentioning as well, but since your achievements will be highlighted in other parts of the application, the purpose statement is where you can be specific about your goals and interests and show that you know what you're getting into.

Answer 3

1) Probably. A fellowship typically lasts for a few years, but it only takes you 2 years to get a masters and you spend most of that time taking courses - not doing research, which is what the fellowship is supposed to support. So yes, you should say that you want to do your PhD there (you can always 'change your mind' later).

2) Yes, you're not supposed to do your BA/BS and masters/PhD at the same school. However, most people will do the masters and PhD at the same school, especially if you have to pass qualifying exams to get the PhD - those are often based on coursework, and you want to take the courses from those professors.

Answer 4

mentioning your intended field of study would be extremely helpful to answer this question ... different fields look for very different things and of course this also varies a lot from school to school depending on who happens to review your application. That said, I would be happy to edit my response and let give you a better idea of why I know from experience if you can add your intended field of study and maybe your undergraduate degree and a one sentence about what you hope to do with your MS or PhD after you complete.