statement of purpose for phd in chemistry pdf

Academic Statement of Purpose and Personal Statement

The Academic Statement of Purpose and the Personal Statement are intended to be your opportunity to tell us more about yourself. 

The Academic Statement of Purpose should include information about your academic interests, research interests, research experience, relevant work experience, publications, reasons for pursuing graduate studies, and professional goals. What are your plans for graduate studies and a professional career? You could also tell us if there are any specific faculty members whose research interests you and why.  

The Personal Statement  should include information about other important areas of your life, outside of academics. Are you involved in any extracurricular activities, like sports, student organizations, mentoring, etc? Additionally, are there any other clubs, groups or organizations in which you are an active member?

We do not ask that you answer any program specific questions. Please contact the Graduate Admissions Office if you have any further questions.

Chemistry Graduate Admissions

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Chemistry and Chemical Biology

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Chemistry and Chemical Biology is one of the programs in the Harvard Integrated Life Sciences, which facilitates collaboration and cross-disciplinary research. Visit HILS for additional application instructions .

This program builds strong interpersonal connections between faculty and students, and effective bridges between disciplines, allowing you to thrive at the frontiers of research in the chemical and life sciences. You will gain rich training in the unique tools of chemical inquiry and a commitment to scientific investigation at the molecular level.

Our award-winning faculty, which includes Nobel Prize and Welch Award laureates, will help you explore key aspects of life and study the problems of intrinsic interest and importance at the frontiers of chemical science. You will have access to the latest instrumentation and will have the opportunity to interact with top institutions like the Broad Institute and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

Examples of student research include developing new ways of gene editing and creating a better imaging system to study organisms at the microscopic level.

Graduates of the program have secured faculty positions at prestigious institutions like Harvard University, MIT, and Stanford University. Others have careers with companies like Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, and AstraZeneca.

Additional information on the graduate program is available from the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology and requirements for the degree are detailed in Policies .

Areas of Study

Chemical Biology | Chemical Physics* | Inorganic | Organic | Physical | Theory

*Candidates will be admitted to the Committee on Chemical Physics

Admissions Requirements

Please review admissions requirements and other information before applying. You can find degree program-specific admissions requirements below and access additional guidance on applying from the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology .

Academic Background

The Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology offers a PhD in chemistry and a PhD in chemical physics. Applicants should have a record of classroom and laboratory training in biological, organic, inorganic, and physical chemistry as well as a strong grounding in chemistry and be thoughtful enough about the discipline of chemistry to communicate their desire to pursue doctoral research.

Statement of Purpose

For applicants to chemistry and chemical biology, the statement of purpose should include two sections. Please clearly delineate the two sections within the same document using the headers "statement of purpose" and "research accomplishments.”

• Statement of Purpose : Statement of your scientific and professional interests and objectives, not to exceed 300 words.
• Research Accomplishments : Statement of your research accomplishments and/or current projects, not to exceed 500 words. In the event that undergraduate research opportunities have not been available to you, please discuss other science projects, reading projects, etc., that you have undertaken.

Standardized Tests

GRE General: Optional GRE Subject: Optional 

Theses & Dissertations

Theses & Dissertations for Chemistry and Chemical Biology

See list of Chemistry and Chemical Biology faculty

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Questions about the program.

Graduate School Personal Statement

Criteria for success.

• Your personal statement convinces a faculty committee that you are qualified for their program.
• It convinces them that you a good fit for their program’s focus and goals.
• You show a select group of skills and experiences that convey your scientific accomplishments and interests.
• Your experiences are concrete and quantitative.
• Your personal statement is no more than 3 pages.

Structure Diagram

The graduate school personal statement tells your story and demonstrates that you are a good match for a particular department or program. Matching goes both ways: they should be interested in you, and you should be interested in them. Your personal statement should make this match clear.

Analyze Your Audience

Your personal statement will be ready by a graduate committee, a handful of faculty from your program. They’re trying to determine if you will be a successful graduate student in their department, a positive force in the department’s intellectual life, and a successful scientist after you graduate. They are therefore interested in your qualifications as a researcher, your career goals, and how your personality matches their labs and department.

The graduate committee probably reads hundreds of applications a year. To make it easy for them to figure out that you are a good fit, make direct, concrete statements about your accomplishments and qualifications. To make it easy for them to remember you, create a narrative that “brands” you.

Create a personal narrative

PhD programs invest in the professional and scientific growth of their students. Get the committee excited about investing in you by opening your essay with a brief portrait of what drives you as a scientist. What research directions are you passionate about, and why? What do you picture yourself doing in 10 years?

Close your essay with a 2-3 sentence discussion of your career interests. No one will hold you to this; this just helps your committee visualize your potential trajectory.

Describe your experiences

Experiences are the “what” of your essay. What experiences led you to develop your skill set and passions? Where have you demonstrated accomplishment, leadership, and collaboration? Include research, teaching, and relevant extracurriculars. State concrete achievements and outcomes like awards, discoveries, or publications.

Quantify your experiences to show concrete impact. How many people were on your team? How many protocols did you develop? How many people were in competition for an award? As a TA, how often did you meet with your students?

Describe actions, not just changes in your internal mental or emotional state. A personal statement is a way to make a narrative out of your CV. It is not a diary entry.

Explain the meaning of your experiences

Meaning is the “why” or “so what” of the document. Why was this experience important to your growth as a scientist? What does it say about your abilities and potential? It feels obvious to you, but you need to be explicit with your audience. Your descriptions of meaning should also act as transition statements between experiences: try to “wrap” meaning around your experiences.

Demonstrate match to your target program

Demonstrate an understanding of the program to which you’re applying and about how you will be successful in that program. To do this:

• Read the program’s website. See what language they use to describe themselves, and echo that language in your essay. For example, MIT Chemical Engineering’s website points out innovative research areas and interdisciplinary opportunities.
• Get in contact with faculty (or students) in your target program. If you have had a positive discussion with someone at the department, describe how those interactions made you think that you and the department may be well-matched.
• State which professors in the program you would be interested in working with. Show how their research areas align with your background and your goals. You can even describe potential research directions or projects.

Resources and Annotated Examples

Annotated example 1.

These 2021 short answer responses are from an MIT ChemE graduate student’s successful application to the MIT ChemE program. 237 KB

Annotated Example 2

This is the personal statement from an MIT ChemE graduate student’s successful application to the MIT ChemE program. 121 KB

Annotated Example 3

This is the personal statement from an MIT ChemE graduate student’s successful application to the MIT ChemE program. 361 KB

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How to Write a Statement of Purpose for PhD Admission

The dreaded doctoral statement of purpose — every PhD program asks for it, but why is it so difficult to write? Writing a strong statement of purpose is essential to getting into your top PhD programs. A PhD statement of purpose gives admissions committees an introduction to your research interests and why their specific program is of interest to you.

Like a cover letter for a job application, a great statement of purpose allows you to highlight your strengths, interests and experience. If you need statement of purpose advice, keep reading for guidance on how to write a successful statement of purpose that will make your PhD application stand out.

Statement of purpose vs. personal statement

Though the two may sound similar, they’re not necessarily interchangeable. A personal statement gives insight into who you are, while a statement of purpose is meant to showcase what you want to do. Rarely will you be asked to write a personal statement for a PhD program.

As you go through the PhD application process, you will likely see schools requesting either a statement of purpose or a research statement. In most cases, they're both looking for the same thing. Admissions committees want to know about your academic background, your research goals and what you hope to accomplish as a candidate in a PhD program.

Your research goals should align with faculty research

Being admitted to a PhD program is a great feeling, but if you enroll in a program that doesn’t match your research interests or help support your career goals, you may be setting yourself up for disappointment later down the road.

Applying for admission to a program is all about fit. Faculty reviewers are looking for students who best represent the department’s mission and will help them obtain their research objectives.

By the time you apply, you should have a solid understanding of what the department’s primary research and content areas are, as well as which faculty members you’d like to work with more closely. This might mean finding information about what their labs do and reading published articles related to their work.

Be sure to include how your interests and past experiences align with the work that they do and how you would be an active contributor to those endeavors. This approach shows that you took the time to look into their program, so the committee will be more willing to invest theirs in reviewing your application.

Don’t be afraid to address your weaknesses

Many people assume they should avoid listing their shortcomings in their essays. The whole point of applying to a program is to impress the reviewers, right? But constructively addressing your weaknesses can be a great way to demonstrate how this program can help you achieve your academic goals.

Look at the catalog and read through the courses that are part of the program. If there is a particular class that fascinates you, talk about how it could help you obtain a new skill or a better understanding of a concept that you’ve struggled with before.

This demonstrates that you are actively seeking programs to help you better your education. It also exhibits that you’re mindful of what areas of your knowledge need some improvement, which shows maturity and the ability to self-assess.

Keep it succinct

If your program of interest does not specify a page word or word limit, it’s best to assume that your statement should not exceed two pages total. It should be enough to give them a glimpse of who you are and what you have to offer but not share your life story.

The aim is to communicate how and why this particular program will help you meet your academic and career goals. Limited space means you must prioritize what you include in your statement.

Create an outline before you start writing to ensure you are including points that are relevant to your application and the program to which you are applying. Your statement is also an example of how well you can write. By framing your essay before you write it, you can avoid stream-of-consciousness writing that can often come across as undefined and incoherent.

Proofread! And read it over and over

When you think you have a finished product, read your essay out loud. This makes it easier to catch typos, poor grammar, and oddly worded sentences. If you have a friend who is also applying to grad school, help each other out by editing each other’s essays.

Having someone else read your statement and ask questions can help you clarify your points and make it more compelling. Your statement is your one chance to present yourself professionally in your own words. The occasional mistake is excusable, but messy writing will make them think you lack attention to detail.

Before you hit submit on that application, be sure that you have attached the correct document for the right institution. It can be very embarrassing if your statement mentions the wrong faculty member’s name or refers to another school’s library! It could also cause the reviewers to think you are not as serious about their program.

You’ve spent a good amount of time perfecting your application, so take your time to review everything before you submit it so you can rest easy knowing you’ve presented your best.

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about how to apply to a PhD by reading our guide on Choosing, Applying for, and Thriving in a PhD Program!

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PHD Chemistry, Chinese Applicant

I have found my niche in Academia and I hope to earn the PHD Degree in Chemistry at XXXX so as to devote myself to a professional lifetime of research and teaching in my field. I seek to contribute to my profession and society generally speaking in three ways: cultivating an interest in chemistry on the part of new generations of students, serving the community, and giving my all to research so as to unlock the promise of tomorrow and realize more and more of the great potential of chemistry to make our lives more healthy and comfortable.

I earned my Professional Science Master’s Degree (PSM) in May of 2017 from XXXX University, majoring in Applied and Industrial Chemistry. This experience has left me hungry for further advancement through studies at the doctoral level. I could not be more passionate about scientific research and eager to study towards the PHD in order to attain the optimal foundation for a professional lifetime dedicated primarily towards research. I look forward to cooperating with some of the smartest scientists on the planet, dedicated to resolving practical challenges collectively, joining forces in vigorous, coordinated research. Nothing excites me more than the challenge of analyzing which direction in research has high value and which does not (questions that have already been solved by peers, or issues that are proven to be unsolvable). For me, the establishing of a solid network of relationships with academic circles and participating in international academic conferences is of fundamental importance.

I earned my bachelor’s degree from the Beijing University of Chemical Technology in 2012 specialized in Pharmaceutical Engineering. Throughout the course of my studies in China, I realized that Chemistry was the field to which I have been called; thus, when I came to America for college at IUP, I chose Chemistry as my major and then immediately set to work learning everything that I could about advanced inorganic, organic, analytical, and physical chemistry. My intense efforts were recognized by my winning an academic achievement award for an outstanding GPA.

My research interest include but are not limited to computational chemistry, environmental chemistry, and physical chemistry. I most enjoy simulating electronic structures and molecular processes. For example, I adopted Density Functional Theory (DFT), with the B3LYP functionals at the 6-31G(d) level in Gaussian to explore the optimization structures of MCl 2 (Py) 2 , where the M stands for Ni(II) and Cu(II). I enjoy interdisciplinary exploration in chemistry, linear algebra, quantum chemistry, electrodynamics, and so forth. I have some knowledge of C+, SAS, Gaussian, and Spartan programs, and I am good at mathematics – as demonstrated by the fact that I scored 169 of 170 in the GRE quantitative test.

Another reason why I am especially mesmerized by theoretical chemistry is that, in 2013, the Nobel Prize was given to a research group focused on “Computer Modelling of Chemical Reactions”, a branch of computational chemistry, which leads me to firmly believe that the molecular dynamics of biological macromolecules will continue to be a very hot topic for the foreseeable future. I hope to have a chance at some point to do research in this or a related, supporting area.

I worked especially hard at tracing certain elements in acid mine drainage (AMD) by using the U.S. Geological Survey Coal Quality (COALQUAL) Database to understand halide discharges from AMD to drinking water sources, because I find this branch of environmental chemistry to be especially fascinating. I am also interested in exploring atmospheric chemistry, although I have no relevant research experience in this area. I am especially highly motivated to pursue research in this area in the future, however, because China has an enormous problem with haze resulting from air pollution, with many people these days wearing masks whenever the venture outside. Thus, I look forward to learning all that I can about the chemistry of smog - resulting from emissions from chemical factories, automotive exhaustion, natural gas combustion and utilization, etc.  I seek a full immersion experience in the study of air pollution mechanisms, especially the influence of pollutants on ozone concentrations.

I recently gave a presentation concerning about Chinese culture, custom, and food to other Master’s students who are majoring in counseling to give them a brief description of China and to encourage them to choose China to visit as they prepare for careers as international counselors. After that seminar, the Counseling Department mailed me a thank-you letter with the signatures and thank-you notes of everybody that attended. I was deeply moved by it and this reinforced my passion for academic life and community and illustrates the way in which I seek a full engagement in the future with that community.

I am also in the process of gaining teaching experience since I work part-time as a Chemistry Instructor job at Penn State Schuylkill and also hold a professional tutor job at Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC). I enjoy the time getting along with students and rejoice in their achievement and growth.

For the reasons outlined above, I am confident that I can excel in your rigorous program at Penn. I keenly look forward to receiving a world-class education in Chemistry at XXXX and I thank you for considering my application.

Personal Statement of Purpose Help for Admission to Graduate School in Chemistry, Master’s & Doctoral Degree Programs, MS, MSc, PHD

All progress is ultimately built upon a chemical foundation and entails in some way the eradication of human suffering. If biology is the queen of the life sciences, then chemistry is her foundation, her essence. Chemistry is the ‘stuff’ of which life is composed; and it is here that rejuvenation of life will take place at its most basic level. Because of the great power of chemistry to make positive contributions to the quality of human life, it is an honor for us to help you to make your statement for admission to graduate studies in chemistry as powerful and creative as possible. After you fill out our Online Interview Form , we will get started within 24 hours drafting a highly impressive, model first paragraph on your behalf. Please also send your resume or CV to our email as well as your rough draft if you have one.  By far the most important part of your statement will refer to your long term plans. In fact, we want to present your information in such as way as it appears obvious that your background has resulted in your own unique professional destiny in chemistry.

I see Chemistry as the of foundation of our future as a civilized, global society, the extent to which we will be able to learn to live and work in sustainable ways. As someone with extensive experience in the field of professional ethics, I will make your story particularly eloquent, taking full advantage of the nobility of your professional dreams.

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Statements of Excellence in Chemistry

Sample 1st Paragraph for the PHD Degree in Chemistry, Chinese Woman, Fluent in Spanish

The Humanitarian Side of Chemistry

Chemistry may seem like a narrow subject to an outsider, but having a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry actually lends itself very well to creating a future career in the humanitarian field.

If you’re diving in to the humanitarian arena directly after your first degree, the easiest method of finding work is to become a volunteer or intern. You may have already carried out some work of this kind as part of a study abroad program or completed some other practical field work of this kind. Or you may already have some experience working as a chemist, but desire to take things in a different direction and help others in need through your work. Either way, you now have a lot of different options. Let’s look at a few of these now.

Working to Improve Water Quality

Water quality is a huge problem in developing countries, and widely affects the health of poorer populations all over the planet. According to World Water Day 2010 statistics, 2.5 billion people live without improved sanitation. More than 70% of these people live in Asia. Since then, the figures don’t seem to have improved very much, with almost 1.4 million people in Latin American and the Caribbean area still without water access, according to water.org, where it is also stated that there are over 2.4 million people in a similar situation in Africa and more than 3.1 million people in Southeast, East Asia and Oceania. How can this be? There are more people with a mobile/cell phone than have access to a toilet.

So as you might imagine, your chemistry knowledge and skills could well be in demand in this area. Focusing on a Masters in Hydrology and Water Management could help you become one of the top experts in this field in the world and turn your love of chemistry into a long, effective career right in the middle of the developing world where people can benefit from it the most.

The University of Idaho (uidaho.edu) offers a Water Resources & Professional Science Masters (PSM), where you’d study environmental water quality, drinking water and human health, communications theory in natural resource management, plus many other useful modules.

Other Environmental Areas of Focus

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville runs an M.Sc. in Environmental Sciences – Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology, a two-year program that prepares students for work in governmental agencies, consulting firms and educational institutions, as well as the nonprofit section – so your options won’t be limited.

Once you’re in the door and working for one of these organizations, your responsibilities might include laboratory research and analysis, solid and hazardous waste management, groundwater pollution control, water management or restoration environment engineering.

The U.S. Department of Labor tells us that the employment rates for environmental scientists and specialists are projected to rise by 15% through 2022 (faster than average), meaning there are plenty of opportunities to be had. However, happily consider that the US might not be the area with the highest demand for graduates of Masters Programs in this particular field.

Mining, Chemical Weapons & Health

Can’t stand water? Fair enough. What about mining? Or working for an organization like the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, winner of the Nobel Prize. In 2009, there was an NGO coalition meeting that attracted members from 29 NGOs from Africa, Asia, the Middle East, East and West Europe and North America, like the Organization for Defending the Sardasht Victims of Chemical Weapons, Society for Chemical Weapons Victims Support and Amman Center for Peace and Development, all of which use volunteers in their good work.

Prefer to get involved in health or biochemistry? A degree or diploma in laboratory technology, and Doctors Without Borders may need you as a laboratory technician to identify the different types of diseases they come across, train local technicians, and many other humanitarian tasks when you’re on assignment.

Inspiring Individuals &Chemists Without Borders

In 2004, a retired chemist in California came up with the idea of creating a group called “Chemists Without Borders”, and he later co-founded this group with Steve Chambreau, a chemist from the US Air Force Research Laboratory at Edwards Air Force Base in Cali. They wanted to highlight and celebrate working to find solutions to humanitarian challenges. Chemists Without Borders now primarily focusses on the quality and arsenic levels of Bangladeshi water sources.

However, there are a myriad of ways chemists can aid in environmental remediation after natural or man-made disasters. One example is using biochar, or horticultural charcoal, to remove harmful pollution and improve soil quality. Ted Wysocki is a materials and process chemical engineer who works at South Meadows Farm and Research Center in Massachusetts in the US. He states that pyrolysing agricultural waste to make biochar can be used to absorb and break down pollutants, and it’s almost as effective as activated carbon in this regard. Farmers can produce and use biochar to absorb radioactive nucleotides and therefore prevent plants from exposure to them.

Industrial pollutants like polychlorinated biphenyls, dibenzodioxins and dibenzofurans can be captured and concentrated. But that’s not all: when they reach high levels, colonies of microbes can be added to the biochar and break down the toxins. Why not get involved with the UK Biochar Research Centre, based at the University of Edinburgh, where they are looking at how biochar functions in the soil environment. Or you could get in touch with the team studying biochar at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, USA.

Another inspiring chemist that is working for humanitarian causes is Sarah Green, a chemistry professor at Michigan Technological University in the US is currently serving as a Jefferson Fellow with the US State Department and the Agency for International Development. She stated in an article in Chemistry World (rsc.org/chemistryworld) that more chemists are needed to work with government and non-governmental aid organizations, and that people with a chemistry background and an international viewpoint are extremely valuable.

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I want to help you get accepted to Graduate School in Chemistry

As someone with a PHD in Religion and Ethics and a historian of the Developing World, I believe that we can all now agrees that the ideal future requires 100% sustainable sources of energy and product feedstocks in adequate amounts to support a high standard of living for all. Which new pathways and technologies based on chemistry, we will emerge to transform our situation for the better. We seek to hold the chemical industry accountable, at the same time that we understand and share their perspectives about energy, oil, natural gas, and coal. These have served as the major raw material feedstocks and energy sources for driving reactions and separations. The industry is now shaping its transformation to sustainable energy and is developing new materials and solutions for energy supply and conversion. I enjoy being involved in considerations of mass and energy balances, capital investment and resource requirements of key alternative energy and feedstock technologies. It is a special pleasure to be of assistance to those applicant who clearly have much to give to our struggle to make realistic progress toward sustainable chemistry in both the short and long term. I am confident that this is where we must place our greatest investment.

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Your Expertise Meets Local Knowledge

One of the ways chemists like you can really have an impact on an area, is by combining your specialized knowledge with the knowledge local’s have on that specific region. The Royal Society of Chemistry’s Pan Africa Chemistry Network is working with local scientists to solve local problems, like access to safe drinking water and treatments of diseases to achieve solutions using the region knowledge of those that life in the region. They have carried out joint projects like Project Splash, which began in 2008 in partnership with Unilever, and the Analytical Centre of Excellence hub in Nigeria with Procter & Gamble, as well as other projects across Africa, to great effect by combining knowledge from a far with expertise on the ground.

Areas You Could Focus On

What are some of the other pressing needs chemists can help with? Developing inexpensive and easy to use test kits for mercury, lead, fine particulate carbon and other pollutants that can be found in the air, water and soil; solutions for the eutrophication of freshwater and coastal ecosystems due to chemical fertilizers, which constitutes an environmental threat that could have a powerful humanitarian impact in the future; and alternatively to the use of mercury in small-scale gold mining; better ways to extract useful materials from waste streams; better batteries to electrify developing countries with renewable power, plus many others.

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Doctor of Philosophy in the Field of Chemistry (STEM)

Housed in the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, GW’s chemistry program fosters active learning through a research-based curriculum.

Beginning with advanced coursework and training in the discipline as a whole and one or more selected subdisciplines, our award-winning graduate students engage in cutting-edge research alongside expert faculty. Research areas include proteomics, and bioanalytical methods development, synthetic medicinal chemistry and drug design, combustion, battery chemistry and renewable energy sources, laser and molecular spectroscopies, nano- and biomaterials, modeling, coordination chemistry and novel inorganic framework structures.

The PhD program is designed to develop students who are able to plan and carry out original research in analytical, biochemical, inorganic, materials and organic or physical chemistry. Studies begin with core courses in focus areas, with students quickly moving on to join research groups that match their interests. Opportunities abound for research presentations, publications and award achievement. Collaborations with colleagues in medicine, engineering and nearby federal research laboratories—including the National Institutes of Health, Naval Research Laboratory and the National Institute of Standards and Technology—provide rich research experiences.

This is a STEM designated program.

Visit the program website for additional information.

Supporting documents not submitted online should be mailed to:

Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Office of Graduate Studies The George Washington University 801 22nd Street NW, Phillips Hall 107 Washington DC 20052

For additional information about the admissions process visit the Columbian College  of Arts and Sciences  Frequently Asked Questions  page.

[email protected] 202-994-6210 (phone)

Hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday

The following requirements must be fulfilled:

The general requirements stated under  Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Graduate Programs .

The requirements for the  Doctor of Philosophy Program

Pre-matriculation requirements

All entering students in graduate chemistry programs are required to take the American Chemical Society Graduate Level Placement Examinations, given by the Department of Chemistry, prior to matriculation. The four placement examinations (in the disciplines of analytical, organic, inorganic, and physical chemistry) are designed to cover the subject matter in the disciplines generally taught in undergraduate programs preparatory for graduate work in chemistry, and the results are used by the department to advise the individual student in planning a program of courses appropriate to the student’s background. All graduate students are required to participate in the seminar and colloquium programs. Upon consultation with course instructors, specific course prerequisites may be waived.

PhD program of study

Students develop a program of study in consultation with their doctoral committee, subject to the approval of the department’s Graduate Affairs Committee. The program of study must include coursework in a minimum of five graduate-level courses; at least three of these courses must be core courses as defined in the department’s Guide for Graduate Students and at least three must be offered by the Department of Chemistry. These course requirements cannot be fulfilled by achievement on placement exams. At least two graduate-level courses must be taken outside the student's subdiscipline and in at least two other subdisciplines/discipline. Equivalent courses offered by another university may be substituted at the discretion of the Graduate Affairs Committee.

General examination

Students must successfully complete the program's general examination, which consists of three parts: a 30-minute seminar, cumulative examinations, and a candidacy examination. To pass the general examination, students must present a 30-minute seminar covering topics from the literature and preliminary research results, prior to the start of their fifth semester in the program. They must also successfully complete their cumulative examinations and candidacy examination no later than the end of their sixth semester in the program.

Students also must present a 60-minute seminar on their research prior to the dissertation defense.

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How to Write a Statement of Purpose for Graduate School

Congrats! You’ve chosen a graduate program , read up on tips for applying to grad school , and even wrote a focused grad school resumé . But if you’re like many students, you’ve left the most daunting part of the application process for last—writing a statement of purpose. The good news is, the task doesn’t have to feel so overwhelming, as long as you break the process down into simple, actionable steps. Below, learn how to write a strong, unique statement of purpose that will impress admissions committees and increase your chances of getting into your dream school.

What is a statement of purpose?

A statement of purpose (SOP), sometimes referred to as a personal statement, is a critical piece of a graduate school application that tells admissions committees who you are, what your academic and professional interests are, and how you’ll add value to the graduate program you’re applying to.

Jared Pierce, associate director of enrollment services at Northeastern University, says a strong statement of purpose can be the deciding factor in a graduate student’s admission.  

“Your statement of purpose is where you tell your story about who you are and why you deserve to be a part of the [university’s] community. It gives the admissions committee the chance to get to know you and understand how you’ll add value to the classroom,” he says.

How long should a statement of purpose be?

“A statement of purpose should be between 500 and 1,000 words,” Pierce says, noting that it should typically not exceed a single page. He advises that students use a traditional font at a readable size (11- or 12-pt) and leave enough whitespace in the margins to make the statement easy-to-read. Make sure to double-space the statement if the university has requested it, he adds. 

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How to Write a Statement of Purpose: A Step-by-Step Guide

Now that you understand how to format a statement of purpose, you can begin drafting your own. Getting started can feel daunting, but Pierce suggests making the process more manageable by breaking down the writing process into four easy steps.

1. Brainstorm your ideas.

First, he says, try to reframe the task at hand and get excited for the opportunity to write your statement of purpose. He explains:

“Throughout the application process, you’re afforded few opportunities to address the committee directly. Here is your chance to truly speak directly to them. Each student arrives at this process with a unique story, including prior jobs, volunteer experience, or undergraduate studies. Think about what makes you you and start outlining.”

When writing your statement of purpose, he suggests asking yourself these key questions:

• Why do I want this degree?
• What are my expectations for this degree?
• What courses or program features excite me the most?
• Where do I want this degree to take me, professionally and personally?
• How will my unique professional and personal experiences add value to the program?

Jot these responses down to get your initial thoughts on paper. This will act as your starting point that you’ll use to create an outline and your first draft.

2. Develop an outline.

Next, you’ll want to take the ideas that you’ve identified during the brainstorming process and plug them into an outline that will guide your writing. 

An effective outline for your statement of purpose might look something like this:

• An attention-grabbing hook
• A brief introduction of yourself and your background as it relates to your motivation behind applying to graduate school 
• Your professional goals as they relate to the program you’re applying to
• Why you’re interested in the specific school and what you can bring to the table
• A brief summary of the information presented in the body that emphasizes your qualifications and compatibility with the school

An outline like the one above will give you a roadmap to follow so that your statement of purpose is well-organized and concise. 

3. Write the first draft.

Your statement of purpose should communicate who you are and why you are interested in a particular program, but it also needs to be positioned in a way that differentiates you from other applicants. 

Admissions professionals already have your transcripts, resumé, and test scores; the statement of purpose is your chance to tell your story in your own words.

When you begin drafting content, make sure to:

• Provide insight into what drives you , whether that’s professional advancement, personal growth, or both.
• Demonstrate your interest in the school by addressing the unique features of the program that interest you most. For Northeastern, he says, maybe it’s experiential learning; you’re excited to tackle real-world projects in your desired industry. Or perhaps it’s learning from faculty who are experts in your field of study.
• Be yourself. It helps to keep your audience in mind while writing, but don’t forget to let your personality shine through. It’s important to be authentic when writing your statement to show the admissions committee who you are and why your unique perspective will add value to the program.

4. Edit and refine your work.

Before you submit your statement of purpose:

• Make sure you’ve followed all directions thoroughly , including requirements about margins, spacing, and font size.
• Proofread carefully for grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• Remember that a statement of purpose should be between 500 and 1,000 words. If you’ve written far more than this, read through your statement again and edit for clarity and conciseness. Less is often more; articulate your main points strongly and get rid of any “clutter.”
• Walk away and come back later with a fresh set of eyes. Sometimes your best ideas come when you’re not sitting and staring at your computer.
• Ask someone you trust to read your statement before you submit it.

Making a Lasting Impression

Your statement of purpose can leave a lasting impression if done well, Pierce says. It provides you with the opportunity to highlight your unique background and skills so that admissions professionals understand why you’re the ideal candidate for the program that you’re applying to. If nothing else, stay focused on what you uniquely bring to the classroom, the program, and the campus community. If you do that, you’ll excel.

To learn more tricks and tips for submitting an impressive graduate school application, explore our related Grad School Success articles .

Editor’s note: This article was originally published in March 2017. It has since been updated for thoroughness and accuracy.

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Some of these samples have been accepted by top programs. They have been graciously shared by past applicants for educational purposes. We hope they inspire you to write your own.

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Statement of Purpose for PhD in Computer Science (MIT Accepted)

We analyse three SOP samples, two accepted at MIT and one at the University of Washington.

Statement of Purpose for PhD in Biomedical Engineering (MIT Accepted)

In this article, we analyse a Biomedical Engineering SOP that was accepted at MIT, Stanford, and Georgia Tech

Letters of Recommendation: A Guide and Sample for your Recommenders

Statement of Purpose Sample for Nursing (Undergraduate) (Highly rated)

Description: We describe in detail how to write a statement of purpose for nursing. In the SOP, the applicant underscores the areas of nursing she’d focus on and how she was suited for the school.

Statement of Purpose Sample for Ph. D Nursing (Compelling)

Description: In this Statement of Purpose Sample for Nursing Ph. D, the applicant identifies the field of interest and specialization that he’s interested in early, details professional and research work, then points out the skills he would like to gain from this program and how the university will help in this endeavor.

Statement of Purpose for MBA (Ivy school)

Description: We start by providing a step by step guide that should help with generating ideas for your MBA SOP and then crafting one while adhering to certain tips. We then provide 3 ivy school samples.

Statement of Purpose Sample for Computer Science  (Highly rated)

Description: In this Statement of Purpose Sample for Computer Science, the applicant describes how a local mobile money sending application in rural parts of Africa inspired his love for computing.  The applicant explains a clear career path after graduating. You can get a similar SOP by ORDERING HERE

Statement of purpose sample for computer science 2 (Recommended)

Description: In this SOP, we provide the blueprint of writing a SOP for computer science. We follow it with two highly rated samples.

Statement of Purpose Sample for Cognitive Science (Good)

Description: In this SOP, the applicant describes how personal struggles with Dyslexia, and the inspiring story of  Akeelah in the Akeelah and the Bee film, motivated a desire to understand how the human brain works and how it can be trained to optimize the good while negating the bad.

MBA Statement of Purpose Example  (Excellent)

Description: In this Statement of Purpose Sample for MBA, the applicant evokes the loss of family business and a business degree that didn’t equip him with practical skills as the motivation for applying for an MBA. The applicant brings out the steps that he has taken to remedy this lack of practical experience and the skills that he looked forward to getting from the MBA program.

Statement of Purpose Sample for MBA with Engineering Background (Compelling)

Description: The applicant underscores professional experience managing people, financial, and operational processes. He emphasizes possession of transferable research experience, the result of which is a successful Statement of Purpose for MBA that got him acceptance to a top business school. You can get the same HERE

Statement of Purpose Sample for Masters in Public Health Science (Good)

Description:  In this SOP, the applicant underscores her teaching and research experience and show how they would be transferred to a role of a public health educator. If you’re applying for university admission in a field other than you did your bachelor’s, we can help with standardizing your SOP. Speak to us today HERE

Statement of Purpose Sample for  Psychology Graduate School (Great)

Description: In this SOP, the applicant explains how growing up in a crime-ridden neighborhood with a police father informed her early views on crime prevention and the place of psychology. She places this early observations in their proper context by profiling the background of teenage offenders thereby underling the place of early trauma on future behavior.

Statement of Purpose Sample for Mathematics (Highly rated)

Description: This sample explains the applicant’s love for numbers and top achievement as well as suitability for the university.

Statement of Purpose Sample for Business Management (Highly rated)

Description: The SOP demonstrates how professional experience not deemed relevant to business management may be captured as an example of work ethics

Statement of Purpose Sample for Nursing

Statement of Purpose Sample for Nursing PhD

Statement of Purpose sample for MBA

Statement of purpose sample for computer science 2

Statement of Purpose Sample in Cognitive Science

Statement of Purpose sample for mathematics

Statement of Purpose sample for MBA with Engineering Background

Statement of Purpose sample for Masters in Pyschology

Statement of Purpose Sample for Computer Science

Statement of Purpose sample for Business Management

Statement of Purpose sample for Masters in Public Health

Statement of Purpose for MBA Sample (Ivy school)

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sop for PhD in organic chemistry

Professional SOP For PhD In Organic Chemistry

Are you looking for  professional SOP makers  who can write high-quality content for your fellowship to organic chemistry research? Then yes, you are at the right place. Let us tell you why we excel as statement of purpose writers with the help of a sample sop for PhD in organic chemistry.

Sample SOP For PhD In Organic Chemistry

“I have confidence that studying Organic chemistry will be critical in the development of technology to address many of the problems humanity will face in the future. Although the term draws attention to fuel and energy sources, research in organic chemistry extends to all fields – from the health sector to industries. My focus lies in exploring the advanced technologies for the synthesis of nano-organic enzymes for farming. 

I have pursued chemistry from schooldays which lead me to select a degree in Industrial chemistry. Ardent to bolster my knowledge, I set myself for higher education through an MS in chemistry immediately after graduation. I was able to leverage my expertise in Synthetic Carbon-based compounds and Bio-organics to join ABC Fertilizers as a production supervisor.

The collective experience of my academic and professional experience has culminated into a passion for conducting research. During my career, I observed that various researches point to the fact that the usage of enzyme-based fertilizers for farming is superior to the current standards. These compounds have the least values in environmental destabilization and human health factors. However, the researches in these fields are not given due priority due to conflict with industrial interests. I believe that I can at least instigate academic attention in this direction.

I am confident that my academic preparation and professional background render me a worthy candidate to your academy. I wish to take this great stride in my career through the XYZ University. I am drawn to your institution primarily due to its research-enthusiastic campus. The collaborative environment will not only allow me to expedite my explorations but also expand my vistas. The ongoing researches by Prof. SR Sandra and her team have raised my interest as well. I look forwards to associating with the team and other eminent members of your institution. I would be delighted to pursue a PhD in Organic Chemistry in such a rich and stimulating atmosphere and wish for an affirmative response from your part.”

Guarantee the quality of your assignments through our  organic chemistry assignment writing services . We ensure you a work of cent per cent quality and perfection, as we have decade-long experience in offering  organic chemistry assignment help . We promise you that our  organic chemistry assignment writers  will make you forget your stress about submitting your assignment.

Sample sop for PhD

Sop samples for masters.

are you struggling to write perfect SOP Samples for MS? Here we have attached a few SOP samples to make your understanding clear. Click on the below links

How To Write Quality SOP For PhD In Organic Chemistry

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If you follow the above steps, you will get a good quality sop for PhD in organic chemistry at your hands, ready and waiting to be submitted to the university. If you still have a few days left before the deadline, read the document occasionally and find scope for minor improvement. A strategy used by professional writers is to read the text out loud.

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