sample of personal statement for masters in public health

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Personal statement of purpose - MSc Public Health

• Sample personal statement

07 July, 2022

Personal statement of purpose - msc public health share.

• 12 May, 2013

I am keen to undertake the MSc Public Health course at Birmingham City University (BCU) to fill in my academic gap in knowledge and skills in the contemporary trending functional areas of Health. My Pharmacology & Therapeutics background has given me the drive to move my career to increasing awareness of disease prevention.

My previous study of BS in Pharmacology & Therapeutics at Delta State University, NigeriaIprovided me with comprehensive knowledge in core Health functions while covering other related functions that Public Health organizations possibly have. During BS in Pharmacology & Therapeutics studies over the last four years, the excellent course structure coupled with high academic standards further stimulated my interest in the field of Health. After graduating I chose to work for Temitayo Clinic & Mat. Home, Lagos to learn about Medical performance and develop professionalism. That was a great experience for me. One of the most valuable things I learned from my BS and work experience is a structured way of thinking that has enabled me to have greater clarity of the things I need to accomplish and respective priorities both in my academic and professional life. Following lead from my attainments, the study of this MSc Public Health degree will help me develop great interpersonal skills, be a quick problem solver and overall a health professional.

At BCU, this MSc Public Health programme is taught by professionals and entrepreneurs. This program is made up of courses for health, designed to provide the knowledge and practical skills necessary for a successful career. This course is designed to help students understand how health regulation operates in a global public health. In this class,I will have the chance to be introduced to the principal perspectives on several of the key issues and topics in Public Health Foundations, Public Health: From Health Protection to Community Development, Global Public Health: A Social Context Approach, Epidemiology and Evaluation, Leadership and Project Management for Health and Healthcare, Research Methods of Enquiry and Dissertation. Those are to help me understand different components of the career of public health.

Successful completion of this MSc Public Health degree would enhance my career prospects, enabling me to progress on to senior roles at either operational, policy or commissioning level in a wide range of areas. In addition, Public health research and practice is at the heart of tackling many of the world’s current threats to health including the recent COVID-19 pandemic. The study will provide me the opportunity to develop the skills and understanding needed to become a leader and agent for change in Public Health. From the study, I will be able to advance my public health knowledge, skills and approach to teamwork, multi-agency collaboration and community partnerships throughout the modules on this course and critically evaluate strategies to improve public health outcomes. These skills are increasingly relevant for the public health workforce and while in profession I will be able to use these in a variety of settings including multilateral and international NGOs, local health authorities, National Public Health authorities, the voluntary or the private sector.

During my studies in the UK, there will be an opportunity for me to develop the critical thinking skills, creativity and confidence that employers look for. The advantages of doing my degree from the UK will obviously boost my employability. UK qualifications are worldwide recognized. Choosing to study overseas at a UK university has many financial, cultural and social advantages as well. A shorter and a more intensive course structure means I will be able to fast-track my career. The UK welcomes over 400,000 international higher education students each year. Sitting at the top of the world rankings, UK universities have a reputation for developing the skills that employers are looking for. UK universities have an impressive international reputation and rank among the best in the world four of the global top ten is in the UK! Research carried out by UK universities also impacts our lives every day, and is internationally renowned for its excellence. By studying here, I will be immersing myself in centuries of high quality academia.

Birmingham City University is one of the UK’s leading universities. With around 24,000 students from 80 countries, Birmingham City University is a large and diverse place to study. BCU puts students at the heart of everything they do, giving them the best opportunities for future success. The University has an enviable reputation for providing quality, student-focused education in a professional and friendly environment. Over 97 % of their students are employed or in further study within six months of graduating. (Destination of Leavers from HE survey 2016/17). The University is the 87th in the Times University Guide 2019 and 97th in the Guardian University Guide 2019. This course has been developed in alignment with the Public Health Knowledge and Skills Framework (PHKSF, 2016) and the UK National Occupational Standards for Public Health. At BCU, I will have the opportunity to present my work at the University Faculty conference and at other relevant conferences. The university hosted a series of events to rewrite the world-renowned Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion (World Health Organisation) as the UK Charter and gained international reputation in the area of health. With hospital ward, biomedical laboratories, simulation mannequins, skills practice and clinical enhancement facility, visual case creator resources alongside one of the UK's largest specialist health education libraries, Mary Seacole Library, BCU is my first choice for this course in the UK.

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Sample Statement of Purpose in Public Health (MPH)

by Talha Omer, MBA, M.Eng., Harvard & Cornell Grad

In statement of purpose.

The following statement of purpose is written by an applicant who got accepted to several top master’s programs in public health. Variations of this SOP got accepted at Rutgers, and Chicago. Read it to understand what a top SOP in MPH should look like.

Example Statement of Purpose in Public Health (MPH)

I have been intrigued by cultural/ethnic, gender, racial, religious, sexual, and socioeconomic groups since I started high school. As my interest in learning about disability and diversity further developed, this prompted me to pursue an undergrad program in Anthropology at Brown. However, once I started this program, I realized that I also wanted to learn practical skills to be able to work with these diverse groups of people beyond just understanding them. Therefore, I started a Certificate and Diploma in Integrative Humanistic Counseling at the University of Georgia while doing my undergrad.

During my coursework and training at the University of Georgia, I have been fortunate to have been tutored, supervised, and mentored by esteemed public health practitioners like Professor Brandee M. Appling and Ginny Jones Boss. My experience of being taught by these individuals has shown me the sophistication, a deeper self-awareness, commitment to ethics, and a firm grounding in empirically based techniques inculcated by public health programs. This has inspired me to pursue a similar program to develop my skillsets and broaden my vision.

My objective is to pursue a Master’s in Public Health with a concentration in Population Mental Health. I am particularly interested in working with LGBT issues, gender-based violence, and survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse (CSA). I have worked with disadvantaged populations such as transgender individuals, CSA survivors, and sex workers since my undergrad degree. I was a part of a participant-observation group with transgender individuals for a university project and since then have been associated with ‘The Blue Bird Project,’ which is working towards sensitization towards transgender individuals and creating a gender-inclusive society. During my undergrad, I also completed a year-long project with adult survivors of CSA. In addition, I recently delivered a workshop on raising awareness about this topic at the Academy of Letters.

This program will allow me to learn the best ethical practices used in professional work and espoused by the American Counseling Association (ACA). All MPH programs in mental health cover essential topics in Social and Behavioral Health, Adult Psychopathology, and LGBTQ Health, besides courses in therapeutic techniques and developmental theory. A unique aspect of my intended program is the opportunity to be part of practicum classes. In these, one’s assessment and evaluation skills are supervised and mentored by distinguished public health practitioners who expose one’s blind spots and test and develop the trainee’s analysis skills. Being exposed to this rich and broad curriculum will further build my critical skillset, like my tutors and mentors at Brown and the University of Georgia.

My domestic academic and professional exposure has prepared me adequately to work well with my clients; however, I aspire to learn from the best scholars and experienced health specialists on specialized topics such as working with the transgender population, victims of human trafficking sold into prostitution, victims of child sexual abuse and domestic violence, and prison populations. While I completed my projects during undergrad, I felt restricted by social and cultural constraints, sometimes even by my instructors. Learning through the classroom and my first-hand exposure to topics of my interest in America will further encourage me to return to my home country and have the skillset and the confidence to work better with these populations. I am fascinated by the group work my U.S.- qualified supervisors do in my home country. Some run groups for trauma survivors; others run groups for gay men, yet others work with prisoners. I hope to be able to learn these advanced group skills and work similarly. In addition, I am interested in running support groups for the populations I’ve mentioned.

MPH programs in the U.S. give students a comprehensive understanding of how public health professionals can play a crucial role in reducing the impact of emotional distress, mental illness, substance abuse, alcohol use, and suicide on society. They significantly sensitized toward the emotional development of individuals adversely affected by systematic social factors related to class, gender, race, age, disability, and sexuality. I hope that my training in the U.S. reinforces my skills which will help me better take up a role as a public health practitioner, therapist, and supervisor, as well as an advocate for causes that are very close to my heart. I provide individual therapy to clients whose issues of terrorism, domestic violence, sexuality, addictions, CSA, and other mental health problems have been impacted. I also serve as an observer/facilitator for one of the certificate classes, which is geared towards my independently tutoring a class of trainee therapists in the future.

This concentration will provide me with a foundational knowledge of psychopathology and equip me with the skills to understand current treatments, interventions, practices, and policies to improve global mental health and promote health equity. In addition, it will improve my grasp of group work, enabling me to conduct more advanced group processes. Finally, I will be able to learn the best practices of working with causes of empowerment, healing, and connection in populations mentioned above without the fear of judgment or hurting cultural sensibilities.

I also want to understand further the values of tolerance, multiculturalism, and individualism. My expectation from my degree is to help me realize my potential so that I can more effectively help my society realize theirs. I want to learn from and assimilate the experiences and views of the best minds in the world and share my own varied experiences from my own culture and work with them. I’m thrilled and looking forward to learning from highly distinguished professors who have worked to improve the human condition in their respective areas of interest. The research work, awards, publications, and experience of the professors shall all inspire me to stretch myself to be like them.

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How to Write a Great Personal Statement for the Global MPH

May 15, 2019

Imperial College London’s School of Public Health is renowned for conducting world-class research on today’s most pressing public health issues. No matter how compelling your research findings are, it is essential to communicate them clearly in order to promote positive change.

The same principle applies to your personal statement for the Global Master of Public Health (MPH) program . This personal statement is a chance to make the case that you belong at Imperial. Making that case clearly and effectively can be as important as your academic and professional qualifications.

Many students get anxious about this portion of the application, or worry that their writing skills aren’t up to the task. Our advice? Don’t panic!

You don’t have to be an outstanding writer to craft a great personal statement. Your task is to provide Imperial’s reviewers with the information they’re looking for in 1500 words or less. Let’s break the key points down into three specific areas: your past, present, and future.

1. Past: your background in public health

Start by introducing yourself. You’ve already provided a CV with your application, so this is an opportunity to put your experience in context. Tell us how and why you became interested in public health, the skills you’ve developed, and what you’re most proud of in your studies and career. Don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through!  

Key points:

• Previous academic and professional experience
• Relevant exposures to public health related work and research
• Areas of interest in healthcare and why they interest you

Examples from the MPH Class of 2018-19:

“Throughout my years at University and recent postgraduate studies, I have worked in a pharmacy as a pharmacy/ dispensing assistant, in both community and hospital settings with the latter being involved with cancer clinical trials. These roles have greatly advanced my knowledge of patient care, different treatment options and health awareness strategies within the NHS and local CCGs.”

“I worked on a retrospective study to examine the trends and outcomes of aortic valve replacements performed on veterans from 2005 to 2015. Prior coursework in statistics equipped me to interpret data analyses. I co-authored two abstracts. I often considered how researchers contribute towards reducing health inequities in specific populations.”

2. Present: why you are applying to the Imperial College MPH

After you’ve introduced yourself, explain your motivation for your application. What is driving you to take your career in public health to the next level, and why is the Imperial Online MPH right for you? Make a compelling case why you are applying to this program, specifically, and why now is the right time.

• Your motivation for your professional and/or research career in public health
• Why you are applying for the Online MPH program, specifically

Examples from MPH Class of 2018-19:

“My healthcare background has given me the drive to move my career from disease treatment to increasing awareness of disease prevention. With an increasing life expectancy and an uncertain national healthcare budget, prevention of poor health from preventable diseases has never been more imperative.”

“I am particularly interested in studying at Imperial College London due to its Public Health Policy Evaluation Unit, as the research areas of the unit match my own areas of interest for future research which include big healthcare data, healthcare access and health policy; within these areas I have an interest in mental health, cancer and primary and secondary care.”

3. Future: goals for your research at Imperial and your career beyond graduation

Finally, show that you have a specific vision for your time at Imperial and your post-MPH career. Include a short proposal (150 words or less) for a research project that you would be interested in carrying out as part of your dissertation over approximately a three month period. This gives the team more of an idea of your research interests and motivation to undertake the online Global MPH program. If you are accepted, you will not be required to carry out the proposal from your application. If you’d like to pursue the proposal from your application as part of your research portfolio, you can.

Key Points:

• Your future career goals
• Your proposed research area

“I believe the course will be able to provide an opportunity to obtain a more in-depth knowledge within these areas, but also developing a strong theoretical understanding of health policy, epidemiology and research methods, which I will give me the underpinning knowledge to undertake a PhD in Public health evaluation and policy in the future.”

“I aim to perform research to evaluate and improve the effectiveness and accessibility of health services for chronic conditions in low-income communities.”

__________________________

One last piece of advice: write an honest statement that gets across your true character and motivations, rather than writing something you think the panel will want to hear. Imperial’s goal in requesting these personal statements is to get to know prospective applicants on a personal level. Focus on providing a clear account of who you are, why you’re applying, and what you plan to do during and after the program.

The Global MPH offers the opportunity to get a world-class graduate degree in public health from one of the top 10 universities in the world (QS World University Rankings 2019). The program is affordable, flexible, and 100% online. As such, it attracts a diverse, highly-qualified group of students from across the globe. With a great personal statement, you can significantly increase your chances of joining the next cohort!  

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HOW TO WRITE A WINNING PUBLIC HEALTH PERSONAL STATEMENT

Public health is one of the most diverse fields in healthcare practice, and the public health industry is expanding and changing at a rapid rate. 1 To break into this competitive field, strong qualifications, such as a Master of Public Health (MPH) , are essential, and a winning public health personal statement is a critical component of a successful MPH application. However, writing a personal statement for public health graduate school is substantially different from crafting one as a recent graduate or first-time job-seeker.

This post explains the importance of the MPH personal statement, and highlights four elements to consider when crafting a strong, engaging, effective statement as part of your application.

WHY IS A PUBLIC HEALTH PERSONAL STATEMENT IMPORTANT FOR AN MPH?

In public health professions more than in most careers, who you are matters. Because public health focuses on the human side of sickness and well-being, public health professionals interact continuously with individuals, communities, policy makers and educators. 2 Your personality is an important factor in determining the professional you will become. Admissions committees, therefore, need to understand you as a person in order to appreciate you as a candidate.

Among your application documents, your personal statement most effectively reveals who you are to an admissions committee. It demonstrates your passion and suitability for the program you are applying to and establishes you as more than the sum of your skills and qualifications.

SHOW, DON’T TELL.

A list of who you are, what you do, and where you see your career going will give the admissions committee a good sense of your suitability for the program to which you are applying. However, if you really want to engage your readers, show them rather than telling them. Human beings are narratively wired; we learn, remember and relate to material better when it is delivered in the form of a story. 3 A strong personal statement will be made even stronger if it is structured around a particular narrative.

To incorporate storytelling effectively in your personal statement, think about your strengths as an individual and the episodes in your life that have demonstrated and developed them. Emphasize the strengths that best align with public health professions: interpersonal and communication skills, an analytical and problem-solving mindset, a strong sense of social justice , and cultural competency are all good choices. 4 Tell the story of your life and career with your chosen strengths in mind. Show how each new experience has helped you progress toward being the ideal public health candidate.

BE PASSIONATE.

The story you tell must illustrate more than just your relevant skills and experiences; it should highlight your passion for and commitment to public health. Admissions-committee members know that the field of public health is demanding, 5 and a good MPH candidate is one who has the drive and dedication to face its many challenges. In your personal statement narrative, explain why public health matters to you.

Public health is a universal concern , and the work of public health professionals touches many aspects of our everyday lives. As you decide on the experiences you’ll include, consider how they demonstrate your personal connection to the public health profession. How have public health leaders inspired you? Where have public health issues affected your life? How have your achievements contributed to improving public health? Where do you hope to see further improvement, and why? By linking the answers to questions such as these with personal narrative, you will demonstrate your passion for the field.

WHY YOU? WHY THIS PROGRAM?

Competition for admission to graduate school is always fierce, and this is especially true when it comes to MPH programs. 6 To craft an effective personal statement, therefore, you must show that you are the perfect candidate for the specific school and program to which you’re applying.

Provide details on how your goals, experiences and passions align with the specific MPH program to which you are applying. You may want to comment on the research opportunities embedded within the program, for example, or the research specializations of key faculty members . Show how the unique details of the program align with your unique characteristics as a candidate.

By including specific references to the MPH program, you show that you’ve done your research and invested your time and energy in choosing a program carefully. Your demonstrated desire to be a part of the unique community and culture of your chosen program will make you a significantly more attractive candidate.

TONE MATTERS.

Finally, it is essential that you pay close attention to the grammar, expression and tone of your personal statement. As it is in many careers, writing is a crucial component of effective public health professionalism. 7 A successful public health practitioner must speak and write effectively. Producing a well-crafted, accurate, clear, engaging personal statement will demonstrate your competency in this area.

As you compose your personal statement, strive for a tone that is professional and formal. It will help balance the intimacy of the narrative style discussed above, resulting in a personal statement that feels both human and competent.

Check your work carefully for any errors in formatting, grammar or vocabulary, and make sure that you’re using technical terminology appropriately; mistakes in these areas suggest a lack of care and attention to detail that will reflect negatively on you. Ask someone whose writing skills you trust to proofread your personal statement. Even proficient writers can become blind to their own typos, and someone else’s knowledgeable perspective is always helpful, even if only to confirm the strength of your work.

PUT YOUR STRENGTHS AND EXPERIENCE TO THEIR BEST USE.

An MPH is the first step on the path to success in a dynamic, fulfilling career. With your Kent State online Master of Public Health in Health Policy and Management , Social and Behavioral Sciences or Epidemiology , or your Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology , you can make a difference in a field with wide-ranging impact.

• Retrieved on August 6, 2020, from degreequery.com/top-20-demand-careers-public-health/
• Retrieved on August 6, 2020, from apha.org/what-is-public-health
• Retrieved on August 6, 2020, from time.com/5043166/storytelling-evolution/
• Retrieved on August 6, 2020, from phf.org/programs/corecompetencies/Pages/Core_Competencies_Domains.aspx .
• Retrieved on August 6, 2020, from mphprogramslist.com/50-great-reasons-to-pursue-a-public-health-career/
• Retrieved on August 6, 2020, from mphprogramslist.com/mph-admissions-process/
• Retrieved on August 6, 2020, from nursingcenter.com/journalarticle?Article_ID=682376&Journal_ID=420959&Issue_ID=682375

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Gre prep online guides and tips, 3 successful graduate school personal statement examples.

Looking for grad school personal statement examples? Look no further! In this total guide to graduate school personal statement examples, we’ll discuss why you need a personal statement for grad school and what makes a good one. Then we’ll provide three graduate school personal statement samples from our grad school experts. After that, we’ll do a deep dive on one of our personal statement for graduate school examples. Finally, we’ll wrap up with a list of other grad school personal statements you can find online.

Why Do You Need a Personal Statement?

A personal statement is a chance for admissions committees to get to know you: your goals and passions, what you’ll bring to the program, and what you’re hoping to get out of the program.  You need to sell the admissions committee on what makes you a worthwhile applicant. The personal statement is a good chance to highlight significant things about you that don’t appear elsewhere on your application.

A personal statement is slightly different from a statement of purpose (also known as a letter of intent). A statement of purpose/letter of intent tends to be more tightly focused on your academic or professional credentials and your future research and/or professional interests.

While a personal statement also addresses your academic experiences and goals, you have more leeway to be a little more, well, personal. In a personal statement, it’s often appropriate to include information on significant life experiences or challenges that aren’t necessarily directly relevant to your field of interest.

Some programs ask for both a personal statement and a statement of purpose/letter of intent. In this case, the personal statement is likely to be much more tightly focused on your life experience and personality assets while the statement of purpose will focus in much more on your academic/research experiences and goals.

However, there’s not always a hard-and-fast demarcation between a personal statement and a statement of purpose. The two statement types should address a lot of the same themes, especially as relates to your future goals and the valuable assets you bring to the program. Some programs will ask for a personal statement but the prompt will be focused primarily on your research and professional experiences and interests. Some will ask for a statement of purpose but the prompt will be more focused on your general life experiences.

When in doubt, give the program what they are asking for in the prompt and don’t get too hung up on whether they call it a personal statement or statement of purpose. You can always call the admissions office to get more clarification on what they want you to address in your admissions essay.

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What Makes a Good Grad School Personal Statement?

A great graduate school personal statement can come in many forms and styles. However, strong grad school personal statement examples all share the same following elements:

A Clear Narrative

Above all, a good personal statement communicates clear messages about what makes you a strong applicant who is likely to have success in graduate school. So to that extent, think about a couple of key points that you want to communicate about yourself and then drill down on how you can best communicate those points. (Your key points should of course be related to what you can bring to the field and to the program specifically).

You can also decide whether to address things like setbacks or gaps in your application as part of your narrative. Have a low GPA for a couple semesters due to a health issue? Been out of a job for a while taking care of a family member? If you do decide to explain an issue like this, make sure that the overall arc is more about demonstrating positive qualities like resilience and diligence than about providing excuses.

Specific Examples

A great statement of purpose uses specific examples to illustrate its key messages. This can include anecdotes that demonstrate particular traits or even references to scholars and works that have influenced your academic trajectory to show that you are familiar and insightful about the relevant literature in your field.

Just saying “I love plants,” is pretty vague. Describing how you worked in a plant lab during undergrad and then went home and carefully cultivated your own greenhouse where you cross-bred new flower colors by hand is much more specific and vivid, which makes for better evidence.

A strong personal statement will describe why you are a good fit for the program, and why the program is a good fit for you. It’s important to identify specific things about the program that appeal to you, and how you’ll take advantage of those opportunities. It’s also a good idea to talk about specific professors you might be interested in working with. This shows that you are informed about and genuinely invested in the program.

Strong Writing

Even quantitative and science disciplines typically require some writing, so it’s important that your personal statement shows strong writing skills. Make sure that you are communicating clearly and that you don’t have any grammar and spelling errors. It’s helpful to get other people to read your statement and provide feedback. Plan on going through multiple drafts.

Another important thing here is to avoid cliches and gimmicks. Don’t deploy overused phrases and openings like “ever since I was a child.” Don’t structure your statement in a gimmicky way (i.e., writing a faux legal brief about yourself for a law school statement of purpose). The first will make your writing banal; the second is likely to make you stand out in a bad way.

Appropriate Boundaries

While you can be more personal in a personal statement than in a statement of purpose, it’s important to maintain appropriate boundaries in your writing. Don’t overshare anything too personal about relationships, bodily functions, or illegal activities. Similarly, don’t share anything that makes it seem like you may be out of control, unstable, or an otherwise risky investment. The personal statement is not a confessional booth. If you share inappropriately, you may seem like you have bad judgment, which is a huge red flag to admissions committees.

You should also be careful with how you deploy humor and jokes. Your statement doesn’t have to be totally joyless and serious, but bear in mind that the person reading the statement may not have the same sense of humor as you do. When in doubt, err towards the side of being as inoffensive as possible.

Just as being too intimate in your statement can hurt you, it’s also important not to be overly formal or staid. You should be professional, but conversational.

Graduate School Personal Statement Examples

Our graduate school experts have been kind enough to provide some successful grad school personal statement examples. We’ll provide three examples here, along with brief analysis of what makes each one successful.

Sample Personal Statement for Graduate School 1

PDF of Sample Personal Statement 1 – Japanese Studies

For this Japanese Studies master’s degree, the applicant had to provide a statement of purpose outlining her academic goals and experience with Japanese and a separate personal statement describing her personal relationship with Japanese Studies and what led her to pursue a master’s degree.

Here’s what’s successful about this personal statement:

• An attention-grabbing beginning: The applicant begins with the statement that Japanese has never come easily to her and that it’s a brutal language to learn. Seeing as how this is an application for a Japanese Studies program, this is an intriguing beginning that makes the reader want to keep going.
• A compelling narrative: From this attention-grabbing beginning, the applicant builds a well-structured and dramatic narrative tracking her engagement with the Japanese language over time. The clear turning point is her experience studying abroad, leading to a resolution in which she has clarity about her plans. Seeing as how the applicant wants to be a translator of Japanese literature, the tight narrative structure here is a great way to show her writing skills.
• Specific examples that show important traits: The applicant clearly communicates both a deep passion for Japanese through examples of her continued engagement with Japanese and her determination and work ethic by highlighting the challenges she’s faced (and overcome) in her study of the language. This gives the impression that she is an engaged and dedicated student.

Overall, this is a very strong statement both in terms of style and content. It flows well, is memorable, and communicates that the applicant would make the most of the graduate school experience.

Sample Personal Statement for Graduate School 2

PDF of Sample Graduate School Personal Statement 2 – Musical Composition

This personal statement for a Music Composition master’s degree discusses the factors that motivate the applicant to pursue graduate study.

Here’s what works well in this statement:

• The applicant provides two clear reasons motivating the student to pursue graduate study: her experiences with music growing up, and her family’s musical history. She then supports those two reasons with examples and analysis.
• The description of her ancestors’ engagement with music is very compelling and memorable. The applicant paints her own involvement with music as almost inevitable based on her family’s long history with musical pursuits.
• The applicant gives thoughtful analysis of the advantages she has been afforded that have allowed her to study music so extensively. We get the sense that she is insightful and empathetic—qualities that would add greatly to any academic community.

This is a strong, serviceable personal statement. And in truth, given that this for a masters in music composition, other elements of the application (like work samples) are probably the most important.  However, here are two small changes I would make to improve it:

• I would probably to split the massive second paragraph into 2-3 separate paragraphs. I might use one paragraph to orient the reader to the family’s musical history, one paragraph to discuss Giacomo and Antonio, and one paragraph to discuss how the family has influenced the applicant. As it stands, it’s a little unwieldy and the second paragraph doesn’t have a super-clear focus even though it’s all loosely related to the applicant’s family history with music.
• I would also slightly shorten the anecdote about the applicant’s ancestors and expand more on how this family history has motivated the applicant’s interest in music. In what specific ways has her ancestors’ perseverance inspired her? Did she think about them during hard practice sessions? Is she interested in composing music in a style they might have played? More specific examples here would lend greater depth and clarity to the statement.

Sample Personal Statement for Graduate School 3

PDF of Sample Graduate School Personal Statement 3 – Public Health

This is my successful personal statement for Columbia’s Master’s program in Public Health. We’ll do a deep dive on this statement paragraph-by-paragraph in the next section, but I’ll highlight a couple of things that work in this statement here:

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• This statement is clearly organized. Almost every paragraph has a distinct focus and message, and when I move on to a new idea, I move on to a new paragraph with a logical transitions.
• This statement covers a lot of ground in a pretty short space. I discuss my family history, my goals, my educational background, and my professional background. But because the paragraphs are organized and I use specific examples, it doesn’t feel too vague or scattered.
• In addition to including information about my personal motivations, like my family, I also include some analysis about tailoring health interventions with my example of the Zande. This is a good way to show off what kinds of insights I might bring to the program based on my academic background.

Grad School Personal Statement Example: Deep Dive

Now let’s do a deep dive, paragraph-by-paragraph, on one of these sample graduate school personal statements. We’ll use my personal statement that I used when I applied to Columbia’s public health program.

Paragraph One: For twenty-three years, my grandmother (a Veterinarian and an Epidemiologist) ran the Communicable Disease Department of a mid-sized urban public health department. The stories of Grandma Betty doggedly tracking down the named sexual partners of the infected are part of our family lore. Grandma Betty would persuade people to be tested for sexually transmitted diseases, encourage safer sexual practices, document the spread of infection and strive to contain and prevent it. Indeed, due to the large gay population in the city where she worked, Grandma Betty was at the forefront of the AIDS crises, and her analysis contributed greatly towards understanding how the disease was contracted and spread. My grandmother has always been a huge inspiration to me, and the reason why a career in public health was always on my radar.

This is an attention-grabbing opening anecdote that avoids most of the usual cliches about childhood dreams and proclivities. This story also subtly shows that I have a sense of public health history, given the significance of the AIDs crisis for public health as a field.

It’s good that I connect this family history to my own interests. However, if I were to revise this paragraph again, I might cut down on some of the detail because when it comes down to it, this story isn’t really about me. It’s important that even (sparingly used) anecdotes about other people ultimately reveal something about you in a personal statement.

Paragraph Two: Recent years have cemented that interest. In January 2012, my parents adopted my little brother Fred from China. Doctors in America subsequently diagnosed Fred with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). My parents were told that if Fred’s condition had been discovered in China, the (very poor) orphanage in which he spent the first 8+ years of his life would have recognized his DMD as a death sentence and denied him sustenance to hasten his demise.

Here’s another compelling anecdote to help explain my interest in public health. This is an appropriately personal detail for a personal statement—it’s a serious thing about my immediate family, but it doesn’t disclose anything that the admissions committee might find concerning or inappropriate.

If I were to take another pass through this paragraph, the main thing I would change is the last phrase. “Denied him sustenance to hasten his demise” is a little flowery. “Denied him food to hasten his death” is actually more powerful because it’s clearer and more direct.

Paragraph Three: It is not right that some people have access to the best doctors and treatment while others have no medical care. I want to pursue an MPH in Sociomedical Sciences at Columbia because studying social factors in health, with a particular focus on socio-health inequities, will prepare me to address these inequities. The interdisciplinary approach of the program appeals to me greatly as I believe interdisciplinary approaches are the most effective way to develop meaningful solutions to complex problems.

In this paragraph I make a neat and clear transition from discussing what sparked my interest in public health and health equity to what I am interested in about Columbia specifically: the interdisciplinary focus of the program, and how that focus will prepare me to solve complex health problems. This paragraph also serves as a good pivot point to start discussing my academic and professional background.

Paragraph Four: My undergraduate education has prepared me well for my chosen career. Understanding the underlying structure of a group’s culture is essential to successfully communicating with the group. In studying folklore and mythology, I’ve learned how to parse the unspoken structures of folk groups, and how those structures can be used to build bridges of understanding. For example, in a culture where most illnesses are believed to be caused by witchcraft, as is the case for the Zande people of central Africa, any successful health intervention or education program would of necessity take into account their very real belief in witchcraft.

In this paragraph, I link my undergraduate education and the skills I learned there to public health. The (very brief) analysis of tailoring health interventions to the Zande is a good way to show insight and show off the competencies I would bring to the program.

Paragraph Five: I now work in the healthcare industry for one of the largest providers of health benefits in the world. In addition to reigniting my passion for data and quantitative analytics, working for this company has immersed me in the business side of healthcare, a critical component of public health.

This brief paragraph highlights my relevant work experience in the healthcare industry. It also allows me to mention my work with data and quantitative analytics, which isn’t necessarily obvious from my academic background, which was primarily based in the social sciences.

Paragraph Six: I intend to pursue a PhD in order to become an expert in how social factors affect health, particularly as related to gender and sexuality. I intend to pursue a certificate in Sexuality, Sexual Health, and Reproduction. Working together with other experts to create effective interventions across cultures and societies, I want to help transform health landscapes both in America and abroad.

This final paragraph is about my future plans and intentions. Unfortunately, it’s a little disjointed, primarily because I discuss goals of pursuing a PhD before I talk about what certificate I want to pursue within the MPH program! Switching those two sentences and discussing my certificate goals within the MPH and then mentioning my PhD plans would make a lot more sense.

I also start two sentences in a row with “I intend,” which is repetitive.

The final sentence is a little bit generic; I might tailor it to specifically discuss a gender and sexual health issue, since that is the primary area of interest I’ve identified.

This was a successful personal statement; I got into (and attended!) the program. It has strong examples, clear organization, and outlines what interests me about the program (its interdisciplinary focus) and what competencies I would bring (a background in cultural analysis and experience with the business side of healthcare). However, a few slight tweaks would elevate this statement to the next level.

Graduate School Personal Statement Examples You Can Find Online

So you need more samples for your personal statement for graduate school? Examples are everywhere on the internet, but they aren’t all of equal quality.

Most of examples are posted as part of writing guides published online by educational institutions. We’ve rounded up some of the best ones here if you are looking for more personal statement examples for graduate school.

Penn State Personal Statement Examples for Graduate School

This selection of ten short personal statements for graduate school and fellowship programs offers an interesting mix of approaches. Some focus more on personal adversity while others focus more closely on professional work within the field.

The writing in some of these statements is a little dry, and most deploy at least a few cliches. However, these are generally strong, serviceable statements that communicate clearly why the student is interested in the field, their skills and competencies, and what about the specific program appeals to them.

Cal State Sample Graduate School Personal Statements

These are good examples of personal statements for graduate school where students deploy lots of very vivid imagery and illustrative anecdotes of life experiences. There are also helpful comments about what works in each of these essays.

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However, all of these statements are definitely pushing the boundaries of acceptable length, as all are above 1000 and one is almost 1500 words! Many programs limit you to 500 words; if you don’t have a limit, you should try to keep it to two single-spaced pages at most (which is about 1000 words).

University of Chicago Personal Statement for Graduate School Examples

These examples of successful essays to the University of Chicago law school cover a wide range of life experiences and topics. The writing in all is very vivid, and all communicate clear messages about the students’ strengths and competencies.

Note, however, that these are all essays that specifically worked for University of Chicago law school. That does not mean that they would work everywhere. In fact, one major thing to note is that many of these responses, while well-written and vivid, barely address the students’ interest in law school at all! This is something that might not work well for most graduate programs.

Wheaton College Personal Statement for Graduate School Sample 10

This successful essay for law school from a Wheaton College undergraduate does a great job tracking the student’s interest in the law in a compelling and personal way. Wheaton offers other graduate school personal statement examples, but this one offers the most persuasive case for the students’ competencies. The student accomplishes this by using clear, well-elaborated examples, showing strong and vivid writing, and highlighting positive qualities like an interest in justice and empathy without seeming grandiose or out of touch.

Wheaton College Personal Statement for Graduate School Sample 1

Based on the background information provided at the bottom of the essay, this essay was apparently successful for this applicant. However, I’ve actually included this essay because it demonstrates an extremely risky approach. While this personal statement is strikingly written and the story is very memorable, it could definitely communicate the wrong message to some admissions committees. The student’s decision not to report the drill sergeant may read incredibly poorly to some admissions committees. They may wonder if the student’s failure to report the sergeant’s violence will ultimately expose more soldiers-in-training to the same kinds of abuses. This incident perhaps reads especially poorly in light of the fact that the military has such a notable problem with violence against women being covered up and otherwise mishandled

It’s actually hard to get a complete picture of the student’s true motivations from this essay, and what we have might raise real questions about the student’s character to some admissions committees. This student took a risk and it paid off, but it could have just as easily backfired spectacularly.

Key Takeaways: Graduate School Personal Statement Examples

In this guide, we discussed why you need a personal statement and how it differs from a statement of purpose. (It’s more personal!)

We also discussed what you’ll find in a strong sample personal statement for graduate school:

• A clear narrative about the applicant and why they are qualified for graduate study.
• Specific examples to support that narrative.
• Compelling reasons why the applicant and the program are a good fit for each other.
• Strong writing, including clear organization and error-free, cliche-free language.
• Appropriate boundaries—sharing without over-sharing.

Then, we provided three strong graduate school personal statement examples for different fields, along with analysis. We did a deep-dive on the third statement.

Finally, we provided a list of other sample grad school personal statements online.

What’s Next?

Want more advice on writing a personal statement ? See our guide.

Writing a graduate school statement of purpose? See our statement of purpose samples  and a nine-step process for writing the best statement of purpose possible .

If you’re writing a graduate school CV or resume, see our how-to guide to writing a CV , a how-to guide to writing a resume , our list of sample resumes and CVs , resume and CV templates , and a special guide for writing resume objectives .

Need stellar graduate school recommendation letters ? See our guide.

See our 29 tips for successfully applying to graduate school .

Ready to improve your GRE score by 7 points?

Author: Ellen McCammon

Ellen is a public health graduate student and education expert. She has extensive experience mentoring students of all ages to reach their goals and in-depth knowledge on a variety of health topics. View all posts by Ellen McCammon

Statement of Purpose

The Statement of Purpose and Objectives requirements vary by program. Do not underestimate the importance of this statement. It is your opportunity to inform the faculty reviewers of your qualifications, motivation, and potential to make a contribution to the field of public health.

Statement requirement for all Master of Science (SM) and MPH (excluding JD/MPH):  

The Statement of Purpose and Objectives should  not exceed 600 words , although SOPHAS allows for a higher word count.  In your statement, please describe the following:

• Academic and/or professional preparation for a career in public health
• Your focused interest in the degree program/department or MPH field of study to which you are applying
• Career plans upon completion of the program at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Note any relevant strengths or weaknesses in your background or in your ability to carry out your professional responsibilities.

Statement requirement for JD/MPH:

The Statement of Purpose and Objectives should  not exceed 750 words , although SOPHAS allows for a higher word count. There is no prescribed format for the essay, but it should include information about the following:

• Your focused interest within the field of public health
• Previous academic, professional, and/or extracurricular experiences that demonstrate your interest in public health or health-related issues
• Reasons for wanting to enroll in the joint JD/MPH degree program
• Career plans upon completion of the joint degree program

The essay should persuasively establish (1) your preparation to undertake this intense course of study, (2) your understanding of the MPH curriculum, and (3) a good fit between the curriculum and your interests and goals.

Statement requirement for DrPH:

In your statement, please answer all of the following questions and number the response accordingly:

• Describe in detail your most significant professional experience and explain why it prepares you to pursue advanced professional studies in public health. (up to 500 words)
• Provide a reflection of your current leadership abilities and describe what you seek to reinforce and/ or strengthen in context to your work, through the DrPH degree program. (up to 500 words)
• Tell us about a public health problem or challenge that you seek to address as part of your studies in the program and/or upon completion of your DrPH degree program. (up to 500 words)

Kira assessment for DrPH applicants:

• Once you begin your application through SOPHAS, you will have access to the Kira platform. Through the Kira platform, you’ll be asked to submit responses to several timed video and one written question. This assessment is done in an asynchronous format, so you can complete your responses on your own time before the Friday, December 1, 2023 application deadline.

Statement requirement for MHCM:

Applicants to the MHCM program who have questions about the essay requirement may  contact Colin Fleming  at 617-432-7075. This statement should not exceed 1,250 words.

• In one paragraph or less briefly describe the organization where you are employed in terms of its purpose, its services and client population, and its scope of operation (state, county, etc., if relevant). Also provide several relevant measures of its size (e.g., annual budget and revenues; number of employees or full-time equivalents; patients or beds; and number of years in existence if less than five years old).
• In one paragraph describe your role in the organization, including title/position of groups or individuals to whom you report; current responsibilities; number and types of individuals you supervise; size of budget(s) you control; and names of principal committees on which you sit.
• Summarize your career development, describe the broad areas of endeavor in which you have engaged, and distinguish between clinically-oriented activities (e.g., teaching, research, practice) and leadership activities.
• With reference to your present and future responsibilities and development, describe what you are primarily interested in learning as a result of participating in the program. Please note subject areas in which you are well versed and those in which you feel you need improvement.
• Consider a professional project where you were responsible for design and/or implementation, and the project was successful. Describe what you learned from this experience and how it influenced you as a leader.
• Consider a professional project where you were responsible for design and/or implementation, and the project was unsuccessful or not implemented as designed. Describe what you learned from this experience and how it influenced you as a leader.

Advisory Note: We recognize that cultural norms differ from country to country. In order for our applicants to be informed of what is expected, we suggest reading the following text, which is included in our  Student Handbook  in the section on  Academic Integrity . While this text refers to work submitted for courses, it applies to the documentation submitted as part of the application process:

“All work submitted to meet course requirements is expected to be a student’s own work. In the preparation of work submitted to meet course requirements, students should always take great care to distinguish their own ideas and knowledge from information derived from sources. Whenever ideas or facts are derived from a student’s reading and research the sources must be indicated. The term ‘sources’ includes not only published primary and secondary material, but also information and opinions gained directly from other people. The responsibility for using the proper forms of citation lies with the individual student. Quotations must be placed within quotation marks, and the source must be credited. All paraphrased material also must be completely acknowledged.”

We encourage applicants to visit our page on Citation/Attributions .

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Guide to Effective Public Health Personal Statements

Table of Contents

A  public health personal statement  is a written account of an individual’s experience, qualifications, and expertise in public health. It demonstrates your suitability and capability for a position or program. 

A personal statement allows the writer to display their knowledge while providing insight into their values and beliefs related to public health initiatives.

Whether a student or professional, you’ll likely encounter a task requiring you to write a personal statement. Most special programs and postgraduate programs require applicants to include a personal statement .

The Importance of a Personal Statement

A personal statement is crucial in any application process because it provides recruiters and admissions board members a glimpse into your values .

Understanding an applicant’s values is important because you learn about the things that matter to them most. The values they embody will often determine their suitability for a role, program, or community. This is based on the premise that someone with specific values will likely work well with like-minded people.

Moreover, your personal statement is a golden opportunity to cement a good impression in your reader’s mind.

Tips for Writing an MPH Personal Statement

Add specific examples.

It’s easy enough to make bold claims and sweeping statements that sound great. Specific anecdotes are a surefire way to stand out from the crowd. They sound more authentic and are a chance to create a vivid image in your reader’s eyes. Be sure to also add specific, factual evidence to support your claims. 

Write with Emotion

Speak from the heart. We are inherently drawn to people and things that know how to evoke emotions. Choose words that evoke emotion in your reader, and show off your passion for the subject matter. Your reader may not remember every detail of your personal statement, but they will surely remember how they felt reading it. 

Avoid Repetition

Vary sentence structure and syntax to make your writing more exciting and engaging. To avoid repeating yourself and try using synonyms or uncommon words whenever possible. A clear, interesting personal statement will keep your reader hooked until the end. 

Use Colloquial Language Properly

Try sprinkling in slang or colloquial language throughout your essay to give it a casual, personable feel. However, remember to keep it professional by avoiding overly informal terms. 

Provide Clear Explanations

Your essay should always include clear explanations of why you want to pursue public health and what makes you passionate about the field. Explain in detail why this is the right path for you and how it will benefit you and society.

Public Health Personal Statement Samples

If you have difficulty applying these tips to your personal statement, try to gain inspiration from these examples.

I am an experienced healthcare professional eager to leverage my skill set and passion for public health management in a postgraduate program. From managing critical patients to delivering data-driven insights, I have gained invaluable insight into the importance of preventive and proactive approaches to healthcare. 

My commitment to taking calculated risks and never shying away from difficult conversations or challenging problems makes me an ideal candidate. Through my dedication to interpersonal relationships, I am confident I can serve as a strong collaborator and leader within any public health organization. As someone who thrives in chaotic environments, I look forward to this next step. I am to hone my expertise and become a respected figure in the field.

I have been passionate about the field of public health since I first started college. After completing my undergraduate degree, I pursued a Master of Public Health to further my knowledge and understanding of global health issues. My academic background and professional experience have enabled me to understand the importance of tackling public health challenges from different angles. This inspired me to create an interdisciplinary approach combining epidemiology, basic medical science, research, and practice for better disease prevention and health improvement initiatives. 

I am aware of our work’s impact on people’s lives and the world at large. This drives me to continually seek new opportunities to contribute positively to public health management. 

From researching effective interventions to helping communities access healthcare services, I strongly believe in making positive change through collaboration.

A master’s program in public health is the best step toward achieving this goal while also sharpening my skill set. In particular, I want to excel in global health promotion, policymaking, and data analytics. Attending such a course will undoubtedly enable me to become part of the worldwide effort to improve human well-being and life expectancy. 

Therefore, it is my sincere hope that this application will provide me with an opportunity to attend the desired postgraduate program. I wish to fulfill my ambitions of effectively addressing pressing health issues worldwide.

I am a student applying for a postgraduate program in public health management to further develop my career. Throughout my educational journey, I have had the opportunity to attend diverse universities and schools while focusing on the science of care. 

Through this time, I have been able to think critically about what it takes to lead policy development and teaching focused on public health. Each class has allowed me to expand my knowledge base and better understand how to best serve our community. I’ve been able to develop thought-out initiatives that are both effective and innovative. 

I am confident that I will be able to leverage the skills gained through my education to bring tangible results.

I am a graduate student highly interested in studying public health management. After researching this area for over a year, I have realized its importance in medical care and research. This is especially true when it comes to providing access to crucial information and resources to those who need them most. 

As a student passionate about medicine, my story has always been one of dedication and understanding. It has led me to take a deep dive into the world of public health. 

My experience with public health began long before I ever stepped foot in a classroom. Over the past few years, I have taken on various internships and worked closely with healthcare professionals to gain invaluable insight into the sector. This work has left me feeling strongly connected to public health as a whole and eager to further explore its implications. Throughout my studies, I have become more confident in asking questions and seeking answers that will contribute to better patient care. This is why I believe furthering my education is absolutely essential. 

A postgraduate degree in public health management is the perfect way to combine my passion for medicine with my knowledge of public health-related topics. It would allow me to apply what I have learned throughout my studies. 

Writing a public health personal statement is a straightforward affair that emphasizes your values and character . If you want to increase your chances of success, take the time to master these tips. While they won’t help you master the task overnight, they offer you the opportunity to create good habits. These will serve you well in your future endeavors, whether you work in a local hospital or with an international team.

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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Postgraduate public health personal statement example 1.

Like many medical students, I was unsure of which specialty I would venture into after medical school. I had very broad clinical interests. Majoring in public health was not one of my choices until I moved to Kilifi District hospital after an extensive one year internship period at the regional hospital (Coast Provincial General Hospital).

My practical experience at the district hospital taught me first hand the necessity of public health. In the monthly maternal mortality meetings conducted in the hospital, we realized the bulk of the maternal deaths were mainly attributed to delays in seeking medical care in relation to the onset of the presenting complains .A small percentage was due to delays at the facilities in provision of emergency care.

Kilifi district is unique, aside being one of the poorest district in the Kenya with high illiteracy level, it's endowed with the deep rooted social cultural belief of massage (external cephalic version) , a crude way to align the baby which in most cases resulted in silent rupture of the uterus ,use of herbal therapy to augment labour and tendency to deliver at home with assistance from traditional birth attendants whom are not prepared to handle obstetric emergency.it;s maternal mortality as per the recent Kenya demographic survey was 440/1000,000 compared to the country maternal mortality of 414/100,000 .sadly many causes are preventable.

Danida, a Danish organization working in the district was very much troubled by the high maternal mortality. The organization decided to put up radio calls in the remote facilities and the district hospital to assist in improving the referral system and minimize delays. in addition, they renovated the old maternity block which later became the maternal shelter after putting up a modern maternity wing in the district hospital. The maternal shelter was to house high risk women and those pregnant women coming from far to reach areas who were willing to stay near the hospital awaiting delivery at no fee. Despite the above intervention, the maternal deaths in the hospital were still frightening.

During one of my calls, I saw a 26 year old Para 3+0 at term, with one living child. She had two previous caesarian sections done secondary to a borderline pelvis. Her current presenting complaint was vaginal bleeding, abdominal pain and history of massage by the traditional birth attendant in an effort to relieve the pain and aligning the baby.

On examination, I found the patient to be in shock. Examination of the abdomen revealed palpable fetal parts. I made a clinical diagnosis of a ruptured uterus. She was rushed into the operation room where I found that she had ruptured both her uterus and bladder. The baby was alive, but gasping. I performed a subtotal hysterectomy and repair of the bladder. The mother did well post operatively and she was discharged home with her daughter.

The case was extreme but not unique. This experience gave me a desire to work beyond the hospital and address the underlying issues of the maternal deaths at a community level. My colleagues and I developed a proposal to evaluate reasons for the low utilization of a maternal shelter, which was put up to house 'high risk mothers' from out-lying areas. Its utilization prior to the study was at 25%.

The survey was conducted in all the facilities in Kilifi district. the study population comprised of health workers who were directly involved in attending to pregnant women, Antenatal mothers visiting health facilities in the district and in-depth interview to mothers who had previously used the maternal waiting home .the survey was to help us understand the knowledge, practice and attitude of health workers on maternal waiting home. while for the pregnant women, was to get their views as to whether they perceived pregnancy and delivery as a risk. And also their knowledge of the maternal shelter.

Our study came up with a set of recommendations which included extensive community mobilization, improving male involvement, setting up a clear referral networks and feedback system and introduction of skills training to retired /unemployed midwives .these were taken very positively by the hospital and stakeholders. We have now seen not only an increase in the utilization of the structure but also a reduction in the maternal mortality. I realized that the issue was not affecting Kilifi district alone but the whole province at large.

Like many developing countries, Kenya is mainly focusing on curative health and partly neglecting the much more important arm of promotive and preventive health. I join a non governmental organization to be able to work more with the community in strengthening the linkages and referral system between the community and the health facilities, training both health staffs and domiciliary midwives at the community on safe motherhood.

On community facility linkage, I support forums where community elders meet with health facility staffs and discuss how best they can assist each other on advocating for safe deliveries by qualified skilled attendants, empowering an d training community health workers on key messages related to maternal and child health, HIV and AIDS ,environmental and sanitation and linking them to health facilities to improve referral network.

For the health facilities, we have supported the facilities to cope up with the raising demand of services from the community to be able to provide quality care through training on various interventional areas ranging from emergency obstetric care, focused antennal care post partum care and child health, family planning, HIV and AIDS and attitude change. We have also been able to support procurements of equipments for facilities.

I'm proud to have been part of the team that helped to improve the linkages between the facility and community in coast province through empowerment of the community and setting up a clear referral network. I'm confident the next demographic survey will give us promising results as far as the maternal mortality is concerned.

I'm certain that the knowledge and skills learnt in your prestigious public health school will prepare me to work best with the community and subsequently create a sustainable link between the community and the health facilities. I thus believe that with this training I shall be able to focus more on this important arm and help avert preventable health issues.

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Writing the Personal Statement

The personal statement, your opportunity to sell yourself in the application process, generally falls into one of two categories: 

The general, comprehensive personal statement:  This allows you maximum freedom in terms of what you write and is the type of statement often prepared for standard medical or law school application forms. 

• The response to very specific questions: Often, business and graduate school applications ask specific questions, and your statement should respond specifically to the question being asked. Some business school applications favor multiple essays, typically asking for responses to three or more questions. 

What's special, unique, distinctive, and/or impressive about you or your life story? 

What details of your life (personal or family problems, history, people or events that have shaped you or influenced your goals) might help the committee better understand you or help set you apart from other applicants? 

When did you become interested in this field and what have you learned about it (and about yourself) that has further stimulated your interest and reinforced your conviction that you are well suited to this field? What insights have you gained? 

How have you learned about this field—through classes, readings, seminars, work or other experiences, or conversations with people already in the field? 

If you have worked a lot during your college years, what have you learned (leadership or managerial skills, for example), and how has that work contributed to your growth? 

What are your career goals? 

Are there any gaps or discrepancies in your academic record that you should explain (great grades but mediocre LSAT or GRE scores, for example, or a distinct upward pattern to your GPA if it was only average in the beginning)? 

Have you had to overcome any unusual obstacles or hardships (for example, economic, familial, or physical) in your life? 

What personal characteristics (for example, integrity, compassion, and/or persistence) do you possess that would improve your prospects for success in the field or profession? Is there a way to demonstrate or document that you have these characteristics? 

What skills (for example, leadership, communicative, analytical) do you possess? 

Why might you be a stronger candidate for graduate school—and more successful and effective in the profession or field than other applicants? 

What are the most compelling reasons you can give for the admissions committee to be interested in you? 

If you are applying to several schools, you may find questions in each application that are somewhat similar. 

Don't be tempted to use the same statement for all applications. It is important to answer each question being asked, and if slightly different answers are needed, you should write separate statements. In every case, be sure your answer fits the question being asked. 

• Think in terms of showing or demonstrating through concrete experience. One of the worst things you can do is to bore the admissions committee. If your statement is fresh, lively, and different, you'll be putting yourself ahead of the pack. If you distinguish yourself through your story, you will make yourself memorable.
• Don't, for example, state that you would make an excellent doctor unless you can back it up with specific reasons. Your desire to become a lawyer, engineer, or whatever should be logical, the result of a specific experience that is described in your statement. Your application should emerge as the logical conclusion to your story.
• If you're like most people, your life story lacks drama, so figuring out a way to make it interesting becomes the big challenge. Finding an angle or a "hook" is vital.
• The lead or opening paragraph is generally the most important. It is here that you grab the reader's attention or lose it. This paragraph becomes the framework for the rest of the statement.
• The middle section of your essay might detail your interest and experience in your particular field, as well as some of your knowledge of the field. Too many people graduate with little or no knowledge of the nuts and bolts of the profession or field they hope to enter. Be as specific as you can in relating what you know about the field and use the language professionals use in conveying this information. Refer to experiences (work, research, etc.), classes, conversations with people in the field, books you've read, seminars you've attended, or any other source of specific information about the career you want and why you're suited to it. Since you'll have to select what you include in your statement, the choices you make are often an indication of your judgement.
• There are certain things best left out of personal statements. For example, references to experiences or accomplishments in high school or earlier are generally not a good idea. Don't mention potentially controversial subjects (for example, controversial religious or political issues).
• If a school wants to know why you're applying to it rather than another school, do some research to find out what sets your choice apart from other universities or programs. If the school setting would provide an important geographical or cultural change for you, this might be a factor to mention.
• Be meticulous. Type and proofread your essay very carefully. Many admissions officers say that good written skills are command of correct use of language are important to them as they read these statements. Express yourself clearly and concisely. Adhere to stated word limits.
• A medical school applicant who writes that they are good at science and want to help other people is not exactly expressing an original thought. Stay away from often-repeated or tired statements.

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Public Health MSc personal statement

• Reading time: 5 minutes
• Price: Free download
• Published: 5th July 2019
• Word count: 1484 words
• File format: Text

With this letter, I hereby wish to state my interest and apply for Master Degree program in Public Health at the Southern Illinois University Carbondale, USA. The reason people do not live healthier life style, take necessary precautions against illness and practice preventive medicine in reducing mortality and morbidity rate which are not just the basis of Public health but also have advantageous economic values is a cause of concern to me. My curious nature endear me to study Medical Laboratory Sciences at the undergraduate level which has provided me with the solid foundation in every areas of Public Health and has further helped me in appreciating the mechanism of disease conditions, progressions and diagnostic result. Through passion, confidence and a strong desire to excel made me graduate with Honors and ranked 6th overall in my class.

My believe that ‘Good things always happen to those who work hard’ has been a source of inspiration to me especially in my undergraduate program which gave me the basic knowledge and solid foundation to excel in Statistics, Medical Microbiology, Parasitology, Virology, Molecular biology, Mycology, Immunology, hematology, Blood Group Serology, Chemical pathology, Biotechnology and research. My internship and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) period has further strengthen my interest, fuelled my resolve, increase my confidence and determination which has equipped me with practical and research knowledge to exhibit sound professional ethics and independent laboratory techniques. The seminar I had with the AIDS PREVENTION INITIATIVE IN NIGERIA (APIN) on the laboratory equipment use and maintenance has further improved my handling of laboratory equipment for efficient and quality result output.

My Alma Mata, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) has provided me with laboratory and research exposure through the organized departmental practical classes, hospital posting and encouraged research participation in the project work of senior colleagues. That has made me develop and polish my unique independent thinking and leadership quality which was acknowledged by my undergraduate project supervisor, MR B.S.A OSENI and made evident in my appointment as the leader of the research group. Being the leader of the project group increased my involvement in many research works of fellow research group mate which has helped me gain valuable knowledge and confidence. In addition, I was involved in tutoring my junior colleagues in the department on course subject that they find difficult and uninteresting which is in tandem with my fond believe that a knowledge shared can only multiply.

The environment that I grew up in Africa has created in me a continuous awareness of the negative impact of disease in the society majorly due to bad cultural practice, poverty, neglect and ignorance which has resulted in the reduction of the average life expectancy of the area. Having experienced at first hand, a situation where most people are suffering from one illness or other conditions that are either relatively unknown in the United State of America or are highly preventative and the adverse effect of a neglected society has increased my determination and passion to make a difference. I believe very strongly that I can be part of the major transposition in America and the World at large in the health field if allowed to proceed with my Masters in Public Health, where I can be inspired to contribute significantly through an open exchange of ideas, knowledge, leadership, accountability and professionalism.

Public Health excite me the most among the sub-disciplines of Medicine based on the wide area of focus in helping to prevent and solving both major and minor health issues like no other field. I am specifically interested in epidemiology and community health which are the cornerstone of public health in my opinion with a role in informing policy decisions and evidence-based practice by identifying risk factors for disease and target for preventive healthcare. In addition, I am interested in disease causative mechanism, transmission, outbreak analysis, disease screening and surveillance, biological monitoring, comparison of treatment effect and effective provision of quality healthcare to members of a population in a way that is consistent with the community’s cultural policy and health resource values. I welcome the opportunity of serving a large community and participating in a unique and challenging field and I hope to work with such hardworking and remarkable faculty members with outstanding professional experience in Southern Illinois University Carbondale, USA. My imaginations expressively paint the complex details involved in Medicine which spurs me to carry out my undergraduate project titled ‘Hepatitis A virus incidence and coagulation studies in a riverine community infected with Schistosoma Hematobium’ and the observations detail the positive response and compromise of the human body to an invader which was quiet revealing. In addition, I have also carried out two other research work which include; Effect of inhalation of yam flower dust on hematological and coagulation parameters among Yam flower grinders in Osun state and Alpha fetoprotein estimation in immunocompromised individuals in Osun state in which the complicated mechanisms involved presented an existing course of event filled with plenty of mysteries which I hope to decipher at the Southern Illinois University Carbondale, USA. I have attended various seminars and training on the effective use of statistical tools and equipped myself with vital information on public health from LabMedica and different online publications such as Lions in Winters by Mat Edelson that documented explicitly the combined 90-plus years work of Brad and David Sack on the front lines of the cholera war and systems thinking by Maryalice Yakutchik among others. All these activities have confirmed my growing interest in preventive medicine, affordable, quality and effective healthcare.

To strengthen my knowledge in Medicine, I volunteered as a member of Blood Drive Initiative; a Non-governmental organization saddled with the responsibility of recruiting voluntary, non-remunerated blood donors to provide safe and sustainable blood supply to meet the rising blood need of Nigeria which interestingly gave me a clear picture of the immune response towards Transfusion Transmissible Infections (TTIs). The volunteering service of distributing mosquito nets and repellant in Ika North-East Local Government Area, Delta state as part of my community development project during my National Youth Corps Service year has had a remarkable effect in reducing malaria in pregnancy and the overall malaria incidence in the area which is a tangible success from these humble effort.

Moreover, I hope to gain admission for my Masters in your prestigious institution and dream of becoming an established Public health researcher and scientist with the aim of contributing immensely in the education, diagnosis, management and treatment of disease of economic importance especially in Nigeria. Also being a Graduate Member of the Nigeria Institute of Management, I hope to promote a selfless service, service above self and to contribute to strategic transformation in my country through universal best practices, corporate governance standards and distinctive individual disciplines which being a postgraduate student at the Southern Illinois University Carbondale, USA will further help inculcate.

I was actively involved in student politics at the undergraduate level which has made a compelling impact in my development and growth as an individual offering the necessary exposure to interact with different people of vast opinion, improve my communication skills, team working skills and leadership ability. Among the remarkable impact of my leadership qualities was the role I played as the Chief Justice of the Nigeria Medical Laboratory Science Student Association, LAUTECH Chapter in educating the association members on their fundamental human right as a citizen of the country and financial member of the association through partnership with a Legal Non-governmental organization (NGO) and setting up of a group of competent individuals tagged members of the Nigeria Medical Laboratory Science Student Bar Association (NBA) to promote an advocacy program for the association members.

I have been charged with enthusiasm and eagerness about the intriguing prospect of experiencing life in the United State of America with the many historical site and tourist attractions scattered all over the various cities. The dynamic weather condition of the United State of America is also worth the strong feeling as the country is profoundly called the ‘Country of Four seasons’ as against the two seasons being experienced here in Nigeria namely the harmathan and rainy season. The emphasis on all-inclusiveness and equal opportunities to all irrespective of nationalities, race and gender has also motivated me in sending my application coupled with the professional training and research oriented programs of the Southern Illinois University Carbondale, USA which has convinced me where my career pursuit lies.

I am aware of the competitive nature of the program and the large applicants, but I am convinced that my good academic record at the University undergraduate level and professional experience coupled with my strong motivation and enthusiasm that have manifested over the years in life science will give me a strong recommendation for a place at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, USA.

I am really looking forward to the consideration and acceptance of my application. Thank you.

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SOP & LOR

SOP for Public ...

SOP for Public Health: How to Write Statement of Purpose for Masters in Public Health (MPH/MSc)?

The SOP for public health is your opportunity to demonstrate why you belong at your desired university. Making a strong case for yourself can be as crucial as your academic and professional achievements.

Master's in Public Health programs in other countries are open to students with backgrounds in medicine, social sciences, law, and the humanities. A graduate degree in public health will equip you with the right capabilities to address community-wide health challenges, collaborate with people from other sectors, and educate the public about best healthcare practices. 

A statement of purpose for public health plays a crucial role when applying to some of the top MPH universities, such as Harvard. These b-schools evaluate your qualifications, motivation, and potential to contribute to the field of public health. Similarly, other key capabilities can also be highlighted and substantiated through a statement of purpose for masters in public health.

Are you working on crafting an effective SOP for a public health program? Let’s take a closer look at the critical steps to follow and understand the intricacies of a good statement of purpose for public health. 

What can lead an MPH statement of purpose to be rejected right away?

Ans. Plagiarism and poor syntax can get your SOP rejected.

What is the best writing style for a Public Health SOP?

Ans . Narrative writing style keeps it engaging. So, write your SOP effectively, to illustrate healthcare related experiences. 

How many SOPs to write for Public Health?

Ans. Each university requires a separate and original SOP. Hence, you need to write a different MPH SOP sample for every university you’re applying to.

How to save and submit your SOP?

Ans. SOPs have to be uploaded in PDF as part of the applications. This makes your SOP look professional and eliminates the possibility of any formatting inconsistencies. Universities may also provide forms to paste contents of SOP as part of applications with or without the option to upload it.

How to Draft a MPH Statement of Purpose?

Before you start working on your MPH statement of purpose examples, brainstorm, free-write, and organise your thoughts. Your SOP should be a dive into relevant life experiences, academic and professional background (if applicable), career goals, co-curricular activities, volunteering/community involvement, and more.

So, refer to these effective guidelines and draft a top-notch SOP for public health.

Introduction

What motivated you to choose public health/global health science as your interest? For example , illustrate how health-related statistics, health issues, and health policies piqued your interest during your undergraduate research and how this formative experience eventually intrigued you to pursue public health and institute innovative strategies to cure unforeseen health hazards.

• Mention when you first became interested in Public Health.
• Alternatively, you can also begin with a research problem statement that you consider exploring in the MSc/MPH program. 

Second Paragraph

Discuss relevant academic and life experiences that have augmented your interest in public health. How has each of these experiences pivoted your approach, streamlined, or transformed it?

• Here, you can discuss relevant undergraduate experiences or courses in which you developed a particular interest. For example, you must have developed an interest in epidemiology or health economics to choose public health for education. 
• You can also discuss other relevant co-curricular experiences worth sharing. 

Third Paragraph

Have you faced any setbacks in your academics? If you just made the cut or have lesser scores, you can mention that here. 

• Have you faced any other unique challenges or setbacks that have redefined your perspectives or interests? 
• How did you overcome these challenges, and what is/are the positive outcomes of these experiences? 
• It’s essential to reflect on the lessons from these experiences to underscore your resilience.

Fourth Paragraph

In this paragraph you can talk about your extracurricular activities. Universities are interested in knowing more than just academics. So, here’s where you can discuss your hobbies, social work, volunteering, and more. You can also mention any workshops or certifications you have attended to improve your skills. 

Fifth Paragraph

If you have work experience, add it here. But if you do not, you can discuss your internship experiences, reflecting on your specific learnings and take-aways. Identify a knowledge gap and the need for you to go for MSc in Public Health/MPH course.

• How has the work experience/s influenced your career goals? Why do you wish to go for an MSc in Public Health/MPH now? 
• Define your short-term and long-term goals. 
• How will the MSc in Public Health/MPH program from a specific public health school help you achieve these goals? 
• How does the program align with your areas of interest?

Develop an engaging conclusion using the pointers below: 

• How do you wish to contribute to the University?
• What activities, clubs, sports, student associations, groups, etc, piqued your interests?
• What diverse experiences do you bring to your graduate classroom? 

Suggested: How to Write a Good SOP?  

Do’s and Don'ts of SOP for Masters in Public Health

Following are the Do’s and Don’ts to write a sample statement of purpose for masters in public health. 

Suggested: Common mistakes in Writing SOPs and Application Essay

Goals and Skills to Include in Your SOP for Public Health

Your SOP for masters in public health should be written after an in-depth and through research. Public Health is a dynamic and ever-changing field of study. It is always evolving everyday focusing on disease prevention, health promotion, and prolonging life.

Students can gain expertise in a variety of fields through Public Health studies, including Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Environmental and Occupational health, Health education, Behavioural science, Infectious disease, Public policy, Global health, Nutrition, or Maternal and child health.

Therefore, your SOP should portray these skills to make it unique and appealing then the rest. 

• Research Aptitude
• Academic/Research Writing Skills
• Knowledge of Public Health Specialisation applying for
• Relevant Skills/Past Experience (Analytical skills, Innovation, Communication skills, Policy assessment and implementation, etc.)
• Critical Thinking
• Friendliness
• Responsibility
• Problem-solving

Besides, this the following are some of the essential health services to include in your SOP as part of your future goals. 

• Monitoring population health status and the factors influencing public health. 
• Investigating health problems and educating people on how to improve their health.
• Implement health-related policies and initiatives to improve public health through continuous quality improvement.
• Ensure equitable access to health services and care to all.
• Build and support a skilled/diversified public health workforce.
• Maintain a strong public health organisational infrastructure.

Now you know the parameters to showcase in your MPH statement of purpose examples. Nevertheless, let’s check the SOP guidelines given by top universities. 

Our counsellors at Yocket Premium can guide you through the entire process, on how to write SOP just to make it perfect! 

SOP Requirements of Top Universities for Public Health Programs

While most universities have similar SOP requirements, we’ve shortlisted a few top universities for MSc in Public Health/MPH along with their specific guidelines below.

1. Harvard T.H. CHAN School of Public Health 

If you are applying for the Master of Public Health (MPH) program at Harvard T.H. CHAN School of Public Health, follow these guidelines. Plus, note that the SOP guidelines will be same for all the public health course universities in the US. 

• The Statement of Purpose should not exceed 750 words. 
• What is your focused interest within the domain of public health?
• Mention your previous professional, academic, and/or extracurricular achievements demonstrating your passion for public health or health-related concerns. 
• Why are you interested in pursuing the joint JD/MPH degree program at Harvard?
• Talk about your career plans after completing the joint degree program.

Besides this, the essay should illustrate (1) your determination to undertake this intense course of study, (2) your knowledge of the MPH course of study, and (3) why the course is a good fit with your specific interests and short- and long-term goals.

2. Stanford University, United States

Stanford University requires the following points in the statement of purpose to apply for Masters of Science in Health Policy (MSc in Health Policy).

• Upload only one file that is no more than two pages long and single-spaced.
• Make sure your computer’s language setting is set to Western European or another English-language setting. 
• What is your motivation for applying to the proposed program at Stanford, and your preparation for this area of study?
• What are your research and study interests?
• Mention your future career plans, as well as areas of your experience and interests that may aid the admission committee assess your motivation and aptitude for graduate study.

3. University of Oxford, England

For the MSc in Global Health Science and Epidemiology, the University of Oxford requires an SOP of maximum 1000 words in length, written in English language. 

In the SOP, explain why you are applying to this program, how your previous studies and work are relevant to the course, the specific areas of the course you are interested in, and how the MSc will benefit your career.

This statement will further be assessed on the following pointers:

• A demonstrated interest and dedication towards the population health and epidemiology.
• The reasons for choosing the department and the course.
• A clear and well-supported picture of the course’s advantages for your future prospects.
• Any academic or professional experience or training that is relevant.
• Your capacity to present a reasoned and coherent case in proficient English.

Applicants aspiring to pursue a DPhil or equivalent doctoral degree in population health research are given priority at this university.

Suggested: 5 SOP Questions that Must be Answered

We understand writing an SOP can be daunting. But, don’t worry. Yocket is here to help you understand the nuances and draft a concise SOP for public health in terms of the format and guidelines. The SOP writing style for most countries remains the same. However, with program-specific requirements, you can re-engineer the original draft to suit above-stated requirements.

Sumeet Jain

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Personal Statement and Writing Sample

Personal statement.

In your statement of purpose, please discuss the following in one to two single-spaced pages:

• Your professional, academic, and community experiences
• The area of research you wish to potentially pursue as a student in the program, the name of at least one member of the PHS PhD Program Faculty or Participating Faculty who shares this research interest, A brief statement regarding your proposed research area interests with the research of the identified faculty member(s),
• Your specific interest in UNC Charlotte’s program
• Your career and personal goals including how the program aligns with your career plans
• How you plan to actively participate in UNC Charlotte’s mission to advance health equity and well-being in an urbanizing world

Writing Sample

In addition to the statement of purpose, a writing sample is required for all applications to the PhD program. The writing sample should

• Demonstrate aptitude for scholarly writing, e.g., a literature review, a report of a needs assessment or evaluation project, a master’s thesis, or a published original research article on a public health topic where the applicant is the sole or first author.
• Demonstrate conceptual and analytic skills
• Use appropriate and consistent citation and reference formatting
• Applicants without existing examples of academic or scholarly writing should develop a 10-20 page paper on a public health topic of interest that demonstrates conceptual skills and writing ability, use appropriate and consistent citation and reference formatting

Which program are you applying to?

Get accepted speak with an admissions expert today.

• Grad School
• Sample Essays
• The Public Health Student

What if people lived healthier lives, practiced preventive medicine, and took precautions against illness and disease? My days in the physical therapy department often made me think about the prevention of injuries as well as the injuries themselves. I was already doubting my future career choice as a physical therapist. Although I loved the science of it and helping people, the lack of variety within the field and its limited options for growth bothered me. I needed a career that helped a large number of people, emphasized prevention and primary care rather than tertiary care, and would continually challenge and motivate me to improve. Knowing that I really did not want to pursue physical therapy as I had originally planned, my thoughts wandered to the area of public health, particularly health management.

My first true introduction to the public health arena came in a class offered through the Big U School of Public Health. As I listened to experts speak about contemporary health issues, I was intrigued. The world of "capitation," "rationing of care," and Medicaid fascinated me as I saw the range of problems that public health professionals were trying to solve in innovative ways. This one semester class provided me with a basic but thorough understanding of the issues faced in health care today. In the last two years I have continued to learn about public health both through coursework and work in the field.

Because field experience is such a valuable learning tool, I searched for a research assistant position that would allow me to view public health at a different level. I worked on a project at a county health clinic in Englewood, a low-income, minority community. The program attempted to increase treatment compliance rates for adolescents diagnosed with tuberculosis who must complete a six-month medical program. Working for the county exposed me to a different side of health care that I had previously seen. Service and organization were not assets of the county and yet its role in the public health "ecosystem" was and is critical. Its job of immunizing thousands and interacting with all members of the community is often forgotten, but is important for keeping an entire community healthy.

My work at the county health clinic as well as my knowledge of some areas of public health led me to accept an internship in Washington D.C. this past summer. The internship provided me with a greater understanding of a federal public health agency’s operations and allowed me to contribute in a variety of ways to the XYZ Department in which I worked. Most importantly I worked on "policy issues" which involved identifying and summarizing problems that were out of the ordinary as well as documenting resolved issues in order to establish protocols to increase the department’s efficiency. In addition I served on a scientific review panel which was responsible for editing a seventy-page proposed regulation before its submission.

Along with my duties at XYZ, I attended seminars and met with public health leaders at different functions and events. All these activities confirmed my growing interest in preventive medicine, outcomes and effectiveness, and quality of care, particularly within the private/managed care sector. These are my strongest interests because I believe they are fundamental to our nation’s health. We must achieve efficiency and access without sacrificing quality.

The University of ____ would help me achieve my goals of furthering my public health education through the specialized coursework offered as part of its health administration program. [The client provides specifics here about the program’s specific appeal and strengths]

Since rejecting physical therapy as a career possibility my interest in public health has only grown. I welcome the challenge of serving a large community and participating in such a dynamic and challenging field. What if an aspirin a day could prevent heart attacks? What if abandoning unnecessary procedures saved thousands of dollars, which then allowed a hospital to treat other patients needing care? What if every person was guaranteed care and that care was good? I would like to find answers for these questions during my career as a public health graduate student and professional.

Other Sample Essays

Cornell Brooks School MPA Application Tips: The Personal Statement

Tom O’Toole, Executive Director of the MPA Program, offers his perspective on making the personal statement section of your graduate school application truly stand out.

When it comes to graduate school admission, the personal statement/essay represents your chance to truly shine.  In addition to providing a tremendous opportunity to convey the quality of your writing to admissions committees, the personal statement allows you to highlight your purpose for pursuing graduate studies.  Here are a few tips for making sure your essay reaches its full potential:

1)  The Personal Statement is a Writing Sample : Some graduate schools require writing samples as part of their applications, and some do not.  For those that do not, the personal statement is the only sample of your writing that the admissions committee will see.   For this reason, it is important (particularly for a professional program where writing skills are essential), to tell your story in a clear, coherent manner, and to  proofread carefully .  Grammatical errors, typos, and colloquial language will severely diminish the professionalism and credibility of your statement.  These errors will also indicate that you do not invest much effort into representing yourself well.

3)  Graduate Admissions Committees are Immune to Guilt : Although admissions committees do look for evidence of resilience and perseverance in applicants, many applicants spend their entire statement conveying difficult personal circumstances they have had to overcome, and explaining why, because of these circumstances, they are deserving of admission.  This tells the committee very little about whether an applicant has the drive to succeed in graduate school, and many reviewers find being “guilted” into approving an application off-putting.  Focus instead on experiences that are directly relevant to your motivation for pursuing a specific graduate degree.

4)  Are you Ready for This?  Another common error in personal statements is conveying that graduate school is the “logical next step” in an applicant’s career.  Graduate schools want to admit bright, capable individuals who have a genuine interest in making intellectual contributions to their field.  They are not keen on admitting applicants who are pursuing graduate studies because they cannot figure out what to do with their lives, or are avoiding a difficult job market.  Graduate school is a rigorous, challenging commitment, and conveying that it is the “logical next step” in an applicant’s career doesn’t convey a strong clarity of purpose behind the application.

5)  Tailor:  One of the many problems associated with the “revolution” in electronic applications is that electronic submission encourages applicants to be generic.  The “point, click, apply” mentality that yields poor results on the internship/job market also yields poor results for many graduate school applicants.  Each statement should be tailored for the strengths of the individual program in question, (convincingly) citing faculty, courses, and specific initiatives that the applicant intends to leverage as a student.  Part of what admissions committees are looking for in applicants is intellectual capability, but they are also looking for “fit.”  As an exercise, if the applicant can replace the name of our program with any other MPA/MPP program in their statement, and the statement still makes sense, the statement isn’t well-tailored to a specific program.

6)  Tell us a New “Story”:  After reviewing several hundred applications, admissions officers find that each statement tends to run together because applicants rely on many of the same strategies to tell their story.  The trick is to balance professionalism and maturity with creativity.  Give us an example of how you resolved a problem using an interdisciplinary, entrepreneurial approach.  Discuss a public policy space that you feel would benefit from a new infusion of energy or ideas.  However you decide to tell your story, make it innovative.

If you have questions about attending the MPA Program at Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy, we encourage you to request more information  today!

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The Brooks School Alumnus Appointed to 2018-19 Class of White House Fellows

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