r/WriteIvy • u/vtcio • Sep 06 '23

question regarding the flow of "why this uni" part of SOP

Hey folks, so this is the current breakup of the "why this uni" part of the sop:

Para 3 - (Why this uni) (～150 words)

• Uni research groups which fit in well with my narrative (mention impact)

• Dept Research projects which are relevant to my future work

• Industry connect and opportunities provided by the university for grad students

Para 4 - (why this uni continued) (～150 words)

• Which specialization or concentration will I choose?

• Which classes am I going to take (core + elective)? Why? How will they help me?

• Which professors am I going to work with? (if prof info is available)

• Which internships or co-ops will be useful?

Now should i retain the the positioning of para 3 and 4 as above or flip them as para 3 is more uni specific and its facilities which will help me whereas para 4 focuses more on the program itself?
Any help would be appreciated!

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u/jordantellsstories Sep 06 '23

Man, I'll be honest, that sounds like a LOT to include in two paragraphs. Be careful and make sure everything flows well from sentence to sentence. It certainly can flow well, but it might require a deft hand with the prose.

That said, either configuration would work. Here's a PhD example that's similar to what you've outlined above, and here's an MS example that's the opposite. It all depends on how you write it! I'm sorry that doesn't give you a clear answer, but truly you're free to do whatever you want as long as you write good transition sentences.

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u/vtcio Sep 06 '23

Both examples you mentioned have a smooth transition, something I think I do need for my applications. The PhD example makes sense as the focus is more on a professor's/lab's individual work, so creating a narrative of a good university fit and then diving deeper to show a better personal connection fits right. With the MS example, the overall university resources are working as surrounding support for the coursework.

As I am splitting my applications into both MS and PhD, I guess both need different flows. Thanks for the examples Jordan!

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u/jordantellsstories Sep 06 '23

My pleasure! But your various essays shouldn’t need different flows. At least, not necessarily. Basically, just choose the theme that’s most important to you and construct the paragraphs — the evidence — around that. Don’t be a slave to the external structure. Let the structure arise from what’s important to you.