{"id":34510,"date":"2016-09-13T16:16:51","date_gmt":"2016-09-13T23:16:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/?p=34510"},"modified":"2016-09-13T16:16:52","modified_gmt":"2016-09-13T23:16:52","slug":"5-pointers-for-projecting-professionalism-in-your-statement-of-purpose","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/5-pointers-for-projecting-professionalism-in-your-statement-of-purpose\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Pointers for Projecting Professionalism in Your Statement of Purpose"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Download<\/a><\/p>\n

In my previous post<\/a>, I discussed the importance of maintaining an appropriate tone in your admissions essay, and provided tips for checking your tone, specifically for finding a confident tone and avoiding arrogance.<\/p>\n

Once again, \u201ctone\u201d refers to a writer\u2019s attitude toward their subject (and their reader). Your tone comes across in your choice of vocabulary, whether you choose formal or informal language, and so on. It can be subtle, but it is very important.<\/p>\n

A strong personal statement or SOP<\/a> communicates confidence and professionalism, along with your spirit of collaboration, your intellectual curiosity, innovation, and inquisitiveness. How can you ensure your writing conveys the right attitude?<\/p>\n

Professional Tone<\/h3>\n

Here are Five Pointers for Professional Tone:<\/p>\n

1. First off, what do I mean by \u201cprofessional\u201d tone in this context?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Think about whom you\u2019re writing for: admissions professionals, and possibly professors (depending on your field). In other words: a.<\/strong> educated professionals; and b.<\/strong> members of the field you\u2019re hoping to enter. This means that you should address them as you would someone you respect. No need for stilted formality \u2013 but this isn\u2019t an email or text message to a friend, either. Grammar, spelling, capitalization, punctuation all count.<\/p>\n

2. Follow all of the adcom\u2019s directions.<\/strong><\/p>\n

This means several things: answering the questions as they are asked; keeping to the requested length; not submitting additional materials they haven\u2019t asked for; etc.<\/p>\n

3. Describe your experiences, interests, and goals in a thoughtful way that shows your mature engagement with your field.<\/strong><\/p>\n

There is, for example, both a content and a tonal difference between saying you want to study a particular language because it will give you the skills to work in international development in country X, and saying you want to study that language because you just always liked the way it sounds.<\/p>\n

4. Let your tone show your positive, collaborative outlook.<\/strong><\/p>\n

When you describe work you did with a team<\/a>, use language that reflects that cooperation (\u201cwe\u201d), and take a positive tone (for example, show what you gained\/learned from your collaboration and how it prepared you for graduate school).<\/p>\n

5. Remember that your professional tone should extend to every interaction you have with the school \u2013 whether written or spoken.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Each email, phone call, visit, interview \u2013 every interaction with every person you meet at your target school must contribute to their overall picture of you as a courteous, professional, positive candidate.<\/p>\n

To summarize:<\/em><\/p>\n

\u2022 Keep your audience in mind.
\n\u2022 Keep every interaction you have with the adcom professional, courteous, and positive.
\n\u2022 One of the most common miscalculations in tone relates to this very issue of positivity. If your tone veers into the negative, the adcom will have reason to worry about your attitude.<\/em><\/p>\n

Avoiding Negativity<\/h3>\n

Here are some tips for avoiding negativity<\/strong> in order to keep your tone professional:<\/p>\n

1.<\/strong> We\u2019ve written elsewhere about how it\u2019s more compelling to read statements that are phrased positively than negatively. In other words, if one experience didn\u2019t work out, don\u2019t say that you decided to do something new because it was not great or a negative experience; say that you chose to move on to a new opportunity in order to develop your skills or explore an area you were excited about or assume greater responsibility. This is important both for the energy and strength of your writing, and also for your tone: if you phrase statements in a negative way, you risk coming across as negative. It\u2019s much better to be moving towards something attractive than fleeing something ugly.<\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> Another way that your writing can create a negative tone is through qualifying words. I taught undergraduate composition \u2013 I know that writers sometimes use adverbs to pad their writing! And I\u2019m not saying that all adverbs are bad. Deployed carefully, they can help you pinpoint exactly the description you\u2019re looking for. But sometimes, qualifiers can pull your sentence into territory you should probably avoid. Take these sentences as an example:<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the end, I found the experience genuinely enjoyable.\u201d<\/em>
\n \u201cI actually enjoyed it.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

These words can have the effect \u2013 not always intended by the writer \u2013 of making the experience sound not truly enjoyable or impressive. (To say you \u201cactually\u201d enjoyed something makes it sound like you didn\u2019t expect to \u2013 and why risk raising the adcom\u2019s doubts about your attitude?) A more positive phrasing would simply be: \u201cI enjoyed the experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

3.<\/strong> Don\u2019t comment negatively on your undergraduate program (or a company you worked for). If you\u2019re trying to explain a low GPA or other academic challenge, straightforwardly take responsibility for it and do not attribute your struggles to anyone else.<\/p>\n

To summarize:<\/em><\/p>\n

\u2022 Phrase sentences positively (focus on what you DID, not what you didn\u2019t do).
\n\u2022 Avoid qualifying words that make you sound halfhearted or grudging.<\/em><\/p>\n

Make a tone check part of your editing process, and you\u2019ll be on your way to finding the sweet-spot: professional, positive, and confident.<\/p>\n

[For more advice, check out my previous post,\u00a0Tone Up Your Writing: Confidence vs Arrogance<\/a>.<\/em>]<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"3_hacks_CTA_register\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

\n

\"Rebecca<\/a>By\u00a0Dr. Rebecca Blustein<\/a>,\u00a0Accepted consultant since 2008, former Student Affairs Officer at UCLA\u2019s Scholarship Resource Center, and author of the ebook,<\/i>\u00a0<\/em>Financing Your Future: Winning Fellowships, Scholarships and Awards for Grad School<\/a>. Dr. Blustein, who earned her Ph.D. at UCLA, assists our clients applying to MS, MA, and Ph.D. programs. Want Rebecca\u00a0to help you get accepted? Click here to get in touch!<\/a><\/i><\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Related Resources:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0From Example to Exemplary<\/a> [Free Guide]
\n\u2022\u00a0Generic-itis Prevention [Warning: If Untreated, Can Cause Rejection]<\/a>
\n\u2022\u00a0Writing Techniques From a Pro<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This article<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>originally appeared on\u00a0<\/span><\/i>blog.accepted.com<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Applying to a top b-school? The talented folks at Accepted have helped hundreds of applicants get accepted to their dream programs. Whether you are figuring out where to apply, writing your application essays, or prepping for your interviews, we are just a call (or click) away.<\/span><\/p>\n

Contact us, and get matched up with the consultant who will help\u00a0you\u00a0<\/i><\/span>get accepted<\/span><\/a>!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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