The university will usually describe the qualifications they hope to see from prospective students, and you can use that information to tailor your motivation letter toward that specific school. For instance, if the university is heavily involved in humanitarian efforts related to the program topic, you could give more attention to your own humanitarian interests. On the other hand, if the school literature strictly focuses on academics, you’ll know to keep the letter equally focused on academic aspirations and experiences.
Review your academic career through now. Figure out what courses, instructors, and influences led you to the path you’re presently pursuing and determine how it happened. Think about why you chose this school and this program. Consider all of your motivations, including the personal and professional ones.
If you’re not comfortable making an outline, consider arranging your notes into a flow chart or similar organizational tool. The important part of this step is to provide structure to your previously unstructured ideas.
Include everything you can think of that seems important, and describe it with as much sensory detail as possible. You might end up with way too much information and way too many pages, but you can trim away the unnecessary points during the editing portion of the process. Refer to both your informal notes and formal outline for this part of the process. Also, note that you should follow the guidelines provided in the “Structuring Your Letter” section of this article.
At a very basic level, you need to proofread the grammar and structure of the letter. Even more importantly, you also need to proofread the letter for accuracy and consistency. Your facts should be correct, your ideas should be original, and your tone should be evenly professional.
Ideally, you should try getting in touch with someone already enrolled in the specific program you’re applying to. That individual will have a clearer understanding of what the university wants from its students.
Remove redundant language or ideas, as well as information that isn’t directly focused on the main idea of the letter. On average, the letter should only be about one full page in length; anything longer is usually considered unnecessary and discouraged. Note that some programs may look for letters ranging between two to three pages long. It’s best to read through the application for specific information regarding length; if you are unable to find such information, sticking with one page should be safe. Make sure that the most important arguments are positioned earlier in the letter than less significant points, and rearrange the contents of the letter as needed to make it flow well.
If you are unable to track down a specific name, you should at least try to address the reader by position. Options might include: “Dear Admissions Counselor,” “Dear Admissions Board,” “Dear Admissions Director,” Only use generic forms of address (e. g. , “To Whom It May Concern,” “Dear Sir or Madam”) as a last resort.
This first paragraph should only consist of one to three sentences, and you should indirectly state that you are presenting a motivation letter for your chosen program. For example, your opening line could be as simple as: “I am writing this letter to express my interest in the ABC Program of XYZ University. “[3] X Research source
Refer to the note you took previously regarding your own motivations and qualifications. Explain why the school should choose you. Describe your past academic and professional experiences as they apply to the program you’re interested in. You need to provide facts here, but you also need to show how those facts affected you as a person. For example, you might mention how you reacted to the topic courses at an earlier academic level, like undergraduate school. Instead of merely stating that you took courses in the topic, describe how the content of those courses left you feeling fascinated, determined, or curious. Explain why you chose this school, program, and location. Most universities are interested in accepting students who have a strong passion or motivation for attending. [4] X Research source Note your professional goals and why you think this program offers you the best chance of achieving them. You can refer to the program’s common selling points as long as you don’t quote them directly. Indicate what appeals to you about the university itself. If you’ll be an international student, you should also describe why you’re interested in studying within the applicable country in particular. For example, if the school is located in Germany, explain why you wish to pursue graduate studies in Germany.
Consult your CV, but don’t copy it. Typically, you’ll need to include a copy of your Curriculum Vitae (CV) in the application paperwork that accompanies your motivation letter. You can use information from your CV to trigger your memory while writing, but the letter should not be an exact duplication of the CV itself. If necessary, refer the reader of your letter to the CV to provide any supporting detail you cannot concisely list within the letter itself. Support your claims. Each time you mention one of your strengths, you need to qualify it with adequate supporting detail. It isn’t enough to say that you’re a hard worker; you need to provide examples of experiences demonstrating that idea. Don’t brag about yourself. You shouldn’t go out of your way to seem humble, but you also need to avoid language that seems arrogant or overly confident. Do this by adhering mostly to concrete fact and leaving subjective analysis out of the equation.
Your concluding paragraph should be around three sentences long. Rephrase your introductory line and summarize the main points of each body paragraph in one sentence each. Finish by thanking the readers for their time and consideration, and sign off with a professional closing (e. g. , “Respectfully yours,”) and your full name.
Avoid cliché phrases or terminology. Phrases that are frequently relied upon actually reflect poorly on you since using them implies a lack of creative thought. When you feel tempted to use a particular cliché, dissect the idea into its “why” and “how” aspects, demonstrating the truth of that idea through active examples instead of flat statements. Examples of common clichés “I am highly motivated to. . . " “I have always loved. . . " “My greatest goals are. . . " Don’t plagiarize content. Even though you used information from the program literature to help you form your ideas, you should not repeat that information word for word. If the program highlights its “state-of-the-art equipment,” stay away from the phrase “state-of-the-art equipment. " Don’t copy form. You might find it helpful to look at sample motivation letters for additional insight into the structure and tone you’ll need to apply, but you should avoid copying the form too closely. After all, anyone can copy a form letter and fill in the blanks; you need to show that you’re just “anyone,” and using an original tone can do just that.
Stay away from your weak points. You’ll probably be asked about your weaknesses during an interview, but the motivation letter needs to sell your strengths. [5] X Research source Focus on the future. While you do need to describe your past qualifications, you also need to demonstrate that you’re looking ahead at what’s to come. For instance, instead of describing your lack of experience within a certain field explored in the broader program, state that you are eager to learn about that field and feel eagerness toward the novelty of it.
Keep the attention on intellectual motivations. While you may have religious, altruistic, or other personal motivations related to your “heart,” admissions personnel are more interested in motivations related to the “mind. ” Emphasize your academic and professional goals. At the same time, you should stand apart from the crowd as much as possible. Don’t generalize your professional goals too much; be as specific to yourself as you can be without diving into your emotional or private motivations.
On an ethical level, the position you’re aiming for should be filled by the most qualified candidates. You need to believe in your own level of ability to survive in something this competitive, and lying about your qualifications can be an indication that you aren’t confident about the truth of who you are.
