How to Write an Academic Statement of Intent

Tips for a Plan of Study for Applications, Scholarships & Grants

Aug 22, 2009 Luke Arnott

A statement of intent is a central part of applications. Writing one is necessary at many stages of an academic career, so knowing how to do so effectively is crucial.

Students who intend to pursue graduate degrees need to learn how to write an effective plan of study or statement of intent (also called a personal statement). This document, when a component of grad school applications, shows admission committees how well students know their prospective discipline, and what they hope to accomplish with their research.

Some variation of a statement of intent is also a vital part of applications for academic grants and scholarships, awarded by governments or foundations. Even those students already in advanced programs need to keep their writing skills in that area sharp. Here are some general guidelines.

Things To Do on a Statement of Intent or Plan of Study

Start well in advance. As with any important writing, starting at the last minute inevitably leads to sloppiness and mistakes. As with a résumé, spelling and grammar do count, and an application that doesn't look professional will be tossed aside.

Tailor the statement of intent to its audience. A plan of study may be reviewed by someone outside of an applicant's specific discipline, especially when he or she is applying for large, multi-disciplinary grants. If that's the case, the statement should be kept free of jargon. However, when applying to a specific program, the statement of intent should demonstrate in-depth familiarity with the subject, because those reading the application will be well-versed in it.

Follow directions exactly. A statement of intent is usually only one or two pages, and many schools or institutions reviewing them have strict page- or word-count limits. The plan of study on many grant applications can have other restrictions too, such as being done on a specific form (or form-fillable PDF), and even in a specific font and point size.

Get someone to check it over. It's a good idea to get as many people as possible to proofread a plan of study for style and content. Even students who repeatedly pore over their statements of intent can overlook obvious errors. A more advanced grad student or professor in the same discipline, after reading over a statement of intent, can offer suggestions on content.

Things Not To Do on a Statement of Intent or Plan of Study

Don't be wishy-washy or vague. Too many statements of intent fall back on platitudes ("researching literature will help us understand the human condition") or irrelevant personal feelings ("I want to study sports medicine because I like playing football"). An effective plan of study will explain why an applicant is pursuing research, but will focus on tangible aspects only.

Don't exaggerate. A good statement of intent will avoid making sweeping claims about how important the research is or how it will change the world. Instead, it will outline a thesis and explain how that thesis will build on existing research and contribute to the advancement of knowledge in the field. It's also a good idea to outline what may be left to be done, especially if writing the plan of study for a short-term grant, or for applying to a masters' program.

The Benefits of a Good Statement of Intent or Plan of Study

A plan of study is a vital component of student applications in academia. An eloquent, targeted, and error-free personal statement can make the difference before admissions or scholarship committees. On the other hand, a vague or unrealistic statement will likely lead to rejection.

Moreover, even students who land a grant shouldn't forget how to write a statement of intent. Similar plans must still be written by professors seeking grant money, so the sooner advanced students – the professors of the future – master this particular kind of writing, the better.

The copyright of the article How to Write an Academic Statement of Intent in Academic Writing is owned by Luke Arnott. Permission to republish How to Write an Academic Statement of Intent in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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