The statement of purpose is very important. A basic version runs as follows.
- Introduction [1 para]. Provide quick overview of interests, strengths and background.
- Why an Econ PhD [2-3 paras]. Why economics? Which areas of economics?
- Schooling [2 paras]. What courses did you take? Which are hard? Which did you like?
How did you perform? Did you win any awards?
- Research [2 paras]. Describe some project you’ve undertaken. This could be as an RA,
or some term project. What did you find interesting? What was hard?
- Teaching [optional]. In my opinion, this is only important if you are not from an English
speaking background. This gives you chance to explain your communication ability.
- Non Academic matters [optional]. Did you help run the economics club? Did you work
as a consultant during the summer? This information is not of direct interest but speaks
to your motivation, work habits, creativity and drive.
- Sum up [optional].
Other points
• Describe your passion for research.
• Don’t lie. This will be used to match you with profs and may have long term effects.
Other points
- Describe your passion for research.
- Don’t lie. This will be used to match you with profs and may have long term effects.
- Be specific. Anyone can say “I like development economics because I want to help my
country grow”. Specifically, which aspects of your development class did you find interesting? Give an example of a topic or question you’ve spent some time thinking about.
What papers did you enjoy reading? The aim is to talk intelligently about a topic, so
don’t make bold claims that may be wrong. It’s much better to pose interesting questions,
and say why you’d like to investigate those questions.
- Don’t insult the profession. For example, it is a bad idea to say, “I want to study
game theory, because economists currently have a poor understanding of the formation of
cooperation”. It’s much better to say “I want to study game theory, in order to enhance
my own understanding of the formation of cooperation”.
- You should make your SOP university specific. For example, don’t say you love saltwater
macro if you’re applying to Minnesota. You could mention specific faculty in your SOP,
but I probably wouldn’t recommend it.
- Point out any particularly hard classes.
- Get friends and profs to proofread your SOP