Letter of Intent/Statement of Purpose

Since I just went through the horrible process of applications, I want to share my knowledge while it is still fresh. There is so much to say that some factors of the application deserve their own posts...

I have to admit, I love my letter of intent. I debated posting it so that prospective students would have a sample, but I don't want someone to randomly use my work. Instead, I'll try to give you helpful hints so that you can write your own original letter.

Tips

• Begin your letter with something to catch attention. Think about it from the committee's point of view. They get 200+ applications per year. That means 200+ letters to read on top of the essays that they might be grading for class. It is important to stand out.
• If you have an anecdote that can catch attention + introduce the kind of person you are, then you are golden. Since I had a speech disorder when I was young, I had many funny stories to tell from my childhood. I used one of these stories to introduce myself to whomever was reading my letter. It was short and sweet and led nicely into the rest of my application.
• HOWEVER... do not just use a generic application intro. I have heard multiple tales of essays that start with "I want to be a SLP because my brother had a lisp, my aunt had a TBI, and my friend's cousin's daughter had autism." These prompts are over-used and most committee members will begin to doze off. There is a fine line between telling and showing. It is imperative to show yourself through the letter.
• Incorporate only the most important topics within your letter. Most reviewers will only do a quick scan of your letter. If you make it too wordy or long, they will just toss it aside. Write about 2-3 experiences that showcase your potential and only write about things that relate to the field. It's great that you were a cheerleader in high school, but admission committees could care less.
• Do not be too broad. Nail down specific reasons why you will do well in graduate school. Instead of saying "I will be a great student" say "My junior year in college, I maintained a 3.9 GPA while working full-time, supporting my family, and volunteering 5 hours/week at a rehabilitation center." Or, better yet, do not mention that you will be a great student at all because they will see it in your transcripts.
• Leave them with the thought that you belong in their program. If you do not mention their program specifically, they know that multiple other programs are reading the exact same letter. I researched each program and included at least 2 distinctive features into my last paragraph. I then thanked the committee for their time and finished.
• Do not include quotes, especially cheesy quotes. Please.
• Stay positive. Do not let your letter include a sob story or a negative experience with fellow therapist/boss/family member. If they feel any negativity they will attach that feeling with you
• My most important goal was to make my letter sound like me. I know that I am goofy, compassionate, and cheerful person and I wanted my letter to reflect that. I included a silly (but true) anecdote, added in individualized experiences, and did not write in a "scholarly essay" style. I knew that this was a risk but I thought it was more important to show the true me then only write what I thought would get me in. And, evidently, it worked!