academic interests essay examples

Think you can get into a top-10 school? Take our chance-me calculator... if you dare. 🔥

Last updated March 6, 2024

Every piece we write is researched and vetted by a former admissions officer. Read about our mission to pull back the admissions curtain.

Blog > Essay Advice , Essay Examples , Supplementals > Writing a Great Academic Interest Essay (with Examples)

Writing a Great Academic Interest Essay (with Examples)

Admissions officer reviewed by Ben Bousquet, M.Ed Former Vanderbilt University

Written by Kylie Kistner, MA Former Willamette University Admissions

Key Takeaway

What is an academic interest supplemental essay.

Academic Interest essays are a kind of supplemental essay . They ask you to expand on one of your primary academic interests. Since you’re going to college to be a student, colleges ask Academic Interest supplemental essay questions because they want to get a sense of your intellectual curiosity.

In fact, Academic Interest essays are one of the main places in your application for you to geek out about the topics you’re most passionate about.

Admissions officers want to know about the questions that keep you awake at night, the problems you’re ready to roll up your sleeves and solve, and the conversations you can’t wait to partake in.

But don’t worry. When a school asks you to describe your academic interest, you don’t have to stress about having your entire life planned out. If you say, “I want to create a robot to clean up litter in the ocean,” nobody is going to come knocking on your door when you graduate looking for a robot.

Your main goal when writing your Academic Interest supplementals? Show that you’ll be a great contributor to the learning community on campus.

In this post, we’ll walk you through how to do just that.

Let’s start by looking at a few examples of what Academic Interest prompts look like.

1: Stanford University

The Stanford community is deeply curious and driven to learn in and out of the classroom. Reflect on an idea or experience that makes you genuinely excited about learning. (100 to 250 words)

2: Pomona College

Academic Interest Statement: What do you love about the subject(s) you selected as potential major(s)? If undecided, share more about one of your academic passions.

3: Brandeis University

The Brandeis community is a diverse group of critical thinkers defined by their ability to dive deeper into their learning by questioning, analyzing, evaluating, creating, critiquing and seeking other perspectives. Share an example of how you have used your own critical thinking skills on a specific subject, project, idea or interest.

These examples should help you identify Academic Interest prompts when you come across them.

Now let’s move on to discussing three strategies you can use to answer any Academic Interest prompt colleges throw at you.

Academic Interest Essay Strategy

Great essays are strategic essays. Since supplemental essays exist to supplement the rest of your essays (like your personal statement ), activities, and letters of recommendation, it’s important to write them with intention. These three strategies will help you write your Academic Interest essays with an eye toward showing admissions officers how your intellectual curiosity makes you a perfect fit for the intellectual community at the school in question.

Write about an academic interest that aligns with what the school has to offer.

It doesn’t make much sense to write about your undying passion for pursuing a career in linguistics if you’re applying to a school that doesn’t have a linguistics program. Be sure you're doing your research on the school.

Remember that your supplemental essays exist to showcase how well you fit into a school’s academic, social, and cultural communities. While the academic interest you choose doesn’t have to exactly match up with something specific at the school like a Why this Major essay , it’s a good idea to choose an interest that can support your case for academic fit.

Be specific.

Specificity is your friend in most essays but especially in Academic Interest essays. As an admissions officer, one of the most memorable Academic Interest essays I read was about the history of corsets. It doesn’t get much more specific than that!

In a similar way, you should choose something specific to write about based on what the prompt is asking you to do. Whatever your intellectual niche is, don’t be afraid to be explicit about what it is that captivates you. Your goal is to be as specific as is necessary to bring an admissions officer into your intellectual world, give them a look around, and send them on their way with a new understanding of what you care about and why it’s important.

Reflect on the significance of your academic interest.

Academic Interest essays succeed when you demonstrate why the topic is important to you and to the world.

While these supplementals should be specific, they aren’t an opportunity for you to write a treatise on an obscure math concept or insect species. Instead, your Academic Interest essays should make it clear why your interest matters, to whom, and why.

Showing these connections lets an admissions officer know that you’re able to see the big picture and draw connections between academic interests and real-world problems.

How to write an Academic Interest supplemental essay

Alright. With those three strategies in mind, it’s time to get to writing.

Step 1: Read the prompt.

There are lots of ways colleges ask you to write about an academic interest. Take a look at the examples above. The Stanford prompt says that you can reflect on “an idea or experience,” but the Pomona prompt only asks for an “academic passion.” The Brandeis one is different yet, asking you to focus specifically on critical thinking and giving you the freedom to talk about a number of ways your academic interest has manifested.

The wording of the prompt will affect the options you have to choose from, so be sure to read it carefully.

Step 2: Decide on an academic interest.

After you’ve narrowed down your options based on the prompt, next you have to think about your application strategy.

If you’re applying to a particular college major , you should choose an academic interest that is related to your preferred major to emphasize your intellectual curiosity for that subject. Alternatively, you could pick an unrelated academic interest that shows your interdisciplinary inclinations (but that will probably be less effective). What you decide will depend on what kind of school you’re applying to and what other strengths you’ve strewn throughout the rest of your application narrative .

Step 3: Outline & Write

I. Introduction: Hook your reader into your topic with your first sentence, and expand on your academic interest throughout your introduction.

II. Body: Provide more details and introduce your reader to the problem, question, puzzle, or implications that keep you intrigued. III. Body II: Connect your academic interest to an activity you've been involved in. Use this essay as an opportunity to show a connection between your resume and your academic interests.

IV. Conclusion: Reflect on why your interest matters and why your interest in the subject is personally meaningful

Academic Interest Supplemental Essay Mistakes

There are two frequent mistakes applicants make when writing Academic Interest essays, and they typically happen when students aren’t paying enough attention to their application strategy.

Being too academic or too personal.

All college essays are tricky because they require you to balance a number of things. Academic Interest essays are no different. They are a balancing act between intellectual curiosity and personal meaning.

The first mistake applicants make is failing to find this balance. Too much or too little of either, and your essay comes across as too academic or too personal.

You don’t want to be the student who rambles on about a math proof and leaves your admissions officer without any sense of meaning to hang on to. Similarly, you don’t want to dive too deep into meaning and completely neglect to address the details of what interests you. Finding balance is essential.

Being too general.

So you want to “solve the world’s problems” or “find practical solutions to climate change.” That’s great! But when it comes to Academic Interest essays, the key is specificity. Anyone can have general interests in any topic. It’s the niche and particular academic interests that set applicants apart.

Focusing on one very specific interest tells admissions officers that you’re committed enough to your interest to have done thorough research on it. Your specificity shows familiarity with and dedication to a topic—both things that all colleges look for in their students.

If you’re too general, you run the risk of your Academic Interest essay not actually serving you. Too vague, and it’ll be like you didn’t write the essay at all.

So rather than trying to capture all of your interests or solve all of the world’s problems at once, hone in on something that you just can’t stop thinking about. Your future self (and your admissions officers) will thank you.

Academic Interest Supplemental Essay Examples

Example: what do you want to be when you grow up.

Brown: Brown’s Open Curriculum allows students to explore broadly while also diving deeply into their academic pursuits. Tell us about any academic interests that excite you, and how you might use the Open Curriculum to pursue them while also embracing topics with which you are unfamiliar. (200-250 words)

"How was school and what do you want to be when you grow up today?"

My mom asked me this two-part question every day when she picked me up in second grade.

One day I wanted to be a chemist because of an episode of Bill Nye the Science Guy. The next, I wanted to be a teacher like Miss Frizzle, or a paleontologist because of the dinosaur episode we'd just watched. Or maybe I wanted to produce cartoons for kids.

The idea of really learning something and trying to master it has always excited me. My only issue was that seemingly every subject was the next shiny thing I wanted to learn.

Brown's Open Curriculum is uniquely suited to satiate my broad interests–many of which I have maintained since I was a kid. I still love chemistry and have had the privilege of experiencing an advanced academic lab at UVA studying infectious diseases. I will certainly explore chemistry courses and seek out more research opportunities. I know I want to study abroad, and I'm most interested in the “Dinosaurs, Dry Bones, and Digs" course and trip that Brown archaeology professor Schultz hosts each spring to search for new dinosaur fossils in Brazil. Producing my school’s senior film with the help of my advanced filmmaking team has prompted me to also try on modern culture and media coursework at Brown and participate in the Campus Reel competition in the fall.

While my academic interests have evolved since I was seven, I look to college as a time to explore fields of interest, discover new ones, and maybe after four years have a better answer to that question, “what do I want to be when I grow up?”

Liked that? Try this next.

The Incredible Power of a Cohesive College Application

How A Selective Admissions Office Reads 50k Applications In A Season

15 Amazing Personal Statement Examples (2024 Update)

12 Common App Essay Examples (Graded by Former Admissions Officers)

"the only actually useful chance calculator i’ve seen—plus a crash course on the application review process.".

Irena Smith, Former Stanford Admissions Officer

We built the best admissions chancer in the world . How is it the best? It draws from our experience in top-10 admissions offices to show you how selective admissions actually works.

Home — Essay Samples — Education — Student Life — Academic Interests

Essays on Academic Interests

What makes a perfect academic interests essay topic.

Choosing the perfect topic for your academic interests essay is not just about showcasing your passion, but also about captivating your readers. Here are some creative ways to brainstorm and select an exceptional essay topic:

- Brainstorm: Let your imagination soar as you brainstorm ideas aligned with your academic interests. Consider your favorite subjects, research areas, and impactful experiences that have shaped your academic journey. This will help you generate a diverse range of potential topics to explore.

- Reflect on your goals: Dive deep into your aspirations and goals in pursuing your academic interests. How does your chosen field contribute to your personal growth and future career? This reflection will assist you in identifying topics that align perfectly with your ambitions.

- Unique perspective: Seek out a topic that allows you to unveil your unique perspective or share your personal experiences. Steer clear of generic topics that have been overdone. Your essay should stand out and offer fresh insights that captivate your readers.

- Research potential: Ensure that your chosen topic offers ample research material and access to scholarly resources. This will enable you to effectively provide evidence and support your arguments. Evaluate the availability of academic journals, books, and reputable sources on your topic of choice.

- Impact and relevance: Select a topic that holds significant impact on your academic interests or the field as a whole. It should be relevant and contribute to existing knowledge in that area. Choose a topic that allows you to explore new ideas and contribute to the ongoing academic discourse.

A remarkable academic interests essay topic should be engaging, personal, and thought-provoking. It must vividly demonstrate your passion and commitment to the subject matter, while also providing an opportunity for you to showcase your critical thinking and analytical skills.

Exceptional Academic Interests Essay Topics

Looking to make your academic interests essay truly stand out? Here is a collection of 20 unique and captivating ideas to ignite your creativity:

1. Revolutionizing Education: The Futuristic Role of Artificial Intelligence in Shaping Learning

2. Climate Change: A Global Health Crisis - Navigating Policies for a Sustainable Future

3. Literature as a Catalyst: How the Written Word Drives Social Change

4. Unveiling the Universe: Exploring the Enigma of Dark Matter in Astrophysics

5. Psych-Tech Fusion: The Intricate Dance Between Psychology and Technology in Modern Society

6. Ethics in the Mosaic: Cultural Diversity and Its Influence on Business Ethics

7. Genetic Engineering: Unlocking the Pandora's Box of Ethical Dilemmas

8. Breaking Barriers: The Inspiring Journey of Women in STEM

9. Fashion as Identity: Tracing the Evolution of Personal Expression

10. The Power of Narratives: How Stories Shape Societies

11. Social Media's Impact on Mental Health: Navigating the Digital Maze

12. Urbanization vs. Sustainability: Balancing Progress and Environmental Responsibility

13. Melodies of the Soul: Exploring Music's Transformative Effects on Emotional Well-being

14. Renewable Energy: From Past to Present - Paving the Way for a Sustainable Future

15. Animal Testing: An Ethical Quandary in Scientific Research

16. The Socioeconomic Equation: Unraveling Factors Influencing Educational Achievement

17. Media's Role in Democracy: Shaping Public Opinion and Nurturing a Vibrant Society

18. Decoding Decisions: The Intricacies of Human Behavior

19. Crafted Traditions: The Cultural Significance of Traditional Crafts in a Globalized World

20. Pop Culture's Impact on Youth: Navigating the Influences of the Digital Age

Academic Interests Essay Questions

If you desire to delve deeper into your chosen topic, here are ten thought-provoking questions to explore:

1. How does artificial intelligence revolutionize education, and what are the potential benefits and challenges it presents?

2. To what extent does climate change affect global health policies, and how can we mitigate its impact?

3. How does literature serve as a catalyst for social change, and what examples can you provide to support your argument?

4. What evidence supports the existence of dark matter, and how does it contribute to our understanding of the universe?

5. How does the fusion of psychology and technology shape modern society, and what ethical considerations should be addressed?

6. Discuss the cultural diversity challenges faced by businesses, and how can they promote ethical practices within a multicultural environment?

7. Evaluate the ethical implications of genetic engineering and its potential impact on future generations.

8. How do women break stereotypes in STEM, and what measures can be taken to encourage more female participation in these fields?

9. Analyze the influence of fashion on personal identity expression and its role in shaping societal norms.

10. How does social media impact mental health, and what strategies can individuals adopt to maintain a healthy relationship with these platforms?

Creative Essay Prompts

If you seek inspiration for your academic interests essay, here are five creative essay prompts to ignite your imagination:

1. Imagine you have the power to create a new academic discipline. What would it be, and how would it address the challenges of the modern world?

2. Reflect on a specific research project or experiment that sparked your interest in your academic field. Describe the process, your findings, and the impact it had on your academic journey.

3. If you could have a conversation with any influential figure in your academic field, who would it be, and what topics would you discuss? Explain your reasons and the potential insights you hope to gain.

4. Choose a controversial topic within your academic field and present arguments from both sides. Discuss your personal stance and the reasons behind your beliefs.

5. Imagine you are presenting a TED Talk on your academic interests. What would be your main message, and how would you captivate and inspire your audience?

Navigating the World of Academic Interests Essay Writing

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about writing an academic interests essay:

Q: How do I make my academic interests essay engaging for readers?

A: To captivate your readers, infuse your essay with personal anecdotes, captivating storytelling, and vivid examples. Use a conversational tone and ensure that your passion for the subject shines through.

Q: Should I include technical jargon in my academic interests essay?

A: While it's important to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the subject, be mindful of your target audience. Avoid overwhelming them with excessive technical jargon. Strike a balance between showcasing your expertise and making your essay accessible.

Q: Can I discuss multiple academic interests in one essay?

A: While it's possible to discuss multiple interests, it's generally more effective to focus on a single main interest. This allows you to delve deeper into the subject matter and provide a more comprehensive analysis.

Q: How long should my academic interests essay be?

A: The length of your essay may vary depending on the specific requirements. However, aim for a concise and focused essay of around 500-800 words. Remember, quality over quantity is key.

Q: Is it necessary to include a conclusion in my academic interests essay?

A: While a conclusion is not mandatory, it can provide a sense of closure and reiterate your main points. Consider including a brief conclusion to summarize your key arguments and leave a lasting impression on your readers.

My Specific Area of Academic Interest

Why i want to study business: a look into the future, made-to-order essay as fast as you need it.

Each essay is customized to cater to your unique preferences

+ experts online

Computer Science – My Choice for Future Career

My aspiration to obtain a master's in corporate finance, my career goals in accomplishing psychology major, my fascination for science and technology, let us write you an essay from scratch.

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Motivation Letter for Computer Science Scholarship

My passion in electrical and computer engineering, there is no progress with no struggle, the role of my grandmother in my decision to study biology, get a personalized essay in under 3 hours.

Expert-written essays crafted with your exact needs in mind

My Goal to Pursue a Career in Computer Science and Engineering

University sop, my intent to take a master’s program in health promotion, why i am here, my academic interests in geographic information sciences, my academic interests in the university of pennsylvania, statement of purpose (information technology and cyber security), motivation letter (bachelor of business administration), statement of purpose (healthcare informatics), my desire to get economical education in keio university, why i want to be a mental health counselor, my aspiration to pursue a career in education, my interest in biology and chemistry, my goal to get a degree in business management, the importance of mental health: why i want to be a psychologist, my motivation to study medicine, my motivation to study management and human resources at a master's level, how the movie hackers got me interested in computer science, interest in the field of environmental engineering, my motivation to build a career in economics, relevant topics.

• Studying Abroad
• Academic Achievements
• Critical Thinking
• Stem Education
• Importance of Education
• High School
• Physical Education
• College Experience
• Academic Challenges

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

• TUTORING & TEST PREP
• TALK TO AN ADVISOR

Alternative Pathways to a Career in Computer Science

Recent posts, subscribe here, more expert advice, how to write the “academic interests” supplemental essay.

If you’re a senior starting to work on supplemental essays for college applications this fall, it’s likely you’ve encountered some version of this question: what do you want to study, and why?

Before you dive in, it’s important to understand what the question is asking (I know this seems like a duh, but stay with me). Like we discussed here , the way this question is asked reveals a lot about both the school itself and the way you should approach it. For some schools – many liberal arts colleges and universities where it’s relatively easy and encouraged to switch majors – this question is usually phrased as what you want to learn more about. Responses to questions like these should zing with curiosity. For others – more siloed universities where you apply into a particular college and into a specific major – this question is often asked to reveal how much thought you’ve put into your major of choice, both in how you’ve prepared for it and what you hope to do with it in the future.

For some students, if the way the question is asked makes it tough to answer, it may be a sign that the college itself isn’t the right fit. But for most students, it’s more about not knowing where to start. If you’re stuck with how to approach this style of question, this blog post is for you.

First, much like with the “why us?” supplemental essay, it’s important to know what style of question you’re answering. Once you figure that piece out, the essay is much easier to write. This question usually is asked in one of three ways:

1) Why major?

This is the most straightforward version. It’s typical of schools where you’re applying more directly into a specific major, and they want to hear how you’ve decided on that pathway. Classic examples of this one are Purdue, UT Austin, MIT, Carnegie Mellon, and the University of Southern California.

Sample : Describe how you plan to pursue your academic interests and why you want to explore them at USC specifically. Please feel free to address your first- and second-choice major selections.

2) What do you hope to study?

This is a more open-ended version of the question above. It invites you to share multiple academic pathways, perhaps if you’re undecided or see many roads ahead for yourself. CU Boulder, U Penn, and Pomona all ask a version of this question.

Sample : Please share a bit more about your academic interests. What do you hope to study at CU Boulder? What has inspired your interests in this area? Or if you are undecided, what area(s) of study are you considering? Think about your prior/current coursework, extracurricular activities, work/volunteer experiences, future goals, or anything else that has shaped your interests.

3) Intellectual curiosity

This is a popular question for liberal arts colleges or any college that celebrates intellectual discovery and exploration (ie, where changing your academic pathway, or exploring many interests, is easy or encouraged). Some schools that ask this type of question are Yale, Stanford, Tufts, Barnard, and Haverford.

Sample : The Stanford community is deeply curious and driven to learn in and out of the classroom. Reflect on an idea or experience that makes you genuinely excited about learning.

As you approach this topic, it’s important to remember that while you can be undecided (except for schools that ask that first question), you can’t be uninterested . Colleges want to hear your curiosity in these responses. It’s very likely you’ll change majors or pathways in college (frankly, it’s what most American colleges are built to encourage). But what leads to academic success is a spark of an interest, so make sure you’re demonstrating those sparks. Here’s how.

4 Tips on How to Write This Well  

1)   Share honest stories about yourself and how you became interested in these subjects.

Origins of interest sound like this:

"I've never seen my father angrier than the day I took our family television apart just to see how it worked. I was 12 years old, and Monday Night Football was just about to start.  It wasn't the first time I'd done something like that, but it was the first time I wasn't able to put something back together quickly. It took me three hours, but I did it, just in time for my dad to see his beloved Giants lose. I never made that mistake again, but I've also never stopped trying to learn how things work." 

The development of interests sounds like this:

"My junior year of high school, I volunteered to lead a fundraiser to send our soccer team to Europe to compete in a tournament. And while I enjoyed organizing the car wash and the donation drive and the now much maligned "shrimp-a-thon" (Sizzler doesn't mean it when they say, "All you can eat shrimp,” by the way), what I really enjoyed was crafting personal emails to ask for donations, and writing the regular update newsletters I sent to people who were supporting us, and updating the travel blog I wrote during our stay in Europe. Every day, I thought about new ways to share our story with people who might be interested. Yes, we raised money. But we also raised interest. People who had never cared about our team started caring. We developed a following of loyal supporters, and 18 guys who had never been to Europe finally got to go because of it. That experience was the first time I started to understand the power of the well-written word."

2) Pick stories that show you enjoying what you’re learning.

"I truly enjoy working on complex math problems. There is no better feeling than persisting through difficult formulas and eventually working out the right answer." 

"My friends and I are the only people I know who have fights about math. Not physical fights (none of us are tough enough for that), but arguments. We spend a lot of our lunch hours sitting at what we call the ‘coolest table’ working through problem sets for the “Math Club,” and you’d be surprised how worked up we get about it. But I love it. I love that I can sit at a table with some of the smartest people at my school and argue about the best way to solve a complex math problem. And the best part is, nobody is ever angry when they’re proven wrong. We love math too much to be mad when someone shows us a faster, better way to solve the problem.”

3) If the question is asked as “why major” (sample question #1) or “what are your academic interests?” (sample question #2), then tie these interests to your future college plans.

Imagine yourself studying and learning in a particular college. Do you see a clear picture in your mind? Have you really investigated your chosen major? Have you looked at what classes are required, what will be expected of you, and what types of students seem to flourish there? And when you're answering those questions, how much of what interests you is specific to this school? If the question is more open-ended (version #2), you can paint a picture of multiple pathways – perhaps dabbling in music and biology or using their core curriculum to help you decide on psychology or political science.

4) If the question is like sample question #3 (intellectual curiosity), stay open-minded and get nerdy!

Remember that your answer to this style of prompt doesn’t necessarily have to align with your potential major choice. We’ve seen great responses to this question that nerd out about Spanish literature from future physics majors, or the paradoxes of time from future English majors. Don’t box yourself into writing about your intended major pathway necessarily. Think instead of what has made you truly excited about learning in the past – whether it’s when you connected the dots in a murder mystery and explored the interplay of psychology and creative writing, or that time you went down a rabbit hole about parallel universes and never got out. These responses should sparkle with inquisitive excitement.  

For more on supplemental essays, make sure to check out our thorough overview here of how to crush supplemental essays, the Collegewise way. 

About Us:  With more than twenty years of experience, Collegewise counselors and tutors are at the forefront of the ever-evolving admissions landscape. Our work has always centered on you: the student. And just like we’ve always done, we look for ways for you to be your best self - whether it’s in the classroom, in your applications or in the right-fit college environment. Our range of tools include  counseling ,  test prep ,  academic tutoring , and essay management, all with the support of our proprietary platform , leading to a 4x higher than average admissions rates. 

Recommended Articles

College applications without essays: do they exist?

5 College Essay Examples & What to Avoid

How to Write a College Transfer Essay

Subscribe to email updates.

• Tutoring & Test Prep
• Our Counselors

© 2024 Collegewise. All Rights Reserved. Privacy

Examples of Academic Interests to Put on Applications

Written by Nathan Brunner .

Last updated on August 31, 2023.

You may need to provide your academic interests when filling out a job or college application.

Academic interests are fields you love and would study in your spare time. For example, one might be interested in American literature, music theory, or international law. Some interests are more specific than others. The key for college or job applications is choosing a specific field topic!

If you are unsure which academic subjects interest you, you have come to the right place. In this article, I will give you examples of academic interests and how to find yours!

Tip : Find Jobs on Salarship .

Examples of Academic Interests to Include in Your Applications

As mentioned above, academic interests are subjects that someone finds intriguing. These feelings then inspire the person to explore them, not just in school but independently as well. But how can you tell the difference between “academic interest” and a “personal interest”?

Academic interests are not areas of study ; they must not be too broad! For example, do not mention that you are interested in mathematics. Instead, mention a specific topic within mathematics that you care about, like differential calculus or group theory.

Now that we know what academic interests are, we can look at several examples. Remember, there are hundreds of academic interests—a comprehensive list would be too long. Check out the following table to see a portion of the academic interests available:

As you can see, some academic interests are more specific than others. For example, physical health is a more targeted area than science, teaching, or writing. We can break each academic interest into categories, such as environmental science , statistics , and computer engineering .

Once you have decided on your academic interest, it is best to include a specific problem related to your interest that you care about or have already worked on. For example, it is better to mention “microeconomics with interest in modeling consumer behavior” instead of simply writing “microeconomics.”

Why is it so important to know your academic interests? We’ll talk about that below!

Why Choosing the Right Academic Interests Can Boost Your Applications

When applying for college, the institution often asks for a short essay describing your academic interests. Students who are aware of their academic interests and have already done some personal research on them are more likely to get accepted by colleges and employers.

Note that your academic interests must fit the institution. If your academic interests include contemporary music, a school like Julliard will suit you more than a state school. However, Juilliard will not be the best option if your academic interests include molecular science.

Listing your academic interests on a job application may seem confusing; however, there is a good reason. Students who choose classes based on their academic interests are more likely to pay attention and pass the course. Employers use the same mentality. If your academic interests align with their company goals, you are more likely to dedicate your efforts to your work.

Tip : 1,096,563 Jobs Are Available on Salarship .

How to Find Your Academic Interests

Finding your academic interests is a personal journey. No two people will discover their interests the same way. If you are struggling to identify your academic interests, there are several methods you can try.

First, examine what has interested you throughout your life. In what classes did you excel? What type of movies do you enjoy watching most? Now, identify what aspect intrigued you most. Were you most curious about algebra or the science involved in your chemistry class? Was it the contents of the movie that interested you? Or the movie creation itself?

Second, try new things. Do not settle for the same old, boring activities every day. Branch out and discover your interests. You can even discover your academic interests through non-academic channels. These may include clubs, sports, social activities, and much more. As you develop hobbies, you may find your academic interests as well.

If you think you have found an academic interest, cultivate it. Explore the aspects of the subject. If your exploration leads to you no longer enjoying the interest, start again! Do not get discouraged.

Remember, there is no one right way to find your academic interests. Some will know what interests them from a young age, while others must wait until adulthood to make that discovery. Do not rush the process. Instead, enjoy it! Find new things (and old things) that bring you joy. Follow your passions, and as you do, you will find your academic interests.

Related Articles

• What Does “Highest Academic Level” Mean on Job Applications?
• What Does It Mean for a Job Application to Be “On Hold”?

Salarship is a job board that focuses on low-competition jobs.

Our office is at Chemin du Valon 20, Sierre, Valais, Switzerland.

For Job Seekers

For Employers

Quick Links

Mastering the Academic Interest Essay for College Applications

Kate Sliunkova

AdmitYogi, Stanford MBA & MA in Education

The Academic Interest essay is a pivotal component of many college applications. It's an opportunity for students to showcase not just what they want to study, but why and how their interests have evolved over time. Here's how to articulate your academic interests effectively and authentically:

Understanding the Premise:

This essay seeks to uncover the depth of your intellectual curiosities and your commitment to a particular field of study. Institutions value students who approach their studies with genuine enthusiasm and a clear vision.

Key Steps to Craft an Engaging Academic Interest Essay:

Origins of interest:.

Reflect on the moment or experiences that catalyzed your interest in this academic field. Did a particular event, book, class, or personal encounter shape your passion?

Showcase Your Journey:

Highlight any academic endeavors, projects, internships, or readings you've pursued to deepen your understanding and knowledge in this area.

Future Aspirations:

Connect your current interest to future goals. How do you foresee this academic interest shaping your career or life path?

Synergy with the College:

Illustrate why the college's program aligns perfectly with your academic interest. Are there specific professors, courses, or research opportunities that you're keen to explore?

Narrative and Anecdotes:

Stories resonate. Instead of merely stating your interest, narrate moments when your academic passion came alive, be it a challenging project or a revelatory classroom discussion.

Example Response:

"My intrigue with environmental science was ignited when I volunteered for a beach cleanup during my freshman year. The tangible impact of human actions on the environment was eye-opening. I delved deeper, leading eco-initiatives at school and engaging with local conservation projects. I aspire to shape sustainable policies in the future, making [College Name]'s cutting-edge research and Professor [Name]'s work on urban sustainability a perfect match for my goals. I still vividly recall the thrill when my proposed recycling project got approved at school; it's this drive I wish to harness further in my academic pursuits."

In sum, the Academic Interest essay is your canvas to depict your intellectual journey and aspirations. By blending past experiences, present interests, and future goals, you'll not only elucidate why you're drawn to a particular field but also why you'd be an asset to the college's academic community. Embrace introspection, weave in personal stories, and let your genuine curiosity shine.

Read applications

Read the essays, activities, and awards that got them in. Read one for free !

Quincy Johnson

MIT (+ 3 colleges)

Yale (+ 20 colleges)

Stanford (+ 10 colleges)

Related articles

Guide to Admit Yogi AI Essays Reviewer Methodology

Learn how Admit Yogi AI Essays Reviewer functions and how to use it to craft compelling college admission essays that stand out in the competitive application landscape.

Crafting the Perfect "Why Us" Essay for College Applications

Academic Interests - List of Free Essay Examples And Topic Ideas

Academic interests pertain to the subjects, topics, and areas of inquiry that individuals are drawn to in their scholarly pursuits. Essays on academic interests could explore the development of one’s academic interests, the experiences and influences shaping these interests, or the goals and aspirations associated with pursuing these interests. They might also delve into the broader discussions surrounding the value of academic inquiry, the interdisciplinary nature of academic interests, or the impact of academic interests on career choices, personal growth, and societal contribution. We’ve gathered an extensive assortment of free essay samples on the topic of Academic Interests you can find at PapersOwl Website. You can use our samples for inspiration to write your own essay, research paper, or just to explore a new topic for yourself.

Academic Interests in Biomedical Engineering

Statement of Purpose-Stannert I have always felt inspired to improve upon the things I encounter, leaving situations or circumstances better than how I found them. I was raised with a strong work ethic, taking responsibility seriously, standing up for my beliefs, and always maintaining accountability for my actions. From the time I was a little boy, I have always been a dreamer with a desire to do something great. My interest in biomedical engineering is in part due to a […]

My Academic Interests and Goals Achievement

I am a medical lab specialist, and I have a bachelor’s degree in Medical Laboratory Technology from Tibah University. My undergraduate degree has an extreme impact on my goals and interests. And consequently had influenced my choice for my graduate study in clinical biology specializing in Histotechnology at Barry University. Having a bachelor degree in Medical Laboratory Technology is allowing me to pursue my short and long term career goals. My bachelor’s degree required a one year internship, and I […]

Educational Systems Theory in Hidden Intellectualism

Gerald Graff’s article titled “ Hidden Intellectualism” investigates the theory that the educational systems are neglecting to notice the possibilities in student’s so-called “ street smarts.” Graff brings up an idea to open up to students with non-academic interests in the attempts of “growing” a greater logical thinker. Graff’s use of logic, emotion, and credibility within the work takes into consideration thought of the possibility that intellectualism can be characterized as a more extensive sense than once comprehended. A crucial […]

We will write an essay sample crafted to your needs.

Personal Statement and Academic Interests

Personal Statement Business subjects have always been my area of interest. My passion for business studies developed from observing my family members operating their business. I was always curious to know how the business operates and how to grow while maintaining profitability. The most significant influence on my life has been of my parents. They have always encouraged me to learn more, work hard, face challenges and enjoy the crests and troughs of life. They succeeded in developing in me […]

A Space for Personal and Academic Interests

The place where I will spend the majority of my day needs to be a comfortable place to work and a good place for my students to learn. As the teacher I am responsible for creating a space that reflects the learning goals of the workspace, the personality, interests, and age of the students who learn there and to create a space that is a comfortable and productive learning environment for all. If I should be given the opportunity to […]

Female Role Within STEM Education

No one doubts that in order to sustain 21st century lifestyles, technology, and science play a major role. STEM education is a new trend that emphasizes teaching in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in a unified manner. Many professors and politicians have noted that the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics have remained mostly male with short partaking among women. Across regions, women accounted for less than a third of those employed in scientific research and development around the […]

My Academic Interests in Chemical and Material Science

Statement of Purpose While at the high school, I developed a deep-rooted passion for the use of polymers in the construction of candy bags as a hobby because, in Nigeria, mass pollution of the environment with polybags is a common practice by commuters, and I have always wanted to cut this practices to the barest minimum. This influenced my decision to study Chemical Engineering later at the university. Since graduation, my wish to build much more compact and reliable materials […]

A Statement of Academic Interests

Statement of purpose “The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be”. with an eye on the future in our rapidly paced world, which is consistently proliferating in terms of productivity, Human safety is becoming increasingly challenging, especially in the automotive industry which has resulted in a rising trend to find new ways to make safety a top priority. One such outstandingly compelling and promising route is Biomechanics. The field with its varied scope […]

My Academic and Research Interests

Personal Statement Growing up as a child, my family and everyone around me had an expectation of me becoming a medical doctor. I had that notion until few weeks to filling out my college application form, I went for an energy career session organised by some alumni of my secondary school, after which I made up my mind to study petroleum engineering. Initially, I was shaken up by the idea of pursuing a course entirely different from what I have […]

Academic Interests in Engineering

I want to pursue a master’s degree and develop my skills as an engineer to develop autonomous vehicles. I am interested in human-machine interaction, controls, and path planning in this particular field. I am currently working at Hyundai Mobis as an engineer in the autonomous engineering team. I believe that a degree in Robotics at the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor will help me realize my dreams to be a leader in the development of autonomous vehicles. I graduated […]

Marketing and Academic Interests Essay

Marketing involves the process of educating customers why they should buy your products and service over your competitors. Studying marketing will open doors in your career as it's an important department in many business companies. Finding a company without a marketing manager is rare. The skills and techniques you obtain from marketing can help you, later on, to pursue in a business related course, because you will understand the importance of customer relations, communication, and stakeholders involved in the business. […]

Challenge myself to the Doctoral Degree in Epidemiology

As a current graduate student at the University of Cincinnati, I have reached a point in my academic career where I know I can challenge myself to the highest degree. I have hopes of conducting research studies that will answer questions that no one has asked before, or find solutions to public health-related problems. Moreover, in order to bring my dreams into fruition, I understand I will have to immerse myself in a rigorous academic program that will take me […]

Buckner Family Hope Center

History, vision, mission and objectives Buckner family hope center was founded in 1875 and was named after a former US Senator Alexander Buckner. The center offers charitable services to children mainly housing children who have various disorders that require special attention that may not be affordable to parents or to orphaned children who do not have guardians. The children mostly found in this home are those suffering from neurodevelopmental disorders. These children have low brain development which draws back the […]

Pros and Cons of the US Economy

The U.S economy during our trading weeks has some gains and loses shown in our economic indicator. Some of the factors that cause the economy to fail was the GDP, unemployment, inflation and deflation. The reason that caused to our loses was the GDP (gross domestic product), one of the primary indicators used to gauge the health of a country’s economy. If GDP is rising, the economy is in good shape, and the nation is moving forward. However, if the […]

My Career Benefiting from the Intersection of Nutrition and Mental Health

I want to pursue a Master of Public Health at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School because I want to extend my career interests to the intersection of nutrition and mental health. I will be focusing on age-associated conditions which influence the development of disabilities such as poor mobility and dementia. After earning my PhD in Public Health on the relationship of nutritional biochemistry and epigenetics of vitamin D metabolism and cancer, I turned my interests to broader associations of nutrition and […]

Additional Example Essays

• Why College Should Not Be Free
• Reasons Why I Want to Study Abroad
• The Effect of Alcohol on College Students
• Med school personal statement
• What Kind Of Student Are You
• College May Not Be Worth It Anymore By Ellen Ruppel Shell
• Leadership and the Army Profession
• Shakespeare's Hamlet Character Analysis
• A Raisin in the Sun Theme
• Logical Fallacies in Letter From Birmingham Jail
• Professions for Women by Virginia Woolf

1. Tell Us Your Requirements

2. Pick your perfect writer

3. Get Your Paper and Pay

Hi! I'm Amy, your personal assistant!

Don't know where to start? Give me your paper requirements and I connect you to an academic expert.

short deadlines

100% Plagiarism-Free

Certified writers

One of the most popular college supplemental essay prompts is some variation of the “why this major?” essay. This academic interest essay is often referred to as a “statement of purpose.” As the name suggests, this is the essay where you outline your interests, plans, and goals for your undergraduate education.

In this article, we will address questions such as: What is a statement of purpose? How do you write a statement of purpose? And why is this essay important for your college applications?

Complimentary Initial Consultation

Fill out this form to book your complimentary initial consultation..

Tell us your name.

The purpose of this essay

The purpose of the “Why this major?” or the academic interests essay is to better understand who you are as a student and what you are passionate about. Colleges want to admit curious, motivated, and thoughtful students. They also want to make sure that your academic goals align with what the program can offer you. In other words, they want to make sure that their college is a good fit for you academically and that you will be able to reach your specific goals at their college. In the context of graduate school, this essay is often referred to as your “statement of purpose.”

Questions to ask yourself before you start writing

Before you start writing the first draft of your statement of purpose essay, take time to reflect on the questions below. After all, you want your essay to be both thorough and thoughtful. The best way to ensure you’ve written a successful college essay is by taking plenty of time to think through your answers before you physically start writing. You’ll also want to look at plenty of academic interest essay examples before you get started.

• What do you want to study and why?
• Have you decided on a major? If so, why did you choose your major?
• What do you want to do with your degree after college?
• Do you have any practical experience (i.e. internships, extracurriculars, job shadowing opportunities, ect.) related to your major?
• Why is this college a good fit for you academically?

As you consider each of these questions, take notes. You might even want to do a couple of free writes where you answer these questions candidly and honestly in a journal. There will be plenty of time to refine your ideas later on in the writing and editing process. The most important thing now is to get your ideas moving freely!

If you’re not sure how to write the “Why this major?” essay because you do not know what you want to major in, you may want to consider these  popular college majors .

Meet with our college admissions experts

5 tips to help you get started.

After you’ve spent a good deal of time pondering the question, why did you choose this major? , it’s time to start writing! Let’s take a look at 5 statement of purpose tips to help you get started.

Read the prompt carefully

Read the prompt very carefully. Each school will have a slightly different variation of this question, and it’s important to format your question accordingly. Some common versions of this prompt include:

• Why this major?
• What are your academic interests?

How a college chooses to word this question will help you gain a better understanding of this college’s values.

For instance, if a college asks you, “Why this major?” they want to know how committed you are to your course of studies. In some cases, your major may affect your chances of acceptance , especially if you are applying to a selective program. If you plan to apply to a highly-competitive major, include plenty of information about extracurricular and volunteer experience you have that is related to your course of study. This is particularly important if you are interested in pre-med .

Overall, this prompt is closest to the grad student’s statement of purpose. But what should a statement of purpose include exactly? In short, it should consist of your academic and career goals and how you hope to achieve them at this particular school.

If a college asks you about what you want to study instead of what you’d like to major in, feel free to write about your curiosities, passions, and excitement for learning. This prompt is much more open-ended than the “Why this major?” prompt so that you can approach it more creatively.

Start with a hook

College admissions officers read countless essays, so it’s important to be memorable and to stand out! The best way to do this is to start with a hook. Give them a reason to be interested and to want to keep reading. The best hooks start with a compelling (but concise) personal anecdote that sets the tone for the rest of your essay.

For example, if you want to study music, you may want to begin your essay with a short anecdote about how you spent the summer teaching your cousin how to play the piano. If you want to study political science, you may want to begin your essay by discussing the work you did for a political campaign or describing a recent protest you attended and how it influenced you.

Although the academic interests essay is different from the personal statement, the components of a successful supplemental college essay are very similar. Take a look at 4 Winning College Essay Examples from Top Schools to get some ideas of how to structure your statement of purpose. And remember, a successful statement of purpose intro always starts with a hook!

Include lots of details

College admissions officers want to read thoughtful essays that include lots of details. So be as specific as possible in your “Why this major?” essay. Including details helps communicate that you have put real thought into the prompt. It can also help demonstrate your values and communicate who you are as a person and as a student. Read more about what college admissions officers look for in an applicant here .

Discuss why the school is a good fit

Although this question is different from the “Why this college” essay , it’s important to discuss why and how attending this specific college would help you reach your academic goals. The best way to do this is to research the college’s academic offerings thoroughly and make sure that this school is actually a good fit for your academic goals and interests.

For example, if you’re interested in music, does the school offer music lessons? Do they have practice rooms or a piano on campus? Do they host lots of open mic nights? If you’re interested in studying communications, does the school have a newspaper? What other publications are produced on campus? Do they offer any public speaking classes or opportunities?

What to Do Once You’ve Been Accepted to Your Dream College

Click here to read more

Look through the course catalog and make a list of courses that sound interesting. Read professors’ bios and research their work. Find out if there are any internships, study abroad , or summer programs that support your interests. You may also want to consider reading our essay on how to find the right college for you .

Don’t rush the writing and editing process

Give yourself plenty of time to write several drafts and to take breaks in between drafts. Being able to step away from your writing for a few days at a time can be crucial in the writing and editing process. This is because it allows you to get more perspective on your writing and your ideas. If you write this essay quickly, it probably won’t be as detailed, thorough, or nuanced as it could have been if you’d given yourself more time.

Key takeaways and moving forward

It’s important to take your time on each college application essay. Your personal statement and other supplemental essay responses will be a key admissions factor. That said, depending on your college list, you may find yourself needing to write upwards of 10 separate supplemental essays! At a certain point, you may simply run out of time. If this is the case, you may want to consider applying to one of these 40+ Colleges That Don’t Require Supplemental Essays .

In the meantime, regardless of where you are in the college application process, here at Prepory, we have the resources and expertise to help you reach all of your college-related goals. Reach out to learn more about our services and how we can help you gain admission to the college of your dreams!

• May 17, 2023
• 12th Grade , College Admissions , Misc , Personal Statement

Writing the “What Do You Want to Study and Why?” Supplemental Essay

Contact a Prepory college admissions coach and start your college admissions journey.

Our college admissions experts are here to guide you from where you are to where you should be. Through our comprehensive curriculum, individualized coaching, and online workshops, you are set for success as soon as you connect with us.

During our initial consultation, we will: 

• Assess your student’s applicant profile and higher education goals 
• Provide detailed information about our services and programming
• Share tips on how to navigate the U.S. college admissions process 

Let's get started!

Land your next great job with a Prepory career coach!

Let us help you advance your career, Identify new opportunities, participate in mock interviews, build, thrive, grow, and land your dream job.

Subscribe to our blog!

Follow us on social media

Want to get admitted to your dream school or accelerate your career?

College Admissions

Career coaching.

(929) 244-3365 [email protected] 12555 Orange Drive, Suite 100A, Davie, FL 33330

Copyright © 2023  Prepory Coaching Group LLC.  All Rights Reserved.

Ready to take the next step towards college admissions or career success?

Book your free consultation.

Nice to meet you! What's your email?

And your phone number?

Please select a consultation time.

💡 Academic Interests Essays

Should college athletes be paid 🔥 trending.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) inception in 1906 was based on running college games in favor of the sporting events organization and prohibiting professionalism….

Discuss the requirements and challenges of academic writing

It is imperative to learn academic writing if one is enrolled in a university.  Being in the university meant that one is surrounded by academic…

The Importance of Grit to Students

Introduction Grit has become the greatest determinant of success in the modern day. Many scholars have explored the importance of grit in promoting success in…

Does Parent Involvement Affect the Learning Ability and Interests of…

Abstract This research seeks to determine whether parent involvement in child education affects the children’s learning ability and interests. The research involves qualitative analysis of…

Short and Long Vowels in Arabic

Research question: How to distinguish between short(diacritics) and long vowels in Modern Standard Arabic? Intro: Arabic short vowel is known as harakat or multillect; it…

Why Are Students Unmotivated in a Classroom?

ABSTRACT The paper looks at the issue of motivation among students in a class room environment. The main research problem of this research study is…

Why I Want to Become a Teacher

I have always wanted to pursue a career that impacts society with knowledge since my childhood. In this case, I am convinced that teaching is…

The Mission, Vision, Values, and Stated Goals of the Organization

Every organization is set up with the main aim of excelling in their industry. In the healthcare sectors, the general aim is quality care and…

Similarities and Differences between Pedagogy and Andragogy

Pedagogy and andragogy are common concepts in the education sector. However, scholars have focused on understanding the two concepts as well as outlining the similarities…

Interdisciplinary Learning and Research Thread

Advantages Academic and interdisciplinary work approach is a strategy that helps to understand diverse knowledge from various fields. Based on this cross-thematic interpretation of the…

The art of credit: the need for education

Credit cards offer the advantage of “buy now, pay later”. Students are lured into huge cash purchases made on credit cards based upon the false…

Instructional design

Abstract This research characterizes the nature of instructional design (ID) through the consideration of its central tendencies. In defining ID It considers the extent that…

Should a composition course be required for all first-year college…

Prior to providing supporting or (and) contradicting arguments concerning the matter under consideration, I find it far from being an exaggeration to acknowledge that I…

Basic concepts of academic freedom

Although higher education institutions provide fresh ground for nurturing students’ academic freedom, autonomy, and sovereignty, there are specific laws that govern students’ while acquiring higher…

Licensing for mechanical engineer

In a bid to pursue my university education, I have chosen mechanical engineering as my university major. I have always had passion for mechanical engineering…

Learning foreign education in United States

The debate on whether students in the United States should study foreign languages as part of their requirements before they graduate have been raging. There…

Professional nursing

Nursing in the U.S. is a professional calling that aims in fulfilling the ANA code of ethics so that the patient’s health may be achieved…

Veblen and Bourdieu theories in the global economy

Various factors affect the economic landscape, especially when focusing on the level of performance that businesses experience during different periods of operation. Consumer perspectives and…

The myth of learning style

Introduction Realizing that the concept of varying learning styles is a myth shocks most people. The media and the education sector promote and popularize the…

Legislative effects on ELLs

In this discussion, our reference case will be Lau V. Nichols, 414 U.S. 563 (1974). This case was before the United States Supreme Court. There…

What is the best site to search for quality academic interests paper samples?

GradeMiners is your source of inspiration, where you can find thousands of the best papers on this and all related topics in any format of academic papers.

How to use academic interests essay samples to create my paper?

A good example of an essay on academic interests can be an indispensable tool to inspire a new paper topic, help define the structure, and suggest relevant primary sources.

Is it allowed to submit your samples as mine?

Many essays are checked for plagiarism. And since the examples are freely available, any program will find matches. Also, other students can download the same essay as you. Therefore, use the ready-made sample only for inspiration and references.

How many college essay samples do GradeMiners have in its Database?

In our database, you can find not only a college essay about academic interests but also thousands of other papers on various topics.

This page will discover the best academic interests essay samples you can use in your papers in many different ways. Everyone at least once will encounter writing such an assignment regardless of the degree, scholar, bachelor, or undergraduate. So be sure to skim through the page and take the right course for your research paper.

Importance of Academic Interests Essay Examples in Education

If you pay attention to the topics, you will notice that they are relatively reminiscent of motivational letters. Indeed, it is a way to write about your goals, but at the same time, an opportunity to outline your vision of the importance of studying, etc. Recently, online education has become the most relevant topic, including new services for learning languages ​​and other skills remotely.

Nevertheless, it can be challenging for students to outline only one important direction in learning. Therefore, the chosen topics are often outdated and not interesting to modern society. To avoid this, it is worth following the development of American education. And essays, dissertations, reviews samples, etc. help greatly in this.

Read Our Academic Interests Essays – Be Ready to Write Yours

We understand your confusion if you do not know why you must read dozens of other people’s works. But our base is something more; its main goal is to help you write or cast doubt and place an order with our company.

Get Your Inspiration

You may need a boost if you lack experience and writing skills. For example, you get inspiration from the story when you write a movie or book review. So the finished essay on the topic of your choice will help to continue the discussion or lead it in another direction.

Choose Topic & Proper Structure

If you have doubts about what to write, you can always google the top academic interests college essay topics. But that doesn’t always make it clear how to cover the topic. The ready-made essay will not only tell you how but also help to express your thoughts in the appropriate structure inherent in this type of paper.

Be Sure in Our Professional Writers

If you can’t waste energy and time on completing a task, entrust its execution to professionals. The database of examples consists of our authors’ papers and is direct proof that each of them has the necessary skills and area of expertise.

Get A+ by Ordering an Essay about Academic Interests

If you can’t decide which of the examples is the best option for references, use the services of GradeMiners. Then, in addition to a huge database with the best samples, we are ready to write an essay for you according to your requirements within a predetermined time frame.

• Academic Success
• Child Observation
• Early Childhood Education
• High School
• Homeschooling
• Is College Worth It
• School Uniforms
• School Violence

Home / Essay Samples / Education / Higher Education / Academic Interests

Academic Interests Essay Examples

My plans after graduation: pursuing a career in education.

After graduation, many people have various plans for their future. Some may pursue higher education in their field of study, while others may take a gap year to travel or gain work experience. Some individuals may also seek employment immediately or pursue entrepreneurship. Regardless of...

The Importance of Literacy: Narrative About My Life

To start with, this is literacy narrative essay on my academic path and experience. Here I will sexplein why I believe that eduaction plays a crucial role in life as well as literacy that goes hand in hand with education.  High School and College is...

Personal Experience in Studying at the Swarthmore English Department

In this paper I am going to share personal experience on developing my writing skills with the help of taken courses at the Swarthmore University, in this supplement essay I will also dive deeper in an analysis of this study path and what it gave...

What Are My Plans after Graduation

At the end of my high school junior year, I resolved myself to select the Informatics and Digital Sciences branch, which can also be denoted by its acronym IDS, in addition to the other academic subjects for my senior year since I was willing, from...

What is My Research Interests and Goals in Education

This my life essay for students in which the example of application letter is shown. I am applying for admission into the Community MEd Educational Leadership Prince George 2020 Fall at your esteemed university. I regard your university as one of the top universities in...

Educational Background in Investment and Financial Risk Management

Over the past decade, Information Technology (IT) has become an essential factor in the financial sector. This element promotes the emergence of innovations, which are essential in financial markets to help analysts to manage risks better. Investment tools such as Collateralized Debt Obligations (CDOs) help...

Personal Academic Interests: Why I Deserve the Scholarship

As Winston Churchill once said 'success consist of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.' For me this has always been my definition of an obstacle as 'failures,' and due to this phrase, I have always marked my success by my total repeated...

Why I Deserve This Scholarship: What Are My Personal Reasons

There are many things that I am certain about myself and three of them are my passion for “social behavior,” my inextinguishable drive for learning, and my mission of making meaningful difference in the lives of others. I usually ask myself “Why I deserve this...

My Academic Journey: a Reflection on Challenges and Triumphs

To reflect on my academic journey, in this essay I will elaborate on how I persevered through financial and social drawbacks while pursuing a bachelor's degree in electronics and telecommunications. Although I struggled with the field due to my background in applied science in high...

My Desire to Study Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania

I grew up in Abu Dhabi, a city with sumptuous skyscrapers of great magnitude, mega shopping centers, modern F1 circuit where hundreds of fire-breathing, ear-splitting F1 cars return every year for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, remarkable architecture, taken from the most inspirational source that...

Trying to find an excellent essay sample but no results?

Don’t waste your time and get a professional writer to help!

Academic Interest Essay Examples & Samples

• Personal Growth Essay Examples & Samples
• Transcendentalism Essay Examples & Samples
• Letter to My Future Self Examples & Samples
• Literacy Narrative Essay Examples & Samples
• Rhetorical Analysis Examples & Samples
• 3 Page Essay Examples & Samples
• Application Letter Examples and Samples 2024
• Personal Statement Examples and Samples
• Admission Essay Examples and Samples
• Scholarship Essay Examples and Samples
• Statement of Purpose Examples and Samples
• Resume Examples and Samples
• Job Application Letter Examples and Samples
• Business Letter Examples and Samples
• Cover Letter Examples and Samples
• Business Plan Proposal Examples and Samples 2024
• Press-release Examples and Samples
• Meeting Minutes Examples and Samples
• Business Email Examples and Samples
• Meeting Agenda Examples and Samples
• Progress Report Examples and Samples
• Brochure Examples and Samples
• Newsletter Examples and Samples
• White Paper Examples and Samples
• Business Report Examples and Samples
• Business Proposal Examples and Samples
• Business Presentation Examples and Samples
• Recommendation Letter Examples and Samples
• Reference Letter Samples
• Grant Application Examples and Samples
• Hardship Letter Examples and Samples
• Reconsideration Letter Examples and Samples
• Fundraising Letter Examples and Samples
• Complaint Letter Examples and Samples
• Informal Letter Examples and Samples
• Resignation Letter Samples
• Complimentary Letter Examples and Samples
• Refund Letter Examples and Samples
• University Deferral Letter Examples and Samples 2024
• Evaluation Letter Examples and Samples
• Poem Examples and Samples
• Article Examples and Samples
• Short Story Examples and Samples
• Travelogue Examples and Samples
• Interview Examples and Samples
• Haiku Examples and Samples
• Autobiography Examples and Samples
• Screenplay Examples and Samples
• Novel Examples and Samples
• Memoir Examples and Samples
• Song Examples and Samples
• Creative Book Examples
• Essentials of Writing Samples
• Examples of Grammar Handbook
• Writing Process Samples
• Transitions Samples
• Negative Words Samples
• Author Quotes About Writing 2024
• Supporting Evidence Examples and Samples 2024
• Examples of Grammar Mistakes
• Brainstorming Samples
• First Draft Examples and Samples 2024
• Outlining Examples and Samples 2024
• Second Draft Samples
• Thesis Statement Samples
• Final Draft Examples and Samples 2024
• Editing Samples
• Research Samples
• Samples of Introducing Sources
• Review Examples and Samples
• Research Paper Examples and Samples 2024
• Annotated Bibliography Examples and Samples
• Term Paper Examples and Samples
• Speech Examples and Samples
• Coursework Examples and Samples
• Academic Essay Examples and Samples
• Process Paper Examples and Samples
• Case Study Examples and Samples
• Presentation Examples and Samples 2024
• Lab Report Examples and Samples
• Article Review Examples and Samples
• Book Review Examples and Samples
• Film&Movie Review Examples and Samples
• Poetry Analysis Examples and Samples
• Play Review Examples and Samples
• Song&Music Review Examples and Samples
• Research Proposal Examples and Samples
• Capstone Project Examples and Samples
• General Research Examples and Samples
• Thesis Statement Examples and Samples
• Dissertation&Thesis Examples and Samples
• Critical Essay Examples and Samples
• Descriptive Essay Examples and Samples 2024
• Compare and Contrast Essay Examples and Samples
• Narrative Essay Examples and Samples
• Best Persuasive Essay Examples
• Expository Essay Examples and Samples
• Cause and Effect Essay Examples and Samples 2024
• Definition Essay Examples and Samples
• Reflective Essay Examples and Samples
• Analytical Essay Examples and Samples 2024
• Summary Essay Examples and Samples
• Evaluation Essay Examples and Samples
• Argumentative Essay Examples and Samples
• NHS Essay Examples and Samples
• Discourse Community Essay Examples
• Essay on Synthesis Examples, Samples
• Essay on Racism Examples and Samples
• Essay on Gun Violence Examples and Samples
• Essay on Mental Health Examples and Samples
• Essay on Nursing Examples and Samples
• Essay on Gun Control Examples and Samples
• Essay on Education Examples and Samples
• Essay on Who Am I Examples and Samples
• Essay on Bullying Examples and Samples
• Essay on Artificial Intelligence Examples and Samples
• Essay on Music Examples and Samples
• Essay on Problem Solution Examples and Samples
• Essay on Integrity Examples and Samples
• Essay on Leadership Examples and Samples
• Essay on Domestic Violence Examples and Samples
• Essay on Respect Examples and Samples
• Essay on Profile Examples and Samples
• Essay on Life Examples and Samples
• Essay on Autobiographical Examples and Samples
• Essay on Obesity Examples and Samples
• Essay on Cyberbullying Examples and Samples
• Essay on Technology Examples and Samples
• Essay on Professionalism Examples and Samples
• Essay on Career Goals Examples and Samples
• Essay on Animal Testing Examples and Samples
• Essay on Drug Abuse Examples and Samples
• Essay on Immigrations Examples and Samples
• Essay on Capital Punishment Examples and Samples
• Essay on Communication Examples and Samples
• Essay on Friendship Examples and Samples
• Essay on Community Service Examples and Samples
• Essay on My Family Examples and Samples
• Essay on Frankenstein Examples and Samples
• Essay on Pro Life Examples and Samples
• Essay on Anxiety Examples and Samples
• Essay on Industrial Revolution Examples and Samples
• Essay on Research Argument Examples and Samples
• Essay on Food Examples and Samples
• Essay on Great Depression Examples and Samples
• Essay on Self-Reflection Examples and Samples
• Essay on The Great Gatsby Examples and Samples
• Essay On What Does It Mean to Be American Examples and Samples
• Essay on World War 2 Examples and Samples
• Essay on Ethics Examples and Samples
• Essay on Concert Review Examples and Samples
• Essay on Fahrenheit 451 Examples and Samples
• Essay on Nursing Scholarship Examples and Samples
• Essay on Pro Choice Examples and Samples
• Essay on Process Analysis Examples and Samples
• Essay on Solar Energy Examples and Samples
• Essay on Personal Narrative Examples and Samples
• Essay on Hamlet Examples and Samples
• Essay on Civil Rights Examples and Samples
• Essay on Rhetoric Examples and Samples
• Essay on Martin Luther King Examples and Samples

Recent Articles

Sep 23 2023

Research or Academic Interest – Statement of Purpose Sample

Sep 21 2023

Past Achievements – Statement of Purpose Sample

Sep 17 2023

Bachelor of Social Anthropology Scholarship Essay Example

Sep 16 2023

Tanner Braun Athletic Scholarship Application Essay

Jul 18 2018

What I Am Essay Sample, Example

Remember Me

What is your profession ? Student Teacher Writer Other

Forgotten Password?

Username or Email

Finding, Understanding, and Explaining Your Academic Interests

By: Author Dr. Patrick Capriola

Posted on Published: July 9, 2019

Academic interests are educational topics about which the student is curious and wants to spend more time exploring. Examples of academic interests include biology, history, mathematics, language, coding, and robotics. Students find their academic interests by exploring a wide range of topics and reflecting on those that appeal most to their skill set and curiosity. 

The Importance of Academic Interests

Sometimes the most ambiguous challenges young adults face is figuring out their academic interests, so they can finally focus their enery on pursuing topics for which they care deeply and learn to find meaning in their work.

Once the student has their interests piqud by a topic, they should spend more time learning about it and spend quality time exploring it by setting dedicated periods aside just for that one topic, to better understand if it is a fit. If it is, they can take it a step further by joining a club, league, team, online class or take private lessons.

By discovering and expressing your academic interests, you’ll pay more attention in class because the topic intrigues you. You’ll also be better prepared for life after high school, finding it easier to choose your college major and potentially your career path as well.

In this guide, we will provide an in-depth look into the process of finding, understanding, and explaining one’s academic interests. From the humble beginnings of this self-discovery process to writing an academic interest essay and everything in between, teens and the parents who support them who are on the fence won’t want to miss this article.

What Are Academic Interests and Why Do They Matter?

Academic interests are academic topics that are of particular interest to you as a student. Everyone has different interests, depending on what gets them going. There really is no formula to how they develop. But there are important to find and nurture.

Before we can get into finding one’s academic interests, we have to discuss why they matter. Here are several points to consider that we touched on in the intro.

You’re More Likely to Pay Attention in Class

The first reason you should explore your academic interests in full is one of the more obvious ones. It reasons to assume that when you like what you’re learning about, you’re going to pay more attention in class.

This 2016 article in The Daily Texan cited a study from the UT College of Education. Erika Patall, the college’s professor, did the study. Patall wanted to know whether the subject material students learned could inspire them to retain information, pay attention, and do better work in class.

As part of the study, Patall worked with more than 200 students, all in high school. The students participated in a science class. According to Patall, engagement went up when the students learned about a topic they cared about.

A class that’s more engaged is one that’s more eager to learn. That means they get the maximum out of each lesson because the teacher feeds off the energy of the students. With better retention and an increased work ethic for topics of interest, students would likely get higher grades on assignments and tests about these topics as well.

If you would like to learn more about finding your academic strenghts (and weaknesses), I wrote an article on the topic that you will find helpful.

Choosing a College Major Becomes Much Easier

If you’re getting okay grades and you aren’t failing, then isn’t that enough? Sure, none of the topics you learn in school really spark your attention or passion, but that’s okay. Isn’t it all about your grades at the end of the day?

No. While a record of good grades will make the college admissions process easier, at some point, you must select a college and thus choose a major. Now, instead of being fed topics like math, history, language, and science as you were in high school, you’re the one in power.

You get to choose your path completely on your own. Your parents, teachers, and mentors aren’t there to guide you. It comes down to you.

This can be scary if you’ve never had an opportunity to think about what you like academically before, nor make major, life-changing decisions. If you just haven’t had an interest in school, you may also struggle with choosing a major. This decision is monumental enough even for students who know their interests. It becomes 10 times more difficult for those who don’t.

On the other hand, if you’ve followed a passion for a year or two or longer, then it may seem like a given to pursue it in the realm of higher education. You can then spend less time stressing about your major and more time preparing for your transition to life as a college student.

Selecting a College Could Become Less Stressful

It’s a dream of many high school students to be inundated with dozens upon dozens of college offers. If they cast a wide net, then most well-achieving students will hear back from a handful of universities and colleges that may want to have them. It’s not quite the dream, but it’s good enough.

How do you decide which college you should attend? For some, it’s all about proximity. Certain students may want to stay near their hometown, but many more will wish to spread their wings and fly as far away from home as they can get.

Other students will focus on tuition costs. More still might decide on a college based on the academic programs it offers. Let’s say, for instance, you’ve discovered in the past few years that you have an interest in English. If you had your eye on a certain college and it didn’t offer an English program, then you might reconsider attending.

Either way, setting and achieving you academic goals will become easier if you take the time to figure out where your interests lie. If you want to learn more about setting goals that align with your interests, check out this article I wrote on the topic.

You Have a Better Chance of Graduating College on Time

Most college students strive to finish their education and obtain a bachelor’s degree within four years. If they’re only chasing after an associate’s degree, then they split that time in half. Just because this is the goal doesn’t mean it’s always reality, though. The need for time off, the demand of outside jobs, and other personal matters can slow a student’s progress down.

Then there are the students who flip-flop on their major. First, they decide they want to study science, then psychology, then back to a branch of science. By switching from one major to another, students can lose credits. As you may know, you need a certain amount of college credits to move on and eventually graduate. Without these, you’re stuck there even longer.

As we said before, if you know what you want from the get-go, you can shave some of this extra time off. That’s not to say you can’t ever change your major. Sometimes you get to college and realize the topic you chose isn’t for you. Knowing your academic interests well will let you make a quicker decision and then continue on with your college coursework.

You Could Find Your Career Path Through Academic Interests

While some students change their major several times before graduation, you just may find the opposite happens for you. Instead, you like your first major so much that you decide to make it your career. After college, you may go on to obtain your master’s degree or just get into the working world in your career of choice. All this stems from learning about your academic interests in high-school.

Finding Your Academic Interests

Now that you know the significance of learning your academic interests, you feel like you should cultivate yours. How do you even do this?

That’s a good question, especially if you’ve never given academics much serious thought before. While many academic experts recommend finding your interests as young as possible, it’s never too late, especially if you haven’t graduated high school yet.

Here are some things you can try to discover which topics intrigue you the most.

Join a Club

If there exists a club about a topic you might be interested in, then join. We recommend starting at your school first, as there are many extracurricular clubs in just about any topic and interest you could imagine. If there’s not, then feel free to start one yourself!

Write a Blog

It’s easier than ever to create one’s own blog. When you have the time between homework, after-school activities and some much-needed downtime update the blog. Write as much or as little as you feel. Remember, you’re not getting a grade on your writing. Let your passion and creativity guide your blog.

Read Magazines and Other Publications

If writing isn’t your strong suit, you can still engage in your selected topic by brushing up on it. Subscribe to magazines, blogs, and publications in the industry. Not every article has to interest you, and that’s okay. Dive into the content that does and see what you take away from the experience.

Try Some Online Classes

If you truly enjoy learning, then you can always sign up for an online class afterschool. Look for a free one so you’re not putting any financial strain on yourself or your parents.

Understanding Your Academic Interests

By now, you’re narrowing down what your interests are. You may have found something out of leftfield that appeals to you that you never would have guessed you’d like. Perhaps the topic you thought you always would enjoy didn’t really do it for you.

Why did one subject spark your interest over the other? That question isn’t always easy to answer. That’s why we’re presenting a handy list of questions to ask yourself as you decide which academic interests call out to you the most.

• Do I really like this topic or am I only interested in it because I learn it every day in school now?
• What is it about the topic that makes me interested in it? Is it history? The chance to make an impact on people’s lives? The future of the industry/topic?
• Is this something I want to learn everything about or does the information I have now suffice?
• Is this topic something I could make a career out of? Is there another interest I could follow that makes for a more suitable career?
• Will this interest or industry be around in the next five years? What about the next 10 years?
• Do I have another interest I like and can fall back on?
• How much work will it take to pursue my topic of interest in college or even as a career?

We suggest you take each question on this list and go one at a time. You might want to write your answers down so you can refer to them later. Just be open to the fact that your answers may change over time.

These are deep, thought-provoking questions. It’s okay if you look at one of them, or more than one, and don’t have an answer right now. It’s also more than okay if you have to sit down with a parent or advisor and talk out these questions together. These adults can provide guidance that makes discovering your answer easier.

Exploring Your Academic Interests

By this point, you’ve pinpointed some academic interests that speak to you. You’ve also sat down and deeply pondered why these interests matter to you as much as they do. Now it’s time to explore those interests in full.

You can follow the same tips we shared for finding your academic interests. Instead of now dipping your figurative toes tentatively into the water, you’d dive right in. In a club, you’d strive to take on a leadership role if you’re not already doing so. Perhaps you write an article and try to get it published in your favorite industry magazine or website. You juggle online courses with your high school homework.

You might expand your interests to a community level as well, organizing a bigger club for those of all ages who are passionate about this interest. You could volunteer your time at organizations or charities related to your interest as well.

Not only does exploring your academic interests feed your passion, but it will also look amazing on your resume when you apply to colleges. The level of initiative you’ve taken in the pursuit of your academic interests will certainly impress many a college recruiter. Thus, you could increase your chances of getting into a great college and continuing to follow your interests through higher education.

Writing an Academic Interest Essay

Another great reason to figure out your academic interests is you might have to showcase them in an essay. Some colleges require this as part of their admissions process. You might be asked to write only 500 words or a much lengthier submission. A long essay with a lot of thought and passion put into it will look best.

You shouldn’t have any great difficulty writing such an essay if you’ve completed the work described up to this point. Still, we thought we’d talk about how to structure your academic interest essay for best results.

Introduce Your Academic (and Non-Academic) Interests

Begin your essay by laying out all the interests that drive your everyday decisions and motivations. These don’t exclusively have to be related to academics, either. Colleges know you’re a real person who doesn’t live and breathe school. If you can tie your non-academic interests to your academic ones in any way, then you can talk about the latter longer. Otherwise, a simple mention will do.

Discuss How You’ve Chased Your Academic Interests

What have you done at a high-school level to follow your passion? If you started or joined a club, wrote a blog, took an online course, or did anything else related to your academic interest, now’s the time to showcase it.

Talk about Your Future Goals

With your present and past out of the way, you want to focus on the future next. Describe your goals in college, including the major you will choose and the topics you want to focus on. You may even opt to touch on your career goals if you truly already know what you want. Don’t just mention them to impress college admissions, though.

For the most part, that’s it, you’re done! Some colleges will have more strict criteria for their essays. If so, then always defer to what they want. This section just provides a loose guideline of what you can write about for your academic interest essay.

We do advise you to be authenitc in your writing no matter the format of your essay. If you can show the same kind of passion and interest in your essay that you feel for your academic interest, then you’re sure to start hearing from colleges soon.

As a high school student, some students feel like they’re floating through each day without paying much attention to tomorrow. Sooner than later, though, colleges will come a-calling, so it helps to know what your academic interests are by that point.

These interests are for so much more than college admissions. An academic interest should spark your curiosity and imagination. You should feel like a sponge, absorbing as much information about the topic as possible. You can’t wait to get to college to learn more about your interest. In fact, you may even pursue it as a career path.

If you’re not quite sure what your academic interests are yet, we hope this article helps you look deep into yourself and begin the exploration process. Good luck!

• College Application

Brown University Supplemental Essay Examples That Stand Out

Reviewing Brown University supplemental essay examples can be very helpful for students who are getting ready to write their own  college supplemental essays . Whether you are planning on applying to  Brown University  - one of the most selective schools in the United States, or a different institution altogether, you will definitely be inspired by the prompts that brown uses for its essays.

If you want to get into a top college, having a high GPA and a few extracurricular activities on your  high school resume  is no longer enough. College admissions have gotten more competitive, and the process has become more holistic. This means that if you want to stand out, you must submit compelling essays that show the admissions committee why you should be accepted.

Reviewing different  college essay examples  can help you do that. So, without much further ado, let's take a look at these six Brown supplementary essay examples below. 

>> Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free strategy call here . <<

Article Contents 9 min read

Brown supplemental essay example #1.

Brown’s Open Curriculum allows students to explore broadly while also diving deeply into their academic pursuits. Tell us about any academic interests that excite you, and how you might use the Open Curriculum to pursue them while also embracing topics with which you are unfamiliar. (200-250 words)

Books have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. My parents read to me at least once every day when I was a child, and in middle school, when my siblings wanted to have fun with their friends instead of their little sister, they kept me busy with books. So, it didn't surprise anyone in my family when I told them that I wanted to become a literature teacher one day. 

My favorite thing about books is the fact that they allow you to travel to distant lands and discover new worlds from the comfort of your living room. I remember very clearly the first time that I read So long a letter and started imagining what it would be like to walk the streets of Dakar in Senegal. My curiosity was piqued from that moment, and I developed an interest in traveling and discovering new cultures. 

Isaac Asimov once said that science can amuse and fascinate us all, but it is engineering that changes the world. 

I have been fascinated by the laws of physics and chemistry my entire life. I was that annoying child that could not simply enjoy toys for what they were; I needed to know how they functioned the way they did. I remember getting in trouble for taking apart the brand new toy car that my grandma gave me for my birthday because I wanted to understand how it was running if it didn't need gas and didn't need to be charged. 

Brown’s culture fosters a community in which students challenge the ideas of others and have their ideas challenged in return, promoting a deeper and clearer understanding of the complex issues confronting society. This active engagement in dialogue is as present outside the classroom as it is in academic spaces. Tell us about a time you were challenged by a perspective that differed from your own. How did you respond? (200-250 words).

"They're basically fried caterpillars," my friend Suzanne said this casually as she put a spoonful of fried insects on her plate. All the blood had drained from my face, and I was trying my very best not to be rude by insulting something that was obviously a part of her culture. I obviously wasn't doing a good job because she started laughing at me a minute later. 

I assumed that her laughter meant that she had been joking and told her that no one actually ate insects. It turns out that I was wrong, but she was not offended by my remark. Instead, she told me that she'd heard many people say that but that the reality is that in many cultures outside of the US, people eat many different insects. 

That evening when I got home, I researched it and found that Suzanne was right. In Mexico, it is common to use worm salt for a specific food. In Congo, where my friend Suzanne is from, fried caterpillars are a delicacy often enjoyed with rice and vegetable stew. 

Bugs remain a traditional food in many cultures across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Learning this about the little creatures made me think about them differently, and the next time I was at Suzanne's, I did not see an insect on her plate; I saw food in the same way that I'd see chicken or beef. 

Eventually, I tried some of it, and it was pretty delicious . (248 words)

I was born and raised in New Jersey, but my parents are from Nigeria. They both moved to the United States in their twenties, and although they have lived here longer than in Nigeria, they are still very traditional. This means that my siblings and I grew up in a bicultural household where English and Yoruba are spoken simultaneously, and Pizza is just as common as jollof rice for dinner. 

In addition to the fact that my parents are traditional, the community I grew up in is full of immigrants who have a story that is quite similar to mine. Only once I moved to Connecticut for boarding school did I realize how different my upbringing was from other American children. 

I remember being asked to stay after class at the end of the first week because my teacher worried that I did not participate in class. She thought that I was shy or nervous because I didn't shout out my answers in class when she asked questions. I had been raised not to shout, especially at an elder. So, I was very confused by the fact that she wanted me to. 

I was so confused that I actually researched it online, thinking it was maybe a practice specific to this boarding school. That is how I started learning about different cultures and how they affect our interactions. That experience taught me to always pay attention to the way people communicate and respect cultural differences.  (250 words)

Brown is one of the many schools that use common app. Check out this video to learn more about the common app essay:

Brown supplemental essay example #5

Brown students care deeply about their work and the world around them. Students find contentment, satisfaction, and meaning in daily interactions and major discoveries. Whether big or small, mundane, or spectacular, tell us about something that brings you joy. (200-250 words)

Butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, flour, and if you want to get fancy, a little baking soda, corn starch, and chocolate chips. Those are the ingredients that I need to create magic, or as most people call it - chocolate chip cookies. I first learned how to make them on a Sunday afternoon with my mom. I remember making a mess in the kitchen and having a stomachache because I ate too much cookie dough. Most of all, I remember that incredible feeling that I had when my siblings and I sat around the kitchen island and took our first bites. 

The art of baking has had a special place in my heart since then. I have learned how to use other ingredients to create different forms of magic, from cakes and cake pops to bread and loaves, cupcakes, and muffins, and so much more. I enjoy the finished products, of course, but my favorite part is the process of baking itself. Baking reminds me of art and my other passion, mathematics because it is all about numbers, precision, and creativity. I enjoy experimenting with different ingredients or different amounts of the same ingredients to create various baked goods that bring joy to the people around me and myself. 

I can spend hours baking because it brings me comfort, and I love the fact that it gives me a chance to share a little slice of happiness with the people around me.  (241 words)

Committing to a future career as a physician while in high school requires careful consideration and self-reflection. What values and experiences have led you to believe that becoming a doctor in medicine is the right fit for you? (250-word limit)

I saw my dead mother's body when I was twelve years old. She was lying utterly motionless in her casket as friends, family members, colleagues, and strangers passed by and touched her cold hands or kissed her forehead. I remember thinking that she would have hated that. I kept waiting for her to get up and tell all these people that she didn't know where their hands had been, but that never happened.

The sadness and confusion I felt that day are the reason I first became interested in medicine. I remember asking so many people to tell me what had happened to my mother, and my cousin Bobby had to explain to me what malaria is. 

As soon as I got home, I went to google and started researching. I wanted to understand what caused malaria and how I could ensure it didn't kill someone else's mother. In researching malaria and how to care for it, I learned how important it is to have access to good healthcare.

I wanted to join the efforts of those who strive to provide that healthcare every day, and the more I learn about medicine, the more I want to pursue it as a career. My love for science, puzzle-solving skills, and desire to help people make medicine the perfect fit for me. Furthermore, as a naturally curious person, the idea of a profession where you never stop learning especially appeals to me. (240 words)

Want to know what the key to a great personal statement is? Check out this video:

Conclusion 

Now that you know what a Brown supplemental essay should look like, you can start working on your own essay. 

If you are unsure  how to write a college essay , we suggest you start by brainstorming. Research the school you will be applying to and think back to your experiences and interests so that you can connect the traits and qualities that the school cares about with your values, strengths, and experiences. For example, you may have noticed that a love for learning and open-mindedness are two qualities that keep coming up in the essays that you just read, and that is because those are both valued by Brown. 

You can learn more about the school you want to apply to by spending time on their website. Pay attention to their mission statement and the recurring themes on different pages on their website. Those are usually the things the school values and wants to see in its students. 

After brainstorming, you can outline your essay and start writing. Remember to use specific examples and anecdotes to humanize your essay and make it more memorable. If you want to maximize your chances of success, you can work with a  college essay advisor  during this process. You can also write your initial essay and then reach out to a  college essay review service  for assistance. 

Either way, the key is to make sure that you have reviewed, edited, and proofread your essay enough times to ensure that there are no grammatical or spelling mistakes. Remember that your college essays play a significant role in the admission committee's decision, so you want to make sure that you submit supplemental essays that are as memorable as they are compelling. 

Brown is one of the most selective universities in the country, with an acceptance rate that is lower than 10%. To get in, you will need to submit a strong application and ace the admission interview if invited for one.

Yes, Brown University is one of the eight schools in the Ivy League.

Brown asks most first-year applicants to write three supplemental essays. Students applying to the eight-year Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME) or the five-year Brown-Rhode Island School of Design Dual Degree Program (BRDD) have to write additional program-specific essays as well.

You can make your supplemental essays stand out by having a strong opening statement, using specific examples or short anecdotes in your story, and making sure your essay reflects the traits that Brown values.

Brown provides prompts or questions for you to answer in your essay. Follow those instructions and connect your response to your suitability for Brown.

While Brown does not have a minimum GPA requirement, the average GPA of the recently admitted first-year class is 3.94. This means that you should aim for a similar or higher GPA if you want to be a competitive applicant.

Brown looks for students with a strong academic background who are open-minded, community-driven, and eager to learn. 

You should start your essay with a memorable statement such as a quote, a fun fact, or something funny. Go back to the examples above and pay attention to the opening lines for some inspiration.

Want more free tips? Subscribe to our channels for more free and useful content!

Apple Podcasts

Like our blog? Write for us ! >>

Have a question ask our admissions experts below and we'll answer your questions, get started now.

Talk to one of our admissions experts

Our site uses cookies. By using our website, you agree with our cookie policy .

FREE Training Webinar:

How to make your college applications stand out, (and avoid the top 5 mistakes that get most rejected).

Time Sensitive. Limited Spots Available:

We guarantee you'll get into your dream college or university or you don't pay.

Swipe up to see a great offer!

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

How to Write the Academic Subject UC Essay

This article was written based on the information and opinions presented by Vinay Bhaskara in a CollegeVine livestream. You can watch the full livestream for more info.

What’s Covered:

Choose your academic subject strategically, how to structure your essay, focus on the process over accomplishments, notice overlaps with other essays.

The sixth University of California personal insight question (PIQ) asks students to respond to the following prompt: 

Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom. (350 words)

In this article, we will discuss choosing your academic subject, structuring your essay, and strategies to avoid common pitfalls. 

For more information on University of California’s other supplemental essays and writing dos and don’ts, check out our posts on how to write University of California essays and on great University of California essay examples

Think Beyond the “Headline Subject”

The first step when approaching this essay is to choose an academic subject to write about. Instead of choosing a more general “headline subject,” like physics, history or calculus, try to dig deeper and select a more nuanced, specific topic within a discipline.

Doing this allows you to show off that you are genuinely passionate about the subject you choose, and that you truly know it. This will help you stand out among the students who chose more general, common academic subject essays.

For example, if economics is the headline subject that you are interested in, you could explore sub-disciplines like econometrics, which is a mixture of economics and statistics, or monetary policy, which focuses on how the federal reserve affects the economy. To go even deeper, you could write about a hyper-specific concept like Okun’s Law, which explains the relationship between unemployment and economic growth.

Connect It to Your Intended Major

As you consider topics, keep in mind that the academic subject you choose should align with your intended major. 

While the topic does not have to be exactly the same as your intended major, it should connect in some way. For example, if you are applying as an engineering major, writing about a science or math subject will be beneficial to your application.

This essay is a great opportunity to elaborate on your intellectual interests and passions, and by doing so you help the admissions committee understand the type of person and student you are. 

Discuss Why You Find the Subject Interesting

After you choose your academic subject, the next step is to determine the structure of your essay. It is important to discuss why you find that subject appealing and interesting, and the steps you have taken to learn more about it.

Let’s continue using economics as an example. If you decide to write about Okun’s Law, you could write a story about how you became interested in learning more about it. Maybe your excitement about Okun’s Law took you down a road of discovery where you found some economics blogs that you really liked, which in turn crystallized your passion for economics and ultimately led to your habit of reading economic news for an hour each day.

An essay like that is much stronger than a simple response, such as, “I like economics, and I’ve studied it by looking at blogs.” While both essays have the same ultimate endpoint and share that you have independently studied economics through blogs, the example above approaches this prompt in a much more interesting and memorable way. 

Think Outside the Classroom

Often, the best essays for this prompt tend to focus on things that students do outside the classroom, as opposed to inside the classroom. 

While the prompt states that you can write about either, essays about exploring academic topics inside the classroom are most common. Choosing to write about how you have pursued your academic interest outside of the classroom can help your essay stand out and keep readers engaged. It also highlights how you take the initiative to learn more about, and be involved with, your academic passions outside of the classroom. Admissions officers are always looking for students with the drive and desire to learn new things, so this is a great opportunity for you to showcase this side of yourself.

Keep It Interesting

Because this prompt is so academically focused, students can sometimes end up writing essays that are too academic or dry by focusing on the concepts too heavily or relying on complex jargon. 

While it is helpful to include details that demonstrate your knowledge of a subject and keep your reader engaged, it is most important to focus on why you enjoy the subject and how it impacts your personality or mindset.

A common pitfall with this essay prompt is for students to talk mostly about their accomplishments related to a particular academic subject, like getting a strong grade in a class or winning an academic competition. 

While this information can be useful, it highlights an outcome rather than showing the reader what you actually did to develop your expertise in that subject. 

Instead, it is better to focus on the process by which you pursue the subject, learn more about it, and explore your passion and your interests. 

This PIQ prompt shares some similarities with other college essays, including Common App Prompt #6 , which reads “Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?”

While these two essays are similar, they are not exactly the same. If you choose to reuse part or all of a Common App Prompt #6 essay for PIQ #6, make sure to adjust it accordingly so that your essay still authentically responds to the prompt.

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

Testimonials

Free Resources

PrepScholar GRE Prep

Gre prep online guides and tips, 7 successful statement of purpose examples.

Not sure what graduate schools are looking for in a statement of purpose? Looking at successful graduate school statement of purpose samples can help! In this guide, we’ll orient you to what makes a great statement of purpose or letter of intent for graduate school. Then we’ll provide you with four successful statement of purpose examples from our graduate school experts. We’ll also provide analysis of what makes them successful. Finally, we’ll direct you to even more helpful examples that you can find online!

The Graduate School Statement of Purpose: An Overview

A statement of purpose (also called a letter of intent or a research statement) introduces your interests and experience to the admissions committee. For research-focused programs, like most PhDs and many master’s degrees, your statement of purpose will focus primarily on your past research experience and plans. For more professionally-focused graduate programs, your statement of purpose will primarily discuss how your pursuit of this professional program relates to your past experiences, and how you will use the skills from the program in your future career.

A statement of purpose for grad school is also where you sell the admissions committee on why you belong in their program specifically. Why do you fit there, and how does what they offer fit your interests?

What’s in a Great Grad School Statement of Purpose?

Here are the essential elements of a strong graduate school statement of purpose:

Clear Articulation of Goals and Interests

A strong statement of purpose will clearly and specifically lay out your goals in undertaking the program and what you hope to accomplish with the degree. Again, for a research-focused program, this will focus primarily on the research project(s) you want to undertake while you are there. For a more professional program, discuss what interests you within the professional field and what skills/knowledge you hope to gain through the program.

Quick side note: we've created the world's leading online GRE prep program that adapts to you and your strengths and weaknesses. Not sure what to study? Confused by how to improve your score? We give you minute by minute guide.

You don't NEED a prep program to get a great GRE score. But we believe PrepScholar is the best GRE prep program available right now , especially if you find it hard to organize your study schedule and don't know what to study .

Click here to learn how you can improve your GRE score by 7 points, guaranteed .

You should be as specific as possible in discussing what interests you. Use examples of particular phenomena, tools, or situations that you find exciting. If you are vague or say that everything in the field interests you, you run the risk of seeming unfocused or not actually that passionate.

Don’t worry that being too specific will box you into a particular research area or subfield during your entire tenure in graduate school. Your program understands that interests change—they won’t be pulling out your research statement to cross-reference with your dissertation proposal!

Evidence of Past Experience and Success

A great graduate school statement of purpose will also show programs that you have already been successful. They want applicants that will be able to follow through on their research/professional plans!

To this end, you’ll need to provide evidence of how your background qualifies you to pursue this program and your specific interests in the field. You’ll probably discuss your undergraduate studies and any professional experience you have. But be sure to draw on specific, vivid examples.  You might draw on your thesis, major projects you’ve worked on, papers you have written/published, presentations you’ve given, mentors you’ve worked with, and so on. This gives admissions committees concrete evidence that you are qualified to undertake graduate study!

Interest and Fit With the Program

The third essential ingredient to a great statement of purpose is to clearly lay out why you and the program are a good fit. You should be able to identify both specific reasons why your work fits with the program and why the program suits your work/interests! Are there particular professors you’d like to work with? Does the department have a strong tradition in a certain methodology or theory you’re interested in? Is there a particular facet to the curriculum that you’d like to experience?

Showing that you and the program are a match shows that you chose the program thoughtfully and have genuine interest in it. Programs want to admit students who aren’t just passionate about the field. They want students who are genuinely enthused about their specific program and positioned to get the most out of what they have to offer.

Strong Writing

The final essential piece of a strong statement of purpose or letter of intent is strong writing. Writing skills are important for all graduate programs. You’ll need to demonstrate that you can clearly and effectively communicate your ideas in a way that flows logically. Additionally, you should show that you know how to write in a way that is descriptive but concise. A statement of purpose shouldn’t ever be longer than two pages, even without a hard word limit.

Admissions committees for humanities programs may be a little more focused on writing style than admissions officers for STEM programs. But even in quantitative and science-focused fields, written communication skills are an essential part of graduate school. So a strong statement of purpose will always be effectively written. You’ll see this in our statement of purpose for graduate school samples.

Real, Successful Statement of Purpose Samples

In this section, we’ll present four successful graduate school statement of purpose examples from our graduate school experts, along with a brief commentary on each statement. These statements come from a diverse selection of program types to show you how the core essentials of a statement of purpose can be implemented differently for different fields.

Note: identifying information for these statements have been changed—except for example four, which is my statement.

• Statement of Purpose Sample One: Japanese Studies MA

This statement of purpose is notable for its great use of space and its vivid descriptions. The author is able to cram a lot into about a page. She discusses how she came to her two primary research interests (and how they are connected). She integrates this discussion of her interests with information on her past experiences and qualifications for pursuing the course of study. Finally, she includes details on her goals in pursuing the program and components of the program that interest her. Her examples are specific and fleshed-out. There’s a lot very cleverly included in a small amount of page space!

Additionally, the language is very vivid. Phrases like “evocative and visceral” and “steadily unraveling,” are eye-catching and intriguing. They demonstrate that she has the writing skills necessary to pursue both graduate study and her interest in translation.

• Statement of Purpose Sample Two: Music MM

This sample is fairly long, although at 12 point Times New Roman it’s under two pages single-spaced. The length of this statement is partially due to the somewhat expansive nature of the prompt, which asks what role music has played in the applicant’s life “to date.” This invites applicants to speak more about experiences further in the past (in the childhood and teen years) than is typical for a statement of purpose. Given that this is for a master’s degree in music, this is logical; musical study is typically something that is undertaken at a fairly young age.

This statement does an excellent job describing the student’s past experiences with music in great detail. The descriptions of the student’s past compositions and experiences performing new music are particularly vivid and intriguing.

This statement also lays out and elaborates on specific goals the student hopes to pursue through the program, as well as features particular to the program that interest the student (like particular professors).

• Statement of Purpose Sample Three: Economics PhD

One of the first things you’ll likely notice about this statement is that it’s a little on the longer side. However, at 12 point Times New Roman font and single-spaced, it still comes in under 2 pages (excluding references). It makes sense for a PhD statement of purpose sample to be longer than a master’s degree statement of purpose—there’s more to lay out in terms of research interests!

The writing style is fairly straightforward—there’s definitely a stronger focus on delivering content than flashy writing style. As Economics is a more quantitative-focused field, this is fine. But the writing is still well-organized, clear, and error-free.

The writer also gives numerous examples of their past work and experience, and shows off their knowledge of the field through references, which is a nice touch.

• Statement of Purpose Sample Four: History of the Book MA

This is actually my statement of purpose. It was for a program that I got accepted to but did not end up attending, for a Master’s in the History of the Book. You’ll notice that the two essay prompts essentially asked us to split our statement of purpose into two parts: the first prompt asked about our research interests and goals, and the second prompt asked about our relevant experience and qualifications.

I’ll keep my comments on this graduate school statement of purpose sample brief because I’ll do a deep dive on it in the next section. But looking back at my statement of purpose, I do a good job outlining what within the field interests me and clearly laying out how my past experiences have qualified me for the program.

Obviously this statement did its job, since I was accepted to the program. However, if I were to improve this statement, I’d change the cliche beginning  (“since I was a child”) and provide more specificity in what about the program interested me.

Deep Dive Analysis of a Sample Statement of Purpose for Graduate School

Next, we’ll do a paragraph by paragraph analysis of my statement, statement of purpose sample four. I’ll analyze its strengths and suggest ways I could shore up any weaknesses to make it even stronger.

Essay 1: Academic Interests

To refresh, here’s the first prompt: Please give a short statement that describes your academic interests, purpose, objectives and motivation in undertaking this postgraduate study. (max 3500 chars – approx. 500 words)

Want to improve your GRE score by 7 points?  We have the industry's leading GRE prep program. Built by world-class instructors with 99th percentile GRE scores , the program learns your strengths and weaknesses through machine learning data science, then customizes your prep program to you so you get the most effective prep possible.

Try our 5-day full access trial for free:

Paragraph 1

Since I was a child, my favorite thing has always been a book. Not just for the stories and information they contain, although that is a large part of it. Mostly, I have been fascinated by the concept of book as object—a tangible item whose purpose is to relate intangible ideas and images. Bookbindings and jackets, different editions, the marginalia in a used book—all of these things become part of the individual book and its significance, and are worth study and consideration. Books and their equivalent forms—perfect bound, scrolled, stone tablets, papyrus—have long been an essential part of material culture and are also one of our most significant sources of information about the human historical past. Through both the literal object of the book, the words contained thereon, and its relationship to other books—forms of context, text and intertext—we are able to learn and hopefully manage layers of information with which we would otherwise have no familiarity.

First, the good: this paragraph does a good job introducing my academic interest in the book-as-object, and shows off pre-existing knowledge both of the study of material culture and literary theory. Additionally, the language is engaging: the juxtaposition of “tangible” and “intangible” in the beginning and phrases like “perfect bound, scrolled, stone tablets, papyrus” lend life to the writing and keep the reader engaged.

If I were to go back and improve this paragraph, first, I would absolutely change the first sentence to something less cliche than talking about my childhood. I might try something like “My love of books is a multifaceted thing. I don’t only love them for the stories and….” Second, I would chill out on the em dashes a little bit. Three sets in one paragraph is a little excessive. Finally, I might actually cut this paragraph down slightly to make more room word-wise later in the statement to discuss what specific things about the program interest me.

Paragraph 2

Furthermore, blogs, webcomics, digital archives, e-readers, and even social media sites like tumblr and Facebook have revolutionized the concept of the book by changing how we share and transmit ideas and information, just as the Gutenberg printing press revolutionized the book all those years ago in the fifteenth century. Once again there has been an explosion both in who can send out information and who can receive it.

This paragraph briefly and effectively introduces my other main academic interest: how new technology has changed the concept of the book-as-object. The tie-back to the printing press is a nice touch; it’s a vivid example that shows that I’m aware of important historical moments in book history.

Paragraph 3

I am deeply interested in the preservation of the physical book, as I think it is an important part of human history (not to mention a satisfying sensory experience for the reader). However I am also very concerned with the digitization and organization of information for the modern world such that the book, in all of its forms, stays relevant and easy to access and use. Collections of books, archives, and information as stored in the world’s servers, libraries and museums are essential resources that need to be properly organized and administered to be fully taken advantage of by their audiences. My purpose in applying to the University of Edinburgh’s Material Culture and History of the Book is to gain the skills necessary to keep all forms of the book relevant and functional in an age when information can move more radically than ever before.

This paragraph actually has a focus problem. Since it covers two topics, I should split it into two paragraphs: one on the integration of my two interests, and one on my goals and interests in the program. I could also stand to expand on what features the program has that interest me: professors I’d like to work with, particular aspects of the curriculum, etc.

In spite of these things, however, this paragraph does a good job clearly integrating the two academic interests related to the book I introduced in the first two paragraphs. And the language is still strong —“satisfying sensory experience” is a great phrase. However, I’ve been using the word “information,” a lot; I might try to replace with appropriate synonyms (like “knowledge”) in a couple of places.

Paragraph 4

Additionally, I intend on pursuing a PhD in Library and Information Sciences upon completion of my master’s and I feel that this program while make me uniquely suited to approach library science from a highly academic and interdisciplinary perspective.

This final paragraph offers just quick touch on my future goals beyond the program. It’s typically fine for this to be relatively brief, as it is here, just so long as you can clearly identify some future goals.

Essay 2: Relevant Experience

The second prompt just asked me to describe my relevant knowledge, training, and skills.

As a folklore and mythology student, I have gained a robust understanding of material culture and how it relates to culture as a whole. I have also learned about the transmission of ideas, information, stories and pieces of lore among and between populations, which is an important component of book history. Folklore is also deeply concerned with questions of the literary vs. oral lore and the tendency for text to “canonize” folklore, and yet text can also question or invert canonized versions; along with this my studies in my focus field of religion and storytelling have been deeply concerned with intertextuality. One of my courses was specifically concerned with the Heian-period Japanese novel The Tale of Genji and questions of translation and representation in post-Heian picture scrolls and also modern translations and manga. In addition to broader cultural questions concerned with gender and spirituality both in historical Japan and now, we considered the relationships between different Genji texts and images.

This is a strong, focused paragraph. I relate my academic background in Folklore and Mythology to my interests in studying the book, as well as showing off some of my knowledge in the area. I also chose and elaborated on a strong example (my class on the Tale of Genji ) of my relevant coursework.

I also have work experience that lends itself to the study of the book. After my freshman year of college I interned at the Chicago History Museum. Though I was in the visitor services department I was exposed to the preservation and archival departments of the museum and worked closely with the education department, which sparked my interest in archival collections and how museums present collection information to the public. After my sophomore year of college and into my junior year, I worked at Harvard’s rare books library, Houghton. At Houghton I prepared curated collections for archival storage. These collections were mostly comprised of the personal papers of noteworthy individuals, categorized into alphabetical folders. This experience made me very process-oriented and helped me to understand how collections come together on a holistic basis.

This paragraph also has a clear focus: my past, relevant work experience. Discussing archival collections and presenting information to the public links the interests discussed in my first statement with my qualifications in my second statement. However, if I were to revise this paragraph, I would add some specific examples of the amazing things I worked on and handled at Houghton Library. In that job, I got to touch Oliver Cromwell’s death mask! An interesting example would make this paragraph really pop even more.

Finally, in my current capacity as an education mentor in Allston, a suburb of Boston, I have learned the value of book history and material culture from an educational perspective. As a mentor who designs curriculum for individual students and small groups, I have learned to highly value clearly organized and useful educational resources such as websites, iPad apps, and books as tools for learning. By managing and organizing collections in a way that makes sense we are making information accessible to those who need it.

This final paragraph discusses my current (at the time) work experience in education and how that ties into my interest in the history of the book. It’s an intriguing connection and also harkens back to my discussion of information availability in the paragraph three of the first statement. Again, if I were to amp up this statement even more, I might include a specific example of a book-based (or book technology-based) project I did with one of my students. I worked on things like bookbinding and making “illuminated manuscripts” with some of my students; those would be interesting examples here.

This statement is split into two parts by virtue of the two-prompt format. However, if I were to integrate all of this information into one unified statement of purpose, I would probably briefly introduce my research interests, go in-depth on my background, then circle back around to speak more about my personal interests and goals and what intrigues me about the program. There’s not really one correct way to structure a statement of purpose just so long as it flows well and paragraphs are structured in a logical way: one topic per paragraph, with a clear topic and concluding sentence.

More Statement of Purpose Examples

We’ve provided you with four great graduate school statement of purpose examples from our graduate school experts. However, if you’re looking for more, there are other sample letters of intent and statements of purpose for graduate school online. We’ve rounded up the best ones here, along with some strengths and weaknesses about each example.

Majortests Statement of Purpose Sample

This is a fairly straightforward, clearly written statement of purpose sample for a biology program. It includes useful commentary after each paragraph about what this statement of purpose is accomplishing.

• This statement of purpose sample is well-organized, with clear topic sentences and points made in each paragraph.
• The student clearly identifies what interests her about the program.
• The student proactively addresses questions about why she hasn’t gone directly to graduate school, and frames her professional research experience as a positive thing.
• She gives a tiny bit of color about her personality in a relevant way by discussing her involvement with the Natural History Society.
• In general, discussing high school interests is too far back in time unless the anecdote is very interesting or unusual. The detail about The Theory of Evolution is intriguing; the information about the high school teacher seems irrelevant. The student should have condensed this paragraph into a sentence or two.
• While this statement is cogently written and makes the candidate sound competent and well-qualified, it’s not exactly the most scintillating piece of writing out there. Some of the constructions are a little awkward or cliche. For example, the “many people have asked me” sentence followed by “the answer is” is a little bit clunky. This is probably fine for a STEM program. But just be aware that this statement is not a paragon of writing style.

Want to improve your GRE score by 7+ points?

Check out our best-in-class online GRE prep program . We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your GRE score by 7 points or more.

PrepScholar GRE is entirely online, and it customizes your prep program to your strengths and weaknesses . We also feature 2,000 practice questions , official practice tests, 150 hours of interactive lessons, and 1-on-1 scoring and feedback on your AWA essays.

Check out our 5-day free trial now:

UC Berkeley History Statement of Purpose Sample

This is a graduate school statement of purpose example from the UC Berkeley History department’s PhD program, with annotations from a professor as to why it’s a successful statement.

• The author is able to very clearly and articulately lay out her research interests and link them to past work she has successfully completed, namely, her thesis.
• She is able to identify several things about the program and Berkeley that indicate why it is a good fit for her research interests.
• She addresses the time she spent away from school and frames it as a positive, emphasizing that her use of time was well-considered and productive.
• Her writing is very vivid, with excellent word choice and great imagery.

While very well-written and engaging, this sample statement of purpose for graduate school is a little bit on the long side! It’s a little over two single-spaced pages, which is definitely pushing the limits of acceptable length. Try to keep yours at 2 pages or less. Some of the information on the thesis (which comprises over half of the statement of purpose) could be condensed to bring it down to two pages.

Pharmacy Residency Letter of Intent Sample

This is not technically a sample letter of intent for graduate school because it’s actually for a pharmacy residency program. However, this example still provides illumination as to what makes a decent graduate school letter of intent sample.

• This is a serviceable letter of intent: the writer clearly lays out their own goals within the field of pharmacy, what qualifications they have and how they’ve arrived at their interests, and how the program fits their needs.
• The writing is clearly structured and well-organized.
• The main weakness is that some of the writer’s statements come across as fairly generic. For example, “The PGY-1 Residency Program at UO Hospitals will provide me with the opportunity to further develop my clinical knowledge, critical thinking, teaching, research, and leadership skills” is a generic statement that could apply to any residency program. A punchier, more program-specific conclusion would have amped up this letter.
• While the writer does a decent job providing examples of their activities, like working as a tutor and attending the APhA conference, more specificity and detail in these examples would make the statement more memorable.
• There’s a typo in the last paragraph —a “to” that doesn’t belong! This is an unprofessional blip in an otherwise solid letter. Read you own letter of intent aloud to avoid this!

NIU Bad Statement of Purpose Example

This is an ineffective graduate school statement of purpose example, with annotations on why it doesn’t work.

As you might imagine, the main strength in this document is as an example of what not to do. Otherwise, there is little to recommend it.

• The annotations quite clearly detail the weaknesses of this statement. So I won’t address them exhaustively except to point out that this statement of purpose fails at both content and style. The author includes irrelevant anecdotes and lists without offering a decisive picture of interests or any particular insight into the field. Additionally, the statement is riddled with grammatical mistakes, awkward sentence structures, and strange acronyms.
• You’ll note that the commentary advises you to “never start with a quote.” I agree that you should never start with a freestanding quote as in this example. However, I do think starting with a quote is acceptable in cases like the Berkeley history example above, where the quote is brief and then directly linked to the research interest.

Graduate School Statement of Purpose Examples: 4 Key Points

Graduate programs ask for statement of purpose to hear about your interests and goals and why you think you and the program would be a good fit.

There are four key elements to a successful statement of purpose:

• A clear articulation of your goals and interests
• Evidence of past experiences and success
• Interest and fit with the program
• Strong writing

We’ve provided you with four successful statement of purpose samples from our graduate school experts!

We also provided additional statement of purpose samples (and a sample letter of intent) for graduate school from other sources on the internet. Now you have all kinds of guidance!

What’s Next?

If you’re looking for more information on graduate school , see our guide to what makes a good GPA for grad school .

Not sure if you need to take the GRE ? See if you can get into graduate school without GRE scores .

Want more information about the GRE? We can help you figure out when to take the GRE , how to make a GRE study plan , and how to improve your GRE score .

Ready to improve your GRE score by 7 points?

Author: Ellen McCammon

Ellen is a public health graduate student and education expert. She has extensive experience mentoring students of all ages to reach their goals and in-depth knowledge on a variety of health topics. View all posts by Ellen McCammon