How to Write a Statement of Intent?

A statement of intent is important to your application to a college or university. In this document, you reveal your interests, express the desire to join the chosen program, and demonstrate your academic interests. Whether you write a medical school statement or one for university, a well-written statement of intention allows you to represent yourself from the best angle and show officials why you deserve a place in the institution. Sometimes, applicants fail to join the selected program because their documents are not convincing and powerful, and the admission panel decides to take another applicant. In this article, we will show you how to write a strong intent statement and make it catchy and interesting.

What is Statement of Intent?

Before uncovering key elements and writing tips for the document, we need to answer the most important question: What is a statement of intent? A statement of intent is a document that comes along with your application and answers the following questions:

• What is your research area?
• Why are you a perfect candidate to conduct research in this area?
• What is your undergraduate experience?

The purpose of the document is similar to the letter of intent where you also show personal motivation for joining a program. You can add a plan for the research you want to conduct in case your application is accepted. Also, you can mention a professor you wish to work with. Remember that a statement of intent meaning is bigger compared to a CV. It’s an advanced document that uncovers your academic background, reveals your motivation, and shows why you are passionate about the selected research area.

If you want your document to be more successful, consider writing it like a personal statement. It means you compose it in the first person, using your voice to deliver this information, represent your achievements, and

How Long Should a Statement of Intent Be?

A question about how long should a statement of intent be is still appearing among those who prepare themselves to write it. The actual size may differ depending on the amount of information you need to mention. If you have a solid undergraduate background, and there’s a lot to tell about your personal experience, your writing may surpass the average size. Typically, the intention statement is 2 pages long. Now, let’s get to the main point.

How to Write an Intention Statement?

It’s essential to make your piece of writing well-structured. The idea is to respectively present your experience and provide details about your research interests and previous experience. At the same time, you have to encourage readers to keep up with the text so they read the text till the end. Let’s go through the main parts of the document to see what should be mentioned in each of them.

How to Start a Statement of Interest?

The first thing is the introduction. The goal of the opening paragraph is to grab attention and show them a framework of your text. Personal experience and memories about cases that created your current mindset should not be the answer to the question, “How to start a statement of interest?”. Get straight to the point and create a setup for the main thesis.

If you want to add something unusual to the opening part, add a quotation from the book that inspires you. Ensure this reference will transition well to your main research topic. Also, the introduction is where you mention the institution and the department you apply to.

Body Part of the Intention Statement

A body part is the largest and the strongest in the intention statement. This is where you tell officials about your goals, research experience, interests, and the foundation of the research work. The body part can include up to 5 paragraphs, as each point of your piece can be presented as a separate part. Actually, it can go like this:

• In the first body paragraph, explain the reason for choosing the specific field. Perhaps, it’s something you enjoyed at school and now want to develop this knowledge on an advanced level.
• In the second paragraph, highlight your major experience. Whether you conducted research or studies, worked in the related area, or participated in volunteer activities, mention this. Say how these activities affected you and developed your skills, making you a better specialist.
• The third paragraph can be a part of describing major accomplishments in the selected area. Mention details about your research, your mentors, and so on.

Body paragraphs of your statement of intent should express your specific motivation for applying for a higher education program and show what inspires you to study these particular subjects. For example, if you want to work with particular professors or implement unusual methods during the research, mention this.

The final part of your intention statement is a conclusion. In this paragraph, you mention key skills and qualities that make you the best choice for the program. Discuss how you are planning to spend time at the selected institution and why it will be advantageous for your career. Show it in the context of your long-term goals, so the admissions committee will understand how you see yourself from a long-term perspective.

Statement of Intent for College

Statement of intent for college plays the same role as the document required to join a specific program. In this document, you explain why you are a great fit for the selected institution and what your interests and goals are. You have to demonstrate your passion, qualifications, and dedication to prove you are the #1 choice among others to join the institution. It’s important because when institution officials check these documents, they check the level of interest of each applicant. A well-crafted document shows your enthusiasm for joining the program. Admission officers receive numerous applications that do not stand out. Your goal is to convince them that you are beyond average and your candidacy will benefit the institution.

Before you sit down to write your intention statement, research the institution you choose to apply to. Read about the programs, faculties, and culture of the campus. Go beyond simply scrolling the website and attend the virtual sessions to see the college from the inside. This is a chance to learn more about the program and its requirements and ask additional questions. You can also talk with representatives and even current students. This may be even more valuable than receiving general information because these people can share experiences that nobody else will.

Letter of Intent for Masters Program

Once you write a masters letter of intent, use the same approach and structure your writing the same way. Remember to mention grades and achievements because it’s your strength, and it’s up to you to use it to your advantage. Use what you already have to show your value and make officials choose you instead of other applicants.

Carefully check the requirements for the letter of intent for masters program, as some institutions may set specific requirements for these types of documents. Also, if you don’t feel confident about writing it from scratch, consider finding an example of the intention letter. Use it to understand how the document is built and what structural elements are included.

Tips for Writing the Statement of Educational Intent

The strength of your writing will decide the strength of the whole application. You have to make sure your document is readable, informative, and sounds convincing to the admission officers. To make sure your statement of educational intent will be impactful, write it using the following tips:

• Follow the instructions.

Make sure you compose your writing according to the existing instructions provided by the institution. For example, some institutions give applicants prompts for statements of intent. Read it several times to ensure you understand everything and know what to include in the text. Some institutions may require you to use citations and add references to the works that inspire you.

• Tell a story based on your own experience.

Even though a statment of intent is a document with specific requirements and is a part of the application, there’s no need to make it dry like a CV. You can build it with an engaging narrative, sharing your experience and achievements. Share experiences connected to the program of choice and mention the skills that will help you achieve your goals. Impress admissions by proving your capabilities, not only describing them. Provide details about the previous projects, mention the professors you worked with, etc. Still, don’t make the writing too complicated. Use simple constructions and short sentences, as they enhance readability.

• Don’t make the statement of intent too personal.

This type of work differs from the personal statement. It should be more formal and focused on a specific program. The main accent should be on your academic background and major achievements. The reference to the personal life should only be used when you make a transition to another academic experience. A statement of intent is not a place to share personal issues or episodes from the past, so add only relevant information.

• Don’t add too many cliches.

Phrases like “I’m here to change the world” or “I want to become a #1 specialist in this area” won’t make a difference and only make the document weak. Instead of making a statement of intent university about your ambitions, focus on facts and mention what matters. Ensure you highlight your strengths and capabilities, making them your main argument.

• Check your drafts and ask for feedback.

Sometimes, reviewing your papers by yourself may not be enough. Since you need to achieve exceptional quality with your statement of intention, it has to be checked very carefully. The best way to do it is to ask others to read the text. A fresh look will help you point out weak spots and offer suggestions to replace them.

Get Professional Help Writing the Statement of Intent

Writing a statement of intent may look tough and complicated for students. They understand how important it is for their application, as they need to highlight their strengths and show why they are more valuable for the program than other applicants. Moreover, statement of intent writing requires an understanding of the program, as you have to show why you are a good fit for the program. Still, when you have a roadmap of how to write a statement of intent for grad school and an understanding of each step you take when writing the statement, it’s much easier to coordinate your actions and compose the text that meets all the requirements. We hope our blog post will help you, so you’ll know how to write a statement of interest for university.