support@accepted.com
Get Your Free Consultation!

Which program are you applying to?

  • - Select a program -
  • MBA/EMBA
  • Law School
  • Grad School, PhD
  • MD/DO, Residency
  • Other Healthcare Programs
  • College
  • About Accepted
    • About us
      • The Accepted Advantage
      • Clients Accepted At
      • In The News
    • Client Feedback
    • Contact Us
  • Meet the Team
    • MBA Admissions Consultants
    • Med School Admissions Consultants
    • Grad School Admissions Consultants
    • Law School Admissions Consultants
    • College Admissions Consultants
  • Free Resources
    • MBA
      • Free Guides
      • Selectivity Index
      • Sample Essays
      • Essay Tips
      • MBA Podcast Episodes
      • MBA Deadlines
    • Med School
      • Free Guides
      • Selectivity Index
      • Sample Essays
      • Essay Tips
      • Med School Podcast Episodes
    • Healthcare Programs
      • Free Guides
      • Admissions Straight Talk Podcast for Healthcare Applicants
    • Grad School
      • Free Guides
      • Sample Essays
      • Grad School Podcast Episodes
    • Law School
      • Free Guides
      • Selectivity Index
      • Sample Essays
      • Law School Podcast Episodes
    • College
      • Free Guides
      • Sample Essays
      • Admissions Straight Talk Podcast for College Applicants
  • Services
    • MBA
      • Complete Packages
      • Essay Editing
      • Resume Services
      • Interview Prep
      • MORE
    • Med School
      • Premed Packages
      • Primary App Packages
      • Secondary App Packages
      • Essay Editing
      • Interview Prep
      • MORE
    • Healthcare
      • Postbac Packages
      • MPH Packages
      • NursingCAS Packages
      • PharmD Packages
      • Essay Editing
      • MORE
    • Grad School
      • Complete Packages
      • PhD Packages
      • Essay Editing
      • CV/Resume Assistance
      • MORE
    • Law School
      • Complete Packages
      • Essay Editing
      • Interview Prep
      • MORE
    • College
      • Complete Packages
      • Common App Package
      • Essay Editing
      • MORE
  • Blog
    • MBA Blog Posts
    • Medical School Blog Posts
    • Other Healthcare Blog Posts
    • Grad School Blog Posts
    • Law School Blog Posts
    • College Blog Posts
    • Admissions Straight Talk Podcast
Accepted

Accepted Admissions Blog

Everything you need to know to get Accepted

January 19, 2023

Reading Time: 3 minutes

How to Write About Your Research Interests

How to write about your research interests

The most common challenge that my clients face when writing a statement of research interests or statement of purpose (SOP) for a Master’s or PhD application is how to describe, in concrete terms, what their research interests and goals are. This is understandable—some people worry they’ll be held to their still-evolving ideas as if they were chiseled in stone. Others simply haven’t yet thought those ideas through very much. 

<< Applying to grad school and need to submit a writing sample? Find out how our experts can help you submit a sample that will present you at your best. >>

Take a deep breath! By the time you begin writing your thesis, no one will pop up from behind and wave around your SOP or research interest statement, saying, “But that’s not what you said here!” Everyone knows that your knowledge and ideas will develop throughout your grad program. 

A great statement of research interests or SOP is one that will clearly illustrate to the admissions committee that you possess a depth of interest and comprehension in your field, and that you understand what goes into research. If you talk about ideas that are too vague or nebulous, or that cannot be addressed adequately through your discipline, then you risk sounding naïve. The statement should also include any relevant background you have in this field, why you find it compelling, and why you are well-suited for this career track. 

4 steps to finding your statement focus

Here are some questions to ask yourself to narrow your interests into something that is concrete enough to write about, yet not overly general:

  • What are the broad research questions/issues that interest you? Try to create a summary of your interests that you can work with. Afterward, you should be able to describe your interests in a sentence, or a paragraph at most.  

  • Within those broad areas of interest, have you begun to focus on more specific questions? If you’re not sure what the current questions/problems are in your field, now is the time to start catching up—read recent journal publications, go to conferences if you can. Reading the lit in your field will also give you a sense of how to frame your ideas in the language of your field.  

  • Have you done any research in this field already? If so, do you intend to build on your previous work in grad school or go in a new direction?  

  • How will your research contribute to the field?

Understand how to present your goals

Some projects described in SOPs are achievable in the short-term, while others are big enough to last a career. If your interests/goals fall into this latter category, acknowledge the fact that you’re being ambitious—and try to identify some aspect of your interests that you can pursue as a first step.

Use your SOP to demonstrate your skills (and past experience) in your field, and to define the next steps you intend to take.

Focusing your interests will also involve more detailed research about the programs you plan on applying to. For example:

  • Who might be your research supervisor?  

  • How do your interests relate to the work this scholar or scholars are doing now?  

  • How would you contribute to the department, and to the discipline?

Your SOP will also address your post-degree, longer-term goals. Do you plan to pursue a career in research/academia? (For many PhD programs, this remains the department’s formal expectation, even though many PhDs find employment outside the academy.) If you’re applying for your MA/MS, be prepared to discuss how the degree will help you and what your future plans are. 

This post is part of our Get Your Game On: Prepping for Your Grad School Application series. Click here to read the complete series.

Working on your SOP or statement of research interests?

Your statement of purpose needs to be direct, informative, and…well…purposeful. When you choose Accepted, we match you with your own dedicated advisor who will help you create an SOP that best reflects your experiences, goals, and intense desire to attend your target graduate school program. And did you know that Accepted’s clients have received millions of dollars in scholarship offers? Don’t delay–get started now by checking out our Graduate School Admissions Consulting Services.

By Dr. Rebecca Blustein, former Accepted admissions consultant. Dr. Blustein has a BA and PhD from UCLA in English and Comparative Literature. She formerly worked as a Student Affairs Officer at UCLA’s Scholarship Resource Center where she gained experience guiding applicants in areas of admissions and funding. Dr. Blustein’s clients have been accepted to top Master’s and PhD programs in dozens of fields across all disciplines. Want an admissions expert help you get accepted? Click here to get in touch!

Download Free: 5 Fatal Flaws to Avoid in Your Grad School Personal Statement!

Related Resources:

• Fitting In and Standing Out: The Paradox at the Heart of Admissions, a free guide
• Focus on Fit, a podcast episode
• 4 Ways to Show How You’ll Contribute in the Future

Article by Accepted / Grad School Admissions / Get Your Game on Series, grad application essays, PhD

Get Accepted!

Sign up for a free consultation today!

Which program are you applying to?

Blog Categories

  • Admissions Consulting
  • Admissions Straight Talk Podcast
  • College Admissions
  • Grad School Admissions
  • Law School Admissions
  • MBA Admissions
  • Medical School Admissions
  • Other Healthcare Admissions
  • Uncategorized

Popular Blog Posts

1. 7 Simple Steps to Writing an Excellent Diversity Essay

2. How to Write About Your Research Interests

3. Four Ways to Show How You’ll Contribute in the Future

4. When Will Medical Schools Give You An Answer?

5. Harvard Business School MBA Essay Tips and Deadlines

6. M7 MBA Programs: Everything You Need to Know in 2023

7. Make the Most of Your Experiences for ERAS

8. 2023-24 AMCAS Work and Activities Section: What to Include (With Examples)

Sample Essays

MBA Personal Statement Examples

Medical School Personal Statement Examples

Graduate School Personal Statement Examples

Law School Personal Statement Examples

College Application Essay Examples

 

Home Page Services and Prices MBA Med School Law School Grad School College

About Us Press Room Contact Us Podcast Accepted Blog
Privacy Policy Website Terms of Use Disclaimer Client Terms of Service

Accepted 1171 S. Robertson Blvd. #140 Los Angeles CA 90035 +1 (310) 815-9553
© 2022 Accepted

BBB A+ RatingStamp of AIGAC Excellence

Copyright © 2023 · Education Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in