American Universities rarely practice personal interviews with applicants. Very often the only way to stand out and convince the admissions office to give you priority is to write an impressive letter of motivation. It is clear, concise, university-specific, and… personal.
Why you should not underestimate motivational writing
Universities use letters of motivation for different purposes. In controversial cases where two applicants with the same academic record need to be chosen from two applicants, the admissions committee may use letters of motivation to identify the best prepared and most interested applicant. Letters of motivation are a key factor in admissions if the applicant falls short of the entrance requirements but there are still places available on the course that’s why you can use a research paper writer in any needful time.
Each of us has unique experiences, knowledge, interests, and academic backgrounds. Therefore, no two motivation letters are the same. The most important thing about a motivation letter (British universities call them personal statements) is that it must be personal. This means that there is no certain formula for writing it. Nevertheless, it is useful to follow some principles, which we will explain in a moment.
1. Before you begin
First of all, it is important to show that you have researched the topic and gathered all the important information about the course, and know exactly what is expected of the applicant. This preparatory stage will later help you make good decisions and find the right words for your letter of motivation.
Before you start writing, think about:
- which subjects you are interested in
- what career you would like to pursue
- which study program you would like to pursue
When you have your list ready, you need to ask yourself two more questions:
- which university will help you achieve your goals
- what are the university’s requirements for applicants
Once you have decided exactly what you want to study and, most importantly, why you want to study it, it is time to start writing your motivation letter. Start by brainstorming. You can draw a mind map (you have probably already done mind maps), search for help on the internet, make a list or write out all the key points on paper – do it in whatever way is most convenient for you. The important thing is that you end up writing down all your thoughts and ideas. Don’t worry about how the letter looks at this point, you can rewrite it later.
2. In the process of writing
Now that you have the first draft of your letter in hand, it’s time to take care of the appearance. Try to articulate individual points more clearly, look at the logic and sequence of your writing, and check your spelling.
Once the first draft is ready, check the whole text again yourself. It would be good to send it to friends or relatives, a teacher or a colleague – they can look at it with fresh eyes and give constructive advice. They will be able to remind you of the achievements that you have accidentally missed, or check the text for errors once again.
Be prepared to rewrite the text several times. Everyone reaches perfection in different ways, some require more effort and time, some less. It doesn’t matter how many drafts you write, as long as you like the final version, which reflects everything you want to say.
3. After the letter is finished
Remember that you cannot change an application you have already sent to the university, so we advise you to make all corrections and check the text carefully before you click “send”.
Do not give inaccurate information about your achievements in your motivation letter. All information is checked, and references from third parties and academic transcripts are taken into account. If you are invited to an interview, expect to be asked questions based on your motivation letter. So be sure to save the final text and reread it before meeting with the university representative.
4. How to structure a motivation letter correctly
When writing a letter of motivation you should stick to the following structure:
Introduction. In this part, your aim is to grab the reader’s attention and encourage them to read on.
Main part. This part is your opportunity to showcase yourself as someone who can reason logically. Having formed views, relevant knowledge, skills, and attitudes to your chosen course.
Charlotte Kemp, an admissions officer at Warwick University, advises:
“In the motivation letter we want to see a real interest in your chosen discipline – this should be read between the lines, in the way you describe your experience of these subjects. Including what you’ve read or studied, what you learned in school about the subject, what internships you’ve had, and so on. A motivation letter is a formal explanation of why you want to study your chosen subject, so focus on describing the course and what motivates you.”
Conclusion. In the final part of the letter, you should leave the reader firmly convinced that you really want to enroll in the course and study your chosen subject.
5. Further information about yourself
You may want to give some more information about yourself in your motivation letter. If you have decided to resume your studies after a long hiatus, write down what motivated you to do so. You can also add to your motivation letter a brief description of your plans for the future and how your chosen study program will help you achieve your goal.