All UC Davis graduate admissions applicants are required to submit two essay responses in their application: a Statement of Purpose and a Personal Statement. The essay prompts are included below, so prospective applicants may prepare their essays before starting the application.
Each essay is limited to 4,000 characters (including spaces).
Statement of Purpose
Describe your academic preparation, relevant experience, motivation for applying, research interests/intended focus of your studies, and professional goals as they relate to the graduate program and major field.
Academic preparation refers to educational background, practical learning, extracurricular activities, self-directed research, and academic accomplishments/qualifications that demonstrate your potential for success as a master’s or doctoral student in the graduate program
Examples: related coursework, academic research and writing, fieldwork, internships, laboratory activities, scholarships/awards, independent study, presentations, publications, teaching, faculty or peer mentorship, studio projects, organizational membership, and study abroad.
Interests, specializations, and career goals may include your research interests, disciplinary subfields, area/s of specialization, and professional objectives.
Alignment may include how your preparation, experiences, and interests match, specific faculty or resources and characteristics of your graduate program at UC Davis. Please include specific faculty within your desired graduate program with whom you would like to work and how your interests align with the identified faculty member/s.
Personal Statement
While the Statement of Purpose is primarily focused on academic preparation, research interests/concept, and alignment with the graduate program, the Personal Statement is an opportunity to share the unique background, experiences, perspectives, and abilities that you will bring to a graduate program.
Please describe how your background and life experiences shaped your academic and/or professional path and influenced your decision to pursue a graduate degree. This may include formative experiences, environment, values, motivations, interactions, decisions, etc.
We encourage you to consider these potential scenarios when developing your Personal Statement:
Commitment to overcoming significant obstacles despite economic disadvantage, challenging social environment, or other specific experiences of hardship.
Unique talents, abilities or skills relevant to personal growth.
Employment experiences, extracurricular activities, or community participation that inspired further education.
Evidence of growth, maturity and commitment to graduate study and/or a major field.