How Important Is A Statement Of Intent When Submitting A PhD Application?

Writing a good statement of intent (also referred to as a statement of purpose) is perhaps the most important element in a successful application to a PhD program in the humanities and social sciences. All students applying to such programs are expected to come with competitive grades (usually A- or above), as well as strong letters of reference from their professors. As such, admissions committees often focus on the statement of intent, which must demonstrate that the applicant has an interesting, thoughtful and original plan of research for his/her PhD dissertation.

In a statement of intent, the applicant must justify his/her proposed dissertation topic on several fronts. First, the applicant must prove that the topic has not yet been covered and that a dissertation would add significantly to the field. Additionally, the applicant must also show that there are qualified professors in the given department or program who have expertise in the field and would be able to supervise the proposed topic.