HGSE Admissions Blog

by Katie Filiakova, Ed.M.’24

“Do I have enough experience to write a complete Statement of Purpose?” This was the question I asked myself in September of 2022 when I first started thinking about applying to grad schools. “How do I fit my entire life story into 1,500 words and not go over the limit?”, I asked myself a couple of weeks later after I roughly outlined my journey in my notebook. As it turned out, both questions were a bit misaligned. Writing a strong Statement of Purpose is a scary feat because there is so much to cover! Passions, aspirations and inspirations, pivotal experiences, stories, role models, goals, and dreams – all have a place in your Statement of Purpose. Here are some tips that helped me stay organized and deliberate as I wrote my Statement of Purpose for my Ed.M. application to HGSE: 

Identify what brought you to the decision to get an Ed.M. degree before you start writing 

There is no blueprint for this because all of us will have different pivotal moments in our journey that led us to applying to HGSE. Outlining turning points in your journey that made you look towards graduate education can help you stay grounded and remember your “why,” which is crucial for a strong Statement of Purpose. Was it an experience you had as a student? Or the experience of your own students? Did a particular role model inspire you? When and how did you recognize that something was missing from your professional “toolkit” that an Ed.M. degree can help you gain? A list of such moments and realizations can work as a plan for structuring your statement. 

Contrary to what I thought, a good Statement of Purpose does not require you to write your entire life story. What an applicant needs to focus on is their journey toward the field of education and toward a specific school and program. 

Here are some things that ended up on my brainstorming list and later in my Statement of Purpose: 

• The way I felt as an international student coming to college in the U.S. 
• How joining my college’s Residential Life staff changed the way I think about community and belonging 
• My leadership on campus 
• An eye-opening sociology class I took and two books that helped me understand the social and political implications of identity 
• The initiatives I pursued in my full-time work and the ways I felt restricted by my lack of understanding of the inner workings of higher education institutions

Look ahead!

Answering the “How did I get here?” question is only a part of a Statement of Purpose. The other half is “Where do I want to go from here?”. What kind of impact do you want to have on education and on students? What do you want to change? To accomplish? What population do you want to serve? How did your previous experience influence your aspirations for the future? What have you already done to work toward your goal, and what still needs to be done?  

This was simultaneously the easiest and the hardest part for me. It took me multiple brainstorming sessions to formulate exactly what I want to accomplish and how I want to serve my students. Coincidentally, outlining my own professional goals also helped me pick the right programs to apply to! I was able to compare my aspirations to what different schools and programs had to offer and find the right opportunities for me. 

Tie together your past and future through the lens of your chosen program 

Knowing what impact you want to have is great, but showing how it ties into your specific program choice is essential. The Admissions Office wants to know how HGSE and the particular program you are applying to are a good fit to your background and how they can help you achieve your goals. What are some components of the program that will help you gain the skills you need? How does the program format work for you? Maybe there are professors you are excited to engage or classes you are looking forward to taking? The strongest Statements of Purpose will provide a clear connection between the program and the applicant’s goals. 

For this step, I advise everyone to do as much research as possible. Ask yourself: what genuinely excites me about this program? What am I looking forward to learning or pursuing? What opportunities are there available not only in the program, but also in the school that would benefit me? What experiences and knowledge can I bring to this program’s cohort?  

What helped me a lot was going on a deep digital dive and looking through HGSE’s website, social media accounts, and past webinar recordings. I also attended many info sessions, both about the application process and about student life. What I always kept in mind throughout the process was “do I see myself here? Can I imagine spending a year in this community? Am I excited to learn with and from them?”  

Why now? 

A lot of applicants will be at a crossroads. Some are looking for a career change, others will have been in the field of education for years and want to expand their skillset and network. Your Statement of Purpose should address why grad school is the best choice for you in this particular moment. Why are you applying now? Why not in 3 years? Why not last year? It is helpful to think back to your goals and your “why” and ask yourself: “What will I be able to do with my Ed.M. degree that I cannot do right now? How will an Ed.M. degree further my development and help me make the impact I want to have?” 

It takes a lot of drafts 

A lot more than you may think. Start early and don’t be afraid to keep working on your Statement over a long period of time. As you are working on it, some aspects will become more or less relevant, more pivotal experiences will resurface, and your story will become clearer and clearer. What I did multiple times was completely leave my Statement of Purpose draft for a week and then come back to reread with a fresh outlook. It helped me identify parts that did not quite connect or make sense, as well as the gaps and excessive wording. 

Ask for advice! 

I cannot overemphasize this enough. Your Statement of Purpose must be written entirely by you, but it does not mean you cannot ask for other people’s thoughts or input. We all have people that helped us on our journey: teachers, advisors, coaches, supervisors and colleagues, even family – people that are familiar with our journey, dreams, and accomplishments. Give them your Statement draft and ask what they think.  

For my fellow international students who may not have mentors that are familiar with a U.S.-specific application process, feel free to explain it to them and ask! Tell them that this Statement is supposed to reflect your journey and goals and ask if they think your Statement accomplishes that goal.  

I hope this post helped lift some anxieties and that you are feeling more confident in your writing. Good luck with your Statement of Purpose, and always remember to be you, authentically and unapologetically!

Katie Filiakova, Ed.M.’24