How to Write a Statement of Purpose for Your Master’s Application, According to a Georgetown Grad Student

This student-written piece was produced in collaboration with Sandeshi Bandaranayake (G’27), a master’s candidate in Learning, Design, and Technology.

For many applicants to Georgetown graduate programs, the most difficult part of the application process is writing an academic statement of purpose. How do you summarize your experiences, background and goals, while describing how you’d contribute to the Georgetown community, in just 500 words?

According to Learning, Design, and Technology master’s student Sandeshi Bandaranayake (G’27), the secret to a perfect statement of purpose is authenticity. Read her advice on crafting this vital part of a master’s application, and consult your program of interest’s application guidelines for specific requirements.

Application Advice from a Current Georgetown Master’s Student

As a creative student with a non-linear path, I initially struggled to fit my story into a formal statement of purpose. 

Before applying to grad school, I had worked across multiple fields — from interior design and finance to strategy, marketing and HR — and wasn’t 100% sure where I ultimately wanted to end up. With reflection, I realized how engaged I felt whenever my work involved teaching, learning or enabling others to grow. That clarity, paired with my long-term desire to eventually build something of my own, led me to education and Georgetown’s Learning, Design, and Technology master’s program as the right next step.

Writing my statement of purpose was a challenge in linking those experiences — demonstrating that my previous exploration wasn’t a lack of direction, but intentional discovery. I wanted to show Georgetown that my decision to transition into education was thoughtful, serious and aligned with what I wanted to achieve.

If you’re feeling similarly stuck while writing your statement of purpose, here are the top three tips I learned from my application experience:

1. Connect the dots (even the abstract ones): Look at your past milestones and show how they lead to your current goals. It’s okay if your goals change later — just be clear about the direction you’re headed right now and how Georgetown can help you get there.

2. Avoid being generic: Don’t just tell the admissions team why you’re great; tell them why this specific program is the only one that can help you reach your goals. Research your target program and identify specific professors, labs or unique curriculum features that excite you. Connect those specific details to your goals in a way that makes the reader think, “This is the perfect program for this applicant.”

3. Highlight the mutual benefit: A great statement of purpose explains how your values align with the university’s mission, why you need the program for your own growth and why the university needs your unique perspective in its community. This is your chance to emphasize what makes you special and explain how you’ll use those talents, skills and insights to make Georgetown proud.

I wish you the best of luck with your application!