You should describe how your interests fit with the particular school to which you are applying or match particular strengths of the program, faculty research interests, or unique facilities. You will also show whether your expectations about your proposed work are realistic and whether you are likely to make a contribution to the field. Selection committees are looking for students who have the intelligence, academic background, motivation, and clarity of purpose to complete a graduate program and who have the promise of making future contributions to their professions. If you wish to address idiosyncrasies in your record, such as concentration changes, inconsistent performance and weak spots in your transcript, do so in an addendum to your application rather than in your statement of purpose. Writing sample .
Some programs require a writing sample.
Submit a clean copy of any writing sample. Letters of recommendation . Letters should complement the other parts of your application. Faculty for whom you have done your best work, in the discipline in which you are applying or in other directly relevant disciplines. How your reference letters can complement each other.