How should I start my statement of purpose for Ph.D. programs?

[member 428835]

Hi PF!

I recently completed my masters of science in mechanical engineering and am applying to Ph.D. programs. I am wondering how to begin my statement of purpose. For my masters I began with a quote from Dr. Suess. However, now I have very specific research endeavors and know precisely who I want to work with and what I want to study.

Should I begin with Dr. Suess to distinguish my application or is this unnecessary space I'd be using. The quote is

My alphabet starts with this letter called yuzz. It's the letter I use to spell yuzz-a-ma-tuzz. You'll be sort of surprised what there is to be found once you go beyond 'Z' and start poking around!

Dr. Suess highlights in three sentences why I want to study...blah blah blah.

Thanks all!

 

[Choppy]

Well, on one hand, it worked before.

However, usually the people on admissions committees aren't looking for you to display your creative side on these things - at least not in physics (I assume engineering would be similar). The major risk is that something like this looks like you're trying to fill up space because you don't have anything more relevant to talk about.

I would cut it out.

 

[Vanadium 50]

To quote Crash Davis in Bull Durham, "Your shower shoes have fungus on them. You'll never make it to the bigs with fungus on your shower shoes. Think classy, you'll be classy. If you win 20 in the Show, you can let the fungus grow back and the press'll think you're colorful. Until you win 20 in the Show, however, it means you are a slob."

When you win 20 in the Show, you can quote Doctor Suess.

 

[member 428835]

Thanks you guys! I'll leave it out.