Is that OK to use cover letter template for Ph.D. application

[aworrystudent]

Hi,

I saw many templates for the cover letter of Ph.D. application. If I use them and do a little modification, is that OK or regard as a kind of plagiarization?

Thank you very much in advance!

 

[BOAS]

I'm only an undergraduate so maybe this advice doesn't apply, but it's what I have always been told when writing applications.

The person that will read your application will be reading lots and lots of applications from other people and sometimes the covering letter is the only reason that person takes a deeper look into the rest of your application. Looking at templates is a good way to see the typical structure and content of a covering letter but you must find a way to make yours stand out from the rest.

If everyone uses these templates and does a little modifying, you're not going to stand out.

 

[aworrystudent]

I'm only an undergraduate so maybe this advice doesn't apply, but it's what I have always been told when writing applications.

The person that will read your application will be reading lots and lots of applications from other people and sometimes the covering letter is the only reason that person takes a deeper look into the rest of your application. Looking at templates is a good way to see the typical structure and content of a covering letter but you must find a way to make yours stand out from the rest.

If everyone uses these templates and does a little modifying, you're not going to stand out.

Thanks a lot. The application requires another statement of purpose, hopefully there is still some room for personalization...