Statement of Purpose for Statistics PhD

AI Thread Summary
When writing a personal statement for a PhD in statistics, it's important to address the broad directions provided by graduate schools. Including a specific faculty member of interest can enhance the statement, but it may be challenging if the applicant is unsure about their specific research focus within statistics. It's common for students to discover their interests after taking courses, so expressing a general enthusiasm for the field while acknowledging the desire to explore various topics can be effective. The discussion emphasizes the importance of clarity and genuine interest in the personal statement, encouraging applicants to reflect on their motivations and potential contributions to the field.
member 428835
Hey PF

So I am writing a personal statement for a phd in statistics and i am not sure what all to include. each graduate school has very broad directions, and I'm not sure what to put.

should i list a faculty member that interests me, or is that too much work? selecting one professor is difficult because i don't know specifically what i want to study other than something in statistics. i feel like when i applied to college i didn't know i wanted to study math, but after getting accepted and taking courses i found what i like. i narrowed it down. i feel that graduate school is the same; i know i want to study statistics, but i don't know any further details.

please only respond if you are someone who reads these letters and makes decisions or used to make decisions/give input.

thanks!
 
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