Personal Statement - Doctoral Degree Programs

Personal Statement for Doctoral Degree Programs

Ph.D in Expressive Therapies

The suggested length of the written personal statement is 900 - 1500 words in length and the following questions should be addressed as a part of the personal narrative:

1. What education, training, experiences, and tools do you have which will support the area of study on which you plan to focus your doctoral or post-master's work?
2. How will a Lesley University Ph.D. help you in your personal and your professional life?
3. Why have you selected the Lesley University graduate program, in particular, as the vehicle for you to fulfill your goals?
4. What areas (general or specific) of learning do you wish to address in your graduate studies?

Ph.D in Educational Studies with a Specialization in Adult Learning

The Written Personal Statement is a vital component of your application packet. The Doctoral Admissions Committee carefully reviews these statements for excellence in thinking and writing, personal/professional communication style, coherence in thought and clarity of doctoral study goals. To this end, your Personal Statement should incorporate your purpose in pursuing a degree program at this time and at Lesley, and how your thinking about your research has developed as a result of your education, reading and professional/personal experiences. Care in preparation is strongly encouraged.

The suggested length of the written personal statement is 15 - 25 pages. The following areas should be addressed as a part of the narrative. When responding to the essay questions below, please make sure to discuss the social and intellectual issues that have engaged you.

1. Please describe the professional and academic work you have completed thus far and reflect on how it informs your thinking about doctoral study.
2. Considering your past professional and academic experiences and your goals for doctoral study, identify and describe the areas of study that would help to build on your current knowledge. Please describe in detail and include any academic literature that has influenced your thinking.
3. Imagine that you had to submit a proposal outlining your plan for doctoral study. What are the burning questions that you would like to pursue? What is your plan for exploring those questions? What ideas, activities, and resources might you include in this plan?
4. Why are you applying to the doctoral program at Lesley University? Describe the alignment you see between your area(s) of interest and Lesley's doctoral program in Educational Studies.

Ph.D in Educational Studies with a Specialization in Educational Leadership

The Written Personal Statement is a vital component of the application packet. The Doctoral Admissions Committee carefully reviews these statements for excellence in thinking and writing, focus and depth, personal/professional communication style, coherence in thought and clarity of doctoral study goals. To this end, Personal Statements should incorporate the purpose for pursuing a degree program at this time and particularly at Lesley, and how your education, reading and professional/personal experiences have informed your thinking regarding research. Care in preparation is strongly encouraged. If you have any questions, please contact Steve Gould: Sgould2@lesley.edu or 617.349.8665.

The suggested length of the written personal statement is 10-15 pages. The following areas should be addressed as a part of the narrative. When responding to the essay questions below, please make sure to discuss the social and intellectual issues that have engaged you.

1. Explain what compels you to pursue a doctoral level program in educational leadership at this time? How do you expect that engaging in doctoral work will affect you as a practitioner? What might be your plan for exploring those questions? What ideas, activities, and resources might you include in this plan?
2. Please describe the professional and academic work you have completed thus far and reflect on how it informs your thinking about doctoral study.
3. Considering your past professional and academic experiences and your goals for doctoral study, express a particular perspective or commitment that guides you, identify and describe areas of study that would help to build on your current knowledge. Please describe in detail and include any academic literature that has influenced your thinking.
4. Why are you applying to the doctoral program at Lesley University? Describe the alignment you see between your area(s) of interest and Lesley’s Doctoral Program in Educational Studies with a specialization in Educational Leadership.