PRIDE MONTH
Fall Term 2021 Updates
Michigan Robotics
Work together, create smart machines, serve society.
- Robotics Graduate Program
Academic Statement of Purpose and Personal Statement
The academic statement of purpose and personal statement should cover details about your academic background and career aspirations. You will want to talk about your engineering experiences, your motivation for pursuing a higher degree in Robotics, your long-term goals, as well as your specific interests.
The pair of statements should work together to inform us about your experiences and goals. However, don’t be redundant. Utilize the personal statement to expand upon your academic statement of purpose. If you want to write about the same topic, split it into two distinct pieces that cover different thoughts.
This format is meant to be flexible and allow for creativity: there is no single answer, however below is more guidance on each statement.
Academic statement of purpose
Talk technical, go deep, and talk about your engineering background.
Include your academic and research background, career goals, and how this graduate program will help meet career and educational objectives.
Applicants often don’t go deep or concrete enough into describing their engineering experience, whether an internship, project, or research. Showcase your technical writing, and your enthusiasm for your work. After describing one or more experiences in detail, including your contributions to the projects or tasks, discuss why graduate school is the next step for you. Make an argument for your unique qualifications and professional preparation, and what you hope to contribute to the field.
Personal statement
Talk about your inspiration, background, and academic or project pursuits.
Indicate how your personal background and life experiences, including social, cultural, familial, educational, or other opportunities or challenges, have motivated your decision to pursue a graduate degree at the University of Michigan. This is a discussion of the personal journey that has led to your decision to seek a graduate degree in Robotics.
Include your motivations to take your robotics career further. What concrete examples can you share of your academic and non-academic activities that might have prepared you for graduate study? Don’t be afraid to name collaborators in the field–our faculty often know many of them! But also talk about the work you did with those collaborators. Think of this as a story about your personal and professional development, and a proposal for your graduate school career.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The academic statement of purpose should be approximately one to two pages, single spaced.
The personal statement should be approximately one to two pages, single spaced. Rackham’s 500 word limit does not apply.
No. We ask that all applicants submit two separate documents for the statement of purpose and personal statement. If an applicant submits one document we will contact them to request two separate documents. The Graduate Admission Committee requires two separate documents.
No, there are no formatting guidelines in regards to font type, font size, or margins.
No. Please review all application materials before submitting your application.
Please note that once an applicant submits their online application, no changes to the statement of purpose, personal statement, curriculum vitae, and application can be modified online.
Many, many applicants talk about LEGOs. If you choose to take that risk, be sure to make it your own, unique, compelling, and personal storyline.
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University of Michigan - Ann Arbor: Personal Statement Essay Topics & Examples
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Want to be a Michigan Wolverine? See what inspired Michigan students to write the personal statements that got them accepted.
1. Essay Topic: Failure Experience/Reaching a Goal
Essay Excerpt from Aliceywu
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor ‘21
Major: Computer Science
“My name was not there. Two words, seven letters, not there.
Heart pounding, I slowly backed away from the Debate Team roster. Rejected, I thought hollowly, though I wasn’t completely surprised. During my tryout, I had been petrified at the podium, palms sweating and shaking.
Maybe I’ll never debate. The thought crushed me; I pushed it aside.”
Want to know how she wrote her personal statement about failing to make the Debate Team? Unlock her University of Michigan application file to learn more!
2. Essay Topic: Study/Travel Abroad
Essay Excerpt from Rfkoerner
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor ‘20
Major: Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering
“In the summer of 2014, my parents dropped me off at the airport with a plane ticket in hand and some clothes in a suitcase. They were sending me to Germany with another boy who cared little for travel. After being born in Germany and living there for the first five year of my life, I was excited to return. I wanted to experience a culture that I did not remember, to meet new people, see new things, and “re-learn” my second language. I wanted to learn about life in the world beyond my hometown.”
Unlock his UMich profile to find out more about his trip to Germany, and it got him accepted to University of Michigan!
3. Essay Topic: Childhood Memory
Essay Excerpt from UMichGirl
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor ‘22
“As an eight-year old with an incurable love for adventure, I spent much of my time pondering out-of-the-box methods of flight. At one point, I read an article about a man who tied enough balloons to his lawn chair to propel himself into the sky. I found this concept ridiculously satisfying—how could it be so simple? It amazed me to think that a person could fly using everyday objects, and I aspired to do the same.”
Follow her adventurous journey! Check out her full Michigan application file to learn more about her application journey.
4. Essay Topic: Volunteer/Public Interest Work
Essay Excerpt from Rik Banerjee
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor ‘19
Major: Mechanical Engineering
“The transition from tourist to conservationist can happen in a matter of seconds. My trigger was in the Masai Mara, a world famous wildlife haven in Kenya, when I witnessed conservationists harness their technical expertise to save a lioness’ life.”
Unlock his Michigan application file to find out this moment made an impact on his life.
5. Essay Topic: Creative Personal Story
Essay Excerpt from UMich338354
Major: Business Administration and Management
“The human mind is a beautifully complex thing in which there lies a minimal distinction between pure genius and absolute insanity. My father is a man of the highest intellect who fell victim to even-induced psychosis; the stress of his work caused him to blur this line.”
Keep reading to find out how her relationship with her father shaped who she is today. Unlock her successful UMich profile for her full personal statement and application advice!
Hope this was helpful for those considering applying to Michigan this fall! Interested in reading these students’ full supplemental essays in addition to their personal statements? Unlock all of them in one go with our Michigan Package!
Applying this year? For access to our college profiles, upgrade to our premium plans offer different levels of profile access and data insights that can help you get into your dream school.
About The Author
Frances was born in Hong Kong and received her bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University. She loves super sad drama television, cooking, and reading. Her favorite person on Earth isn’t actually a member of the AdmitSee team - it’s her dog Cooper.
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