Sample Letter of Intent or Purpose Statement

Applying to graduate school is hard.  Sometimes I think it is harder than the graduate program itself.  It's easy to say that since I just finished my Master's program.  I was singing a different tune last semester and I bet I'll be singing a different tune next year in my PhD program. Each school has their own process and some are very different.  Some still require things to be mailed in almost entirely by snail mail--which I find hard to belief.

When my wife was applying to Physical Therapy programs many schools participated in an online system that would then send your application to each school.  No such luck within the Social Sciences :(

I have included the letters of intent or purpose statements that I used in my applications to UNLV's Master's of Marriage and Family Therapy and to the University of Minnesota's Family Social Science with a Couple and Family Therapy emphasis Ph.D. programs.  Both of which I was accepted to.

This is my purpose statement for UNLV's MFT program.

UMN's CFT program required two letters.  They are here and here.

I hope this goes without saying, but I'm going to say it.  Don't just copy these letters and turn them in.  Please use them however.  The purpose statement really is one of your best places to talk about you. So do it--copying someone else's makes little sense. I found it immensely useful to read other letters of intent for people that had been accepted into graduate programs.  Ideally within your own field.  Maybe someday I'll get some other examples within the social sciences and perhaps some in other fields.

What I wish I'd known when applying to MFT graduate school

I basically knew since I was 17 what I wanted to do with my life--I just didn't know how to describe it. It is very difficult to find the answers you want when you don't know the questions to ask. Throughout high school and college I had a love/hate relationship with Psychology, so I stayed away from it as a major. I dropped out of college for a while, then came back; determined to do something. As I was nearing graduation, still unsure of my future plans, I sitting in a Moral Development class (which was the best and hardest class I have every taken) casually talking with a girl sitting next to me about her plans after graduation, she said she was applying to MFT (Marriage and Family Therapy) schools. I swear the heavens opened and a ray of light struck me in the bottom of that building--because I knew that was what I wanted to do.

To being applying to MFT programs I began searching for help on applying to grad school.

One blog that I found helpful was the MFTprogress blog's "8 Interview tips".

While the first blog is definitely not in the MFT field, he still has some good ideas about what to consider when applying.

Do grades matter?

Yes. 3.0 is a general cut-off in the field. Sometimes you can pull it off if it's 3.0 in the last 50/60 hours or 3.0 in the major. If not, many school may allow your GRE to counter a poor GPA. There is also the possibility of conditionally being accepted (the condition being get a 3.0 in the graduate classes or you're cut). A lower than ideal GPA is not the end of the world.

Does the GRE matter?

Yes and no. Just about everyone didn't do as well as they could have/should have. Professors recognize that. In the MFT field about 1000 (on the old GRE) was a good benchmark. A good GRE score sure makes a poor GPA look better though. Many schools also have a writing requirement (I've seen 3.0 and 4.0). Again, it's not the end of the world if you have a poor GRE.

Does the GRE subject test matter?

Not in any MFT program that I am aware.

Do I need research experience?

Yes? As an undergrad it is rare to get to have research experience with a professor. Totally do-able if you know what to do. Research means you spend more time with the professor and likely have better letters of recommendation as well. This being said, MFT at the Master's level is a clinically focused field, not research. While there are programs that train and utilize research in their Master's programs, the main function of an MFT Master's degree is to become a licensed in clinical work.

If you do not have or are not interested in research, you may be best served by looking into programs that are not heavy on research.

Letters of Recommendation

These are important. While it may be impressive to have letters of recommendation from President Obama, Sigmund Freud, and Albert Einstein, most people have to settle with a professor they had a class with or a boss. When asking for a letter of recommendation, be sure to ask for a good letter of recommendation. If they are not willing to write a good letter or rec, it's not worth having them write it. Most students in the MFT field are not straight out of their undergrad degree and 22--so many people have letters from bosses.

Where should I apply?

That depends on what you want. I'd suggest starting at the list of COAMFTE accredited programs on the AAMFT website. There are also many MFT programs that are not COAMFTE accredited.

Does accreditation matter?

No, unless it does. Not a great answer--but the best there is. Getting a degree from a COAMFTE keeps some doors open. For example, many government jobs require it. It is also *very* helpful if you will be moving to another state to practice as a therapist or further your education. Without this accreditation it is your responsibility to ensure that your education will fulfill the requirements you need. If it comes down to it, a degree from a non-accredited school is better than no degree.

What should I do to prepare for the interview?

Do your homework. Learn about the program. Read an article (or book) or two that the professors have written. Then you know who to talk to about what. In my experience professors love talking about their research--so you can usually ask them about it if you have nothing else to talk about.

How should I answer the questions they ask?

Some people say that you should avoid personal material in a professional interview. This seems to be pretty uncommon in the MFT field however. We all have a reason we want to be an MFT that is more than just to make money. Be yourself. If you are professional and not personal--be that. If you are personal and not very professional--be that. Though it is probably a good idea to be fairly professional.

Should I choose a grad school based on a significant other?

Unless this significant other is a lifelong committed partner--or soon to be such--no. There is research that shows that graduate school (especially in MFT or social sciences) is a major stressor on relationships. Also, I would have a very hard time counting the number I know that did or did not go to a specific graduate school because of the serious bf/gf who then broke up with them. (Inductive logic I know)

What else should I consider?

What else is important?
Things that were of importance to me:

Cost of tuition

Cost of living

Number of professors (Many MFT programs are small and have limited faculty)

Climate

Outdoors activities in the area (whitewater rafting)

Sports (This was UNLV's biggest negative; and one of Alabama's biggest pluses)

Distance from family

Religion--can you find a church to go to in the area?

% of students that pass the MFT exam?

-In California there these stats for 2011 or here for several years.

Final comments:

There are lots of options. If you can't get into your dream school, or it's just too far from where you are established--check out University of Phoenix or Argosy. They are more expensive than a public school--but if it's what you really want to do it might be worth it. Also there is at least 1 Argosy program that is accredited. Also I'd compare the pass/fail rates of the MFT exam of University of Phoenix and Argosy--there is a difference.

The #1 thing to remember when applying is: You need to find out what they want; then give it to them.

A great way to do this is send an email and ask some questions about the program and clarify its application procedures--they are not all the same. Some are hard to navigate as well.