Writing Letters of Intent for Grad School

Questions you should ask yourself before beginning to write:

You will have to ascertain whether the committee has asked for a “Statement of

Purpose” or a “Letter of Intent.” Have you been asked to submit a “Statement of

Purpose” and an “Artist’s Statement”? Are you required to submit a sample of your

writing (as in an academic paper)? If you have to write a “Statement of Purpose”

that is accompanied by “Artist’s Statement,” the “Statement of Purpose” will

generally focus on what you intend to accomplish in graduate school. The “Artist’s

They want to know how you’ll fit into their program, whether you have an interest in

teaching (if there are TAships available), who you’d like to work with (if that’s

possible to determine), whether you want to be involved in an exchange (if that’s

part of the program), your interest in curatorial work, academics, theory, and your

influences.

Getting Started

If you haven’t got a clue where to start, try writing a very simple artist’s statement.

Describe a piece or pieces you’re working on. Draw a map, or brain storm how this

work has been influenced by what you’ve done in the past, theories and artists that

have informed it — then start thinking about how you see this developing or

that what you say in the “Letter of Intent” is fixed in stone. It isn’t. It’s just a tool

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that you’ll use to convince your audience that you’re capable of, and seriously

pursuing, an artistic/academic career through graduate school.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THE FOLLOWING EXAMPLES ARE NOT MEANT TO BE

PRESCRIPTIVE — you need to find a voice and words that will work for you. This

handout is only meant to be read as a series of possibilities. Though there are certain

conventions that you’re expected to follow, it’s also important that you stand out

it up as a formal letter. It should be easy to read. It must be typed on white paper.

Anything less than 12 font and larger than 14 font will frustrate your readers. Stick

to a simple font like Times New Roman, Courier or Verdana. Letters are usually

single-spaced with a space between paragraphs. You should probably check a style

guide if you want to attempt any other style than the one that requires all

paragraphs, dates, signatures and addresses to be aligned with the left hand margin.

Begin with a date, a proper address:

For example:

January 21st, 2008

Concordia University

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of study, or that you’re completing a BFA in photography, but it’s essential.

Sample:

I am applying to your MFA program in Studio Arts (Open Media) for the fall of 2003.

Over the past six years I have been involved with art as a student, administrator,

volunteer and curator. Currently, I am completing a BFA in photography at Emily

Carr Institute of Art and Design.

Content

Often . . . to get started . . . and to give your audience a sense of who you are, it

helps to tell them what you have been focussing on in your practice and/or your

academics.

interest in indigenous cultures continues to inform my work. . . I immigrated to

Canada from Japan when I was a young adult. . . Whether I’m working in the

medium digital photography or performance, I try to capture that feeling of being

caught in the space ‘in between’ two cultures, two languages, and two histories.

At this point in the letter it is often useful to focus in on what you’ve paid particular

attention to (either in your practice or in your courses)

Surface colour, scale and space are aspects I have been paying attention to, but the

bulk of my work relies on the energy of the process, as I combine the techniques of

traditional sculpture, pottery, and industrial production. . . The paper I have

submitted entitled “Jeff Wall/Stan Douglas: Reviews of Photos That Lie” will outline

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It is probably best not to spend too much time focussing on the past. Move to the

Presently, my work pivots on . . . reflects . . .I deal with a state of . . I purposely . . .

.I sift throughIn most of my work I draw attention to the phenomenological, to time

and space, both physical and psychological. Tracks, or records of presence, fascinate

what you intend to do in graduate school.

identity. . . If I am accepted into UBC’s Interdisciplinary program, I will continue to

focus on . . . Because of my interest in research, the thesis option appeals to me. . .

Through historical research, I intend to create a series of sculptures by

reconstructing the strength and vitality of a symbolic language that has been

abandoned by modernism and replaced by the chaotic reality of technology. . . Given

that experience and memory are formed through all our senses, I hope to extend

this “sensual” awareness beyond the visual — to examine how touch, smell, sound

and taste register our environment and play major roles in the way we perceive and

process the information received.

If you have a clear sense of how you will incorporate certain theories into your work,

what courses are of interest to you or why the studio space, the technology, the

faculty will enhance your studies, it may be important to let them know. If you are

interested in teaching, and that is a possibility, say so.

The contemporary focus of the Ceramic faculty, the spacious facilities and the

dynamic atmosphere of an art department within a larger university, such as the

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Find a way to conclude the letter that gives them a sense of commitment, or

interest.

Sign the letter formally:

Yours sincerely, James Renbourn

Other Things to Concider when Applying to Grad School:

• Make sure your letter of intent makes sense in relation to the slides

and the cv you are submitting: For example, if your work is very small in

scale, it might be useful to mention that in the letter. If you work in many

different types of mediums, but are applying to a sculpture program, it would

probably be a good idea to explain why that program will serve your interests

and practice best.

• Submitting an academic paper: Students often decide that a fourth year

applying to. Ask them what kind of sample they’re looking for. They may even

have samples on file.

• Research: Many students actually research the schools they wish to attend

by going there and introducing themselves to faculty, checking out the

facilities, speaking to students in the program, etc. If you can afford to do

this, great. If not, it’s not uncommon for applicants to e-mail or phone grad

chairs, grad secretaries, and faculty members. You have to be careful — find

out if this is appropriate by contacting the grad secretary first (if there is

one!). Read as much as you can about the programs and make sure they will

offer you what you want in terms of space and time, courses (both academic

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available on the internet, but it’s also useful to ask for catalogues, brochures,

you have someone — a family member, a friend, a colleague, a faculty

member, or someone in the Writing Centre — go over your application. The

best writers overlook simple mistakes and omissions. Anyone who has worked

on something closely will have difficulty catching their own grammatical and

syntactical errors. If you can, try to get input from others right from the

beginning. Having to write several drafts is not uncommon, and another

reader can usually help you with content and provide you with direction.

Finally, run it through a spell check. Make sure you don’t have any overly long

convoluted sentences. It should be clear written, succinct, and easy to read

and understand.

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