Step-by-Step guide to writing the Best Motivation Letter - PhD student

Summary

Schlotte Fraser, a second-year PhD student in computational neuroscience at the Donders Institute, offers a step-by-step guide for writing a motivation letter for academic applications. She emphasizes tailoring the letter to the specific program or audience, highlighting personal motivations, and using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to illustrate relevant skills. She advises keeping the letter concise, seeking feedback from others, and showcasing personality and soft skills. Fraser shares her own letter as an example, providing practical tips to help applicants stand out.

Takeaways

• 📚 Write a motivation letter that complements your CV, showcasing a mix of personality, skills, and challenges overcome.
• 🔍 Do thorough research on the program and audience to tailor the letter to specific requirements and demonstrate personal strengths.
• 📝 Understand the difference between a personal statement, motivation letter, and cover letter to ensure you're using the correct format.
• 👋 Begin the letter formally and address it to the specific person or committee to show that you've done your homework.
• 💡 Start with a strong 'why' in the introduction that is personal and specific to the project you're applying for.
• 🌟 Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Results) to structure paragraphs about your skills and experiences.
• 🔑 Highlight both hard skills (technical abilities) and soft skills (personality traits) that align with the program's expectations.
• 📉 Show persistence and the ability to overcome adversity through examples, even if they're not directly related to academia.
• 📑 Keep the letter concise, ideally one to two pages, as readers often have limited time to review applications.
• 🤔 Seek feedback from various sources, including professors, teachers, and peers, to refine the content and style of your letter.
• 🎯 Conclude by reiterating your fit for the program and expressing gratitude for consideration, creating a well-rounded close.

Q & A

Who is the speaker in the video?

The speaker is Schlotte Fraser, a second-year PhD student in computational neuroscience at the Donders Institute in the Netherlands.

What is the main purpose of the video?

The main purpose of the video is to provide a step-by-step method for writing a motivation letter for various academic applications such as bachelor's, master's, PhD programs, summer schools, or internships.

What should a motivation letter complement?

A motivation letter should complement your CV, showing a combination of your personality, skills, and hardships you've overcome.

Why is it important to know your audience when writing a motivation letter?

Knowing your audience is important because it helps tailor your letter to emphasize the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the specific program or individual you're addressing.

What is the STAR method and why is it useful?

The STAR method stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Results. It is useful because it provides a structured way to describe your skills and experiences, making your letter more compelling and evidence-based.

How should you start your motivation letter according to the speaker?

According to the speaker, you should start your motivation letter quite formally, ideally addressing specific professors or committee members by their names.

What is a key tip for writing the first paragraph of a motivation letter?

A key tip for writing the first paragraph is to make it as personal as possible, highlighting your specific motivation for applying to the project or program in a way that sets you apart from other applicants.

What is the difference between a personal statement, a motivation letter, and a cover letter?

The differences are context-dependent: for a PhD, these letters might be combined into one general purpose letter. For job applications or specific programs, each may have a distinct format and purpose, which should be adhered to according to the application's requirements.

Why should you show your motivation letter to multiple people before submitting it?

You should show your motivation letter to multiple people to get relevant input and tips from different perspectives, which can help improve the quality and effectiveness of your letter.

What should you focus on if you don't have many relevant experiences to include in your motivation letter?

If you don't have many relevant experiences, you should focus on your soft skills, personality traits, and specific events that demonstrate your abilities and character, even if they are not directly related to academia.