Statements of Purpose, Letters of Motivation, and Personal Statements---any differences?

Statements of Purpose、Personal Statements、Letters of Motivation有什麼不一樣？
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“今天我們收到了一封讀者來信詢問動機信(Letter of Motivation)與讀書計畫(Statement of Purpose)之間的差別；相信類似的問題困擾了很多申請人：究竟 SoP (Statement of Purpose)、Personal Statement 或是Letter of Motivation，這三者之間只是名稱上的差異？還是形式上也有所不同？實質內容是否有區別？以下的文章中，主編將從名稱上先作簡單的講解，再分析其本質。在這裡，我們想要再次提醒正在準備留學申請文件的同學們，絕對不能只單單從名稱去衡量寫作的方向，我們建議申請人務必詳讀欲申請校系之網頁說明與規定。

Here is the answer to a question we received from someone wanting to know the difference between an SoP and a letter of motivation.

In regard to your inquiry about the difference between a "Statement of Purpose" and "Letter of Motivation" -- and we might as well include "Personal Statement" -- that is a good question. 

In practice it can be observed that many schools seem to use such phrases almost interchangeably.

However, speaking as a linguist, the word choice and implied meaning of these phrases are distinguishable for a reason.

A "Statement of Purpose" of course is meant to focus on the purpose of your intended studies. "Purpose" here means 'goals, plans, and actions taken as a result of the completion of your studies.' In other words what do you plan to do in your studies and most importantly afterward. So anyone writing a statement of purpose ought to do their best to link the intended studies with career goals be they professional in industry or in academia. This is the most popular usage in America where the focus is on one's actions.

A "Letter of Motivation" which we see being required more often by European schools one must assume that the reader is more interested in "why": why come here and study this? This phrasing predisposes a more complex answer. Maybe you have a special talent or aspiration that compels you to seek out the expertise offered by the school to which you are applying? Anyone writing a letter of motivation needs to answer plausibly if not superbly "why." What is your interest and what motivated you to want to do this?

A "Personal Statement" that we see asked for from many schools -- if they do not stipulate certain points they would like addressed -- are really just giving the applicant an opportunity to say whatever they want in regard to their application for admission. In that way the applicant can create their own reasoning to persuade the reader to give them admission. That is easy for the very individualistic type of applicant common in the West -- they can have a chance to convey their strengths, suitability and how the education they are applying for fits into their own ideas of the goals and dreams. It is much more open-ended BUT it should be reasonable -- whatever ones dreams are might be difficult to attain but they should still be attainable; philosophical but practical all the same.

I hope that helps clear up the confusion about the terms used in regard to these seemingly "identical" application documents.

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延伸閱讀：SoP怎麼寫？
Hints for good SoP content/英文讀書計畫寫作技巧分享

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