Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (PhD)

Essays

1. Statement of purpose · should not exceed 1,000 words · required

   The statement of purpose is very important to programs when deciding whether to admit a candidate. Your statement should be focused, informative, and convey your research interests and qualifications. You should describe your reasons and motivations for pursuing a graduate degree in your chosen degree program, noting the experiences that shaped your research ambitions, indicating briefly your career objectives, and concisely stating your past work in your intended field of study and in related fields.

   Get a read on this essay

2. Other essay · should be no longer than 500 words · optional

   Personal Statement: Please describe the personal experiences that led you to pursue graduate education and explain how these experiences will contribute to the academic environment and/or community in your program or Harvard Griffin GSAS. These may include interests or passions, leadership positions, community engagement, other opportunities, or challenges.

   Get a read on this essay

Whether the personal statement is required is set by the degree program, not by the graduate school: "Visit Degree Programs and navigate to your degree program of interest to determine if a Personal Statement is required," so it is recorded as not required at the school level. The page also says there is no expectation to share sensitive information, and that the personal statement should complement rather than duplicate the statement of purpose. A writing sample is required only where the program asks for one. No deadline dates on this page.

Checked against gsas.harvard.edu/apply/applying-degree-programs/statement-purpose-personal-statement-and-writing-sample on September 11, 2026. Programs change their prompts between cycles; confirm on the program’s own page before you submit.