Stony Brook University Admission Essay Writing Guide

Contents

A Guide to Writing Motivational Letters for SUNY Stony Brook

As one of the best schools in New York, Stony Brook has an acceptance rate of 44.1%, meaning only 44 students get admitted in every 100 applicants. This suggests how serious the application requirements are and how competitive the school is.

Numerous crucial pieces are necessary for a college application. For Stony Brook, you need to meet the GPA requirements, SAT/ACT test scores, and critical things like an essay and a motivation letter. Both the SUNY Brook application essay and the motivation essay will be submitted together with your application.

Although all application requirements are critical, you need to put more effort when writing your motivational cover letter. If you excel in this, you have a high chance of admission. However, if you don’t, you might be among the few unlucky ones that receive a rejection letter. Read this guide to learn the essential components of a motivation essay and exceed the SUNY Stony Brook application requirements.

Before the motivation letter

I understand you want to get on with it and start writing your motivation letter. Still, you must consider some vital elements before starting to reduce the risks of getting rejected after the struggle.

First, create enough time for your college motivation essay. A motivation letter is an important document that can be used as an admission essay to determine whether you have the potential that SUNY Stony Brook is seeking or not. Do not rush through it at the last minute of your application.

In addition, it is a good practice to do extensive research to find out as much as possible about the school and the program you are applying for. If there is limited information on the application portal, visit SUNY Stony Brook’s website and other public pages for their applicants’ standard expectations, requirements, and qualifications.

Knowing a bit about the university’s requirements, leading projects, philosophies, activities, and interests will help you understand how to structure your motivation letter and what it should contain. Showing that you relate to the interests and main activities of the university will paint your letter positively.

Remember, we have a lot of free examples of such essays on our site, and we can write the best essay for you.

Structure of a Good Motivational Letter

A motivation letter is often a one-page essay that covers a clear introduction of yourself, your personal story, and your interest in the institution or position to which you are applying.

Whether you are applying for a bachelor or a graduate program, there are two common ways you can structure your motivation essay:

  • Use the traditional 3- paragraph structure- introduction, body, and conclusion.
  • Use the 5-7 paragraph structure- dividing the body part into smaller paragraphs based on the main points.

The general rule is to use the 5-paragraph structure for a more factual and detailed essay. This helps when you need to discuss and explain your qualifications and achievements. However, if you want to tell more of a story, use the 3-paragraph structure to maintain the flow.

Parts of the Motivation Letter Structure

A good motivation essay must be based on three main parts regardless of your chosen structure: the introduction, body, and conclusion. The introduction should always follow the contact information at the top.

Introduction

This is a brief, engaging presentation about yourself, your interest, and why you are applying for the position. When writing your introduction, ensure you grab attention by telling the reader precisely what they need to know. It’s always good to briefly state what program you are applying to and why.

The introduction should include:

  • A salutation- address the letter to whoever is indicated on the application letter, or just use “Dear Sir or Madam” if you are not sure who will read the letter.
  • Personal information- Who you are and what you do
  • What program you are applying for, and where
  • A short intro to the rest of your essay- Try and introduce, briefly, the reason why you are applying.

Body

This is where you get the chance to sell yourself by mentioning your best points, stories behind your achievements, passion, and skills. Don’t just list vague points without going in-depth while keeping it practical and realistic.

Try not to make your essay sound too desperate, and don’t fabricate stores just to sound incredible. Be as factual as possible and use metrics to back up the qualifications mentioned. Consider using the following pointers in the body.

  1. Use specific and practical examples that support the interest and motives you expressed in the introduction paragraph.
  2. Mention your past achievements, positive attitudes, and academic performances.
  3. If you have few academic achievements, try to include your intangible merits such as good language skills, can-do attitude, and people skills.
  4. Use action verbs to make your sentences sound powerful.
  5. Read Stony Brook college essay samples to find good keywords for extra points.

Concluding Paragraph

The last paragraph of your college motivation letter should wrap up the whole letter. This is where you can request the admission committee to invite you for an interview or get in contact for any more information. In conclusion, you can summarize the main points and stress your overarching goal. Don’t forget to include your contact information.

Remember, there’s no universal standard structure or format for writing a motivation letter. So just find a perfect way to tell your story and convince the admission committee of your capabilities as an applicant.

Valuable tips to help you write your motivation letter

For a university motivation letter, use the following tips to create a compelling essay:

  • Make a draft of the main points you intend to include
  • When writing, indicate clear goals
  • Clearly, explain why you believe the SUNY Stone Brook or the program is interesting and suitable for you.
  • Focus on your most substantial achievements, past experiences, and qualifications. Include international experiences if you have any.
  • Organize your body paragraphs to cover the qualifications and achievements from the most relevant to the least
  • Avoid long essays. A good motivation letter is usually half a page to one page long, never longer.
  • Choose the 3-paragraph structure for a story-telling approach and a 5-paragraph structure for breaking down points.
  • Consider using metrics or referring to practical, inspirational things in your life that motivate you.
  • Avoid less important details and only focus on parts of the letter that can make your application eligible.
  • Be concise and professional
  • Use a personal and original undertone
  • Ask for feedback or professional editing before submitting your motivation letter.

Before submitting your Stony Brook’s college application letter, ask friends, colleagues, a teacher, a professional editor, or someone who has experience with such an application process for advice and ideas.

Usually, the school provides a page where you can get in touch with previous or current students of the same program you are applying for. Visit these pages and get in touch with a few students for sound advice and extra tips. Apart from that, you can search for frequently asked questions about SUNY Stone Brook to see how other people answer some common questions and issues. The point is to find out as much relevant information as possible.

If you find it difficult, check out our numerous free examples of similar essays on our site or hire our team to write for you an excellent letter.

All these tips and key points will prove effective when writing your motivation letter for scholarship, internship, or graduate school. However, your knowledge of what is expected, your personal touch, and your excellent delivery are what will matter and make your application stand out among a pile of numerous other applications.

Difference between a Motivation Letter and a Personal Statement Essay

Although quite similar, a motivation letter and a personal statement have slight differences. A motivation letter is an explanation essay stating why you would be a perfect candidate for the college’s program, internship, or scholarship for which you are applying. Typically, it is an indication of your achievements and qualifications.

Conversely, a personal statement is a personal presentation of who you are and the events that led you to apply for the opportunity. It focuses on things like ambitions, preferences, and personality. A personal statement assures the Admission Committee of your capabilities and the ability to fit into the school life just fine.

Usually, motivation letters involve personal elements and are focused on realistic prospects, while a personal statement is vaguer and focuses on the past. A well-written personal statement letter and a motivation letter can maximize the applicant’s chances of admission.

Final Thoughts

SUNY Stony Brook is a highly selective school, seeking to admit those applicants who demonstrate outstanding potential through their academic ability and intellectual curiosity. Student applicants are evaluated based on each individual’s abilities. The school does not have an automatic cutoff for the applications, either in test scores, rank, or grade point average.

Therefore, make good of the application process and Stony Brook essay requirements to increase your enrollment chances. Ensure you make the motivation letter sound and feel personal from the beginning. Don’t use clichés or be too generic. Try to make it sound like an actual human wrote it. Also, engage the reader, spark their interest, and keep the essay professional.

Whether you are writing a motivation essay, an entrance essay, or a college introduction letter, the success of your letter will depend on how interested you are in getting the desired program at Stone Brook University. Remember to trust yourself, and if you fail the first time, try again because eventually, you will make it. Good luck with your SUNY Stone Brook application!

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