Letter of Purpose (aka College Entrance Letter)

The Letter of Purpose, which is also known as the College Entrance Letter, is similar to the Cover Letter. The big difference is that the Letter of Purpose is addressed to a college, university, branch of the military or an organization that offers internships. Each paragraph serves a purpose:

Paragraph 1: This is where you will introduce yourself. More importantly, you will talk about who or what life experience lead you to choose you major. In other words, why are you excited about majoring in Library Science? Is it because your aunt left you her collection of books? 

Paragraph 2: In this paragraph, you will talk about the relevant courses, volunteer experiences and extracurricular activities that help to shape your passion for your career/major. You can also include your professional experience also. Remember that business people love numbers, so do not be afraid to add them to your letter.

Paragraph 3: In this paragraph, you will mention the faculty members with whom you would like to study. It helps to read something that they wrote and get more information about their research interests. 

Paragraph 4: In what ways will you give back to your organization, once you have graduated or moved on to the next level? Remember that businesses are investing in you, so it is always a good idea to give them something in return. Once you graduate, for example, you give internships to students who are in your school or department. You could also give scholarship funds. Community outreach programs are an excellent way for your organization to connect with the surrounding community.

Paragraph 5: This is the closing. In this paragraph, you will thank the reader for taking his/her time to read your letter and reiterate your email address or telephone number.