Physics GRE Discussion Forums

What exactly do people mean by tailoring an SOP? Does it mean you look for your fit with their programs/groups or how youll fit perfectly with group X?? I would assume people would do the former without considering it being tailoring

I think a lot of people write a somewhat generalized SOP 'template', where they talk about their research experience and interests. Once they have a template, they tailor it to the particular school they're sending it to. If you're applying to 10 different schools, it's easier to have a template to work off of.

I basically have a template and add a paragraph or two saying with whom I would like to work. the schools with connections, etc, i will add two to three sentences somewhere stating the connection etc.

I have my full SOP with one paragraph talking about why I want to go to the school and who I want to work with.

Yeah...I'm basically changing the last paragraph of mine just to say what ongoing research at that college I'm interested in, to actually name the college, and so on.