How to Write a Letter of Motivation for the Geography Department

Show how passionate you are about the subject and make sure you don't get the wrong department when you apply. "Geography is a living, breathing, ever-changing science. Studying the world around it moves forward is a great adventure with meaning," Michael Palin, president of the Royal Geographical Society, wrote in The Guardian.

From global warming to the impact of economic shifts on local communities, geography is a fascinating subject to study. But before taking the class, future geographers will have to impress the admissions committee with a letter of motivation.

In reviewing applications, professors look at applicants' passion for the subject, practical experience and breadth of vision. In doing so, it's important to be sure to mention some points, but also to avoid a few things in the essay.

What should be in a motivation letter

Interest

Explain why you want to get into this department. "We want to know why you decided to take geography in the first place," says Peter Mackey, professor of socioeconomic geography at Cardiff University. - It's great if even at this stage a student shows an interest in a particular area of knowledge. You could say, "I'm interested in the Arab Spring movement," or "I want to study sustainable development and climate change. A good applicant's interests are not limited to the school curriculum."

Personal Experience

Further, the admissions committee wants to know about the experience you have under your belt. "You've told us about your interest - now confirm it. Provide us with proof," Mackey continues. - It could be a camping trip, an event or something you read about in the local paper. Organized geography seminars at school? Volunteered with the Oxford Hunger Relief Committee? Let us know about it."

Humanity

You can earn the approval of some teachers by showing that you have compassion and empathy. "Students need to be able to understand different people and be concerned about the state of the environment," says Phil Barker of Lancaster University's environmental center. - It's good to show that through volunteer work."

Other interests

 Besides the practical experience that correlates with a geography degree, the admissions office would love to know that you are interested in something else. "We need people with a broad outlook because all of our graduates combine different pursuits even after graduation," explains Lucy Bilsbrough, who is in charge of admissions at the University of Leeds. "Whether you do ballet or work at McDonald's, share it with us. It's the kind of information that can tell you're disciplined and not hung up on geography," the expert continues.

Character

It's a good idea to imagine what you want to get out of your studies. "Write down what you're going to do after you graduate, even if only in general terms," Bilsbrough continues. - The fact that you're thinking about it speaks in your favor."

It will also tell the admissions committee something about your character, too. "I always advise applicants to try to express themselves, their opinions," Bilsbrough says, "because we get a lot of applications written in generic phrases."

Communications

Self-written text should be literate. "The ability to present information, both in writing and orally, is also important," Mackey emphasizes. - So students can mention participation in discussion clubs or papers they've given. It should be shown that you're willing to read a lot and work hard in general."

What's best to avoid in a motivation letter for a geography department

Lack of preparation

What shouldn't be in a motivation letter? First, mistakes: check which department you're applying to. "Sometimes you get people who clearly wanted to get into another major," Barker comments. - You see some students who have a statement on their application that they want to work in geophysics in the future. At first glance, the title has something in common with geography and people get confused, which is why it's so important to know ahead of time what department you're in."

Connecting the Unconnected

Don't try to pull a non-geography-related experience into geography. "Some students try in weird, unbelievable ways to attribute their job at a clothing store or coaching a soccer team to geography," Mackey cites as an example.

Slip to the surface

It's not enough to just list what you did, you have to somehow evaluate, analyze your experience. "A lot of applications are pretty superficial," Barker notes. - When you write an essay, try to get to the heart of it."

Overcomplicated

But don't grasp all the difficult questions at once. "It's not uncommon for young people to try to write more about the science literature," Barker gives an example. - But the motivation letter format isn't right for that - there's too little space."

Excessive brevity

But beware of the other extreme: use the full length available. "Some works are too succinct," says Bilsbrough. - You read one and wonder if the person really wants to study here."

If you have questions about the curriculum or the application process, don't be afraid to ask the admissions office of the institution you're applying to. "Sometimes applicants are shy to ask for help," Bilsbrough shares. - Contact us anytime-it's our job."

Translated by Alyona Mahneva