US Applications

Statement of Purpose and Recommendation Letters for the US

Most US master's courses ask for a statement of purpose (SOP), a short essay about your goals, and letters of recommendation (LORs) from people who know your work. Here are the 2026-27 rules from Purdue and Northeastern.

Example: your application papers

US Applications

Statement of purpose (SOP)Your goals and why this course

Letter of recommendation (LOR)Letters from teachers or employers

Example

Example: a guide of about 1,000 words

How US Universities Use Your SOP and Letters

They help the university judge your motivation and your past work, along with your marks and tests.

Statement of Purpose (SOP)

Northeastern's Khoury College: about 1,000 words, a guide and not a hard limit
Purdue computer science asks for two essays: one about your studies and one about your personal history

Letter of Recommendation (LOR)

Purdue computer science: at least three letters, sent online before the deadline
Northeastern's Khoury College: one academic and one professional reference

What the University Looks At

Looks at everything

At Purdue computer science, the decision uses your marks, your rank in class, letters, statement of purpose, research, CV and English test score.

Writing Your Statement of Purpose

Khoury College uses the statement to judge your motivation for the course.

Essential Components of a Strong SOP

Be specific

Be clear and exact about your goals. Khoury College looks for this.

Explain your studies

Use the statement to tell the story of your studies so far.

Getting Good Recommendation Letters

Universities want letters from people who know your work well.

Who Should Write Them

Teachers from your last two years

Purdue computer science wants professors who taught you in your last two years of college.

Your research supervisor

If you have done research, Purdue computer science wants a letter from your research supervisor.

A mix of academic and work

Khoury College wants one academic and one professional reference, for new graduates and working people alike.

Asking for Letters

Asking for Recommendations

1
Use the university portal
Recommenders send letters through the link in your application portal. Khoury College does not accept letters through other systems.
2
Ask them to say who they are
For Purdue computer science, your letter writer adds a short note on how they know you and your work.