Is it okay to mention family background in SOP?











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I'm applying for MS in Mathematics. My grandfather was Math professor and my uncle is also Math professor. Such family background was one of my reasons to study Mathematics and I was wondering if I can mention my family background briefly at introduction in SOP?






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    I'm applying for MS in Mathematics. My grandfather was Math professor and my uncle is also Math professor. Such family background was one of my reasons to study Mathematics and I was wondering if I can mention my family background briefly at introduction in SOP?






    graduate-admissions graduate-school statement-of-purpose







    share|improve this question
























      up vote
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      down vote

      favorite









      up vote
      2
      down vote

      favorite











      I'm applying for MS in Mathematics. My grandfather was Math professor and my uncle is also Math professor. Such family background was one of my reasons to study Mathematics and I was wondering if I can mention my family background briefly at introduction in SOP?






      graduate-admissions graduate-school statement-of-purpose







      share|improve this question













      I'm applying for MS in Mathematics. My grandfather was Math professor and my uncle is also Math professor. Such family background was one of my reasons to study Mathematics and I was wondering if I can mention my family background briefly at introduction in SOP?






      graduate-admissions graduate-school statement-of-purpose




      graduate-admissions graduate-school statement-of-purpose






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      asked Nov 27 at 6:41









      tazobird

      182




      182






















          1 Answer
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          Can you? Sure, it's not wildly inappropriate.



          Do I recommend it? No! This is a 1-2 page document where you state what your purpose is (hence the name). It's not a time to talk about your childhood, why you were inspired to study math, or what your favorite type of helicopter is. It's where you talk about what you've done so far and what you want to do next.



          You may have to talk about your personal situation -- usually to explain a bad semester, etc. And it's fine to state a few interesting details about yourself (especially if you have significant achievements outside of math, or a non-traditional background, etc.). But listing the professions of your family members is neither necessary nor interesting.






          share|improve this answer





















          • "...or what your favorite type of helicopter is." seems unnecessary. The OP is talking about dear family members, not helicopters.
            – Pedro Tamaroff
            Nov 27 at 11:45










          • Agree it is a bit of an exaggeration ("reductio ad absurdum"), but I don't think it's disrespectful.
            – cag51
            Nov 27 at 14:45










          • Could you explain more about "talk about your personal situation"? I do have a bad semseter and I want to know how I can explain such matters in SOP. Thanks
            – tazobird
            Nov 27 at 17:17










          • Anything that's relevant or interesting is fine. You can introduce yourself, state your hobbies/achievements, explain anything that you did that was especially noteworthy, give any mitigating factors for bad semesters/test scores, etc. Anything that you would feel comfortable saying face-to-face to your boss is fine. This is just not the time for "therapy", childhood issues, or boring stories. If you would cringe saying it to your boss's face, don't say it in your essay. (Your motivation to study math isn't cringe-worthy, but it's not something your boss would probably be interested in)
            – cag51
            Nov 27 at 18:10













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          1 Answer
          1






          active

          oldest

          votes








          1 Answer
          1






          active

          oldest

          votes









          active

          oldest

          votes






          active

          oldest

          votes








          up vote
          6
          down vote



          accepted










          Can you? Sure, it's not wildly inappropriate.



          Do I recommend it? No! This is a 1-2 page document where you state what your purpose is (hence the name). It's not a time to talk about your childhood, why you were inspired to study math, or what your favorite type of helicopter is. It's where you talk about what you've done so far and what you want to do next.



          You may have to talk about your personal situation -- usually to explain a bad semester, etc. And it's fine to state a few interesting details about yourself (especially if you have significant achievements outside of math, or a non-traditional background, etc.). But listing the professions of your family members is neither necessary nor interesting.






          share|improve this answer





















          • "...or what your favorite type of helicopter is." seems unnecessary. The OP is talking about dear family members, not helicopters.
            – Pedro Tamaroff
            Nov 27 at 11:45










          • Agree it is a bit of an exaggeration ("reductio ad absurdum"), but I don't think it's disrespectful.
            – cag51
            Nov 27 at 14:45










          • Could you explain more about "talk about your personal situation"? I do have a bad semseter and I want to know how I can explain such matters in SOP. Thanks
            – tazobird
            Nov 27 at 17:17










          • Anything that's relevant or interesting is fine. You can introduce yourself, state your hobbies/achievements, explain anything that you did that was especially noteworthy, give any mitigating factors for bad semesters/test scores, etc. Anything that you would feel comfortable saying face-to-face to your boss is fine. This is just not the time for "therapy", childhood issues, or boring stories. If you would cringe saying it to your boss's face, don't say it in your essay. (Your motivation to study math isn't cringe-worthy, but it's not something your boss would probably be interested in)
            – cag51
            Nov 27 at 18:10

















          up vote
          6
          down vote



          accepted










          Can you? Sure, it's not wildly inappropriate.



          Do I recommend it? No! This is a 1-2 page document where you state what your purpose is (hence the name). It's not a time to talk about your childhood, why you were inspired to study math, or what your favorite type of helicopter is. It's where you talk about what you've done so far and what you want to do next.



          You may have to talk about your personal situation -- usually to explain a bad semester, etc. And it's fine to state a few interesting details about yourself (especially if you have significant achievements outside of math, or a non-traditional background, etc.). But listing the professions of your family members is neither necessary nor interesting.






          share|improve this answer





















          • "...or what your favorite type of helicopter is." seems unnecessary. The OP is talking about dear family members, not helicopters.
            – Pedro Tamaroff
            Nov 27 at 11:45










          • Agree it is a bit of an exaggeration ("reductio ad absurdum"), but I don't think it's disrespectful.
            – cag51
            Nov 27 at 14:45










          • Could you explain more about "talk about your personal situation"? I do have a bad semseter and I want to know how I can explain such matters in SOP. Thanks
            – tazobird
            Nov 27 at 17:17










          • Anything that's relevant or interesting is fine. You can introduce yourself, state your hobbies/achievements, explain anything that you did that was especially noteworthy, give any mitigating factors for bad semesters/test scores, etc. Anything that you would feel comfortable saying face-to-face to your boss is fine. This is just not the time for "therapy", childhood issues, or boring stories. If you would cringe saying it to your boss's face, don't say it in your essay. (Your motivation to study math isn't cringe-worthy, but it's not something your boss would probably be interested in)
            – cag51
            Nov 27 at 18:10















          up vote
          6
          down vote



          accepted







          up vote
          6
          down vote



          accepted






          Can you? Sure, it's not wildly inappropriate.



          Do I recommend it? No! This is a 1-2 page document where you state what your purpose is (hence the name). It's not a time to talk about your childhood, why you were inspired to study math, or what your favorite type of helicopter is. It's where you talk about what you've done so far and what you want to do next.



          You may have to talk about your personal situation -- usually to explain a bad semester, etc. And it's fine to state a few interesting details about yourself (especially if you have significant achievements outside of math, or a non-traditional background, etc.). But listing the professions of your family members is neither necessary nor interesting.






          share|improve this answer












          Can you? Sure, it's not wildly inappropriate.



          Do I recommend it? No! This is a 1-2 page document where you state what your purpose is (hence the name). It's not a time to talk about your childhood, why you were inspired to study math, or what your favorite type of helicopter is. It's where you talk about what you've done so far and what you want to do next.



          You may have to talk about your personal situation -- usually to explain a bad semester, etc. And it's fine to state a few interesting details about yourself (especially if you have significant achievements outside of math, or a non-traditional background, etc.). But listing the professions of your family members is neither necessary nor interesting.







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered Nov 27 at 7:06









          cag51

          10.8k42348




          10.8k42348












          • "...or what your favorite type of helicopter is." seems unnecessary. The OP is talking about dear family members, not helicopters.
            – Pedro Tamaroff
            Nov 27 at 11:45










          • Agree it is a bit of an exaggeration ("reductio ad absurdum"), but I don't think it's disrespectful.
            – cag51
            Nov 27 at 14:45










          • Could you explain more about "talk about your personal situation"? I do have a bad semseter and I want to know how I can explain such matters in SOP. Thanks
            – tazobird
            Nov 27 at 17:17










          • Anything that's relevant or interesting is fine. You can introduce yourself, state your hobbies/achievements, explain anything that you did that was especially noteworthy, give any mitigating factors for bad semesters/test scores, etc. Anything that you would feel comfortable saying face-to-face to your boss is fine. This is just not the time for "therapy", childhood issues, or boring stories. If you would cringe saying it to your boss's face, don't say it in your essay. (Your motivation to study math isn't cringe-worthy, but it's not something your boss would probably be interested in)
            – cag51
            Nov 27 at 18:10




















          • "...or what your favorite type of helicopter is." seems unnecessary. The OP is talking about dear family members, not helicopters.
            – Pedro Tamaroff
            Nov 27 at 11:45










          • Agree it is a bit of an exaggeration ("reductio ad absurdum"), but I don't think it's disrespectful.
            – cag51
            Nov 27 at 14:45










          • Could you explain more about "talk about your personal situation"? I do have a bad semseter and I want to know how I can explain such matters in SOP. Thanks
            – tazobird
            Nov 27 at 17:17










          • Anything that's relevant or interesting is fine. You can introduce yourself, state your hobbies/achievements, explain anything that you did that was especially noteworthy, give any mitigating factors for bad semesters/test scores, etc. Anything that you would feel comfortable saying face-to-face to your boss is fine. This is just not the time for "therapy", childhood issues, or boring stories. If you would cringe saying it to your boss's face, don't say it in your essay. (Your motivation to study math isn't cringe-worthy, but it's not something your boss would probably be interested in)
            – cag51
            Nov 27 at 18:10


















          "...or what your favorite type of helicopter is." seems unnecessary. The OP is talking about dear family members, not helicopters.
          – Pedro Tamaroff
          Nov 27 at 11:45




          "...or what your favorite type of helicopter is." seems unnecessary. The OP is talking about dear family members, not helicopters.
          – Pedro Tamaroff
          Nov 27 at 11:45












          Agree it is a bit of an exaggeration ("reductio ad absurdum"), but I don't think it's disrespectful.
          – cag51
          Nov 27 at 14:45




          Agree it is a bit of an exaggeration ("reductio ad absurdum"), but I don't think it's disrespectful.
          – cag51
          Nov 27 at 14:45












          Could you explain more about "talk about your personal situation"? I do have a bad semseter and I want to know how I can explain such matters in SOP. Thanks
          – tazobird
          Nov 27 at 17:17




          Could you explain more about "talk about your personal situation"? I do have a bad semseter and I want to know how I can explain such matters in SOP. Thanks
          – tazobird
          Nov 27 at 17:17












          Anything that's relevant or interesting is fine. You can introduce yourself, state your hobbies/achievements, explain anything that you did that was especially noteworthy, give any mitigating factors for bad semesters/test scores, etc. Anything that you would feel comfortable saying face-to-face to your boss is fine. This is just not the time for "therapy", childhood issues, or boring stories. If you would cringe saying it to your boss's face, don't say it in your essay. (Your motivation to study math isn't cringe-worthy, but it's not something your boss would probably be interested in)
          – cag51
          Nov 27 at 18:10






          Anything that's relevant or interesting is fine. You can introduce yourself, state your hobbies/achievements, explain anything that you did that was especially noteworthy, give any mitigating factors for bad semesters/test scores, etc. Anything that you would feel comfortable saying face-to-face to your boss is fine. This is just not the time for "therapy", childhood issues, or boring stories. If you would cringe saying it to your boss's face, don't say it in your essay. (Your motivation to study math isn't cringe-worthy, but it's not something your boss would probably be interested in)
          – cag51
          Nov 27 at 18:10




















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