一篇好的PS首先要有一個精彩的開頭。但是大家往往會忽略這個部分。本文主要敘述常見的幾種寫法，通過事例來告訴大家，這幾種寫法的優(yōu)點與缺點。

（一）自我陳訴、開門見山、直入主題型
例如：
I am applying for admission to the Ph.D. program in Electrical and Computer Engineering, at the University of California, Berkeley. I present my research experience and study objectives in this statement of purpose.
I would like to build on my solid education and experience as an engineer for a Ph. D. degree in computer science at a distinguished university. I wish in particular to be trained at an advanced level in software systems, database systems, applied-AI and knowledge-based systems. My ultimate goal is to become a professor teaching computer science at a Chinese university. I believe that advanced training in a quality graduate program will help me realize my goal.
這種寫法的優(yōu)點是：開篇點明主題的目的性，讓人一目了然。
這種寫法的缺點是：在留學申請的過程中，太多人引用這樣的寫法，顯得平淡，不能引起教授的興趣。

（二）敘述故事，說理型
1.敘述自己的家庭故事
My father is a chartered accountant and my mother is a banker. During my days at Engineering College I used to go to my father's office and help him manage his portfolio of equities and other financial instruments. This was the time I learnt the first lesson of finance from my father i.e. risk and return are proportionate. In 1998 when I was in the second year the China stock market crashed. But fortunately, my father had a well-diversified portfolio because of which our returns were protected from the downside risk. This was when I learnt the second principle of finance from my father i.e. diversification reduces risk. While I understood these two principles intuitively, it produced in me a strong urge to learn and understand the complex theory behind the working of Finance. This, I believe, was a turning point in my career. I made up my mind to pursue a career in Finance and hence decided to do a Masters program in Business Administration.
這種寫法的優(yōu)點：聯(lián)系家庭，敘述自己。給人感覺親切。
這種寫法的缺點：無法引起讀者的強烈興趣。

2. 敘述事件，引出自己的興趣、觀點。
As I was finishing college, my mother had both of her hips replaced with artificial ones because all of the cartilage in her hip joints had worn away and it was very painful for her to walk. I found it fascinating that engineers, orthopedic surgeons, and biologists had all worked together to design these artificial joints that completely transform. people's lives by giving them back pain-free mobility, and I knew at that moment that this was an area about which I wanted to learn more.
In China these days, university graduates who have not been lucky enough to settle into their dream jobs often look to graduated studies as a way to kill the time that they cannot otherwise spend meaningfully. I am prepared to go against the social conventions by putting on hold a successful research career that promised to be even more successful. With eight years of productive and highly valued practical research behind me, I now would like to revert to a more intellectual life so that I can conduct more theoretical discourses.
這種寫法的優(yōu)點：通過敘述事件來寫，可以自然的連貫到自己的觀點，興趣，不會顯的突兀。
這種寫法的缺點：并不能引起讀者強烈的興趣。

（三）引用諺語、名言等。
When asked how to manage to mask remarkable statues, the French sculptor Auguste Rodin answered, “I choose a block of marble and chop off whatever I don't need.（法國雕塑家羅丹說：“給我一塊大理石，把多余的去掉?！保?For me, life is just a block of marble---whether the marble can be turned into a remarkable statue depends on your natural talents, diligence and a sense of duty. During over four years’ my college life, I have been dreaming of being a perfect female researcher so that I can enhance more young girls’ confidence in scientific research and encourage them to promote the development of science as men do.
For Knowledge Itself Is Power.This is one of my favorite precepts and at this point in my life when I am about to complete my graduation and my future spreads in front of me like a dream, this adage has never influenced my life more than this before.
這種寫法的優(yōu)點：引用諺語、名言來引出自己的觀點，可以顯示出作者有很強的文化底蘊。
這種寫法的缺點：沒有辦法表現(xiàn)突出的個人特色。

（四）對該學科的認識感受型
For the past three years, my undergraduate education has exposed me to the various sub-fields of Computer Science (CS). However, our syllabus has focused mainly on "traditional" CS topics, such as Operating systems and single-CPU systems. We have had barely a glimpse of the newer technologies that are likely to change the way computing is done in not-so-distant future. The desire to examine such subjects in greater detail is what has prompted me to opt for graduate study.
Due to the comprehensiveness of China’s“reform. and open”policies, economics plays an increasingly important role in the development of its global position. As a senior at Beijing University majoring in Economics, I feel that my field is fundamental to the progress of my country. Yet, at the same time, I realize only too well that what I have learned as an undergraduate is far from enough. Therefore, it is my desire to pursue a graduate degree I Economics at your university. If accepted, my intended concentration would be Economic Development and Public Economics
這種寫法的優(yōu)點：可以顯示出作者在該領域的認識，突出其興趣。
這種寫法的缺點：顯得過于平淡，沒有辦法引起讀者的共鳴。