"Would" or "will" in Statement of Purpose

[mjr2013]

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Getting into the nitty gritty here, but I've been given different advice by different advisors. Which is correct?

Examples: "At XYZ University, I [will/would] make excellent use of resources, including...", "Dr. ABC [will/would] make a fit for an advisor because..."

^neither are actually in my SoP, but examples.

TIA

 

[AcronymAllergy]

I personally would opt for "would," as "will" sounds a bit presumptuous. But I don't think I'd can an essay for either one.

 

[jdawg2017]

A good alternative is to also say “hope to.”

 

[Justanothergrad]

My preference would also be in the realm of would/hope to

Although this isn't something that would cause me to toss an application either way.

 

[deleted343839]

Another vote for conditional/aspirational wording over declarative. But agree, I wouldn't bat an eye at the latter and it wouldn't change my overall opinion of the applicant, all other things being the same.

 

[mjr2013]

Thank you all! I'll stick with would. Every bit counts. 🙂

 

[forensic13]

I vote "would" as well.