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All you need to know about SOP - Statement of Purpose

A Statement of Purpose (SOP) is the most significant aspect of your application when you desire for overseas education. It is a letter of intent or research statement that reflects your personality, career path and goals you disclose to the admission committee for getting enrolled in different universities abroad. Almost all universities abroad require students to submit the statement of purpose with an application that ensures a particular student is right for the course he/she applied to the university.

SOP in detail

SOP- Statement of Purpose is an essay to be written to the admission panel describing your life interest, career goals, professional contributions and the objective of pursuing a particular course in the university. It is required by universities abroad and also by some of the Indian universities during the application process nowadays. While some universities require it in the essay form, there are some that require question-based format. Besides personality, career goals and reason for the course you have chosen, you should also discuss the past experience that influenced you to choose your career path in a specific domain in the college. Since SOP decides your admission for your preferred course and university abroad, it forms an integral part of the application process.

SOP- Purpose & Importance

A well-drafted SOP is extremely crucial for your admission to universities abroad. A Statement of Purpose is ultimately the decision-maker of your application though there are many aspects of candidates inspected before finalizing the decision. Your academic records and academic transcripts will showcase your academic skills and they are only objective in nature. It is SOP that mentions the truly subjective nature of your application reflecting your overall personality to the admission panel and universities. The admission committee assesses your personality, career goals, subject knowledge and your vision with the help of SOP. A well-written SOP will provide you the opportunity to persuade your purpose of choosing the course and decide your admission to your desired university abroad.

SOP Format

There is a standardized SOP format accepted by different colleges/universities across the globe. Though some components of an SOP are mandatory and the same for all institutions, the content varies with regards to each student’s SOP for different kinds of courses.

Here are some common elements that are most crucial to your SOP.

• Your personal background
• Academic details
• Financial background
• Immediate and long term career goals
• Reasons for choosing a particular course/field
• Reasons why you choose a particular college/university
• Professional experience
• Extra-curricular activities
• Published works/submitted papers if any
• Interests & hobbies

Every course across various countries requires a different SOP format and each SOP should be unique. There are different SOP formats for the USA, UK, Canada and Australia. Make sure you choose the right SOP format required for a particular course and the university you choose in a particular country.

Writing Your Name on the Statement of Purpose

Normally, there is no necessity to write your name or course details anywhere in the traditional SOP format. Since the SOP is a part of your profile and application, your name and course details will be included by default in it. However, some universities/colleges may require your name and specific course details in the SOP. Make sure you check with the particular university for any specific instructions on writing your personal details in the document and follow accordingly.

University Requirements for an SOP

Always keep in mind that the admission committee will be examining thousands of applications for the same course you applied and your SOP should be unique and standard apart from other profiles. So, make sure you keep it crisp and precise while drafting your SOP.

Below are a few things that the admission committee generally looks for in a student’s SOP.

• Your SOP reflects your writing skills, so it should be free from any grammatical errors. Use good vocabulary in a way it is clear and understandable for them to comprehend. Also, try to avoid using too much rich vocabulary as sometimes it would make the point superfluous and fail to communicate the exact meaning of what you intend to express.
• Always highlight your unique personality in the SOP that makes you stand out from the rest of the students. The University Admission Committee should be able to recognize your profile separately through your SOP. Write your interests and goals in a lucid manner so that it will help them analyze your personality more.
• Explain how and what you can contribute to the specific department and university with your skills, interests and previous experiences. Try to give a lucid explanation in two ways: one on receiving the admission, the beneficial to college/department through your efforts and participation after starting your career and the other on contributing to the community through community services, sports, societies/clubs, etc.
• Convince the committee about you being familiar with the course, curriculum and university facilities. Be aware of the student programs in the university, faculty, internship opportunities, facilities, communities, etc. that set apart your preferred university from others.
• Keep your SOP original, authentic and free from any overbearing statements. Your motivation and interest to study a selected course should be evident, clear and justified.

Note that there are some basics like word limit, format and others which you need to keep in mind while drafting SOP. Also, remember that your SOP should be specific to the course you are applying for at all times. The SOP for MBA would vary from the SOP for a Master’s course like MS or MSc, etc. and the Bachelor’s courses require a rather different SOP.

Here is a general look through how to write an appealing SOP.

Length of an SOP

The length of the document varies with different university requirements. Normally, a Statement of Purpose is written 1-2 pages long in about 800-1000 words. While most universities accept the generic length of SOP in about 800-1000 words but not exceeding 1200 words, there are some institutions that require a fixed length and pattern of SOPs with the word limit fixed to 500 words or even 200 words in few cases.

Therefore, you should be careful in drafting your SOP sticking to the word limit and other specific requirements by the college/university. Describe your major achievements from school, college, and office and portray your personality the best within the prescribed word limit.

Note: Some universities don’t require an SOP, rather they would ask for Essay Prompts with a word limit.

Things to Include in an SOP

There are many components which you should take into account while drafting an SOP. Universities may require either question-based essays or a general Statement of Purpose. Unless it is categorically preferred, an SOP should include your career path and goals along with your academic progress. Personal interest or motivation that leads you to choose the specific course and university is another essential element you should mention in your SOP including the intention of using your gained experience to achieve the goal.

Things Not to Include in an SOP

While there is an exhaustive list of things you could include in an SOP, you must remember there are few things that you should avoid mentioning in your SOP. For example, your family history, academic achievements, financial status and other requirements as such. You should focus only on your key learnings and major achievements instead of dragging your SOP with some superfluous information.

Strategies for Writing an Effective SOP

No matter you apply for an undergraduate, graduate or post-graduate programs abroad, writing an SOP in a more effective and powerful way would help you get through your goals. You should carefully connect every information right from your personal academic and professional background to your career goals through your chosen course and university. Your SOP should have a flow covering your past experiences, present involvements, and future plans. Divide into smaller sections wrapping up all the pointers while drafting your SOP. Below are some tips on how to build your profile strongly in an SOP.

1^st Paragraph: A General Introduction

This is not a self-introduction, rather a general introduction about what you are going to mention in your SOP. This para should include the following information.

• Discuss your long-term goal and link it with your idea of pursuing the course you apply to
• Mention your understanding of the chosen program and how you contribute to the field
• Explain your personal background in about 2-3 lines and connect with your future career path
• Elucidate an anecdote that helped you chose the particular field and interest in it

2^nd & 3^rd Paragraphs: Academics & Professional Background

Highlight your academic background that includes things you have done so far, currently pursuing, academic strengths, projects, and industrial exposure, etc. Mention your professional background if you have any in the next paragraph which might help you in your career progression.

4^th Paragraph: Reasons for Choosing the Course

Describe why you have chosen the particular course and what modules you would cover during the course. This paragraph should also mention the skills you would acquire in this course duration and the exposure you gain that would help in realizing your goal.

5^th Paragraph: Career Path & Goals

This is the most vital part of your SOP as this paragraph should discuss your career path, short and long-term goals after completing the course. Explain about the job profile that you would have planned to work in the future with mentioning the name of some companies, too. Following this, mention your long-term goal mentioning where you would see yourselves after 10-15 years down the line. Whether it is studies like pursuing a Ph.D., becoming a researcher, establishing your own firm or expanding your family business overseas, include all your desires in this section. Also, discuss your core values, principles, and business aims here. Explain how you wish to make a difference or influence others in the industry with emerging trends and current scenarios.

6^th Paragraph: Reasons for Choosing a Specific University

This section should be convincing the committee of why you are a suitable candidate for the university and how your profile perfectly matches the requirements. Speak about your course curriculum, faculty, research work and other university-specific activities that would be helpful for you in enhancing your profile and achieving your career goals.

Ending Paragraph

Conclude your desire and promptitude towards joining the chosen course and university in the closing paragraph. In this section, you should sound strong, focused and how prepared you are for facing all the challenges that come your way. Disclose your thirst to succeed and with the experience you gain in the university through the course, you will make a difference in the industry.

Mentioning Scholarships in SOP

If you are eligible for any specific scholarship program or grants in a college/university, then you will be required to write a separate essay or SOP during the application process. The universities might either ask you for an essay prompt/questions with a prescribed word limit or an SOP mentioning the reasons of why you deserve the scholarship and how you are unique from other candidates to obtain the scholarship. There is a different scholarship SOP, which is different from a generic SOP.

You need to highlight your unique selling points, major achievements, any skill or quality that differentiates you from others in a scholarship essay/SOP.

SOP Vs Personal Statement

A Personal Statement is a way more similar to the Statement of Purpose in just a few aspects. An SOP is a two-page essay that mentions your personality, motivation, goals, previous experience and others whereas a Personal Statement is a crisp one-page essay where you need to talk only about your interests, goals, motivation and achievements. A Personal Statement is more personal where you should elaborate on your aspirations and motivations and SOP is again a detailed version of the Personal Statement.