What is SOP?

The Statement of Purpose (SOP) reflects your personality that you describe to the admissions committee (AdCom) for admission to a foreign university. It gives you the opportunity to impress the panel by presenting your resume through an essay describing your personality traits that are not included in your academic documents.

The SOP is a long essay required by foreign universities during the application process. The full form of the SOP is the Statement of Purpose, which is intended to highlight the purpose of students applying for a particular course at a particular university. SOP seeks to understand candidates’ lives and motivations for their career paths and goals. This essay includes a summary of what you have done, what you are currently doing, and what you plan to do in the future.

There are many factors that determine candidate selection and one of them includes a well-written SOP. While academic records and other transcripts/exam transcripts and certificates of backlog are objective in nature, SOP is the only truly subjective aspect of your application. In addition, the SOP allows you to present your future goals and aspirations to the admissions committee, which in turn helps them decide if you are a good fit for a particular program.

While there are a number of formats and templates available online for SOP that aspirants can use, choosing the right format becomes difficult. Also, there is no perfect SOP. Due to the subjective nature of this document, the admissions committee may infer different things from the same SOP.

In a traditional SOP, you don’t need to write your name or course details anywhere. The SOP is part of your application/ student profile, so it will contain your course name and details by default. However, some universities or high schools may require you to state your name in the SOP. These universities will provide you with specific instructions on how and where your personal data is recorded. So you have to follow their instructions carefully.

When writing your SOP, you should keep in mind that the admissions committee will review thousands of applications for the same course. Therefore, your SOP must be clear and precise, and must clearly reflect the uniqueness of your record. Here are some of the things college review boards usually look for in a student’s SOP:  

Your writing ability is reflected in your SOP. Your SOP must not contain grammatical errors. The language must be clear enough for them to understand; At the same time, a rich vocabulary helps to leave a positive impact. Make sure not to use too many “heavy words” as their use can seem forced.

You should highlight the qualities that makes you better from the rest of the candidates; these may include your academic achievements, your participation in society, your extracurricular achievements, etc. The Adcom should be able to recognize you an as individual through your SOP. Their understanding of you as a person will be helped by your hobbies and objectives. Try to demonstrate how you can benefit the college, department, or university. Keeping that in mind, think about the following:

If you receive an admission letter, your career will get a kick-start. It goes without saying that you will gain something from the course. At the same time, the university/college/faculty will also receive certain benefits from your admission (apart from tuition fees, of course!).

It would be helpful if you mentioned how you can contribute to the community, whether through sports, community service, society, clubs, etc. Simply put, you must be able to convince the admissions committee that you can become an ambassador. for university or department.

Familiarity with the University’s facilities and curriculum will indicate that you have done your research and that your application is not random. You should know about the University’s achievements, student programs, faculties, internship opportunities, facilities and student society, traditions, etc. Your motivation or inspiration for taking a particular course should be clear, specific, and logical. Bragging language in the SOP is not permitted, according to Adcom.. Therefore, you should keep it original, authentic and free of any overbearing or arrogant statements.

Now that we’ve assessed the importance of your SOP, we come to the important part – how to write a SOP that stands out among thousands of applications. There are some basic principles involved in writing SOPs, which clarify various aspects like word limit, formatting, etc. It is important that you focus on the course you want to take. For example, if you are talking about studying computer science in a country, you should discuss all your computer science encounters, experiences, and learnings. Make sure you don’t miss any important events/achievements/experiences related to this course. Evidently, the SOP for the MBA application will be different from the SOP for the Master of Computer Science. Likewise, the SOP for a bachelor’s degree will be different from a master’s degree. Here is an overview of how to write a successful SOP.

The statement of purpose should be 1-2 pages long and everything should be around 800-1000 words; however, the length may vary depending on university requirements. Some universities have a word limit, maybe less than 200 words. Most universities accept SOPs of 800 to 1,000 words; however, in most cases it does not exceed 1200 words.

It’s relatively easy to write a story about your life, explaining the importance of each event that helped shape your personality. However, it becomes difficult to write an SOP within a specific word limit, and so does when your admission is at stake.  

Several international universities ask you to respond to an essay prompt in a specified number of words rather than requiring SOP. You can refer to this Importance of Word Limit in Essay to better grasp the significance of word limits in SOPs.

The content of your SOP will depend solely on the requirements of the University. The mantra is to stick to the statement/question provided by the University. Universities may require essays based on questions or just a general statement of purpose. Until and unless categorically requested, an SOP should include your goals and the career path you have pursued  as well as your academic progress. Other important things in SOP include your personal motivation for choosing the university/course and how you plan to use it to achieve your goals. While understanding how to write an SOP, we encountered various questions. Summarizing your entire life and career in 1,000 words can be a tedious exercise.

Remember that there is no exhaustive list of topics that you can include in your SOP. At the same time, it’s equally important to understand what you shouldn’t include in your SOP. For example, your home life, your school life, any extracurricular achievements, etc. 

An SOP needs to be written carefully as it is important for your application. Some of the SOP writing tips are given below:

THINK: We might call this process introspection. When we talk about introspection, we are certainly not talking about philosophical introspection (especially in this context). You need to think about all the important events that have influenced your personality and made you who you are today. For reflection, you can start with your academic performance, work experience, volunteer experience, reasons for taking a particular course, and your future goals. In the process, you may also encounter some life-changing events (for example:
publicly rebuked for your academic performance, an event that forces you to take your studies seriously). Record everything, then prepare a structure. Remember the relevant points and eliminate the most trivial.

RESEARCH; Make sure that you do your full research on the course, university, academic record, any ongoing research, etc. You must have a clear idea of ​​why to pursue your target course and choose that particular university. Even if you are considering changing your academic field, as opposed to a bachelor’s degree, there must be a good reason behind it. Your reasons should be clear and your SOP should reflect the research you have done about the course and the university. 

• Draft: Prepare a proper structure and then fill in the details. Here are a few points to consider:
  • Professional and personal background and interests,
  • Relevance of the chosen course and University,
  • A logical connection between the above and your future goals and aspirations,
  • Intention to contribute to the University, community, and society at large.

REVIEW: Once you’ve finished writing your SOP, the final step is to carefully review and make any necessary changes. Go back to the list you created at the beginning and check that you have included all the points in your SOP. Remove unnecessary details that are not related to your admission. It will take lot readings and revisions to come at the final version. Before seeking professional services, make sure your SOP is reviewed by an unbiased family member, colleague or friend.

A strong and compelling statement of intent is cantered throughout, and each point is connected to the next by logic and reason. From your academic and career background to your career aspirations, you need to connect all the points in a logical way. There should be a flow in events and things shouldn’t happen randomly. The essay must always follow the direction of past experiences, present involvements and future plans. An important point to remember, when writing your SOP, is to break it down into paragraphs that cover all the ideas.

Here’s an overview of how you can write a SOP:  

1st Paragraph: Introduction of SOP

This paragraph is often confused with self-introduction. It should not introduce you but should discuss what you are about to discuss in your SOP. You can adopt the following approaches:

• Discuss your long-term goal and connect it with your idea of pursuing the course you are applying to,
• Present your understanding of the chosen field and write how you want to contribute to that field,
• Explain your background in 2-3 lines and connect it with your future goals,
• Write about an anecdote that helped you realise your professional interest in the chosen field.

Students often make the mistake of introducing themselves or their childhood in the first paragraph. In some cases, students tend to forget about the purpose behind writing an SOP.

2nd and 3rd Paragraphs: Academic Background and Professional Experience

These paragraphs should contain your academic background:
what you’ve done so far (projects, experiences, etc.), what you’re after, etc. You can mention your professional experience after academic achievement. It helps set up your career growth .

4th Paragraph: Why This Course?

In this paragraph, you should explain why you want to take a course and what subjects you want to study. It should also include the skills and exposures you can acquire to help you achieve your goals. 

5^th: This is the most important paragraph where you should discuss your short-term and long-term goals. Your immediate goal will be where you want to work immediately after completing this course. You should be able to name several companies along with the names you find yourself working for. This will explain the type of job profile you will be working on.

Next is your long-term goal, where you should mention where you see yourself in the next 10, 12 or 15 years. This may include your desire to work at the CEO/CFO/CTO level or perhaps pursue entrepreneurship. It may also include ai of expanding your family business abroad. You may also be interested in other studies such as a PhD. You can also express a desire to become a professor or a researcher.

You should discuss your aim, principles, and values ​​and how you can influence prospective students. You must be able to describe how you want to make a difference in your industry or society, keeping in mind current industry scenarios and emerging trends.  

6th Here, you should try to convince the University why it suitable for you goals and why you fit with its vision and mission. You can discuss the course curriculum, research work, professors’ names, as well as specific university activities. Additionally, review the university’s vision and mission statement.

7thThis paragraph should conclude your desire and willingness to take your chosen course. Since this is the final stretch, you need to stay focused and prepared for any challenge that may come your way. It must also show that you have the potential to succeed, and with the help of your chosen course and university, you are sure to make a difference in the industry.

Additional tips on how to write a good Statement of Purpose

In order to write a good SOP, follow the tips given below:

• Mention your achievements, professional and academic, in the form of a story rather than statements.
• An SOP is a reflection of your personality; make sure it is clear and understandable.
• Mention strong reasons as to why you want to pursue a particular course.
• Be very clear about the timeline of your achievements.
• You can also mention your mistakes. But, also give instances of how you tried to rectify them.
• Proofread and edit the SOP time and again so that it can appear crisp and concise.

Mistakes to avoid while writing SOP

If you want to write an outstanding statement of purpose, given below are some of the common mistakes that you should avoid:

• Writing an SOP without any planning or roadmap.
• Writing a vague introduction and conclusion.
• Use of short forms, slang, and informal writing.
• Exceeding the word limit or writing too less.
• Making the SOP appear very flattering.

If you are eligible for a university-specific scholarship, you will be required to write a separate essay/SOP during the application process. You will receive an essay prompt/ question with a word limit. You may be asked to provide a SOP stating your credibility for this scholarship. Therefore, a generic SOP is different from an scholarship SOP.

In a scholarship essay/SOP,   you will need to highlight your unique selling points, key achievements, any qualities/skills that set you apart from other applicants, etc. You can read more about how to write a scholarship essay here.

In some ways, a personal statement is like a statement of intent. While the SOP includes a two-page essay on motivation, goals, experiences, extracurricular activities, and more, the personal statement is a one-page essay on motivation, inspiration, goals, and accomplishments. A personal statement is more personal than an SOP; therefore, a personal statement should mention your aspirations and motivations. An SOP is a much more detailed version of a personal statement. For a detailed look at this, 

A letter of motivation sent directly to the admissions committee/department/department explaining your goals, motivations, and your goals in relation to the course. An SOP is not directed at any particular person or department; rather, it is written in the form of an essay. To learn more about cover letters, read:

How to write an impressive Cover Letter? 

• How do I polish my SOP?
  Once you have finalised your SOP draft, give it a double-check for grammatical and formatting mistakes. Your next step should be to analyse and critique your essay. Look at your SOP through the eyes of Adcom and see what is lacking. For more effective input, you can show your drafts to your friends and family and take their inputs. Accordingly, you can make some changes but do not overdo it or deviate from the format. Finally, check for spacing errors.
• Do LORs and SOPs need to be attested?
  Only your LORs need to be attested by your college or company. An SOP need not be attested/ self-attested until and unless specified by the university. If you take a LOR from your Professor/ Principal/ Dean, then it needs to be signed by the recommender along with the college/ school stamp and letterhead. Similarly, professional LORs need to be signed by their respective recommenders on the company’s letterhead and company stamp.
• Should I explain the low grades in my statement of purpose?
  You should avoid mentioning any low marks or shortcomings about yourself in any of the application documents, including SOP. There are very few universities that ask you about your gap year. For them, you can mention the reason for the gap between your studies. Generally, no university asks about low grades during your study period as your selection depends on various criteria like exam scores, student profile, financials, and so on. However, if there is some issue that is clearly visible in your marksheets or your resume, make sure to provide a logical reason behind that event.
• What are the 5 tips for writing a good statement of purpose?
  For writing a good SOP, it is advised to have a goal in your mind. Ask questions; these include your future goals, your reasons for choosing a particular University, etc. Try to be direct while writing a statement of purpose and state clearly what you want to accomplish. Be passionate when it comes to writing the SOP. This means using vivid language when it comes to telling your purpose to the readers. Also, try to be concise and assertive while writing the SOP. Your readers should understand your intention of achieving a particular goal.
• What makes a strong statement of purpose?
  A strong statement of purpose should always make it clear as to why you feel compelled to apply for this particular program. Furthermore, to make an SOP stand out, it should be clear enough to make the readers understand why both the program, and the institute to which you are applying, will help you in achieving your professional and personal development. Moreover, a strong SOP is original and is free from plagiarism. Every event, which is has been mentioned, must be connected with logic and there should be a seamless transition from one event to another.
  How can you make a good ending in an SOP?
  Ending of an SOP should summarize the important points discussed in your essay. You can also restate the points briefly in the conclusion and highlight your reason or motivation one more time. At last, you can sum up the arguments as to why you are the best candidate for the course. While writing the conclusion of your SOP, you should think from the perspective of Adcom. If you were a member of Adcom, what would convince you to select a candidate? Make sure to mention those points that can convince the adcom to select you for the course.
• What is the importance of SOP?
  A statement of purpose is an essay that highlights your educational background, goals, and achievements. In an SOP, you should share why you would like to study your desired program at the university of your choice. Here are a few points that will convince you to take your SOP seriously:

• It decides your selection: If a large number of applicants meet the eligibility criteria for the competitive scores (GMAT, GRE, SAT, ACT, etc.), then your well-written SOP will be able to put your application in the spotlight.
• It can fetch you a scholarship: For scholarships that do not require a separate essay, SOP can be the deciding factor.
• It goes beyond your resume: It provides you with a chance to overcome all the loopholes that your resume might have.

• What mistakes should I avoid in an SOP?
  In a statement of purpose, avoid a weak and vague introduction and conclusion. It is also advised to not write the SOP at the last moment. Apart from these points, be careful about the word limit. Do not use informal language, slang, and short forms in your SOP. Also, do not sound too flattering in your SOP. It is important to appear confident in the SOP; however, you should not sound arrogant. You should sound polite, humble, and focused. Your SOP should be free from plagiarism. Moreover, the flow of the events in your SOP should be seamless and smooth. There must be a logic behind everything that you have written in your SOP.
• Should I mention internship in my statement of purpose?
  If you do not have relevant work experience, then you can definitely mention internships in your statement of purpose. Moreover, if your internship was exceptional in terms of achievements, you should mention it in your statement of purpose. Please note that you cannot include everything in your SOP; hence, you must be careful in deciding what you wish to include and what you wish to exclude in your SOP. When you mention any internship in your SOP, make sure that you have adequate knowledge of what you have done in your internship. You should be able to justify everything that you have written in your SOP.
• Can I add my name in my SOP?
  Your name does not have to appear in the statement of purpose. The reason for this is that your SOP is a part of a series of documents used for your application that already carries your name. However, if there are certain instructions from the university that you should include your name, then mention it.