People will tell you that a statement of purpose is probably a very important aspect of your application abroad. It will still be important, regardless of the degree of importance. Therefore, it is important to write a statement of purpose that will help you stand out. However, Before you begin, there are two things you need to understand; one, your statement of purpose isn’t your resume in regular form, and two, you can’t write it in a day.
The basic principle of a statement of purpose is understanding what to include in an SOP and how to write it. Like every individual, their statement of purpose is also unique. Your experiences will be yours, your thoughts and ideas will be yours, and your aspirations will also be unique and different. However, when writing them, everyone should follow some basic tips. Take a look at the five basic steps to writing a successful SOP.
Step 1: Prepare a list of what you wish to include
A statement of purpose would be a lengthy document. Before you start writing it, you need to brainstorm and prepare a list of all the things you want to include in an SOP. Ideally, a statement of purpose allows you to express your life’s journey so far and seek to understand your future goals and aspirations. So there’s a lot you can include. You need to understand what to include in your SOP and then prepare a list. Just take a piece of paper and write down all the points that you think you want to add. It should contain a list of your short-term goals (if you have more than one), your long-term goals, and of course any life events you might want to include. Remember, it’s important to write down every incident, even though it may seem unrelated. At this point, you shouldn’t worry about deciding what not to include when writing your SOP.
Step 2: Ideate the theme of your SOP
Your SOP should have a topic. This means that your SOP must focus on a certain idea. You may want to say it all, but you have to decide how your SOP should progress. The topic of your SOP will determine how its content will guide your future goals. You need to be very clear about the facts that set you apart from the rest of the crowd. Your interest in mechanical engineering courses may have been sparked by a specific occurrence, or perhaps your career prompted you to consider getting an MBA. Finding a topic is very important and the easiest way to do this is to find a turning point in your life (a Eureka moment).
Step 3: Prune the list
At this point, you now need to review the prepared list and start pruning it. After deciding the topic, you can start deleting all points unrelated to your SOP and admission. Just grab a red pen and continue to cross out instances that don’t matter or don’t necessarily fit the chosen topic. Remember that at this stage it is extremely important to know what to include in your SOP and more importantly what not to include in your SOP. In addition, the list can often be customized depending on the course you enroll in. For example, what to include in an MBA SOP is different from what you should include in an MS SOP. Also, the way to write SOPs for UG courses is completely different as there are fewer related cases and projects to highlight. So, depending on the course, shorten the prep list.
Step 4: Research the course and the University
You should know a lot about the course and the university. Research the culture and alumni, and find out how the culture and achievements of your chosen university fit with your chosen topic. This will greatly help you personalize your SOP and synchronize your goals with the path you have chosen. For research-oriented programs, it is almost always necessary to include the names of the faculty members and their respective research projects currently ongoing. Remember, even if it is not expressly asked, it would be wise to learn more about the professors teaching the course you intend to enroll in. Universities are very appreciative of thorough research on the curriculum.
Step 5: Write, Edit, and Re-write
It’s time to start writing after finishing the tasks.
We always advise against turning in your initial draft.
It is important to write it down once and go over it again. You may not want three or four edits, but one is necessary; In fact, it is necessary. Even if the story and thoughts don’t change, you should check out basic vocabulary and punctuation. In all your essays, vocabulary, spelling, and punctuation should be in order. With time, there is no reason for universities to accept type errors. Never underestimate the importance of punctuation in your essay or SOP.
Also, we recommend reviewing the SOP after a few days. While you’ve had time to relax, you can look at the write-up with fresh eyes and find something else you’d like to include. Therefore, once you have edited and have had time to think, you should rewrite your SOP and then finalize your draft.
Remember that an ideal SOP will include your career goals and career progression. Follow the correct format for a statement of purpose and you won’t make a mistake!