Statement of Purpose (SOP) is a crucial part of the application process to secure a spot in a well-ranked educational institution. You have to submit an SOP, Letter of Recommendation (LOR) and CV along with your college application. What exactly is SOP, and why is it so crucial? So, let’s dive in to find answers to questions such as these and more.

Key Highlights:

• What is a statement of purpose?
• How to write a SOP effectively?
• What to write in a statement of purpose
• Important questions your SOP should answer
• Do’s and Don’ts to remember when drafting SOP

What is a statement of purpose?
SOP is an essay highlighting academic performance, achievements, etc., to assist the evaluators in understanding a student’s profile. So, you must include information such as qualifications, project work, work experience and all the relevant information showcasing your knowledge, talents and skills.
Please remember several other students will be seeking admission to your preferred university. Hence, drafting an engaging SOP to secure a spot in your chosen university is crucial. Based on the SOP, the moderator will analyse your academic qualifications, interests, basic skills and potential. If you meet the moderator’s expectations, your SOP will be shortlisted. The length of the SOP will depend on the university. Ideally, SOP should be 400-1,500 words long. 

How to write a SOP effectively?
You must know the crucial elements to include when drafting an appealing SOP. Also, your SOP should connect all the important aspects of your academic journey. So, you can draft an interesting story to capture your moderator’s attention.

• What to write in a statement of purpose

When applying to your dream university, you must submit the application form, documents, SOP, LOR and CV. Your SOP must cover the following information:

Introduction: You have a perfect opportunity to build a narrative to express your thoughts and build a story to explain your reason for pursuing higher education in your chosen area. For instance, you can explain how the increasing number of cyber crimes inspired you to enrol for a master’s in Cybersecurity. You can add numbers from research reports to highlight your dedication to your domain.

Academic qualifications and achievements: Cover your educational journey so far, your key accomplishments and highlight your consistent scores. This will demonstrate you have the basic knowledge in your field.

Projects: Any projects, practicals, group assignments, dissertations, or presentations completed during your bachelor’s degree should be included in the SOP. 

Extra-curricular activities: Activities over and above your studies is crucial for your overall development. Hence, students’ profiles will be evaluated based on extra-curricular activities.

Certification programs: When students are curious to learn about your domain beyond their academic course, they usually turn to certification, skilling, upskilling and reskilling courses. You will earn some brownie points if you have completed such courses.

Work experience (if any): Some universities require work experience before enrolling in the programs. If you are applying for MBA or PhD degree, universities usually require prior experience. Hence, check with your preferred university before applying.

Reasons to choose your course, university and destination: You need to know the reasons why you have selected a particular course, university and country. This is where research will come into play to share specific information.

Short-term and long-term goals: When concluding your SOP, mention your short-term and long-term academic and career goals. Also, add how your chosen university and course will help you achieve your targets.

• Important questions your SOP should answer
• How will your preferred course and university shape your professional career?
• Why did you select a certain destination to pursue higher education?
• What motivated you to pursue higher education in your preferred field?
• What are your achievements?
• What is your academic qualification?
• What do you know about the course offered and professors at the university?
• Would you like to take up research or a job after completing the course?

Do's	Don’ts
Be yourself. You don’t have to copy-paste the same information your best friend has mentioned. Capture your unique experience, story and the reasons that have shaped your academic choices and journey.	If you are applying to more than one university, do not share the same SOP with all the universities. Instead, check the unique university requirements and draft one SOP for each varsity.
Well-researched information about your domain, course, university and destination will impress the examiners.	Avoid sharing unnecessary personal details.
Your SOP should reflect a formal yet conversational tone.	Refrain from exceeding the word limit prescribed by your educational institution.

 

So, with this information, you can start planning your application process at your dream varsity. If a lack of funds is troubling you, you can opt for an education loan. Loans for students are a fantastic way to finance higher education independently. If you have more queries, please feel free to connect with us. All the best.