Steps to Write a Good Statement of Purpose (SOP)

March 14, 2022

"A student who doesn't have a compelling statement of goal is like an application that doesn't have intent."

Because it reflects a student's motivation, certain graduate institutions significantly weigh their statement of purpose. 

On the other hand, most graduate schools use the statement of purpose to choose between two students with identical qualifications. You've come to the right place if you're wondering what a statement of purpose is and tips for writing it. 

When applying to universities overseas, an SOP, also known as a Statement of Purpose (SOP complete form), represents the personality that you offer to the admission committee.

It's your chance to make a significant impression on the committee by writing an essay that describes your personality traits that aren't mentioned in your academic records.

It's nearly impossible to distinguish between a group of highly qualified kids. A Statement of Purpose that distinguishes you from the pack can go a long way toward gaining admission in this scenario. How do I write a grad school SOP? 

What is the Importance of SOP?

The Importance of SOP is as follows: 

  1. The Statement of Purpose (SOP) in your application is the decisive element. 

  2. It helps the admissions committee figure out your attitude on life, career goals, beliefs, subject expertise, and vision. 

  3. In a nutshell, a well-written SOP gives universities a sense of your overall personality.

  4. It's your chance to sell the committee on your mission and why they should choose you over other candidates. 

  5. A strong SOP is appropriate for persons with bad academic records since it compensates by emphasizing your future goals and wishes. 

  6. A well-written SOP indicates your ability to communicate effectively both vocally and in writing.

Guidelines for SOP

Starting with a stunning opening and moving to an excellent backdrop and a good finish, several crucial tips for writing and the elements of information on how to arrange your SOP are listed below:

  1. Begin your SOP with an explanation (a story or example) about what motivated you to pursue further education in this profession. Mention your source of motivation, as well as a story or an occurrence that occurred as a result of it. 

  2. To do so, think of a significant event or personal experience that influenced your academic or career choices. 

  3. Choose a story that relates to the theme of your show.

  4. Provide context for what you learned in college by demonstrating your mastery of the disciplines through practical experiences and projects. Explain how this affected your decision to continue your education in that field.

  5. The SOP should explain why you are interested in continuing your education in this field. Mention a subject of study or a topic of specialization that interests you (if any). Discuss the skills you intend to obtain from this program and how they will aid you in achieving your career goals.

  6. Mention your short-term professional goal. Explain what you want to do after you finish your degree, including the type of job you want, the kind of company you want to work for, and the industry you want to work in.

  7. Mention your specific long-term goal. Explain your personal statement and career objectives for the next 10-15 years and how you want to contribute to the industry throughout that time. You must be very specific in the SOP because it delivers particular facts.

  8. Explain why you picked this country over your home country or another country in the world. Explain why you chose this particular university. Mention any exceptional qualities of the university that fit your requirements. 

  9. Mention the name of the academic member who is teaching this course and their research interests (if applicable). Examine how the university's research centers/laboratories, activities, clubs, and topic areas/electives correspond to your academic goals. Conduct considerable research on the university's website to gather these facts.

  10. In a paragraph, expand on your volunteer work, community service, or extracurricular interests, and explain how these experiences have helped you grow. 

  11. You can also explain how you can assist the university's student organization.

Statement of Purpose (SOP) Format 

You might be unsure what can and cannot be included in a standard operating procedure (SOP). It may be good to consider the many activities you participated in throughout your high school or college years before deciding whether or not to include them in your SOP. 

Here are a few things to think about and include in your SOP:

  1. Why did you choose this particular program or your purpose for graduate school?

  2. Your family history: Only if your family history has influenced your academic or career plans.

  3. Brief educational history: schooling/undergraduate studies, notable academic/extracurricular achievements.

  4. You completed all relevant industry visits, internships, projects, workshops, and dissertations during your academic year. 

  5. Attempt to tie them to the program for which you are applying if at all possible.

  6. Include work awards/achievements and connect relevant job experience (if any) to the chosen topic of study (if any).

  7. Volunteering in the community, charitable work, personal interests, social clubs, hobbies, and sports, to name a few.

  8. If your education will help you operate your family business more efficiently, make sure to emphasize the program's scope and applicability to the family business.

  9. Regarding the curriculum and after graduation, what are your future professional plans? 

  10. Also, explain how an international education would assist you in achieving your short- and long-term work objectives.

  11. Justify your university/country selection.

  12. Conclusion

What Are The Steps To Write a Good Statement of Purpose (SOP)?

Understanding what to include in a statement of purpose and how to write one is the most important thing to remember. In many ways, the statement of purpose, like every human, is unique. Your experiences, your thoughts, and your ideas, as well as your aspirations, would undoubtedly be unique and different. However, when it comes to writing them down, everyone must follow a few ground rules. 

In these five essential steps for building a solid SOP, we'll look at them.

1. Make a List of Your Main Academic Achievements.

Three years of work experience or four to five years of college experience are not required at the undergraduate level. Instead, you have around 12 years of growth ahead of you. Because your travel was longer, you have more information to share. Consider the past 12 years, envisioning the tiniest pleasures and the most excellent instructors, the challenges and triumphs. 

It could be your first triumph in a fifth-grade intra-class debate competition or your first victory at the State Volleyball Tournament. You have a 12-year track record of building on, whatever it is. So think about all scenarios, and if you remember them, there's a good reason to include them on your list.

2. Think About Your Life's Journey Rather Than Trying to Find a Topic.

This is the only phase that is completely invalid, in contrast to the other five fundamentals of producing an SOP.  We advise you to think about nothing else but your life's story at this time. This is, in reality, the place where you'll be able to talk about all you've done and how you came to this conclusion. 

You're still looking for answers, deciphering clues, and ready to learn. You must cover everything therefore don't start looking for leadership examples or characteristics. You're still malleable, so keep your SOP flexible and avoid picking a specific scenario.

3. Make Your First Draft.

We bring this step forward at the UG level and invite you to start by writing it down. Even before you start pruning your lists, this is crucial. We recommend that you begin writing a copy as soon as possible, even before you have time to think about what you want to include.

4. Talk About Your To-Do Lists And The First Draft.

Talking with friends, family, and teachers, assuming you have a solid relationship with them, is a great way to start narrowing down your options. Find out what they think of your writing, which incident they'd want to see you skip over, and what else they believe you should cover.  To have your ideas tested and questioned, ask for help. Keep in mind that they will be able to look at your achievements from afar and find anything more entertaining than others.

5. Finish Your Paper.

After you've gone through the copy and the lists, it's time to wrap up your essay. We usually recommend that you write a piece. Rewrite your statement of purpose once you've completed it. Keep in mind what you want to put in your SOP for the UG course, and be specific about what you want to achieve. 

After you've completed, make any necessary changes to the paper to correct any grammatical or typographical errors. You can compose and rewrite your essay as many times as you want. We encourage you to keep going until you've finished reading it and have the feeling that you've reached the end.

Some Common Statement of Purpose Mistakes to Avoid

Here are some common mistakes to avoid when writing a statement of purpose:

  1. Stick to the basics and an overview. Don't rewrite your entire family's history.

  2. Any sensitive financial information should be kept private. If you're applying for a scholarship, you'll need to provide a second document.

  3. Professional intricacies. Talk about learning opportunities rather than water cooler banter.

  4. Don't exceed the word count and avoid grammatical errors.

  5. Avoid using complimenting language while writing your professional goals and be direct.

  6. Use of technical language in excess for your long term goal should be avoided.

  7. If you lie in your Statement of Purpose for graduate school, you risk being rejected.

  8. Using uncommon fonts or colored paper is a no-no.

  9. Don't claim that this was not your first choice of institution in personal statement. When employing humor, be cautious; it can backfire!

Prasana International Educational Consultancy will offer you all the necessary information and will undoubtedly assist you in writing your Statement of Purpose for studying abroad, as well as provide you with ongoing support from the start of your visa application process until you arrive at your respective grad schools.