Statement of Purpose (SOP) is a long essay which is an important aspect of your application which tells the University about how you are a perfect fit for the Student Community. It is more of a marketing pitch or an advertisement of yours to the Application Board of the University. A good SOP can take you very close to the College which you want to target. Colleges or Universities read every SOP seriously and take every aspect of it into consideration.
What should an SOP include?
- Academic journey and reasons backing it
- Professional goals – short term and long term
- Personal motivations and backgrounds
- Reasons for choosing the University
- Extracurricular activities and achievements
- Clearly give details about your interests, hobbies and strengths
- Any specific skill or strength that makes you stand out from others
With a clear goal mentioned in the document, the admission team also supports you in reaching your goals. The details mentioned in the SOP act as a key to unlock the doors for your admission. It is imperative to keep the SOP simple, creative, catchy and effective.
- Tone – conversational and friendly
- Be detailed, but not wordy – simple words
- Original – no copying; after all it’s your life story
- No specific structure – ensure there is a flow
- Stay away from unwanted sentences and repetitions
