The majority of graduate universities that you want to apply to for your future studies comprise a rather comprehensive application process. Other than standardized test scores like GMAT, GRE, and so on, graduate schools evaluate your application based on several elements. One such element is your Statement of Purpose.
A Statement of Purpose, in a nutshell, serves as a quintessential element in your application as it explains the very purpose of why you are applying to the university and what makes you interested in the particular program you’re applying to. Most students find writing a Statement of Purpose quite a challenge and leave it for completing in the very end. This may not only make it more challenging for you to complete your SOP but will further only increase your stress levels. Discover below some things to keep in mind when writing your SOP.
Rules for Writing Your Statement of Purpose
You must always adhere to certain rules and guidelines when writing your SOP. Here are the 2 most quintessential things to remember when writing your SOP.
1. Follow the General Guidelines
The department of admissions will receive thousands of applications. You must ensure that your application stands out. Each detail of writing your statement of purpose matters. Most universities provide relevant instructions for writing your SOP.
Most universities prefer that you write a page-worth statement of purpose. Make sure that you follow through guidelines such as necessary spacing, word count, an outline of the SOP, and so on. Note that the admissions team takes these guidelines very seriously any mistake you make will seriously harm your application status.
2. Avoid PLAGIARIZING!!
A statement of purpose is a very detailed piece that you should write without any sort of plagiarism. Paraphrasing content from general templates, external sites, and so on, or plagiarizing directly from other SOPs can get you into trouble.
There is no shortcut to writing your statement of purpose. You need to commit to writing this piece all by yourself. Any sort of plagiarism can put you at a serious academic offense under any undergraduate or postgraduate education that you wish to pursue. A great way to write your statement of purpose without plagiarising it is to center your attention on emphasizing more on your personal objectives and ambitions.
Steps to Write a Statement of Purpose
A statement of purpose should be carefully broken down into 5-6 paragraphs, each consisting of a specific body. Your statement of purpose should be meticulously drafted based on the program and university you are applying to. Here is a basic outline of what your statement of purpose should consist of.
1. Start With a Remarkable Introduction
Your first paragraph is nothing but an introduction to who you are. Your opening paragraph gives the reviewers a gist of who you are. Here, you can start by writing about the program you’re interested in applying to, along with the intake date. The next few sentences should include details about the very purpose of why you’re writing the SOP. An engaging introduction is extremely necessary to make a strong impression on the admissions team. Make sure that your introduction showcases how unique and different you may be from the other candidates.
2. Elaborate on What Inspired You to Choose the Particular Program
The second paragraph should majorly focus on your inspiration for pursuing the particular course that you are interested in. Writing a passionate paragraph on your motivation for choosing the program can help you grab the attention of your reviewers. Include personal experiences to make the paragraph as unique and touching as possible.
Students should remember to make their statement of purpose as inspiring as possible. It should be honest and authentic. Put down your feelings and passion for the program and tell your reviewers why you really want to study this program.
3. Charm Your Reviewers With Your Qualifications and Talents
The third paragraph is undeniably a crucial aspect of your statement of purpose as it allows your reviewers to learn in-depth about your qualifications and talents. You are always welcome to write about your previous experiences concerning the program you’re applying to. From extracurricular activities, internships, work experience, clubs you were a part of, sports teams, fests, and much more, even minute detail of your experiences is enough to move your reviewers.
You don’t necessarily have to write down every accomplishment you may have attained. Carefully choose experiences that are related to the field of study you want to pursue. Further include all the skills you obtained from these experiences and how you might be beneficial for the university. The third paragraph is a great way to subtly convince your reviewers why you might be the perfect applicant for the university. Talk about your experiences and how the skills you attained display your passion for pursuing the program.
4. Emphasize Why You are Choosing this Particular University
The fourth paragraph should emphasize why you’re so keen on studying at this particular university. A brief on what you respect the most about the university and how the course offered in the university can pave way for your career can help your reviewers understand you better. Elaborate on what you value the most about the university, be it the infrastructure, facilities, and so on.
Displaying your knowledge about the university and its history is an excellent way of grabbing the attention of your reviewers. Let the admissions officers know how familiar you are with the university and how much you want to impact the success of the university in the future. Furthermore, also make sure to add a few lines about how studying in another country will help boost your education experience. Tell the application officers how an international exposure to studies will help structure your career path and further open up doors of opportunities for you, not just within but also beyond academics.
5. Sum Up Your Statement of Purpose
The last paragraph should conclude what you wish to achieve from this degree. This section of your statement of purpose is where you need to jot down the next few steps you want to take and what you wish to do after graduating from this program. In a nutshell, include a few details about the career path you’re intended towards after you complete this program. This can be anything from pursuing further studies, working internationally, or taking your degree back home and finding jobs there. The admissions officers want to understand how the program offered in the university will shape your career path.
The closing sentence should include a Thankyou message to the admissions officers for reviewing your application. Display a sense of gratitude and enthusiasm towards your reviewers.
6. Proofread and Edit
The last and most critical aspect of your statement of purpose is reviewing it yourself before somebody else reviews it. Read through your statement of purpose carefully and correct relevant errors. Make sure to proofread the SOP and additionally ensure that it’s grammatically correct. Going through all of these steps can help students make their experience of writing a statement of purpose much more fun and much less overwhelming. Use these steps as a motivation to write an inspiring and passionate SOP that makes a mark on the admissions officers.
Contentholic Vs Write Right
If you’re intimidated about writing your SOP, you can always rely on a brilliant SOP writer to get admission into your dream university. A reliable SOP writer can put down all your interests and talents into your statement of purpose and make it much more professional and well-written. Take a look at two of the top SOP writing companies that you might want to consider hiring for writing your statement of purpose.
Contentholic
Contentholic is a New Delhi-based company that continues to offer some of the most excellent SOP writing services. The content-oriented company has over 10 years of experience and knows exactly what sort of content to write for your statement of purpose based on the university that you’re applying to. The company offers exclusive SOP writing solutions to national and international clients. Get access to some of the most well-equipped writers for your SOP and impress the admissions officers with a brilliantly-drafted SOP.
Write Right
Write Right is an industry-leading SOP writing agency that has time and again proven its efficiency by providing high-quality SOPs to clients. The founder of the company, Bhavik Sarkhedi has built a team of qualified writers who are here to help you come one step closer to getting into your dream university. Tell the admission officers why you’re passionate about joining their program in the university by writing a unique, authentic, and inspiring one-page SOP. Set a strong path for your career by making quite an impression on your reviewers.
Bottom Line
It is important that you do thorough research while choosing an SOP agency for writing your statement of purpose. Additionally, keep the above-mentioned instructions in mind to ensure that your statement of purpose is nothing less than perfect.
