If you ask me how to write a perfect Statement of Purpose, I’ll give you 6 P’s that are given below:
- Purpose
- Past Experience
- Program
- Personality
- Plain English
- Process
Statement of Purpose(SOP) is a short essay that highlights your educational background, achievements, and goals. It is a bridge between your experience and the future that you want to build at that program specifically at your university. There is a quiet difference between a Personal Statement and a Statement of Purpose.
A Personal Statement is like a story about your personal life, experience, teaching, research, work, volunteering experience, etc. It is typically used by the admission board to figure out whether you fit into their student community or their student body. However, SOP is used by the admission counselors to decide whether you are fit for the program.
Why Statement of Purpose Is Needed?
Every year thousands of students apply to well-known colleges and universities. Why will they select you from the thousands number? They select those applicants who have more potential than others. SOP plays a vital role here. The board selects those only whose SOPs are attractive, unique, coherent, and fluently written. It is like a package of documents. If you imagine yourself as a character in your SOP, you only know from this, what’s missing there. Or what is it about you that is not in the package? For a perfect SOP good communication skills, academic excellence, research work, leadership skills, work experience, and extracurricular activities will be required. A perfect SOP significantly enhances your chances of success in various application processes.
How to write a perfect Statement of Purpose?
There are 3 structural parts in the Statement of Purpose.
- It can start with an opening line. You can begin the SOP with a quote, an anecdote, or an experience.
- Explain background, skill, qualification, and experience according to university assessment criteria.
- Describe shortly why you chose the course and what is your next plan.
Some important points that must be included in the SOP are given below:
- Purpose: You need to make clear articulation about your goals and interests that includes some questions like Why do you want this course? Why this university? Why do you want to choose this place to graduate? What skills and knowledge do you hope to gain? What is your plan? Etc.
- Past Experience: It’s important to share concrete examples of your past work like your published article project work or any presentation that directly relates to this program. What is your experience? How can you relate your experience with this program?
- Program: It depends on your purpose and experience. To choose a program, you need to think about how your work connects with the program. How does the program fulfill your needs and interests? What is your expectation through this program? How are you going to contribute to the program? Is there any profession you would like to work in?
- Personality: It is very important for SOP. Apart from your work and education, what is it about you that makes you unique? Writing a good SOP is unique.
- Plain English: You need to communicate, logically, and effectively. Make your SOP with appropriate words, and the right vocabulary and make it easy to read.
- Process: The first thing to remember is that it begins early for the application process. If you start early, you can give much time to write your SOP. Never lift a single line from anyone else’s SOP. The last thing you have to remember is proofreading. Read and check the grammatical errors and punctuation marks. Show it to several people from different fields and get feedback from them.
Success in admission depends largely on the right choice of program. Your admission, your program, and your universities depend on your SOP or PS. So do research and find the right track that is best for you.
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Writer,
Tanvir Islam Saif
Intern
Content Writing Department
YSSE