The most important aspect of your application, a Statement of Purpose (SOP) is an important requirement to fulfill when applying to study abroad. International universities require you to submit your application with a statement that articulates your career path and goals, known as the Statement Of Purpose. This helps them find the right candidate for the courses offered.

What is a Statement of Purpose (SOP)?

A statement of purpose (SOP) is a letter that explains your intent to study abroad. Once submitted, it is reviewed by the admission panel and usually includes content related to your career path, interest, professional contributions, goals, and the reason that encouraged you to pursue a particular program. In simpler words, the SOP is your first introduction to the university as an applicant and it communicates your personality, intent, and goals to the selection committee of a university. It is usually written in the form of an essay but there are exceptions too, as some universities keep it question-based. It also becomes a deciding factor for admission into your preferred institution. Do remember, that an SOP is different from a personal statement.

Importance of an Statement Of Purpose

An SOP allows you to highlight your overall personality to the university. If you have a weak profile, a good essay compensates for it by highlighting your ambitions and future goals. The university assesses you on your present and plans rather than dwelling on your performance in the past. A well-written SOP also reflects how well you can express your thoughts using your writing skills.

What is a good Statement Of Purpose structure?

Your content should be structured, well written, and develop a story. Here’s a perfect format for writing the Statement of Purpose. 

• Introduction:
  Start with describing your childhood, what most interested you when you were a little kid and how it shaped you as a person.
• Part1:
  Subtly talk about your undergrad achievements, also mention your current subjects that pushed you towards the course
• Part2:
  Explain your projects, internships, training, and the learnings from them. 
• Part3:
  Let them know what you like about their university e.g., Research, Faculty, labs, campus, courses etc.
• Part4:
  Tell them about your long-term and short-term goals, like where you see yourself in 5 years.
• Conclusion:
  In the end, add how you will be a valuable asset to the university and your home country. 

• Plan well
  Create an outline for your SOP and work accordingly. Sharing an anecdote that developed your interest in your subject is a good way to build your introduction. Create pointers and categories, list down your relevant achievements and expertise, and most importantly, your reason for choosing the course and the university.  
• Work on your draft
  Focus on sharing your learnings and knowledge during your education and industry experience. Limit the use of technical terms and use an active voice when writing your SOP. If there is a gap year an academic issue, optimistically address them. Make sure your SOP has a clear introduction and conclusion. Remember, you should always write your SOP in reverse chronological order.   
• Must review before you send
  It’s important to review what you’ve written. Re-analysing will help correct the flow, vocabulary, sentence construction errors, long sentences, and other grammar issues. Get a second opinion, maybe from your professor, senior, or an IDP counselor. Make sure you proofread properly and double-check before submission.

What is the word limit for a Statement Of Purpose?

While writing an impactful SOP try not to go overboard, you must keep in mind that the person responsible for evaluating your essay would be responsible for analyzing the SOPs of thousands of other students who have applied to the same course and university as you. It is best to stick to the word limit. The word limit of an SOP is ideally between 800-1,500 words unless communicated otherwise by the university. You should choose your words wisely to be precise and write an apt essay that is easy to understand and does not repeat or exceed the word count. 

How do academic institutions assess a Statement Of Purpose? 

Universities and institutions anticipate your SOP to be unique to your own experiences, they will evaluate the information provided in your SOP by corresponding it to your academic details. Writing an SOP true to your own experiences would make a lasting impression on the admissions committee. If an SOP appears to be plagiarized or copied, it might get lost among other applications. Therefore, be authentic and creative while writing it.  

What to include in the Statement Of Purpose? 

There are no defined rules on what or what not to include in your SOP. The format may vary with the course you have opted for, your study level, the university for which you are drafting an essay or the country you want to study in. Remember your essay needs to be original but at the same time, it should answer the basic questions that the admissions committee expects from you.  

Checklist of elements essential to writing a powerful Statement Of Purpose

• Personal background
• Academic Achievements 
• Financial background
• Professional experiences
• Immediate and long-term goals
• Reasons for choosing a particular institution
• Why should you be selected for the applied course/university?
• Why are you interested in a chosen study field?
• Extra-curricular activities
• Projects you’ve worked on
• Papers submitted, if any
• Awards and Achievements 
• Interest and hobbies

Mistakes to avoid while writing an Statement Of Purpose

Now that you’ve learned how to write an exceptional SOP, you should also learn about the common mistakes students make while writing yours: 

• Not writing a focused Statement Of Purpose
  Instead of detailing your background or history, write a precise SOP that gives a clear idea about your career goal. 
• Not researching enough
  Try writing an SOP beforehand as it gives you sufficient time to research. Rather than writing randomly, explain how you will benefit from studying on campus and with faculty and industry exposure from the course you have applied to.
• Lying in your SOP or copying it
  This may lead to rejection or even permanent blacklisting, so ensure that you draft your SOP honestly and include experiences of your own instead of copying from someone else. 
• Using of jargon or technical terms
  Writing SOP in a technical language is not suggested as it is possible that the person from the admissions committee reviewing it might not be familiar with the jargon. It is recommended to keep the language of your SOP simple and make limited use of technical terms just to explain your goals.