Shiksha Guidelines for SOP: Format and Career Goals

The SOP (Statement of purpose) is a very critical document when it comes to university applications. With a well-drafted SOP document, applicants can effectively convey their motivations, vision and future aspirations, which can help them secure a seat at their desired university. Having helped thousands of applicants join their dream universities over the past decades, both in India and abroad, Shiksha.com has created a set of guidelines and best-practices for applicants. Through this article, we will look at some key Shiksha Guidelines for SOP creation and discuss the points to be covered in the SOP. However, before delving into the Shiksha Guidelines for SOP, let us first understand the purpose that it serves.

Purpose of an SOP: The purpose of the SOP is to indicate strong research interest and your potential for advanced research. It will consist of your motivational story;  education;  projects -academic and professional- to show your expertise in the subject; why you want to pursue the degree now; short and long-term goals; why this University and lastly why you are a good fit for the school. Please note that the SOP should be written in a REVERSE CHRONOLOGICAL order (Past to present).

Shiksha Guidelines for SOP: Format and Career Goals

Students need to consider the following SOP Format before drafting an SOP:

1) Introduction: It is advised to start your SOP with an anecdote (of an account) that inspired you to take up the particular course. The introduction should not consist of any generic information rather it is advisable to talk about any specific instance that motivated you to pursue this course. Make sure this instance is from your recent past (as the university would like to know about your recent accomplishments).

Please give a specific instance or event that can showcase your interest in the MS. You may talk of a recent research paper that you have read or a project that you undertook. As an overview, you may include the following points in your SOP introduction:

• Reasons to pursue a particular course.
• Any research project or significant skill that influenced your decision to select this course
• A brief overview of yourself and your background with respect to your motivation for applying for a particular course

2) Academic Background: Begin this paragraph with the name of your college/ school, location, year of enrolment, year of completion, course name, and subjects studied. Mention the subjects that you feel you have a stronghold or knowledge in, and the ones that you were most curious about. You can also mention key learning experiences and how they have motivated you to join the program. Shiksha Guidelines for SOP also encourage applicants to talk about their learning achievements and accolades. Thus, you can talk about awards or high grades received, or even appreciations from your professors.

The academic background section also allows you talk about your learnings beyond the core curriculum. Therefore, do not forget to mention your additional courses and certifications done by you. Now, there might be a lot of additional courses or certifications that you may have pursued, but it is important that you only add the ones which may be relevant to the program that you are applying for.

3) Research/Practical Experiences: As per Shiksha Guidelines for SOP, it is crucial to include major projects that you have undertaken along with the timelines (Month/ Year), and a brief description of your learning experience through these projects. This should follow up with any industrial visits, internships, training, seminars, workshops, symposiums, and the like. When writing about any of your practical experiences, it is wise to mention your role or contributions in the same, as well as the knowledge or skills that you gained through it.

If you are going for a research intensive program, it is imperative to add all the research that you have done in the domain. It could be an independent research project that you did, a collaborative college project which was part of your curriculum, or even an industry-related project that you may have the researched for. As per Shiksha Guidelines for SOP, you should mandatorily mention if you have done research on real-world data or professional projects. In addition, if there are any research papers that you have presented or published, do mention about the same in the SOP with your role/contributions in the same. Also, mention when and where the paper was published or presented.

4) Professional Experience (if any): Shiksha Guidelines for SOP suggests you to start this para with the name of the present organization, with details of the date of joining, location, designation and a brief description of your profile/ Job responsibilities. If possible mention any major project that you were involved in, focusing on your particular role. Next, you can write about your previous job in the same manner as stated above.

Your learnings, contributions and achievements at the workplace should be discussed in detail in the SOP. You may also mention certain challenges that you faced while working and how you overcame those challenges. Please note that everyone faces difficulties and challenges; what matters the most is how you overcome them. In addition, do mention if there are skill or knowledge gaps that you want to fulfill through the program.

5) Why Masters and Why Now?: This paragraph includes information about your reason for pursuing Masters, also the skills that you would like to inculcate and enhance through this course. You must mention your reasons with valid examples or substantial information. Also, you need to state WHY THIS IS THE PERFECT TIME for you to pursue your master's. If you have professional experience, provide your reasons why you are leaving the job to pursue this course.

As per the Shiksha Guidelines for SOP, you should also try answering the following: 

What skills or knowledge are you planning to enhance through this course?

How will it help to achieve your goals?

What subjects/electives are you most interested to study?

6) Career Goals (Post the degree): This is the Most Important Part of your SOP. The University focuses a lot on this paragraph as it reflects that you are focused on your career and you have planned each step thoroughly.  Please note that this paragraph needs to be divided into two parts, Short-term, and Long-term Goals, and should comprise specific information, nothing generic.

• Short-Term Goals (0-5 years after completion of course): As per paragraph Shiksha Guidelines for SOP, you should provide details regarding your plans soon after completing your Master's degree. You need to describe the job profile you are interested in along with the companies and the department you would like to work in. This should follow the Job responsibility that you are expected to undertake and perform.
• Long-Term Goals (10-15 years after completion of the course): This paragraph should elucidate your plans after completion of the course within 10-15 years. Please specify how this short-term goal will lead to your long-term goal. Please note, if you have research plans do specify a few details about the research work you would like to work, details of where would you like to do the research along with some important work done in this particular field. End this paragraph with how pursuing a master's will help you to accomplish these goals.

7) Why this particular University?: Mention a good reason that would justify you pursuing this course at this University. Mention some specific features of the university that suit your requirements. Add names of any faculty and their research areas in this program (give names), research labs/centers, clubs, activities, subjects in the curriculum/electives, and also the scope of these in enhancing your profile. To give these details, Shiksha Guidelines for SOP suggest you visit the university and program website. Please visit the university’s website and talk about a few subjects in the curriculum. Also, mention the names of 1 or 2 professors and their area of research that interests you.

8) Extracurricular Activities/ Community Service: Keep the following details in mind when writing this paragraph; participated in any event, played any sport, associated with any NGO work, any club, any independent project work done, etc. (Mention apart from academics what you have done). State how these activities that you have participated in in your college will help you or prepare you for extracurricular activities at this University. How have these activities shaped you as a person and how can you contribute to the university with these experiences/ interests?

9) Conclusion: Very crisply at the end mention how you are prepared for this particular degree and why they should take you. An essay's main ideas should be recapped in the statement of purpose conclusion. Also, as per Shiksha Guidelines for SOP, the conclusion must succinctly and forcefully reiterate the thesis, providing the reader with a strong sense of the applicant's qualifications. Try to make this draft with around 800–1000 words.

In addition to the Shiksha Guidelines for SOP, it is also important for students to know about the top SOP questions.