5 steps to a strong Statement of Purpose

Garima Upadhyay Rawat

Out of the various documents required to gain entry into a programme abroad, the statement of purpose (SOP) is the most important. Grad schools require the SOP not just to know you as a prospective student, but also to understand why you want to take up a programme in that college. The SOP is the make-or-break document, which determines your admission to your dream programme. It is through your SOP that the admission counselors determine your tenacity and seriousness to get into a certain programme. Here are 5 steps to get a strong SOP which will leave an impression on the admission councellor bringing you closer to your dream programme.

1)      Plan: All great things start with planning. Determine the length, structure, style of writing, formatting and flow of your SOP. You should try to recollect events in the past that led you to choose your subjects. In a statement of purpose, you are required to throw light on why you want to study a particular course in a certain college. You should be very genuine in your explanation and write it in an ingenious way too. For instance instead of saying that, “I am a born writer. As far as I can recollect, I have been a writer. And that is the reason I want to take up the creative writing course in your college.” Say that, “I was an emotional and reclusive child while growing up. I was hesitant to discuss my observations, feelings and emotions with anyone except my diary which was a gift from my grandfather. As I grew, I relayed everything to that diary and gained a flair for writing…” Try to recollect that one incident that brought you closer to your career choice and led you to take it up as a profession. Know how you want to structure your SOP. A good SOP plan can take you far in the process of writing it.

2)      Discuss: Discussing your SOP with an established senior or your professors can be a great way to fill in the missing gaps in your SOP. Discussing the high and low points of your life with someone who knows your strengths and weaknesses can be a good way to identify points you want to mention in the document. Discuss the length, structure and format of your SOP with your professors who can provide their suggestions. Talk to yourself about your achievements and reflect on how you achieved them. Instead of highlighting the achievement upfront, highlight the process of achieving that goal. Ask your parents and friends about your qualities and include the best ones in your SOP.

3)      Write: After the required deliberations and discussions, the important part is to put it on paper. A lot of effort goes into formatting and finally writing the SOP. The mantra to writing a sound SOP is to make it an interesting read. Don’t use dull, boring expressions. Remember that your application will be a part of some odd 500-600 applications and it should infuse some fresh air for the admission counselor going through these documents one after the other. Use lively, vivid descriptions to draw your reader in. Tell a story through your SOP, paint a picture of yourself which is exciting enough to want to meet. At the same time, write very brief, crisp and clear sentences outlining your intent on choosing that particular course in that college.

4)      Edit: Avoid using flowery language and be clear in your communication. Check your SOP for grammar, run spell-checks and use simplified language as far as possible. Your sentences should be crisp. Your SOP should be fluid, without any reading breaks or jumps. Send your final SOP to your professors for their feedback and fine-tune it. A fresh set of eyes can often pick up things you might have missed.

5)      Polish: So you have the essay sorted. Read, re-read and it’s ready to be sent. But don’t send it just yet. Take some time off the essay and do things you enjoy. After two-three days read your essay again. Consider yourself to be a part of the admission council, and read it from their perspective. This exercise will help you identify areas that need improvement. Polish your SOP, give it the final touch up and apply.

All the best!