A student application gets accepted or rejected based on his’ Statement of Purpose’ (SOP). Often called the ‘Main key’ to land into a dream university, a good SOP makes a massive difference in your application. Often it is not about the content but the organisation of content. Everyone has their unique writing style, but when in doubt, these guidelines will work as a saviour.
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This essay consists of a gist of who you are, who you want to become, and how ready you are to pursue a particular course in an institution. It seeks to understand a candidate’s life, the motivation behind his chosen career path, their goals and aspirations. So basically, an SOP should be an amalgamation of the past incidents and present details that influenced one to choose a particular career path and define the growth till date. Below mentioned are six things that one should take a note about while writing a good SOP:
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Introduction
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Always start with a personal introduction and try to paint the story of your life. It should be crisp and straight forward. It makes the SOP unique and keeps a reader interested. It should not necessarily include struggles from the past, but again if one believes that the struggle shaped his life or made him select this career, then it can be worth mentioning.
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Try to keep the truth in front with proper justification. For example, if there has been a history of bad grades or health, explain the reason or causes of it.
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Accumulate points
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It is always healthy to make a list of things one wishes to include in their essay. Try to keep a separate list where you can add points as and when you remember them. Also, before writing the essay, try to plan how you will shape it. This analysis will not only help you formalise paragraphs but will also give the SOP a meaning.
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Grammar
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Ensure that statements are crisp and made of short sentences. Please note that an SOP should be grammatically error-free. Read it at least five times before submitting. Use software like Grammarly to ensure the sentences are grammatically correct and meaningful. You may also seek help from relatives, professors or friends for feedback about your essay. Remember, proofread, edit and re-edit are keys to a good essay.
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Length of the Essay
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A standard SOP is 700 to 800 words long. One must adhere to the word limit before submitting it at a University. Briefly said, an SOP should be summed up in four to five paragraphs.
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Purpose of the essay
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It is easier to get lost when writing an SOP, but one should not forget that they are writing it to avail admission at a particular University. Do your research about the course and University thoroughly. Read and reread the webpage as thoroughly as possible and also, try to align the course outcomes with your career goal to create a linear progression. It may also include the skills you will enhance the post-completion of the course.
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Honesty is the Best Policy
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This phrase is very well applicable when writing an SOP as it will not only define the admission aspect for a University but also Visa approval. Most of the students do not have a lot of extra-curricular activities, part-time job/Internship experiences or social work to mention in their SOP. In such a case, one should always stick to writing about the reason they choose the subject and what inclined them towards applying for that University. They may also mention how the university curriculum is inclined towards their goals.
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Closing paragraph
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Often students forget to write an ending to their essays, which is a common mistake. It makes the ending of an SOP abrupt. An SOP should end on a holistic note by expressing one’s desires regarding the course or career goals in mind. It can also have the glimpse of the professions or subjects you wish to choose in future and include how you would like to contribute back to the society post-completion of the course.
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There is nothing as good or bad SOP, but these 06 points stated above should always be kept in mind. However, SOP can be time-consuming. So, never lose patience. Be more receptive to feedback and learn to improvise them. Remember, proofread, edit and re-edit are keys to a good essay.
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We at the Ministry of World Education also offer services to students to prepare for University admission including Application processing, prepping various other documents like SOP, LOR, Resume or finalising the best University or course for a student. We guarantee that MOWE is a one-stop destination to all your queries. Try us, and you will not be disappointed.
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