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Why Statement of Purpose is important?

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Lena Kaligaris
Why Statement of Purpose is important?

The Statement of purpose is the single most important document in your application to universities abroad. It is all the more important when applying to the crème de la crème of the universities. That is the top 15-20 universities in your particular area of interest. It can either make your application truly grand or crush your dreams of getting that all important admit into your dream university. 

What is an SOP (Statement of Purpose)?

The SOP (Statement of Purpose) is essentially your life story that needs to be weaved effortlessly by you, in around 1000 words explaining the admissions committee as to why should they select you over the hundreds or even thousands of others with similar profiles. It is an mixture of all the happenings in your life and how they have shaped and influenced you. It has to be written in a compact form, with a nice consistency and fluency of thoughts. Make sure your SOP is written in an active voice and not in a passive voice. 

What is the importance of the SOP?

I cannot stress this fact repeatedly, that the Statement of Purpose is the single most important piece of your application. It is way for you as a student to tell the admission committee your unique story and can help you stand out from among the hundreds or even thousands of applications received. If you have a low GPA, then through the SOP, you can make your case to the admission committee and state the reasons for that low GPA. You cannot do so through your resume. Right? Hence the SOP can help you explain yourself briefly and unitedly. It can help the admission committee understand you better as a person. The SOP is unique to each individual and it cannot be generic. So please don’t copy and paste it. Students always underestimate the power of the SOP and keep it as a secondary task in the application process. However, the SOP needs to be given the most importance in your application and you should start with it well in advance to your application deadlines. If you are not able to write SOP on your own, seek assistance from SOP writing services. The Statement of purpose possesses the power to turn an admission decision in your favor.

Points to keep in mind when drafting the Statement of Purpose (SOP):

  • Make sure to write your SOP in an active voice and not in a passive voice.
  • Do not make any grammatical errors and punctuate properly.
  • Use a font of 12 and single space the SOP.
  • Be as specific as possible when writing about your work experience and your college experiences. Make sure that you do not make unclear and vague statements. Always back up a statement with a practical example.
  • Do not copy any SOP from the internet or from a friend.
  • Proof read your SOP again and again.
  • Explaining Weaknesses: The SOP is great tool which can help you explain about a particularly weak part of your profile. This can be a low GPA, or a low GRE score or it can be lack of work experience. You can address you weakness by explaining the exact reasons behind them. Make sure not to address this in a negative implication. Always be positive and in such a case, mention about your learning from the weakness and how you overcame it. It should project maturity on your part when you address it as part of your SOP.
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Lena Kaligaris
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