Undergraduate:

Mostly the students applying for undergraduate programs do not possess an established work history. However, in case they have internships or voluntary experiences they can provide details about the relevance of these experiences with the program that they are applying to. Moreover, the student should try to focus more on the future goals and the competencies/skill set that they hope to develop during the course of their study in the applied program. Also, the students applying for undergraduate programs need to focus on the academic qualifications that they have achieved so far, and what developed their interests when they chose to apply for the intended program.

Post-graduate:

Usually, the students applying for the post-graduate programs tend to have professional or research experiences. Therefore, they need to focus on how their professional experiences acquired thus far correspond with the applied program. It is also worth noting that the post-graduate programs are specializations therefore, specific details of the programs including courses and curriculum need to be researched so that the relevance with the specialized programs is developed based on the academic and professional experiences. Moreover, if the student has any research publications or research interests, they should also be aligned with the program details. Also, if one’s undergraduate program is directly linked with the post-graduate program then one needs to enlist your program relevance and how it fits with your future career/research endeavors. In case the student’s post-graduate program is different from their undergraduate degree, then the student is required to describe what sparked his interest and if his/her professional experience has correspondence with the applied program.

Scholarship:

The Statement of Purpose for scholarship applications, in addition to the already discussed sections, should also entail the financial aspects of the student. If the student is applying for a scholarship, then one should increasingly reference their previous academic and professional excellence.

Moreover, they should also enlist if they have been able to receive any other merit-based or need-based scholarship in the past. The students are also required to enlist their personal financial situation.

If the student is unable to pursue the program without funding from the scholarship the student needs to clearly identify the financial constraints that he faces.

How much time one should take for writing it?

The student must leave at least three months before the application deadline for writing the Statement of Purpose. The reason behind this is that rushed Statement of Purpose lack clarity of thought and purpose, which is the key prerequisite for successful SOP. Also, this time period provides enough time to carry out adequate research about the program and the University. Moreover, this also provides a chance for proofreading, editing the SOP, and taking second advice from Education Counselors.

How to write a strong statement of purpose?

A strong Statement of Purpose clearly outlines the purpose of application to the University. In defining the clear purpose for the statement the student is required to touch upon themes like why he/she wants to pursue their further education in the university, and the program applied for. If the student is applying to a research program clearly set out what are your research interests and how do they align with the program. If the intended program is a professional program, in that case, the student is required to outline the skills and competencies that one hopes to acquire from the program. Moreover, while outlining your motivation and purpose for application is to convey to the admission counselors that what you intend to do after the completion of the program.

As mentioned in the earlier portion the student is required to convey how their past experiences align with the program they are applying to. A strong Statement of Purpose would cover this section by giving clearly articulated real-time examples from their personal experiences in both academic and professional settings. These examples need to be specific and concise and correspond directly with your intended program.

An important aspect of a strong SOP is that it is well-researched. In terms of research, there are three main areas in which the student must carry out research so that a well-informed SOP is developed. Research helps to align personal experiences, qualifications, and goals with the University and the program. The student could begin by researching the geographical location of the University that they intend to apply for. In doing so, the student can get to know about the country of the University and the culture of the university. The next step in the research is to research the program. This would entail different facets of the program including research methodologies, faculty, and the curriculum that is going to be taught during the course of study. Specific mention of faculty, curriculum design, and research methodologies used in the program help in nuancing the overall SOP. This also helps the admissions committee to recognize your efforts and intent while applying for the program.

Difference between a successful statement of purpose and unsuccessful sop:

The key difference between a successful Statement of Purpose and an unsuccessful Statement of Purpose is the articulation. A successful SOP clearly explains the personal agendas and motivation behind application whereas an unsuccessful SOP juggles incoherently with the multiple ideas while not being able to communicate their motivation and purpose for an application. Moreover, research regarding the university and program also divides the successful SOP and unsuccessful SOP. A lack of research results in an unsuccessful SOP based on superficial knowledge about the University and the program intended.

Essential tips:

There are six essential tips for writing a strong SOP:

1. Uniqueness is an important aspect. The SOP should portray that the student is a unique applicant in terms of experiences and future goals. This uniqueness would help the student to stand out amongst the heap of applications.

2. The SOP needs to have a clear flow of ideas and should not be rushed with too many ideas.

3. The writing style should be concise and easy to understand. Instead of using big words try using plain English to explain your purpose for the application. Moreover, do not become redundant by repeating the same thing over and over again.

4. Make sure the SOP is proofread many times and there are no grammatical or spelling errors.

5. Do not try to use an overly informal tone.

6. Do not try to include unnecessary personal details.