How to write a winning Statement of Purpose

A good Statement of Purpose or SOP may not guarantee admission to the course and college of your choice, but a poorly crafted one will most certainly ensure that your application package is headed for the “reject” pile.

Unfortunately the SOP is often a difficult and painful part of the application for most students; one that’s put off till the last possible moment. However, the SOP is a crucial element of your overall application that should not be taken lightly. It’s your chance to “sell” yourself to the admissions committee. Along with the necessary letters of recommendation, academic transcripts and test scores, it plays a significant role in determining your admission as well as financial aid. Why do you want to study a particular course? What have you already achieved and what kind of person are you? Naturally then, it demands the time, effort and attention on par with other aspects of your application.

So what do you write? More importantly, what do they want to read? Most admission officers look for signs that you’ve tried to challenge yourself by taking ‘honours’ courses or doing extra project work. And that you are really passionate about studying this subject. 

1 Extra-curricular achievements and social service also rank high on their list. Much of this info can be gleaned from the other forms you fill but the essay allows you to flesh out the details and paint a picture of you, the person.

2 Essay anxiety is common. And very natural. But here’s a word of advice: Don’t let someone else to do your essay because you “can’t write” or “don’t know what to write”. Avoid the temptation to just adapt a senior’s or elder brother’s essay. Admission officers aren’t dumb — they go through thousands of applications and can sniff out a coached or copied one from a distance.

3 Your SoP must be reflective of you. Write out your SoP in your own “voice” and then show it to a friend, teacher or parent — they may suggest some style and grammar changes. Concentrate on substance rather than trying to dazzle them with your style, wit, intellect or humour. This is one portion of the application that you get to control completely.

4 Look at it as an opportunity rather than as an ordeal. It is your chance to reveal the dimensions of your personality that make you special. It’s also an opportunity to make you pause and think, and understand your own motivations and goals.

5 Be truthful. It’s pointless making things up because they sound good; if you can’t say why you’re attracted to a subject or courses and you haven’t read the relevant books, are you sure you want to study the subject at degree level? Honest self-questioning now could save you much heartache and expense later.

6 Be Creative. Remember your application will be one among hundreds, if not thousands that are reviewed. So you need to catch the eye of weary admissions committee members snowed under a huge pile of applications.

7 Explain why you want to study the subject at that particular university. It needs to be a better reason than your having heard that student nightlife is good or because your aunt lives nearby.

8 Study the course options and modules and mention them in your personal statement. As a general rule, two-thirds of this should cover the course and university you’re applying for and the remaining third should be about extracurricular interests such as music or programming. Mention work experience — and don’t forget other skills such as IT, numeracy and teamwork.

9 Be direct and persuasive. Avoid spelling mistakes and bad grammar. Get somebody reliable to proof-read your submission for you. Try to write naturally and avoid pretentious long words and jargon.

10Quick Pointers: Mention work experience — and don’t forget other skills such as IT, numeracy and teamwork. Don’t start every sentence with “I” and don’t try to be funny — Not all admission coordinators have a sense of humour!