SoP/ Statement of Purpose /Personal Statement

SoP/Statement of Purpose/Personal Statement

Thousands of aspiring scholars apply to the top schools/universities every year from all parts of the globe. They would be from different academic, social and professional backgrounds. A high ranker in a particular educational system for example might compare unfavorably with an average student from another system. Standardized tests like GMAT, TOEFL, SAT and GRE do not reflect the applicant’s academic, personal and professional profile holistically. So the essays or SoP are guided towards elaborating on your personality, perspectives, breadth/depth of vision, goals and your fit with the particular school/University.

While top B-schools look for a set of essays, usually undergraduate courses and smaller Universities seek a single essay (ranging from 500-2000 words), called the Statement of Purpose (SoP) or Personal Statement. These SoPs are therefore probably the most important element of your entire application. You can win or lose based on the quality and effectiveness of your SoP.

An SoP is expected to answer questions including reasons for the choice of the particular course/university, your career plans, the implications of the course on your future and the most importantly substantiation of your candidature. Sometimes, the school/university specifies the questions the SoP need to answer. The first thing to understand is that your So’P is not part of an essay writing competition – writing a great So’P is not the point. The idea is to write an S’oP that sells your application and gives the selection committee a good reason to shortlist you. A good So’P reflects the personality traits, talents and interests that are not apparent in your resume or application. A good SoP highlights and re-enforces the most important strengths of your application while also answering the specific question.

First things first. Read the questions carefully, understand the institution’s selection criteria and prepare your answers accordingly. Once you have jotted down your thoughts in a rough form or as bullet points that can be expanded during our discussion, it is time to reach us