Writing
a Great Statement of Purpose
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Lesson Summary: |
What is an SoP?
The
Statement of Purpose (SoP) is the single most important
part of your application that will tell the admissions
committee who you are, what has influenced your career path so
far, your professional interests and where you plan to go from
here.
As the name signifies, the Statement of Purpose is your personal
statement about who you are, what has influenced your career path
so far, your professional interests and where you plan to go from
here.
It need not be a bald statement of facts; several successful SoPs
address these questions through anecdotes, stories or by
describing their hero. But whether your SoP is subtle or to the
point, it must be well written to be successful.
Why
is a Statement of Purpose so Important?
This is
because the SoP is the only part of your application
packet over which you have full control. Your academic
and extra-curricular records are in the past. Most people only
take one or two shots at the GMAT, GRE
or TOEFL, and these scores could be
adversely affected by conditions on the test day. It is important
to choose recommendation letter writers carefully, but while you
hope they give you the best possible recommendation, this is not
within your control.
The SoP is your chance to talk directly to the admissions
committee. To make yourself stand out from among a multitude of
similarly qualified candidates. To convince the committee that
you have the spark, the thirst for knowledge that could add value
to your class.
How NOT to Write Your SoP
Most
of us work hard for the standard tests - the GRE, GMAT, TOEFL and
others. We attend classes or peruse study aids. We give practice
tests and do everything within our power to aim for the highest
possible score. We know that these test scores, while not a
perfect tool, are crucial to our chances of gaining admission and
even a scholarship or assistant-ship.
The SoP or essay, on the other hand, is put off until the last
possible moment. It scares us when we look at those oh-so-perfect
essay examples in the admissions guidebooks and wonder how we can
ever write so well. Or how to pick our way through the minefield
of endless Do's and Don'ts. Finally we write something, because
time is pressing and we have to meet the application deadline. We
do our best, juggling the writing process with the last-minute
paraphernalia of applying-checking forms for errors and
completeness, collating the application packets, making sure
transcripts, recommendations, work samples and resumes go in
their right envelopes, worrying about transit times. We feel
thankful when the essay is over, do a quick scan for obvious
mistakes, and send it on its way.
Why
is a Good SoP a Better Idea?
If
you do a lousy job on the SoP, you are practically throwing away
your chances of admission. A good SoP will certainly
improve your chances of getting admission to the school
of your choice, and even compensate for weaker portions of your
application such as less-than-perfect grades or test test scores.
A bad SoP, on the other hand, has the potential to drag down an
otherwise strong application.
If you plan correctly, you can give yourself enough time to
submit a well-written, thoughtful, polished essay that will boost
your chances for admission. Equally important, this is a great
opportunity to look inside yourself and be rewarded by a
better understanding of who you are. Writing a
reasonably good Statement of Purpose is not an impossible task.
It requires care, attention and
patience. And enough
time for you to be able to write
several drafts, show them to people and polish the essay until
you get a version you are happy with.
Done right, this will even turn out to be an enjoyable process.
And your chances of getting admitted into a great program or
getting a scholarships will be much higher!
What
do Colleges and Universities Look for in a Statement of
Purpose?
The primary
question admissions committee members ask themselves when they
read a Statement of Purpose is: What does this essay tell me
about the person who wrote it?
Put yourself in an admission officer's shoes. From among
thousands of applications, you have to choose the fraction of
students that will comprise next year's incoming class. A mix of
interesting, confident and enthusiastic people who will make the
class a stimulating place. Academic achievements and good test
scores are important. But in an era where the majority of
applicants have good academic records, it becomes increasingly
difficult to distinguish between individuals and decide who gets
the offer of admission.
When
you apply, each of the items in the application packet: -
recommendations, extra-curricular achievements, work samples -
adds an extra dimension to your personality.
But it is the SoP that brings you to life. Which
is why each essay is read carefully by at least two and often
four or five people before a decision is taken on the
application.
Does this mean that the SoP is the main deciding factor? No. Your
academic record, grades and the courses you took - are the first
section admission committee members turn to. Standardized test
scores are useful to know where you stand in the applicant pool.
For graduate schools, relevant work or academic experience is
important. Being from a reputed school or college confers a
distinct advantage. What your teachers or boss think of you goes
a long way towards the school's opinion. A good work sample can
show your creativity, skill and professionalism.
However,
only the SoP or application essays can bring out your uniqueness.
And therefore make or break your application. An applicant who
does not take the essay seriously is throwing away the best
opportunity available.
So are the admission officers looking for specific personality
sorts? Well, yes and no. Creativity, curiosity, pride in your
work, an enthusiasm for learning, a capacity for teamwork, the
ability to think independently and so on are all good attributes,
and most of us share these in varying proportions.
"What
schools look for is a mix of individuals that form a
well-balanced class"
How Do I Write a Great SoP?
1.
Check Your Fit.
It's a good
idea to go through the school's brochures or web site, speak to
people about it, visit if that is possible; get a feel of the
student mix that they look for and decide if
this is the school for you. Some things are obvious- if you're a
guy, don't try and apply for a women's college. However, finding
some subtle things can give you a great boost- for example, if
you're a great basketball player and the school prides itself on
having a great basketball team, mentioning your skills on the
court in your SoP can certainly give you an advantage.
2.
Don't lie.
Trying to
tailor your SoP to reflect what you think the school is looking
for is dangerous business. The people who read your application
have been doing so for years and are skilled at spotting fakes.
They are likely to know soon if a particular author is saying
something for effect or if an essay does not ring true. And that
means almost certain rejection.
Now, you might be asking, what am I supposed to do, impress and
lie or be honest but not look as good? Of course you want to have
a positive effect on the admissions officers. The important thing
is to do so without appearing dishonest. If, for instance, you
talk about your deep desire to make society a better place, your
application should reflect it. Have you done anything about this
desire? Can you talk about your actions and experiences? A small
example of something you did, not necessarily spectacular, can do
more towards boosting your chances than the noblest platitude
can.
Don't
try to be something you are not. Don't try to tell the admissions
committee what you think they want to hear. Be honest,
look inside yourself and do your best. Which brings us
to the next point:
3.Self-knowledge.
The people who
read your essay want to be convinced that you have thought long
and hard about who you are, what are the things you appreciate,
what inspires you. What you want out of life, and where you are
going from here. Make sure you do just that-
think. Take time to plan your SoP by writing
down all the important points you wish to discuss, the various
activities, skills, and personal goals that make you stand out.
You're the only person who knows these things, so analyze
yourself before you start writing.
4.
Don't overkill.
It is not
necessary to have all the answers. After all, several admirable
people have no idea where they are going even at age 40 or 50.
And there's no need to talk about every single thing that makes
you special just because there's a small chance it might look
good. Admissions officers ask for a short SoP, not a 5-volume
autobiography. Pick only the things that you believe make you the
right candidate, and remember- less is more.
Polishing
Your Statement of Purpose
So
now you have a coherent essay put together. You think the
structure is more or less right, the ideas flow, and the language
isn't bad. What next?
The
'In their shoes' check
Put your essay
away for a day or two. When you take it out, lay it face down for
two minutes while you put yourself in the admissions committee's
place. Imagine yourself to be a professor or graduate student who
is going through a few hundred applications and classifying them
into 'yes', 'maybe' and 'no' piles. Think of how you would look
at SoPs and try to read yours through a stranger's eyes. Judging
your own SoP will show help you identify its quality, although of
course you do have some bias in the matter.
Showing
your stuff around
It
is essential to show your SoP to a few other people whose opinion
you respect, as they won't have the same bias you have and they
can provide important feedback. You can ask an English teacher
from school, a professor, an older friend, a parent or a
relative. Include among these, 2-3 people who know you well, and
can judge both the quality of the paper and the truth of what
you've written.
Bonus Tips:
Letters
of Recommendation
Recommendations
are meant to provide a third-person perspective
on you as an individual. While your grades/scores are supposed to
represent your intellectual capabilities and your essay allows
you the opportunity of presenting your point of view,
recommendations by those who know you give the university an
independent assessment of your skills and qualities.
Unfortunately, a number of applications ask for elaborate
recommendations that are frequently a burden on faculty and
superiors. It's not uncommon to hear of faculty asking the
student to write his/her own recommendation and then editing them
for effect. This is even more likely to be the case in a work
environment, where few would like to waste their time answering
often absurd questions.
I strongly deter the practice of applicants writing their own
recommendations. It puts many students in a position they'd
rather not be in. But the sad fact is that many applicants have
little say in this matter. And even if you are fortunate enough
to have people around you who are prepared to write up their own
recommendations for you, there are certain aspects you could try
to keep in mind.
Tips on Getting Good Recommendation Letters
Selecting
the right people to recommend you
Ask
yourself the following:
Do they know you well enough to describe your proficiencies? How
much credibility are they likely to hold with the university? Are
they likely to give you a positive and honest recommendation?
Get some variety into your recommendations and co-ordinate your
recommendations with the rest of your application.
How
to go about doing it
Invest
in the following:
Make a list of persons you are going to ask to recommend you, and
then ask them whether they would be willing to do so. Make sure
you give them the specific instructions the college provided (if
any), let them know when you need the letter at the latest, and
make sure to thank them both when they agree to write you a
letter and after they have done writing it.
Good Luck writing your Statement of Purpose!
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