Statement of Purpose

The Statement of Purpose (SOP) is the single most important document that admission committees use to evaluate your application for admission to their program. It is a statement of your academic and career goals and background. Having an outstanding SOP can often compensate for an ordinary academic record and modest test scores, making it possible for even an average student to get admission into a good University and sometimes even with financial aid.

The statement of purpose is your opportunity to stand out from the rest of the applicants. It is your only way to let the university know what is interesting or unique about you and why they should want you as a student. In the SOP you get a chance to include the information that is not on your resume or listed elsewhere in your application materials, such as interesting experiences or unique characteristics.

Before you start working on it, you should read the university’s guidelines for writing the SOP. Read the explanation in the application packet carefully to determine the content and length required. Generally speaking, the statement should be  concise and accurate, well written, and not contain grammatical or spelling errors. Don't use the statement to explain any negative aspects of your application - put those explanations in a separate statement or letter.

The importance of SOP

If you are applying for admission to the U.S. universities, especially at graduate studies level, almost all universities will require you to write an SOP. This letter, usually 2-3 pages in length, has the power to make or break your application. Regardless of your grade point aggregate, work experience, test scores, or undergraduate mastery of your potential future area of study, your Statement of Purpose is very influential at most institutions when determining your candidacy for admission.

Your academic record is the central and most important part of your application. For universities where competition for admission is intense, your SOP provides additional insights about you - as a student and as an individual - for admission committee to consider as it reviews your application.

The SOP is your chance to use your imagination to represent yourself through written word. It is the most personalized part of your application to the colleges. In
the SOP, you can speak in your own voice and personalize your application. Here’s your opportunity to show something about you that doesn’t really come across elsewhere in your application.

The SOP can also be your way of showing that you have researched and thought carefully about the university to which you are applying. It shows, in your own words, why you and the college would be a good “match.”

An SOP also demonstrates your writing ability, which is a key component to success in college. In your statement, you can show that you are willing to commit yourself into what you plan to do. That kind of commitment is an important part of effective learning in the college. And it shows the admission committee that you are someone who is willing and able to be a contributing member of a community of learners.

So, step back and be reflective. Think about who you are as an individual. How do you view the world? What do you care about deeply? What experiences and people have been important in shaping you as a person? What are your
aspirations in life? It is in such reflection that you can find your own, unique voice. That’s the voice that will help you write an interesting essay that only you could have written.

What are they really asking anyway?

Different universities will give you different prompts for the statement of purpose. Nonetheless, they're all asking for the same four pieces of information:

• What you want to study?
  
• Why you want to study it?
  
• What experience you have in your field?
  
• What you plan to do with your degree?

Admissions committees look for candidates with clear, well-defined research interests that arise from experience. With that in mind, your statement should reveal that you care deeply about your chosen discipline and that you have the background to support your ideas and sentiments. It should also demonstrate that you’re a diligent student who will remain committed for the long haul.

However you approach these points, it’s imperative that you answer the questions asked in the SOP part of the application in a substantive and direct manner rather than being creative or flashy.

Writing your Statement of Purpose

For most candidates writing an SOP is not a simple and easy task? However, the SOP being a difficult task is also an opportunity for you to show your talents and creativity to their best advantage.

To help you get started, here are some insights on writing an SOP from the people who read hundreds of them every year - the admission committee members at the U.S. universities. Here is what one of them says:

"A college application includes a lot of information about you, such as grades, recommendations, lists of your extracurricular activities and test scores. All of that information is very important and helps admission officers
form a picture of your accomplishments and abilities. However, while it tells about how other people see you, there isn’t much about how you see yourself. It’s that inside view — how you see yourself — that colleges hope to find
in your SOP.  That’s why admissions committees examine your statement of purpose very closely—they want to see whether you have the right stuff to succeed in graduate school".

Tips for writing such an SOP:

• Start early. Give yourself at least a month to gather the necessary information and produce a final version of your statement of purpose.
  
• Investigate the current research trends of the university to which you are applying. Read faculty publications, current interests, and all the admission requirements.
  
• Talk out the details of your life with a friend or trusted acquaintance. Recall small details, anecdotes from childhood, service you might have given at earlier times, the rich palpable details of your life.
• You will recall items you have forgotten or deemed minor, one of which may add energy and meaning to your statement of purpose.
  
• Think carefully about what you want to research as a graduate student. Note that this may change during the course of your studies, but you will want to enter grad school with a solid idea of what you want to do and what you can provide to the university.
  
• Create a strong opening paragraph of five sentences or less. Briefly explain who you are, where you're from, why you have chosen the particular field to which you're applying, and why the university is among your first choices. Be specific. Don't tell the faculty how wonderful their university is or that you want to study there because it's the best in the state/nation/world. The faculty already knows this and you're not telling them anything new.
  
• Mention faculty members with whom you could conduct research by name along with their areas of expertise. For example, "I am interested in working with Dr. Margaret Jones on sociolinguistic comparison because..." or "I have seen Dr. Allara's publications on the use of genetic markers in biochemical reactions and would like to investigate..."
  
• Tell the university why they should choose you over someone else. Explain what you can contribute to that particular field or specialty. Keep in mind that college faculty will accept you if they believe you can further their reputation. Plan how you will accomplish that task and include it in your statement.
  
• Fill the rest of your statement with more detailed information about your undergraduate education, work experience, and potential research topics.
  
• List all the enclosures you will include in your application and give a very brief description of your portfolio.
  
• Thank the admissions committee for their time. Chances are they are reviewing hundreds of applications along with yours.
  
• Provide them your contact information.
  
• Once you have written a draft. go back and revise, edit, and revamp. Have someone else edit it. You'll probably cut out a lot of stuff. Remember to include everything above while aiming for 2-3 pages maximum. This is where being very concise and to the point is important. After the letter is perfect, edit some more.
  
• Print your letter, sign it, and include it as the first item of your application portfolio (although be aware that some schools will want you to send it electronically).
• Remember that your first paragraph should be no longer than four or five sentences, but it should give a summary of the entire statement of purpose. Many graduate committees will read your first paragraph to decide if the rest of your application is worth reading as well.
  
• Keep it clear and concise, yet detailed and specific when it comes to faculty and areas of potential research.
  
• Don't tell the admissions committee how amazing you are. Avoid empty phrases like "I'm talented", "I'm very intelligent,"  "I'm a great writer/engineer artist" or "I had the highest GPA in my department as an undergrad." Show them through your professional Statement of Purpose and application portfolio and let them decide if you are amazing enough to attend their institution.
  
• Should you attempt to explain how "amazing" you are, make sure that you justify it. Yet, you must remain humble. For example: "I believe that I have the confidence in myself to strive for the furthest goal."
  
• Use short anecdotes to highlight your strengths. After committee members have read a few dozen statements, they all start looking alike; some specific and interesting details can help a candidate to stick out. Of course, it helps if these anecdotes are related to the broad point you're making in your statement.
  
• Focus on your previous and future research experiences. Many students make the mistake of summarizing their CVs in thier SOPs. Committees that bother to read your application know already that you're a good student; they now want to see whether you'll make the transition to a more unstructured and self-directed form of learning in graduate school. They look for evidence of this by seeing how you describe your past research experiences and your future plans. The key is not particularly the topic you propose--the committee will expect this to change after you get some more experience. Instead, they will look to see whether you have a realistic and well-informed sense of what a graduate student would expect to do in a degree.

Making your statement of purpose unique.

While it’s important to be focused, there’s no need to be boring. To distinguish your essay, add unique (and yet relevant) information. One of the best ways to do this is to discuss, briefly, an idea in your field that turns you on intellectually. It's an effective essay-opener, and it lets you write about something beside yourself for a bit.

Remember, the idea you choose to talk about can tell an admissions committee a lot about you. And it demonstrates your interest in your field, rather than just describing it.

Don’t forget:

• To show your statement of purpose to someone you respect, preferably the professors who are writing your recommendations, and get some feedback on the content before you send it in. If you need to revise it, do so and then ask for more feedback.
• To have someone else proofread your essay for spelling and grammar. A fresh set of eyes often picks up something you missed. Better yet, if you have enough willing friends, have a couple of people proofread each statement.
• To avoid reusing the same statement of purpose for each school to which you apply. You can recycle the same information, but make sure you change the presentation to fit each school’s individual program.

MBA Essays

Each year, the top business schools in the U.S. accept less than 12% of their highly qualified applicant pool. The business school application process is extremely competitive. Nearly all applicants to the top Business Schools each year possess similar undergraduate GPAs and GMAT scores yet relatively few get admitted to the top schools of their choice. The fact of the matter is that the application process involves more than mere numbers. The Admissions Committees want to ensure that you will be successful in their business program. This is where the business school or MBA admission essay comes in. Your MBA admission essay is your opportunity to demonstrate to the admissions committees that you deserve to be accepted instead of your competition. 

Your MBA essays are probably the most important part of your business school application. After reading your essays, the admissions officers should feel as though they really know you and want you on their campus. This means that you must go beyond listing your accomplishments and describe your motivations, your interests, and even your weaknesses and fears. And you need to do it in the language that truly represents how you communicate.

The importance of MBA essays

MBA admission is more competitive than any other college admission. With most of the applicants prepared and qualified, setting yourself apart requires more than just good GMAT scores and glowing recommendations—it requires powerful, well-reasoned application essays.

Your business school admissions essays will be the decisive factor distinguishing you from hundreds or even thousands of applicants with comparable work experience and academic credentials. To be successful, your essays must not only address your motivation and qualifications, but also map your career ambitions to the mission of the school, while at the same time painting a vivid picture of your leadership ability and character—one that compels a busy admissions officer to take notice and accept you.

In reality, your business school or MBA admission essay is another interview--a paper interview. However unlike the personal interview, the admission essay gives you an opportunity to strategize over how you want to present yourself to the admissions committees. In the personal interview, you will be asked questions and will be expected to answer on the spot. The admission essay, however, gives you the opportunity to really think through your answers and develop, define, and frame the impressions the admissions committee may form about your character and achievements. Hence, not only will your admission essay supplement your personal interview, it will comprise a separate chance altogether to impart a favorable impression.

Writing your MBA essays

What to write about? Where to look for a topic? Well, most of the times, your application itself will have topics in the form of the questions that you have to answer. Make sure to answer all the essay question and to follow all the instructions that are given.

How to handle the questions

Often, B-schools will ask you to write about an experience you’ve had that changes your outlook, an achievement in your life, or someone who has had a significant influence on your life. In handling such a topic — or, for that matter, any topic you select — go beyond the what and dig into the how and why. In other words, don’t settle for simply providing a description of an event. Take the next step and tell about the impact the situation had on you. For example:
• If you’re writing about a trip to another country, tell about how your experiences affected you, and why they were interesting or meaningful to you. This is a personal essay, not a travelogue. So the people reading the essay are interested in what makes you tick and how you got the way you are,  andnot in how the trains run in Paris.
• If you are writing a tribute to your grandparents and their influence on your childhood, be personal and specific, not just sentimental. Explain how the particular things your grandparents did or said were important to you.
• If you overcome an athletic injury and recover to perform well, a description of the type of cast you wore and your rehab routine is not likely to make a compelling essay. However, your reflections on what it felt like to be watching your team-mates, instead of competing alongside them, might be the basis of a memorable essay.

Some points to consider:

Does the application ask you to choose a topic to write about? If yes, choose a topic on which you will have some complelling observations to make. 

Do you have hobbies and non-school pursuits that really excite you and that engage your heart and mind? Writing about your out-of-classroom interests could help bring out a part of you that’s not covered — or not covered completely and to your fullest advantage — elsewhere in your application.

Is there a social cause that you hold near and dear? Remember, an essay is not an academic paper; but a cause that you feel passionately about, and that has been in your thoughts and activities, might be the basis for a
strong essay. Perhaps there is an event (local, national or international) that has touched you in a personal way.

Is there an academic subject that really sparks your interest? Why does the subject engage you? Has it led to experiences or study outside of school? There may be essay material that goes beyond the courses you took or scores on tests.

Possible pitfalls when writing an MBA essay

• Humor can be risky, so be careful how you use it.
  
• "Honor code” rules are in effect when you write an essay, so do your own work and don’t make things up. As a matter of fact, other items in the application, such as letters of recommendation, make it quite possible that you would be found out if you tried to make things up.

Some warnings

• Avoid sending the exact same Essay/Statement of Purpose to all the universities to which you are applying. The admissions committee will easily spot a cookie-cutter essay and more than likely reject your application. Admissions committees also notice whether or not you have include specific references to people, labs, institutions etc., within their departments.
• Don't be overly specific about your research goals if you are actually somewhat flexible. If there are no faculty in a particular department working in your described area who are taking students in a given year, you might be rejected even though you are considered "above bar".
• At the same time, there's no point pretending to be interested in a broader range of topics than you actually are.
  
• Don't be too technical, i.e., using words or jargon-style expressions that are unfamiliar to you. If you use them incorrectly, chances are you'll end up sounding like a novice.
  
• Don't use superfluous descriptions or poetic phrases unless you're applying to study arts like creative writing.
  

Avoid this mistake, if you are applying for MS/PhD

Grad school applicants commonly make the error of including a paragraph about how well rounded they are: They're avid readers, they write short stories, they like soccer, they love nature, or for that matter they love to cook. Colleges are interested in this stuff; graduate schools are not. Grad schools are looking for great minds that will achieve mastery of a specific subject area.

They do care about those activities that speak to your suitability for graduate work. As a graduate student, you'll be called upon to do difficult coursework and research. You may have to teach undergraduate classes within your field and in some cases even be involved in design of a course. And you'll have to get along with a diverse group of colleagues who will sometimes work very closely with you. Any experience in school, work or your extracurricular life that speaks to those abilities is worth talking about.

Some final tips...
Give yourself enough time to write, rewrite and revise. For a great majority of people, writing an SOP/MBA essay is not an easy assignment. Start early and leave plenty of time. Most likely that means to give yourself weeks (not days, and certainly not hours!) to rework your essay.

If your essay is longer than three pages (unless the instructions call for something longer), then it had better be interesting! Think hard about what you really want to focus on, and take out whatever gets away from your central point. The admission committee will take your essay seriously. You should, too.

You have a lot to gain by putting in the time and effort to write a good essay. In general, it’s best to be succinct. If there is a recommended length for the essay, pay attention to it. The essay should be neatly typed. Remember that mistakes, especially sloppy mistakes, make it look like you don’t take the essay (and, by extension, the application) very seriously.

While the application is a succession of documents where you are writing about yourself, the statement of purpose is the very document about yourself. Its goal is to provide a picture of your background and goals that will persuade the admission committee to accept you. In the statement of purpose it gets personal: you have to show who you are, what you know and can do, and what you want. The overall philosophy of a typical SOP goes like this: departing from your background, you explain your goals, and how the two go together. That is, that you prove that what you know helps you achieve what you want to get. Then, you show how your goals motivate you to apply of that particular program. Recruiters expect you to prove compatibility between you, and your goals, and the program. It is an opportunity for you to show how what you have matches what they want. Remember, this is a question of interpretation: don't make things up, just put your qualifications in the right light. This means, of course, that you have to personalize your SOP for each program you are applying to.

Beyond the particular skills required by each program, an SOP should depict you as a clear-headed person, capable of thinking clearly, without confusion, and  a motivated, active learner. Before writing the first draft, take some time to think about yourself, your goals and your skills. Start by stating your goals in the introduction. Structure the body of the paper according to the logic explained above. Start from facts - your background, explaining what, where and why you have studied, and how that can be used in the new program. If you are changing the subject of your studies, provide a convincing explanation of the reasons that determine you to. In other words, say why are you motivated to make that change. Continue in the second section of the body of the paper with your professional goals, explaining the connection between them and your studies. Present your long-term plans, and say how the program you are applying for will help you achieve those goals. Finally, in the last part, having explained your background and your goals, relate them to the program of your choice. Make clear why your background recommends you for the program, and how the program will help you achieve the long-term goals. In this section also explain why exactly that university is your first choice - courses, faculty, research interests are possible reasons. In conclusions you should sum up the main points and state how you can contribute to the program.

The structure of an SOP is not that complicated and is actually easy to grasp once you got the inner logic of the document. Still, writing a good draft is difficult. You need to take some time out for it. Don't contradict what you have said in other documents, but try to add on them. Answer the essay or statement question, if you have one - it usually will be something like- Why are you the right person for this program?. Don't try to be modest, explain out loud your realization, without showing off. Write in a clear and logic manner, rather than being subtle - remember, your SOP will be one in a few hundreds read by the recruiter. Don't be afraid of rewriting, you will revise it up to 10 times (no exaggeration!) until you can come up with a good SOP. One strategy is, let it rest after you have written a new draft for a few days, and read it again, in order to get a more objective view.

Suggested reading: The College Application Essay by Sarah Myers McGinty (The College Board, New York, NY).