SOP – HECS

Statement of Purpose or SOP

While applying for studying abroad, it is necessary to submit a statement that talks about your background with past experiences, your career path and your goals for the future. This helps the universities assess if you are the right candidate for the chosen course.

What is a SOP (Statement of Purpose)?

A Statement of Purpose which is also called a Letter of Intent or research statement is an essay-like letter written to the admission panel. It is the central aspect of your application and helps the universities decide your acceptance in a particular course. Most universities require you to write it like an essay and send it along with your application. And some universities follow a question-answer based approach and send you a set of questions. Your SOP must revolve around your interest, career path, short and long term goals, why you are choosing a specific course and how it will help you move closer to your goals.

What Is the Purpose of a SOP?

Being the key decision-maker, your SOP helps the universities gain insight into your professional life. They evaluate your knowledge, experience, goals and vision. The SOP must be skilfully written and showcase your personality as a whole. It is a window of opportunity to convey your purpose and convince the admission committee why they should choose you. In the case of a weak professional/academic resume, a meaningfully written SOP emphasizing your future goals will balance it out.

What Are the Must-Have Elements of a SOP?

Part 1:
Introduce yourself, your personal and financial backgrounds, talk about your interests and motivations. Keep it short.

Part 2:
Highlight your academic details and professional experiences including part-time, full-time, volunteerism. Explain in detail your projects, your contribution, responsibilities and outcomes. Bring published work like research papers, if you have any, to their attention. Include details on your extracurriculars as well.

Part 3:
Convey why you are interested in the course you are applying to. Elaborate on your short and long term goals. Talk about your qualities and talents that will help you inch towards your goal. Tie your past experiences with your future expectations.

Part 4:
Tell them why you are particularly interested in that university. And give the university a good enough reason to choose you. Speak about how you intend to contribute to the university and your peers. Discuss the relevance of your previous experiences and how they will help you carry out your intended contributions.

What Do Universities Expect To See in Your SOP?

Well-written, grammatically sound, precise and error-free language. (Use active voice)
Your interests and goals.
Your motive to pursue your chosen course in the chosen university.
Your planned contributions to the university.

What Are the 3 Stages of Writing a SOP?

Stage 1: Plan

Jot down points that come to your mind. List your interests, achievements, experience and goals. Scribble down how your interest developed, share stories and give them an understanding of your experiences to build a strong introduction. Importantly, write a compelling reason why you are applying for that specific course and university.

Stage 2: Write

While writing, ensure to use active voice and write in reverse chronological order. Write an impressive introduction and conclusion. Do not use too many technical terms. Write multiple drafts and improvise. Discuss in detail your learning and experiences. Address any shortcomings in your profile like a gap year or an academic setback. Tackle them with a positive approach and tell what you learnt from your weaknesses.

Stage 3: Proofread

After writing your SOP, let it sit for a night. Review it the next day and get another pair of eyes to review it as well. Ask your seniors or professors for their opinions. Thoroughly proofread for any grammatical errors, misspellings, vocabulary and the flow of the writing.

Your SOP must be nothing short of great. It is the most important aspect that will decide your acceptance into the course you pick. Ensure it is reviewed by multiple people so you don’t miss any mistake. Get help from experienced professionals in your college, work environment or our skilled HECS consultants.