In my previous post where I outlined the timeline for U.S. graduate applications, I mentioned how difficult it is to even start writing a Statement of Purpose (SOP). The SOP is a compulsory part of every graduate application which gives you a chance to truly stand out amongst hundreds of applicants from all around the world. I personally know students who had below-average GPA and GRE test scores, yet they were able to secure fully-funded offers because of how they presented themselves in their SOP.
Why do universities ask for an SOP in the first place?
This is a valid question. If the university has access to your transcripts, test scores, letters of recommendation, then why do they ask for a two-page essay describing the same things? Well, the first and most obvious answer is that they want to see if you are capable of writing essays on par with the standards of academic writing. Having the ability to write well is an essential skill for any graduate program, regardless of your field. The admissions committee is curious to learn if you are able to explain your achievements and interests in a clear and articulate manner using less than 1000 words.
Secondly, the SOP helps you stand out beyond standardized evaluation methods. Imagine a scenario in which a professor has funding for only one student and they have shortlisted their applicant pool to two finalists. Both students have done research in the professor’s area, both have excellent GRE scores and GPA and both of them are highly recommended by their prospective recommenders. In such a scenario, the SOP is the breaking point! The professor will choose the student whose writing speaks to them. Someone they can envision working with for the next two years and having weekly meetings with. Someone who is self-motivated with the ability to create an impact. The SOP and letters of recommendation are your chance to add a “human” touch to the application, but out of the two, you can only control the SOP.
Step 1: Getting Started
To get started with your SOP, implement a top-down approach. This means focusing on quantity rather than quality in your first draft and then later removing unnecessary content. Make a list of your favorites projects and write about your role in each one. Devote one paragraph to each project unless two projects are closely related. Do not worry about the grammar mistakes, tone, or word limit in your first draft. Even if your first draft is three times longer than the word limit (usually 500-1000 words), it is okay. The goal here is to get words on paper.
You can use the following format for guidance:
- A short and to the point introductory paragraph.
- Two to three paragraphs of your past experience and its relevance to your future goals.
- One paragraph on your specific area of interest and your reasons for choosing the specific university or advisor.
Step 2: Refining Your Writing Style
After you are done writing your first draft, you need to think about the SOP from the perspective of the admissions committee or your potential advisor. They already have a copy of your resume which lists your projects, experience, education, etc. What they are looking for in your SOP is your impact while completing those projects. For example, if you worked on improving the efficiency of a wind turbine and you were successful in increasing it by 10%, elaborate on how you achieved that number and what was your specific role in doing so. After achieving success, how did you feel? Do you have any suggestions for improving the project? What useful skills did you learn from the project? The admissions committee will be reading between the lines beyond what you will tell them in writing. What they are looking for is your competency and potential to succeed as a graduate student. Don’t just say you are a hard worker, show it through concrete examples.
Quite often, I see students starting an SOP with a cheesy, famous quote. This is a terrible idea. The SOP is not a platform for you to quote others or include anything that does not directly relate to you. The admissions committee is interested in learning more about you. They don’t care how Robert Frost inspired you to take the road “less traveled by” or how John Lennon encouraged you to imagine more. Shave off such unnecessary details from your first draft and only focus on what directly relates to you. Make sure you write in an active voice with a positive tone that shows your excitement for continuing your education.
The only time you should talk about something other than yourself is the last paragraph in which you should talk about why you are applying to that specific university. If it is a thesis-based graduate program, you must mention at least one faculty member with whom you are interested in working with. Other than mentioning their name, you should also elaborate on why you are interested in their work and how you can be an asset to their team. Take advantage of the fact that humans are naturally drawn to familiar things. If you have communicated with any faculty member via email or phone prior to applying, make sure to mention their names. While talking about why you are choosing that specific university, you can mention a lab or program that will help you in furthering your career. Please, don’t mention how great the university is. The admissions committee knows how great their university is, otherwise you wouldn’t be applying there to begin with.
Step 3: Asking For Feedback
This can be an uncomfortable step of the SOP writing process. Depending on who you ask for feedback, they might suggest you to remove whole paragraphs or catch extremely simple mistakes which might lead to embarrassment on your part. But, that’s the whole point! This is what I suggest when it comes to feedback (and what worked for me):
- The first person you should ask is someone who is an expert in the English language. This can be a published author, an English teacher, or a paid professional. Other than proofreading your SOP, they will also check for continuity and focus in your SOP and the transition between each paragraph. Try to find someone who is completely unbiased and would be as honest as possible. This is why I recommend avoiding your friends and family members for feedback on your first draft.
- Once your draft is proofread, ask a faculty member in your field to read it. This gives you a chance to gauge how well you were able to explain technical details in your SOP and omit obvious information.
- Now, go back to the English expert and ask them to proofread the final version once again.
Step 4: Customizing For Each University
Once you have finished writing the final version of your SOP for one university, it is very easy to write for more. Other than the last paragraph, keep most of the content the same for each university’s SOP. However, do not rush this process. Give that last paragraph in which you talk about your reasons for applying to that university the same respect as you did for all of the other sections of your SOP.
Essential Tips
- Strictly follow the word limit. In some cases, I’ve seen that the word limit can be as low as 500 words but the usual is 1000 words.
- Use regular fonts like Times New Roman or Arial with 12 pt and single-spacing.
- If there were some unfortunate events in your life which affected your studies in a major way, write about them with a tone of perseverance. The same goes for explaining large gaps in your education.
- End the SOP with a short and simple statement. I ended mine with “Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to hearing from you.”
- After finishing your SOP, let it sit for a day and then proofread it once again. You’ll be surprised at how effective this technique can be.
Don’t forget to subscribe to the monthly newsletter below as I will be posting more articles on graduate applications in the upcoming weeks. If you have any questions, please let me know in the comments or via hello@irfantahir.com.
Can u share ur profile and how many LORs are needed?