The Answers to all your SoP questions are here

You’ve gone through every college website in existence, attended countless information webinars, and are finally feeling a little, if not more, prepared to bell the impossibly huge application-shaped cat, when you feel your stomach sinking. It’s already October, but you haven’t even started your SoP yet-how on earth are you supposed to summarize your entire being into a page or two!? 

An outstanding SoP usually relies on a tried-and-tested formula, and you just have to fit your own information and stats within that framework to produce an astonishingly well-written statement of purpose. We’ve rounded up a list of the most-asked SoP questions (which should reassure you that there have always been clueless students) and their answers should provide some much-needed clarity!

1. What does a statement of purpose essay include?

Quite often, most people are confused by the name itself, which causes them to write something entirely wrong. Statements of purpose differ from personal statements in that an SoP displays your purpose behind applying for a particular course at a particular school, and personal statements show who you are as a person. In an SoP, you must be very clear about three things:

– Who are you?
– What course are you applying for?
– Why this school/course? OR Why would you be a perfect fit for this?

2. How do I start my essay?

While summarizing your entire persona in a limited space might be daunting, there’s a little trick called the 1+1+4 that might help. Basically, this stands for the number of paragraphs you should dedicate to each of the three questions mentioned in the previous point: 1 for telling the admissions committee who you are, 1 for explaining which course, and 4 for why you would be the PERFECT candidate for it. 

You don’t get many pages to drone on about every single achievement. So, omit anything which doesn’t scream “look at me! I’m so amazing!”. Start strong, and try to hook the reader with a question, a surprising statement, or a relevant statistic.

PS: This hack works usually for 500-word SoPs. However, if there are shorter essays to submit, stick to giving the committee a shortened and more concise version of the parts mentioned in point #1.

3. Should I research the university?

This is your only chance to show the college why you would be an amazing addition to their program, so don’t hold back! Comb through the college website for extracurricular clubs and organizations that you can join (or maybe start your very own!), look up your classes in the course catalogue, find your teachers on the faculty listings or sites like Rate My Professor, and let your admissions officer know that you’ve done your homework. 

For extra brownie points, read research papers or articles that your professors have written and published, and let it flow in your essay. It’s also a great talking point for your interviews. Show that you know your stuff, and you’ve chosen their school after rigorous research.

4. What if I don’t have a long-term/short-term goal?

While having a clear vision of your future is nice, the admissions committee doesn’t expect you to have every tiny little detail planned out. In case you can’t think of anything, just mention a general field that you’re hoping to specialize in, and a line or two about the career prospects. Your essay will stand out further if you can somehow connect it to a student club/academic program at the college.

5. How do I explain the gap in my education/work?

Gaps in your education are natural to have- maybe you took a year off to travel or work, or you just couldn’t decide on what you wanted to study. Perhaps you had a personal responsibility which you had to take care of. In any case, it’s always better to prove that you didn’t spend that time sitting at home and that you were out doing something worthwhile. The definition of worthwhile work could vary- it encompasses everything from caring for an ill family member to taking some time off for your mental health.

6. Where do I specify my work/project experience?

After listing your academic activities, you can start with extracurriculars or internships. While drafting an outline, make sure to organize these in the order of importance and duration of time spent. Talk about the most impressive achievements first, then slowly move on to the less significant activities. A good rule of thumb to follow here is to connect your high school activities to your proposed involvement in college, thus building upon your experience.

7. Where do the answers lie? Deep within.

Find a quiet place, sit down and oil your mental gears thoroughly. Have a good, long thought about everything that has happened to you, and why it matters. Did it shape any of your core beliefs? Did it lead you to make any major lifestyle changes? How can you bring up this earth-shattering life-changing moment in your essay? Answering all these questions will make you more self-aware, which in turn will help you recognize why you would be a good fit for the course/school you’ve chosen. 

Before you start your essay though, remember: having an outline is essential. Give yourself sufficient time to brainstorm, create an outline, type up 2-3 rough drafts, get them approved/proofread by a teacher or a Grammar Nazi friend, and write a final version. You should also have enough days left if you suddenly decide that your SoP seems like a second-grader’s ramblings and you want to do it all over again. The final product should be polished, put-together, and an accurate representation of your academic capabilities and strengths. It should speak volumes about who you are as a person, and what you’ll bring to the college’s community.

If you’re still feeling lost about SoPs, we can help you with yours! Contact us today.