How to write SOP

Personal Statement – what is it?

Personal Statement is sometimes called Statement of Purpose (SOP) as a
personal statement gives clear statement of your purpose of choosing to
study a certain course at certain institution. From my own point of view, it
should be called ‘Personal Statement of Purpose’.

Normally, you will require submitting this statement with the admission
application along with your academic credentials. It is an opportunity for
you to tell the selectors why you think you would be a suitable student for
the course you are applying and why the University should select your
application over those of the other candidates. It is therefore vitally
important that you make this statement as effective as possible.

Personal Statement – how much you need to write?

As a general guideline, the length of personal statement should be between
500 to 800 words, roughly 5 paragraphs. The length may vary for
foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate courses and as per chosen
subject type. Besides, some special courses may require specific inclusion
of certain statements. You should always check with your chosen university
if they have any specific requirements.

You should present your key strengths i.e. academic grades, soft skills,
work experience (if any), extra-curricular achievements precisely to give
enough accounts for your eligibility. Very brief statement may not gain
selectors’ heart and unnecessary large statement may ruin the selection
chart. A well designed and carefully measured statement can win selectors’
heart and chart both.
 Personal Statement – DOs & DON’Ts
Personal Statement – 13 things to do Personal Statement – 13 things to avoid
o Start with a splendid sentence to keep
o Cliché i.e. ‘From my early childhood, I have
the reader interested;
been dreaming………………’ type expression;
o Use simple words, small sentences and
o Starting every sentence with 1st person
easy languages;
singular number i.e. ‘I……….’
o Write in small paragraphs and make
o Quotation by scholars or famous people to
them coherent and connected;
justify your statement;
o Maintain logical sequence of narration
o Unnecessary flattery i.e. ‘I have chosen this
while developing readers’ interest till the
world-famous University………’ type
last word;
statement;
o Provide clear and specific information
o Comparison with other universities to prove
with facts and figures;
how your chosen one is better;
o Establish connections with current you
o Difficult words, complex sentence and big
and your future pursuance;
paragraph;
o Only mention accomplishments that are
o Negative expressions or rhetorical questions
relevant to your chosen course;
to make a point;
o Be assertive and show genuine interests
o Repetition of similar expression given in
and commitments;
earlier section;
o Be yourself and use natural & fluent
o Dramatic expression or declamatory style to
language;
impress readers;
o Make it an advertisement to sell your
o Lying about your ability and attainments;
eligibility;
exaggerating yourself;
o Check spelling, punctuations, grammar
o Listing unrelated hobbies nothing to do with
for correctness;
your chosen course;
o Get it read by someone else to identify
o Editing or writing part of your statement by
missing points;
someone else ;
o Check it with admission selection criteria
o Casual approach and inattentiveness in the
and revise it few times till you are fully
formation of the statement
satisfied.
Personal Statement – what and how to write?
Your choice of course and why
At the very start, point out clearly which course and subject you are looking
to study (if you are applying via UCAS where you may choose few
universities, use generic subject name i.e. business, management etc.).
Briefly state why you want to study this subject i.e. International MBA, MSc
Finance, how the qualification will enhance your current academic level and
boost your career prospects. Keep this paragraph limited to 3 to 5
sentences.

How you are eligible for the course

In this paragraph, specify how your past and current relevant academic
attainments, practical skills, work & volunteering experiences (if any) will
help and complement your chosen study subject, establish similarities and
show relationships. Besides, mention about your critical analysis skills,
transferable skills, problem-solving skills, organisational skills, leadership
skills and point out how these will enrich your prospective study. State your
extra-curricular achievements to show your engagements above and
beyond your academic achievements. Remember not to just give a list of
your achievements, but specify clearly how those have benefited you
academically, professionally and personally and how those can be
integrated to your chosen course to realise your academic and career
plans. Here, you should be able to assertively establish how your chosen
course is the right course for you and how you are eligible and suitable to
study this.

Learning target and progression plan

In this section, give an assertion of your learning targets from your chosen
course and how that will provide you advanced level knowledge and skills,
how the qualification will transform you academically, professionally and
personally. Be specific about learning outcomes and career opportunities
i.e. plan to open career in particular industry and likely positions etc. If your
chosen course is at or below bachelor level and if you have plan to do a
follow up course to top up your knowledge, do not be shy to clarify
that. Mention your short, medium and long term goals after completion of
the chosen course.
Why the chosen University
Here, tell the selectors, with facts and figures, why you have chosen to
study at their University. Point out which resources, strengths, facilities,
supports the faculty provides for your chosen subject that made you
choose the University, why you have thought this University is unique i.e.
the University offers something that are not available elsewhere. You may
also include their latest student satisfaction percentage, employment
percentage after graduation etc. (Students who will be applying through
UCAS do not need to write this paragraph unless they are choosing only 1
option out of 5 available). Please do not be negligent to research your
chosen University’s website and relevant pages to gather clear information
and facts.

Why the chosen country

The last paragraph should be dedicated to state why you have chosen to
study in the country of your chosen University, how you will be significantly
more benefitted by studying in that country comparing to your home
country or other major higher study abroad countries. Develop your
argument with logical and factual information.

Personal Statement – last words

The above steps are general guidelines for you to help you designing an
effective Personal Statement of Purpose for University admission. There is
no specific format or formula for this – it is advisable that before starting to
write this, ask your chosen university to find out if they have any specific
recommendations or requirements.

Remember, personal statement, as the name suggests, is a statement that

is very ‘personal’ to you – related to your past and current attainments and
your future pursuance. Therefore, it has to be an ‘original’ statement – if it
is copied from somewhere else or written by someone else, it won’t be
personal anymore and on the other hand, it may constitute to plagiarism
and your admission application can be cancelled or unsuccessful.