Writing your Statement of Purpose is the stage you reach once you’re done deciding where you want to study abroad. After choosing the university and country for your study program, your next step is to provide a strong reason for the admission committee to choose you. This is the process that an SoP entails, and that’s what we’re here to help you understand.

The SoP involves using a straightforward yet unique way to present your intentions and passion for studying at a particular university. How intelligently you do it will depend on your method of presentation.

What is an SoP, and why should you take it seriously?

An SoP is a letter of intent that you must prepare to describe yourself as an individual, your goals and your intentions. This letter is meant for the admission committee to evaluate your credibility as a student. 

So, when you write this letter, remember that you are meant to reveal:

• Your passion
• Clarity of thoughts
• What inspires you
• Your dedication towards your goals
• What makes you unique

But why do so much? – The evaluator on the other end of the admission committee has never met you. How do they justify your acceptance at the education institute you’ve selected to study? Moreover, how do you justify your decision and commitment to study at the university you chose?

This is where an SoP provides you with the means to justify your intent to study at the university you’ve chosen. And likewise, the admission committee gets a chance to evaluate you as a student and an individual.

Use this systematic approach to write your SoP

To apply for admission to universities abroad, you must take your SOP preparation seriously. It is “the” most important document. The admission committee wants to get to know you, not just by your transcripts and final year project. Your SoP document carries the weightage that, if executed smartly, can help you get admission to the university to which you apply.

Our counsellors at Expert Education can guide Nepalese students to write their SoPs efficiently. Let’s look at the approach you can use to make this letter effective.

Firstly, remember that the SoP takes time to write, which means that you won’t complete it in a day. You need to start working on this letter as it requires several rounds of editing or redrafting on your part. You can get it proofread by your seniors until the final copy is ready for submission. 

Let’s begin by segmenting each section of your SoP letter.

First paragraph section – Begin by describing your childhood interests in an innocent and straightforward manner. Do not drag it with lengthy stories, but simply mention how that interest is still in you. It is best not to start your letter with a quote that inspired you, as several applicants have done the same, indicating that you’re certainly using it to falsely impress the admission committee. It won’t work!

Second section – If you’ve got a great undergrad percentage, make sure to highlight the same, but subtly. You can also write about what inspired you in the subjects as part of your Master’s degree. You can use it to express this as an added element to your list of interests.

Third section – Provide a summary of what your final year project was all about and what you learnt in the process. Do not boast about the findings of the project. Likewise, talk about your publications and internships the same way as your projects.

Fourth section – The fourth section is where you need to be more careful. There’s a fine line between expressing your interest in the university of your choosing and praising it a lot. The last thing you want to do is bore the readers on the admission committee. So, here’s how you can strategically write this fourth paragraph.

• Express your interest in the university in terms of the research work, the labs, the faculty, and the projects currently held there.
  • Mention your reasons for choosing that particular university for completing your studies. You’ve got to have meaningful reasons apart from financial gain or a great career with a fat pay cheque.
  • Talk about why you choose the study program of your interest at this university.
  • What did you like about this university? Here, it means that you not only talk about the course, but the university as a whole.

Fifth section – In the fifth section, you’ll have to go a step further. Talk about your short- and long-term goals. Give the admission committee solid reasons to choose you over the sea of applicants they’ve received, including yours. So, talk about where you want to see yourself some years down the line after completing your study program at their university.

You have to make sure to express yourself here really well. You have to write in a way that emphasises your seriousness to study and reach greater heights in your career. This section is one of the crucial factors that define whether or not you get accepted into the university.

Sixth, concluding section – Finally, end this letter with two to three lines mentioning that you will serve productively at the university. Talk about the value you will bring to the university and your home country.

Remember that the evaluator is not going to spend more than a few minutes on your SoP. They will simply skim through your letter, and read through the sections that catch their eye, or where they feel it is important to read. 

So, do not boast about your achievements or the marks you scored. Be subtle, and do not use slang language. You should sound humble and professional in your writing. Do not simply copy-paste an SoP sample draft you may have fetched out from the net. Your letter should not be too long, but significant, to the point, and relevant.

We wish you the very best for your SoP letter. Our team specialises in helping Nepalese students in the admission and other processes.