Statement of Purpose 12th State Board

What is a Statement of Purpose?

A Statement of Purpose (SOP) is an application made to a university to seek admission to a particular course. It is an essay which describes you as a person, your aims and ambitions. It speaks about your journey of life and the qualities you have nurtured in the process.

Introduction:

Statement of Purpose (SOP) is subjective in nature. It gives an idea about your innate qualities. The SOP gives you an opportunity to show the special qualities which make you distinct from others. It explains why you want to join the course, what is your liking, how you have developed your liking. It justifies how you will be able to achieve your aim. It also explains why you have selected a particular university. The SOP is a gateway to your career as the admission committee judges you or screens the applications on the basis of the SOPs received. Hence, it is a very important document. The SOPs for undergraduate, postgraduate and doctorate levels would be different. The SOPs differ according to the requirement. The number of words in which an SOP is written is also different for different universities. At this level when you would pass your Std. XII examination and write personal statements to universities for admission to undergraduate course you should follow the format given below.

Use the following guidelines while drafting the SOP

1. It should be written in around 500 words, tentatively in five/six paragraphs.
2. Begin with your introduction, give details about your personal background, your mental make-up and your aim in life.
3. In the second paragraph, write about why you wish to join this specific programme/course, your area of interest.
4. In the third paragraph, mention your qualities that would be helpful or suitable for this career goal or objective. State your hobbies and extracurricular activities would be helpful in strengthening your goals.
5. In the fourth paragraph, mention your experience in this field or any internship/ project you have done. You can write something which makes you distinct from the other applicants.
6. In the concluding paragraph, state how admission to this particular course, university would be beneficial to you and how you look at it from a long term career perspective.
7. Write the Statement of Purpose in clear and lucid language. Do not make spelling or construction mistakes.
8. Your purpose of choosing this particular course and university should be in accordance with your career.
9. Highlight your qualities, life experiences in such a way that your application should stand out from the rest.