When you've chosen a graduation program and are preparing your resume but left out the most daunting task of writing a statement of purpose(SOP), much like every other person, and when a deadline approaches, same as many, copy the format from the internet. But, one shouldn’t do that when writing an SOP because it is a critical part of the document that will be sent, along with the resume, to the admission committee of the university you will be attending. 

Because it encapsulates everything about you and your academic and professional interests for the institution to have an idea about the person applying. In this SOP, you have to state why you have chosen that particular graduate program, how it will help you in your future and how you will add value to the program—you have to state everything from your intentions to study and your goals in five hundred to a thousand words.

When asked about it, a friend said it is like a love letter, to a professor, where you state everything about yourself and your grandiose future. So that the other can be impressed, even when the reality is not so grand. We are getting sidetracked, so getting to the point. 

In a nutshell, SOP is an extension of your resume. But you have to highlight the best of what you have done during your under graduation. If you are going for a managerial master's, you have to explain how you will use the skills you will acquire in a business. Or, if your studies are more research, you have to mention why you are interested in the research and how you will use it.  

Every SOP has an introduction, body and conclusion. The introduction should have a brief introduction about yourself and your background. The background should be in a way that relates to the motivation you have in selecting that particular program. The body should state your interest in the program and the goals you want to achieve and mark that the goal should be relevant to the field of study you are selecting. You have to mention the relevant experience you have related to the field. The conclusion should present a summary of the information you have provided in the body. 

There are many other formats you can follow on the internet, but one thing to note is that writing an SOP should not be half-hearted like the assignments we submit. One should do a brainstorming session on what to write and create a draft. And at the end proofread it, not on your own but with a professional. There are many who do that on LinkedIn or you can reach your senior who has done that. It can be hard but we have to do that.

So, when selecting your program for your master's select what you are interested in and reach out to your seniors and friends if you face a dilemma. And try to prepare an SOP that can hook the person reading it. In hopes that this is helpful, I take my leave.