SOP for studying abroad is quite challenging for international applicants. Different countries have different higher education systems. In most developed countries like the USA, UK, Canada, and others, you will need to submit an SOP for studying abroad. This is completely new for students from India, Bangladesh, and other such countries.
Basically, by writing the SOP for studying abroad, you explain your intent and aspirations to the college admissions panel. Since each applicant submits an SOP, you must give 100% effort into writing it well. In this way, you can be on par with the competition.
Why do we need SOP for Studying Abroad?
SOP stands for ‘Statement of Purpose.’ It is a mix between an essay and a letter that explains your suitability for being considered for admission to a college/university course. Although this is not the case in most developing and under-developed countries, the SOP is crucial in many Western countries! So, as more students apply to study abroad, writing SOP becomes more and more important.
The SOP for studying abroad must have three basic components:
- Introduction: academic and professional background
- Experiences and achievements
- Aspirations and motivations.
Along with these, you also need to write about why your chosen course is perfect for you. In this section, you should include your interests, experiences, and career goals. How do they suit the course you’re applying to?
Problems you may face while writing your SOP for studying abroad
Writing the SOP is one of the many challenges that students face while applying. International students face problems with language, format, structure, tone, and many other aspects. Since there is an enormous gap between education systems between countries, following a few guidelines can be helpful.
Writing skills
Many international students do not have English as their first language. So, it is completely natural to be unconfident about your writing skills in English at first. However, you can use editing tools to check for objective and grammatical errors. Also, you can ask your friends and peers to review your SOP. The best option is to take online help from professional experts.
Different education systems
While applying abroad, you may face trouble explaining different courses and examinations of your country in your CV. Also, each country has differing grading systems. So, it is a great idea to translate your grades, examinations, and your CGPA to the panel in a simple way. You can find out about the international equivalent of your grades and then go forward with this. Also, elaborate on the subjects, the level of examinations you’ve taken, and their significance with respect to your country.
Tips to write the perfect SOP for studying abroad
A few important tips to write the perfect SOP for studying abroad are:
Read the guidelines carefully
Most colleges have some guidelines for writing the SOP on their website. It is always better to read up on it, check for the word limit, and then plan the content of your SOP.
Check some samples beforehand
As international applicants, SOPs are completely new concepts to many. So, you can read some online SOP samples or even ask a fellow successful applicant to help you out. This is extremely helpful and ensures that you don’t go wrong with the document.
Keep it completely original
Whatever you do, never plagiarize SOPs. It is obvious that a check will be conducted on all the experiences and awards that you mention. So, keep all your stories original. Even if you feel you have less experience, just emphasize your interest and passion for the subject, and you’re good to go!
