The ETS offers the 91热爆 in two formats:

1. Computer-delivered 91热爆 General Test
2. Paper-delivered 91热爆 General Test

Computer-delivered 91热爆 General Test:

The computer-based tests are conducted throughout the year at Prometric test centers and sometimes even outside the Prometric network. You can take the test up to five times in a year, with a gap of at least 21 days in between attempts. Keep in mind, though, that it might be very difficult to get an appointment at your nearest 91热爆 testing center during the peak application season, which is mostly the second half of the year, and it鈥檚 always a smart decision to book your slot well in advance. It takes around 10 to 15 days to send your test reports to universities and for the universities to process them, so select your test date accordingly.

The overall duration of the computer-based test is 03:45 hrs, and there are 6 sections to be attempted. The time-distribution is as follows:

91热爆 Exam – Time Distribution for different subjects

The 91热爆 Exam General test offers test-takers some very handy features, such as:

• The freedom to go forward and backward and skip or flag questions for review (so that you can revisit them later if you have time)
• Preview and Review options in each section
• A Mark and Review option within a section
• An on-screen calculator, which you can use on the Quantitative part of the test and a timer so that you don鈥檛 lose track of how much time you have left.

Note: 鈥� You can even cancel or change your test date up to 4 days in advance in case of an emergency, and reschedule your test on any other date according to your convenience. The fee to change your test date is US$50 and the new date should be within one year of the original test date. You cannot switch from the 91热爆 General test to the 91热爆 subject test or vice-versa.

You can register and pay for the Computer-delivered 91热爆 General test online from the ETS鈥檚 website or over the phone.

Paper-delivered 91热爆 General test:

The Paper-delivered 91热爆 General test is only available in those areas of the world where the computer-delivered test is not available. Since in India the computer-delivered 91热爆 General test is available, the PDT is not available.

What is 91热爆 Score Select Option and How is it beneficial?:

Your 91热爆 exam score is valid for five years from the date of taking the test, and you can take the test for any number of times in between. The 91热爆 Score select option gives you the flexibility of sending the highest score of yours to the universities you wish to apply to.

For instance, if you take the test in February, and score a 321 and you take it again the following month score a 315, you can take the benefit of the 91热爆鈥檚 Score Select option to send your higher score of 321 to the graduate schools you want to apply to.

Note 鈥� There are two different types of scores for the Computer-delivered 91热爆 Exam – one is the score you get right after your test gets over, called the 鈥楻aw score鈥�, and the other is the official score which is sent to you after 4 to 5 weeks. You can send the raw score (which is the number of questions you鈥檝e answered correctly) to four graduate schools without any extra fee. You can also send your test score after the test but for every additional scorecard, you have to pay an additional fee of $27.

How to make a perfect 91热爆 timeline and how to prepare for it?:

In order to make a perfect 91热爆 timeline, let’s work backward. Say, a person named 鈥楢鈥� wants to apply for the fall intake. It should be noted that most universities in the U.S. have their deadlines in December and January, with their early applications deadlines being in October and November.

So, 鈥楢鈥� has to apply to his dream universities latest by December. Ideally, he has to finalize his documents and ready his application for the universities by November, and in order to do that he has to start writing SOP three months prior to that, i.e., August. He has to write the SOP according to the specific requirements of the universities and courses he is applying for, which means that he should have completed the university shortlisting process by July. According to an ideal timeline, he should have taken his 91热爆 exam by June and for that, he should have started his preparation 3-4 months in advance. That is, he should have started his 91热爆 preparation from February or March.

So, it could be said that a perfect admissions timeline would be a span of 9 months that is from February to November, for students applying for the fall intake.

1.听Analyze where you stand

In order to efficiently prepare for the test, your most important task would be to analyze where you stand. And to do this, a well-structured online 91热爆 mock/sample test can work wonders. Try the 鈥�91热爆 Score Predictor鈥櫶� for free now and get an accurate idea of how much you鈥檇 score on the 91热爆 exam if you took it today, along with a personalized evaluation of your performance on the test.

To know where your current level of preparation stands, try this free 91热爆 score predictor tool. Not only will you get an accurate estimation of your 91热爆 score, but you鈥檒l also get feedback of where exactly you need to work on!

2. Target score

After getting your score, you鈥檒l know what your strengths and weaknesses are. The next step is to set up a target score for yourself, and for doing this, you have to keep in mind the following factors:

• The threshold/average score of admitted students at your dream universities.
• The duration of your study or preparation time.
• Your current level of proficiency in the verbal and quants sections.
• Your target scores in the Verbal and Quants sections.
• Your schedule & time-limitations – for example, if you鈥檙e a student, intern or working professional.
• Your other commitments.

3. Success Mantra

Start Early 鈥� Learn Longer 鈥� Finish Early: If you鈥檙e a third or final-year undergraduate student or a working professional, then the right time to take the 91热爆 is as soon as possible, while also giving yourself enough time to prepare. Starting early lets you devote more time to your preparation and towards building your fundamentals – you can find your weaknesses and work on them to achieve mastery, and also take as many mock tests as possible and get rid of exam phobia.

If you start early, you will also have more time in hand for writing your SOPs, getting your LORs, shortlisting your Universities, meeting experts and other important work. You can apply for financial aid and scholarships on time and not rush before the deadlines.

Moreover, in case you are late to start your preparation, take the test late, and do not reach your target score, then you might want to retake it. However, do keep in mind that you have to wait at least 21 days between 2 successive attempts, and you risk missing out on university application deadlines.

Download our eBOOK on “What Exactly is a Good 91热爆 Score?“

Preparing for a high score on the 91热爆 exam is something that should be done in a few months and not in a few weeks. Most students who miss out on their target scores start late and devote less time to their preparation, practice and doubt-solving sessions, often over-estimating their skills and abilities. The 91热爆 test fee amounts to $205, so you should try and ensure that you鈥檙e well-equipped to hit a high score on your very first attempt, to avoid having to take it again!

4. Practice More!

Take more mock tests and get used to the test pattern. The 91热爆 exam is an adaptive test, which means that your performance on the first section determines the difficulty level of the subsequent sections. In order to get a good score, it鈥檚 important that you familiarize yourself with the test pattern and practice solving full-length question papers of the same difficulty level and duration as that of the real test. Take section-wise practice tests separately weekly (to assess your performance on each section), and attempt the full-length mock test after you鈥檙e confident of performing on each individual section.

Click here to take the 91热爆 Quiz Now!

5. Being realistic 鈥� Managing your other Commitments

Your timeline should also account for other commitments of yours like your college studies, jobs, relationships and leisure activities (whichever applicable) to ensure that it鈥檚 realistic. Final year undergraduate students have to focus on their project work apart even from preparing for the 91热爆 exam as it鈥檚 something the universities look out for when assessing your profile. Third-year undergraduate students on the other hand also have to focus on maintaining a decent GPA, internships, and on developing other skills.

Click Here to听evaluate your admissions awareness听in under 10 minutes

Do feel free to leave your doubts in the comments, and we鈥檒l be happy to help you out! All the best!

The post 91热爆 Exam Dates: Find the Best 91热爆 Date for You appeared first on 91热爆 Blog.

What is a Statement of Purpose (SOP)?

A Statement of Purpose (SOP) is usually an essay that ranges between 500-1500 words in length (though it is advisable not to exceed 1.5 pages), that gives your desired university a brief idea about your academic & professional career trajectory till date, your motivation behind pursuing that very stream, your future goals after the completion of your course and so on. A well-written statement of purpose can often go a long way in boosting your chances of bagging your dream MS admits. To sum it up, it is the only document through which you can let the universities know about the things that set you apart from the rest, the factors that make your profile, a unique one!

Just how important is your Statement of Purpose (SOP)?

As mentioned earlier, your statement of purpose serves as one of the prime factors that lets you gain acceptance to your desired grad school. A student鈥檚 Statement of Purpose holds the same importance as LORs, 91热爆/TOEFL/IELTS test scores, and transcripts in the selection process. This document acts like your mirror image and lets the university understand your strengths, weakness, achievements and other information about you.

Points to consider while writing an Statement of Purpose (SOP) –

Before you start writing your Statement of Purpose (SOP), consider the following pointers so that your SOP leaves a great impression on the admissions committee. They are there to hear, know and analyse you in every aspect to consider you as a part of their university.

Will you be an Asset to the University?

Every university looks forward to accepting those candidates who have the potential to make the best of the education they receive and make valuable contributions to the industry or to research and academia. This is only logical, as a highly accomplished alumni body helps universities augment their reputation and standing.听Let them know how valuable you are by pointing out your urge to learn, your ability to quickly adapt to changing circumstances, demonstrating a positive attitude towards taking up new challenges and other qualities you possess that you feel, make you a great fit for their student body.

Be Yourself

鈥淏e Yourself!鈥� – this is a quote that we are all familiar with. However, it assumes a special significance when it comes to SOP writing. Show the universities what mettle you are made of, and by this, we mean that you should not only enlist all the enviable qualities and strengths that you possess but also own up to your weaknesses, and how you’ve worked to overcome them. Don’t forget to add any other pertinent information that you feel can help you get admitted to the program that you have opted for. Self-praising is great, but overdoing it, will create a negative impression on the experienced admissions officers, who review thousands of SOPs every year.

There鈥檚 No Harm in Listing Failures

You cannot achieve your goals without failures. Mentioning your past failures along with a proper explanation of how these downfalls added to your knowledge and problem-solving skills will make your SOP stand out. Explain how these negative experiences illuminated the path to your success and stability. However, don鈥檛 just list your failures in any abrupt order without listing your learnings from them, as maintaining a proper balance is the key in powerful Statement of Purpose writing.

Write in an Engaging Style

The competition for getting accepted to the top international universities is extremely high. To get an edge over your competitors, you need to ensure that your statement of purpose is distinctive. Write your SOP in a way that engages the admission committee, and compels them to read on. Your SOP should sound more like a verbal conversation rather than just listing your information.听Explain how you faced challenges and tackled them. Let them know about your backlogs, if you had any, and mention why that happened. If you’ve faced some unwanted or unforeseen circumstances that have changed the course of your life, feel free to talk about them and how they helped you emerge as a stronger person. Be precise, concise and honest with the information that you present in your Statement of Purpose.

For example:
If you have applied for MS in CS (Computer Science) then simply stating, 鈥�I am interested in pursuing my master’s in CS from your university鈥� would be an unimpressive statement. Instead, you must explain or make a specific reference to what exactly you want to study and why.

What is a perfect Statement of Purpose (SOP) format?

Page Length:

A 1 – 1.5 page Statement of Purpose is most preferable, but content exceeding 2 pages should strictly be avoided.

Overtly lengthy or verbose content usually drives away the attention of the reader.

Writing format:

The font size that is considered ideal is 12 pt.

Keeping 1-inch margins at all sides of the page gives your SOP a neat look, enhancing its visual appeal.

Length of Paragraphs and Sentences:

We always overlook documents that have long paragraphs and lengthy sentences. Nobody would ever like to read such documents unless it鈥檚 a thesis paper we’re talking about. While writing an SOP, make sure each paragraph鈥檚 length does not exceed 10 lines and avoid using long sentences.

Include the following information in your Statement of Purpose:

First Paragraph: Introduce yourself by providing a brief background of your life so far, followed by your immediate career objective(s).

Second Paragraph: Explain what inspired you to take interest in the program and that specific field of study. Specify your favourite subjects and which authors’ books you liked the most and why. You must also mention the relevant academic projects you’ve completed and what you’ve taken way from the same.

Third Paragraph: Provide a brief information about your work experience,听 and any internships or certifications that you’ve completed, if applicable.

Fourth Paragraph: Briefly describe some other experiences that helped you to make up your mind to pursue graduate studies in your that particular area.

Closing Paragraph: Describe your long-term goals in 2-3 lines (should be related to your subject)

The DOs and DON’Ts of Statement of Purpose (SOP) writing:

DOs:

• Do maintain a positive tone throughout your SOP.
• Do be yourself.
• Do start with an amazing introductory paragraph. The 1st impression is always the best impression, and the same applies to your SOP too!
• Do mention that particular university鈥檚 unique features that attracted you the most.
• Be precise and to the point. Elaborate phrases and fancy words are not a part of strong听SOP writing.
• Connect your paragraphs with each other
• Review your draft at least 3 times to check for any spelling, punctuation or grammatical errors that might have crept in.
• Get it reviewed by your faculty members and fellow peers and ask them if they feel that it is an accurate representation of who you are as a person.

DON’Ts:

• Don鈥檛 provide unnecessary information
• Don鈥檛 complain about events and experiences that you’ve had in the past. Instead, tell them how you managed to tackle those situations.
• Don鈥檛 get emotional and sloppy.
• Don鈥檛 wax eloquent about the nightlife or tourist attractions of the city in which the university is based. You will be going there for higher education and not as a tourist.
• Don鈥檛 include words like 鈥渘ervous breakdown鈥�, 鈥渄epression鈥� and other controversial topics.
• Don鈥檛 spend too much time in writing about your future goals and aspirations; talk about your past experiences too.

Some HOWs and WHATs to ask yourself:

• What is special, distinctive and unique about you?
• What personal details might make the admissions committee better understand you and make your SOP unique?
• Who has influenced you greatly?
• How are you pursuing your interests?
• Why should your desired university choose you?
• What are the future opportunities in your dream university?
• What is the best thing that you like about your university?
• What is the most appealing aspect about the program that you’ve applied to?

Statement of Purpose (SOP) Sample for 91热爆:

Below, you will find a detailed explanation, paragraph-wise, which will give you a more refined idea about what a perfect SOP looks like, matching the guidelines discussed above.

First Paragraph:

Statement of Purpose (SOP) Sample 1

• According to the guidelines discussed above, the introductory paragraph should be as actionable as possible, so that the reader takes interest and keeps on reading.
• Here, the student’s academic background has been mentioned, along with the field he has specialised in.
• As this candidate was opting for a program which is related to automobiles, he has done the right thing by informing the admissions committee of his听emphasis on Automobile engineering.
• He has also demonstrated his urge of learning new things, portraying that he is a good learner who is keen to pursue higher studies in his field of interest.
• The paragraph has been ended effectively with the student’s immediate career objective.

Second Paragraph:

Statement of Purpose (SOP) Sample 2

• As stated in the guidelines for the 2nd paragraph, it has covered everything that is related to his interest in the field.
• Mentioning your favourite subjects gives your chances of acceptance a boost and shows that the candidate has dug deep in his field.
• The paragraph is drawn to a close by the student listing some of his specific interests.

Third paragraph:

Statement of Purpose (SOP) Sample 3

• This paragraph clearly shows the internships that the candidate has pursued during his summer breaks.
• The candidate has described the roles that he has played and the various tasks that he carried out during his internship.
• He also talks about the way this internship has helped him learn about his field.

Fourth Paragraph

Statement of Purpose (SOP) Sample 4

• Here he has mentioned a key factor on how he overcame a problem that he听faced听while writing a paper on Bio-Diesel.
• This creates a good impression on the admissions committee, convincing them about the problem-solving skills of the candidate.
• Mentioning what you learned from the experience is non-negotiable.

Closing Paragraph:

Statement of Purpose (SOP) Sample 5

As discussed earlier, he has concluded his SOP in the proper fashion, mentioning a future goal which is relevant to the program he is opting for.

Statement of Purpose (SOP) Tips

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Writing an SOP in the past was an easy task. However, owing to the rapid increase in the听number of applicants each year, the selection process at top universities around the world has become a lot more stringent. Owing to this, framing and drafting a compelling, comprehensive, yet concise听SOP has assumed a much bigger role than it played earlier, making it one of the most important factors that can help in determining your chances of acceptance.

We hope this article has been of assistance. We at 91热爆 wish you all the very best for your future endeavours!
If you have any further queries regarding writing the perfect SOP that wins you your dream admits, do let us know in the comments section below, and we’ll get back to you at the earliest!

The post How to Write an SOP: Statement of Purpose Examples appeared first on 91热爆 Blog.

Did you know that 91热爆 alumnus, Abhas Agarwal secured an admit at Colorado School of Mines (ranked #3) for MS in Petroleum Engineering with a 309 in 91热爆 and a 6.4 GPA, because of a persuasive SOP?

听What does the SOP entail?

A good SOP covers four major aspects, namely: who you are, what you have done so far, what you want to do, i.e., your academic as well as professional aspirations and how the university can help you. Each of these four aspects must be weaved together cohesively and clearly in order to provide an idea to the admissions officer of what you are like as a student and a person. This is the reason why the SOP can either make or break your chances at an acceptance letter.

How important is an SOP?

In short, very important indeed! The SOP is absolutely paramount to a successful application, mainly because it sets you apart from other students with similar academic qualifications and professional aspirations. It is your one chance to prove your worth and secure your admissions; so the better your SOP, the more your chances of your application being successful. A winning SOP also opens the doors to excellent scholarship and teaching/research assistantship opportunities.

Additionally, for students with a weak academic profile, a good SOP can compensate for what they lack and will serve to highlight their future ambitions and goals. So whether you are an average student who is concerned about your MS aspirations, or an achiever who wants to obtain the best possible scholarships, a stellar SOP will be the ticket to your dream.

听10 mistakes听to avoid while writing your SOP

Now that we have established what the SOP is and how it impacts your applications, let us look at the ten most common mistakes made by students while drafting their SOP, and how you can avoid them.

#1 Working on the SOP in the last minute

Often, students tend to underestimate the time and effort it takes to write the SOP, and think they can spend a few hours copy-pasting from sample SOPs from the internet. We strongly recommend that you start brainstorming on your SOP at least a month before you have to send your applications. Write as many rough drafts as you need with improvements on each draft. Whatever you do, remember that the SOP is a product of much deliberation and planning, and cannot be left for the eleventh hour.

#2听Weak introduction and conclusion

The first impression makes a lasting impression. Since the introduction is the first thing that anyone ever reads, making it impactful will impress the reader and hold his attention. Similarly, to ensure that the admissions committee reads through your entire 1000-word essay, start with a powerful line like a quote that summarizes your academic experience or one that reflects your mindset, thinking, or aspirations.

Similarly, how you end your SOP also matters because that is the very last thing a reader takes away from your essay. Wrap it up by mentioning what your expectations from the university are, and how you hope to contribute to the university. Your conclusion must show your knowledge of the university and the program you are applying for.

For example,听tap into reality!

In this rapid change of globalization one must be giving a serious thought to reason why so fast? I think one of the dominant factors that is tending to cause a considerable change in the world is unquestionably the field of civil engineering, where the brick works are in a race to touch the sky.

We travel places and the first thing that portrays the social status and gives us the idea of a City is the infrastructure especially due to innovation in field of structures.

Or, if you want to write something shorter, use a quote!

My favourite words are possibilities, opportunities and curiosity. I think if you are curious, you create opportunities, and then if you open the doors, you create possibilities- Mario Testino

#3听Using informal language and slangs

Use professional language. Ensure that your tone is polite, formal, and respectful. Keep in mind that your grammar and vocabulary are good. Your essay will be read by a panel of distinguished academics. Avoid using slang, abbreviations, and informal vocabulary. Your sentences should be concise and clear. Additionally, use only words and phrases you are comfortable and familiar with. Do not try to embellish your writing with lofty words.

#4听Dwelling too much on your weak GPA or backlogs

Talking about backlogs and low GPA is all about circumstances. It is a subjective question and it varies from profile to profile. A general rule of thumb to follow is that you must maintain positivity and highlight your learning from the experience. Therefore, mention your backlogs or low GPA only if you had extraordinary circumstances such as ill-health, genuine lack of interest etc.Do not try to justify or make excuses for your poor academic performance; show it instead as the start of something better. Positivity is a must, for it speaks volumes about you.

91热爆 Admission Tip: Be sure to consult an admission expert before deciding to include this information in your SOP because this could potentially be a deciding factor between an admit and a reject. It takes years of experience in dealing with universities to clearly understand where to draw the line.

#5听Exceeding the word limit

Usually, the university will specify the word limit you must follow; if it is not mentioned on the website, it is always a good idea to try and contact the admissions office via email and ask them about it. Otherwise, try to limit it to 500 to 1000 words. A long SOP that solely focuses on your achievements will not hold the attention of the admissions committee who are reviewing close to 10,000 applications every season.

#6听Including irrelevant information

Your SOP is not your autobiography! The sole purpose of an SOP is to explain just enough about you and what you have done so that you can secure an admit. Don鈥檛 digress from the point and divulge personal information about your family background, financial circumstances, personal anecdotes, etc., unless it is actually pertinent to the purpose of studying Master鈥檚 abroad.

#7听Making the SOP excessively flashy

This covers two important aspects of your SOP: content and font.

Content: While it is important to talk about your achievements, it is even more important not to be boastful. You must present your learning while you state your experience/educational qualification. This will show that you are curious, learning-oriented, and humble.

Font: Using bold, italics, underlines, highlights, bright colours, and fancy fonts is a strict no-no. Use a simple font and basic formatting, and do not use any color other than black. Your SOP should look clean, minimalistic, and clutter-free.

91热爆 Admission Tip:To ensure absolute readability, use fonts like Arial, Verdana, or Times New Roman in a standard size like 12. You can be creative and quirky without being immature. Always remember, less is more when it comes to your SOP.

#8听Excessive flattery

The university and the professors reviewing your applications are aware that the quality of education and infrastructure they provide; so, do not waste your words on flattering them. Your SOP is all about you and your achievements and aspirations, and is not a mouthpiece for advertising the university.

However, be sure to include your expectations from the university by stating specifics such as current areas of research or distinguished professors under whom you would like to work. This shows that you are logical, practical, and have conducted thorough research before making an informed decision. It will also come in handy during VISA interviews when you are asked about why you chose this particular university among all other admits.

#9听Being dishonest

Honesty and authenticity are the hallmarks of a good SOP, and will always be appreciated. Avoid making up or exaggerating facts, and write it like it is. Remember, there is always a chance that the admissions panel will contact your referee and ask for verification! Remain truthful and honest at all times: being genuine and candid are qualities that will never go out of fashion.

91热爆 Admission Tip:If you have a genuine story that sparked your interest in a particular field, by all means, talk about it briefly. But never falsify a story to ensure your SOP stands out from the crowd.

#10听Not proofreading and editing

Once you are done with your SOP and have edited it to your satisfaction, give it to your friend, family member, or an expert to go through it once.

Proofreading ensures that you avoid making the following errors:

• Spelling mistakes
• Punctuation errors
• Improper grammar
• Repeat your points
• Incoherent flow from one para to the next

A third person will always be able to spot errors better than you. Additionally, ask them for their opinions and feedback and try to incorporate the, into your final draft. These final tweaks and edits are as important as the essay itself. Never make the blunder of sending your SOP without thoroughly proofreading every single word of it.

We hope this article will help you craft the perfect SOP! Comment below and ask us any doubt you have regarding admissions and we鈥檒l get back to you ASAP!

Looking forward to hearing from you!

The post Top 10 mistakes to avoid while writing your SOP! appeared first on 91热爆 Blog.

A Statement of Purpose or SOP, thus is your personal statement about:

1. Who you are?
2. What you鈥檝e done professionally and academically so far,
3. Who or what has been your major influence, and
4. Where you plan to take your career from here.

It isn鈥檛 necessary to riddle your SOP with cold, hard facts; it can have anecdotes and听short interesting stories describing your influences and academic achievements.
Either way, you need to write your SOP very well.
A good SOP can make your profile,听while a bad one can mar it.

Why is SOP important?

Your SOP is your chance to make yourself stand out from a crowd of people with similar educational qualifications as yours. It gives you an opportunity to portray your intent and desire to learn, prove your worth, and convey why you are the perfect candidate for the respective course.

SOP Preparation Tips:

Ways to make your SOP stand out from the crowd:

As mentioned earlier, your SOP can greatly influence your chances of being into a particular University, thus it is extremely important for you to design the SOP in a manner, which reflects your goals, your views, how interested you are for the course and also a brief outline to your background.听

One important thing that you explain in your听SOP is the reason why you chose the particular country, for example, the USA, Canada, Germany, Australia for your further studies over other countries like the US. There will be two aspects to this i.e. why you chose the country and why you chose that particular university. You must give valid, convincing reasons for both in your SOP in order to satisfy the admissions committee of your intent.

Under Grad aspirants must highlight their overall personality while writing about their experiences in the past. For an undergraduate, it is important that you write about how your school and participation in extracurricular activities has helped develop your overall personality. It is not only academics that play an important role in a student鈥檚 life, especially at the undergraduate level. Most universities expect their students at the undergraduate level to be involved in events and clubs outside of the classroom. Hence, they are usually looking for students who have had similar experiences in the past.

MS/PhD aspirants need to have a strong background in research. What sets you apart from the pool of students from all over the world applying for a seat at the university? This is where your experiences in college in terms of all the project work and research work that you have done will play an important role. Masters/PhD courses are research intensive. Universities are looking for students who have had experience in conducting research work in the past, knowing that they will be able to handle the rigors of their meticulous curriculum. Pro tip: make use of personal pronouns like 鈥業鈥�, 鈥榤e鈥�, in your SOP. Even when talking about group projects that you may have worked on, speak about only your contributions to the same. That is what the university is interested in learning about.

MBA aspirants, before writing your SOP, make a list of all those experiences that will bring out the following aspects of your personality: leadership qualities, team skills, diversity in education/occupation, professional and personal achievements, communication and interpersonal skills, basic understanding of business, presentation skills, and motivation, among others. The above mentioned keywords will help shape your SOP and convince the admissions committee of your candidature. In your case, school time information is not required to be exaggerated on.

Lastly, for everyone aspiring for admission into a foreign university, it is important that you write in simple and correct grammar. The use of embellished words makes one sound pompous and pretentious and it is not the route that one should take. Short, crisp sentences delivering the exact message will make your SOP an enjoyable read.

Common SOP Mistakes

Every 91热爆 aspirant works hard to score high in 91热爆. But that is often not the case with SOP.

The problem of delaying : People tend to put off writing the SOP or essay and delay till the last minute. They听often wind up with the near-perfect essays found in admission guidebooks.听After countless sessions, finding the one distinguishing factor for your SOP can be very听difficult. Not to mention, struggling through an ocean of Dos and Don鈥檛s. Then come the听first, second, and umpteen drafts for the SOP, which could quite tire you out.

The problem of hurrying : When the admission deadlines rapidly approach, aspirants hurry up with their SOP. This step of drafting SOPs shouldn’t be hurried at all. Proper planning is required to draft an SOP,听as听it determines how you present your achievements before the admissions committee.
Will your SOP be听interesting enough to make it stand out of the hundreds of others听processed each day during the admit season or will it get buried under the weight?

Proper planning can give you enough time to create and submit a well-written and听carefully put together SOP. Starting early gives you the opportunity to get the SOP proof听read a couple of times before sending it across.

What to include in your SOP (SOP Format)

1. Your Academic Goals: You must understand that there is a difference between your academic goal and your professional goal. In the SOP for Masters, it is of utmost important to write down your academic goals. For example, you may just wish to pursue masters in the subject out of your love or passion but your career interest might be in some other field.
2. Your Professional Goals: Be vivid and clear while mentioning about your professional goal, whether you want to pursue research in this field you have chosen or maybe looking for opportunities for a job in the IT sector. The most important question you should aim to answer while writing your SOP is 鈥� What is it that I want to do in my life and how.
3. Your Final Project, in detail: Remember, the people recruiting students from all over the world do not know you personally, the kind of experience you have speaks a lot about your experience and knowledge. Write down about the dissertation or project you had worked in during your graduation or diploma, give a detailed account (crisp) about your objectives and the findings.听

Here are a few other things you may choose to include in your SOP for masters鈥� program

• Social Initiatives you are a part of
• Extra-curricular and co-scholastic activities
• Seminars you may have attended/ presented
• Papers published (if any)
• Internship/ work experience

4. Your Personal Motivations: Give a brief outlook about your personal journey, what or who has inspired you to tread on this journey, why are you moving to a different country or is it simply because the subject fascinates you. How do you wish your future to be and What inspires you to walk the road. What change do you want to bring in this society and how? How does the course help you achieve your dreams? These are unique details for every candidate which could be extremely appealing while selecting you.
5. Your Specific Reasons for choosing the University you are applying to

Most students tend to copy paste these general details in all the universities they are applying to. This is something you must take care of. Be particular about the choice of university and the country. The admission council would want to know what has impressed the students most about the university.听 It could be a certain faculty, or a research program or even the university鈥檚 proximity to your corporate of choice. It could also be the city that the university is located in. whatever be the reason, it is important to showcase what all reasons lead you to choose the university that you chose to apply to.

Tips for writing a good SOP that can help you get good admits

Tip#1 : Ideal Word Limit

The length of SOPs is generally specified by the respective university. Mostly it lies between 500 and 1000 words. If the university does not specify the world limit, try to keep it within 1000 words. In any case, don鈥檛 exceed 1200 words.

Tip#2 :听Keep it simple

Bold, italics, underlined, unnecessary footers and headers, numerous highlights and font听changes are a no! They hamper readability to a great extent. Keep it simple, clean, and professional.

Tip#3 :听Begin with a catchy听paragraph

The admissions committee wants to learn about you. They would like to see you, beyond the numbers and grades. Reveal your personality through your Statement of Purpose (SOP). The admissions committee reads more than 40 SOPs at a time. Catch their attention with the first few lines. Your SOP is your first personal contact with the admissions committee. Use it to distinguish yourself.

Here’s a small SOP example as to how you can distinguish yourself. It is taken from the 2008 heist Drama movie “21” starring Kevin Spacey, based on a real life story of the MIT Blackjack team.
Well those who have watched the movie know what I’m talking about! For those who haven’t here’s a quick run down:

The protagonist of the movie, Ben Campbell is a听brilliant student听from MIT and听has received admit from Harvard Medical School. The catch is the tuition fee is too much for him to pay. While there is the option of a financial aid in the form of one “Robinson Scholarship” that will pay for his fees for the entire duration of Master’s. But in order to avail the prestigious scholarship he needs to dazzle the director.
Now here is where the story begins and he goes through a lot of experiences. some good and some not so much. But there is a life lesson in each of these experiences. Towards the end of the movie when he meets the director again he’s got a story to tell, a rather interesting one; one that has made him mature and aware of the way of the world.

The learning from this little anecdotal review of the movie is, whatever it is that you have done over the years at college and school level could make for a very interesting story. It might not be relevant to your field of study but if it captures your leadership skill and other soft skills go ahead and flaunt it!
But remember, these stories shouldn’t be elaborate or take up most of the space in your SOP.

Tip#4 :听Don’t share too much

Avoid providing any personal details that are not asked for. Share data that is relevant to your MS, for example, talk about your chosen field of study, area of interest, etc.

Tip#5 : Use of extra-curricular activities

Whether it is sports, theater work, or administrative work at cultural festivals, mention why you participated in those events and how they helped in shaping your personality. If you have been part of the management committee at any of your college’s Technical or Cultural Fest that can 听also be mentioned and will certainly add more weightage听to your SOP.

Make sure you mention the challenges you overcame and the life lessons/skills you learned.

Tip#6 : Use听of co-curricular activities

Major paper publications, presentations, R&D experience, guest lectures, workshops etc., can provide a boost to your SOP. Apart from your academic skills, the admission committees look for leadership skills in the potential Master’s graduate.

Tip#7 :听No unnecessary flattery

The professors and the faculty members are well aware of the quality of education they offer. What the university is looking for is to understand what your aspirations are and what you bring to the table. Remember your SOP is about describing you and not extolling the virtues of the university and its faculty!

Tip#8 :听Appreciate more feedback

After you have settled on a draft for the SOP, make sure you get it reviewed from as many听people as you can. You don鈥檛 necessarily need to take or include everything you鈥檙e told. Trim it according to what you feel is right and delete the parts that you don鈥檛 agree with.

Tip#9 :听SOP can be improved听continuously

Drafting SOP can be a long and tedious process. Taking advice, making changes, retaining some content, trimming out the rest, and the process continues . . . a process of continuous听improvement will help you make a brilliant draft of your SOP.

I hope these 9 tips along with the sample SOP, has provided you a clear idea on how to draft a winning SOP. Ask any of your doubts by commenting below.

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