Statement of Purpose (SOP) is the document that plays a crucial role in making the admissions decision. A University's admission committee may come across several applications with common credentials such as more than one applicant with similar academic grades and scores on standardized tests etc. At such junctures, a well written SOP can work wonders and help the committee decide in favor of a particular candidate.

A statement of purpose is an intellectual autobiography that conveys the continuum of experiences and events in your academic life which have led you to desire a preferred course.

Here are the ingredients for a perfect recipe of a winning STATEMENT!

Summarize experiences that have served as a foundation for your future course work. Tell about how your interest developed in a particular field and your respective plans. Discuss your previous studies, in general and your major and any specialization within the major, in specific terms.

Weave in your academic achievements or accomplishments and specific learning experiences that demonstrate your motivation and inspiration for further study and/or research. Recall the following and include them if available.

Discuss qualifications that relate to your academic goal. Explain the projects or research undertaken by you. These not only indicate your knowledge and skills but also illustrate your capability to develop ideas and capacity to tackle problems independently.

Dedicate a paragraph to highlight the following:

In your closing paragraph, mention specifically why you wish to attend a particular program. Show evidence of your investigation of their program, its faculty and their research, and their departmental resources and facilities. You may also indicate how your academic and intellectual interests match with those of one or more faculty in the program or department.

To conclude, assert that you are qualified and motivated but explain if you possess the potential and skills to be admitted to their program.