Statement of Purpose Sample? The perfect SOP: how to write it? Before writing a SOP, what should be taken into consideration?

As you write your Statement of Purpose, consider the following questions:

• Keeping in mind your MS/MBA specialization, is there a related memorable school/college moment that you would like to share with us?

Examples:
● I developed an interest in the mechanical engineering field while studying forces and their application in the 11th standard.
● My visit to the Technological Museum, in seventh grade, at Calcutta, and the subsequent demonstration of the Tesla coil was the moment in my life that made me aware of my inner calling. I enrolled for the joint entrance exams and secured a rank in the top 2 percentile and received an opportunity to study at a government engineering college where I pursued Electrical Engineering - the field with the maximum amount of Mathematics and access to higher Physics.

• Do you have any noteworthy academic or extracurricular achievements in school? (9th-12th grade). This can include international Olympiads, NTSE scholarships, science competitions or inter-school projects, involvement with MUN, and ranking in other national examinations. If yes, please give details and mention the year for each achievement)

Example: My significant extracurricular activity has been participating in the Model United Nations (MUN). In March 2010, I attended a MUN conference in Athens, Greece, representing Egypt in the Special Political Decolonization Committee. In October 2010, a second conference was held in Chennai, India, where I represented Vietnam in the Disarmament and International Security Committee. At MUN, I researched and investigated issues on an international platform, debated with participants in a public international forum, and gained insight into local, contemporary, and global concerns. My involvement thus emerges from a genuine interest in both regional and international affairs.

• What made you decide on studying the subject of your bachelor’s degree course? Please give very specific reasons.

Example: I pursued Bachelor's in Architecture because this course demanded the candidate to be competent in math, physics, and art from the candidate. It was a perfect course for my skills sets

• What particular subjects or areas of study (including electives) fascinated you in your bachelor’s degree? Please explain why. How have these subjects prepared you for your intended Master's?

Example: I pursued two electives: Elective I – Design of Suspension Bridge. Elective II –Design of Bridges. These are directly related to the intended master’s program of
Structural Engineering, since I intend to mainly focus on Bridge Design in the Structural Engineering program.

• What noteworthy extracurricular activities, including community service, cultural or technical events, seminars, workshops, etc. did you participate in? Please mention the awards/recognitions you won in them, if applicable. Please try to mention activities that relate best to your intended course of study.

Examples:
● Head of 500-member National Social Service Club (2011 – 2012). Project
Manager for Indian Cancer Society (2010 – 2011).
● Part of the Core organizing committee for Techastra, a national-level technical
symposium, where I headed various teams (Advertising, fundraising, HR and
technical).
● I started E cell in the University and brought in Tata NEN (national entrepreneurship
Network) conducted workshops and seminars for the students in the university,
brought Industry veterans to the university, Inspired my junior with whom I
founded a Company apbin (tweet aggregator product) and sold it to celebrity
tweets in 2011
● I was a member of the IEEE chapter of my college.

• What projects did you take up in college (B Tech/Academic projects)? Please give relevant information. How did you perform in these projects? Did you work on a project beyond the prescribed curriculum? If yes, give details. (Project name, explanation, date or year of completion).

Example: My final year project was the Design of a Composite Steel Girder Bridge. My final year project was based on the actual design of a bridge over Shakti Khola of Chitwan, Nepal. This project was designed as a single-lane bridge with Class A loading. In this project, the most economical bridge was designed for the section based on the various data provided by the Local Road and Bridge Support Unit (LRBSU) under the DOR (Department of Road). T-Beam Composite Steel Girder Bridge was chosen based on economic and technical feasibility in the span of 32m. The project was submitted to LRBSU after completion in order for consideration for actual construction at the site.

• How have these practical experiences prepared you for your intended Master's?

Example: My final year project has provided me with the necessary knowledge to design either steel bridges or composite bridges with great efficiency. The project will be extremely helpful in the intended Master's course

• Where did you do your summer internship/ industrial training? List in detail your major technical learnings from it. How are these experiences related to your Master's?

Example: I did my industrial training at VTU-Bosch Rexroth Centre of Competence in Automation Technology, Mysore in Karnataka on “Basic Mechatronics” from 14/09/2013 to 24/09/2013 where I learned information and hands-on training on vital areas like industrial hydraulics, pneumatics, programmable logic controllers, sensors, mechatronics, and robotics. I relished the opportunity to learn about the industrial automation technology that involves
hydraulic and pneumatic drives find innumerable applications in industries, right from aerospace to material handling equipment.

• Did you work (full time) after your Bachelor’s degree? If yes, please give details about your work and performance. How has this experience been useful to you? Are there any specific incidents that demonstrate your abilities (research, programming, and academic) at work? (Give dates)

Example: Yes, I have been working with Naya Rashtriya Engineering Consultancy Pvt. Ltd., Jwagal, Lalitpur, Nepal. Duration: 3 months and going on (September 24th, 2014 –present). Tools used: Sap 2000. The internship is mainly focused on the design of the Bridge. Sap 2000 is used in designing bridges via a computer-aided system. It is used to analyze different vehicular loadings that the bridge can efficiently withstand within the permissible limit of safety. Sap 2000 was also used to model the bridge and determine the effectiveness of such a design as a structurally sound and economically efficient structure. As I have helped in the survey and design of the bridge, this has provided me with new information about how the construction of bridges is being performed in recent days and how new technologies are being incorporated into the design and construction of bridges.

• For which course and degree are you applying? What are your reasons for wanting to study this course?

Example: My particular area of interest is the Master's degree in Structural Engineering. Other than the core subjects which are taught in Structural Engineering. Some of the elective subjects in which I am interested are:
1. Bridge and Structural Design
2. Seismic Design of Building and Bridges
3. Advanced Bridge Engineering
Other elective subjects which are related to Bridges are also my subjects of interest. All the subjects above mentioned are majorly related to Bridge design. Thus these subjects help in designing the bridges in a structurally stable form, making these structures
capable of withstanding earthquakes. These subjects are extremely important in advancing my knowledge and capability in the construction of Bridge Structures.

• Have you written any research papers or technical paper or any other publication? If yes, give a 5-6 line synopsis of each.

Example: Gave a technical paper presentation titled “Military Radars & Its Applications" during the events, Mechmanthana & Pradarshana (National Level Paper Presentations) in 2014.

• Do you have any technical certifications such as CCNA, SUN JAVA, CFA, Six Sigma, etc? Please elaborate. (Give dates)

Example: I have a certificate for C language from NIIT Chennai (2014) as well as a certificate for a diploma in robotics from Thinks Lab Mumbai (2012).

• What are your reasons for applying to this particular university? (Please include names of faculty you wish to study under and detail the research field offered by the university that interests you). 

Example:
I am applying to 6 universities and the following are the reasons for each:
1. ABC University:
a. It has X, Y, and Z courses
b. I want to work with professors W and X.
2. OVW University:

a. It has X, Y, and Z courses

b. I want to work with professors W and X.
c. I want to take up the multidisciplinary program 1234.

• Do you want to pursue a Ph.D. after your Master’s and, if yes, then what focus area and why?

Example: After my Master's degree I intend to pursue Ph.D. I wish to specialize in Bridge design. During my Ph.D., I intend to study different mechanisms which are being adopted to
construct Bridges. I would be interested to study the pre-stressed mechanism of construction of bridges which are being adopted recently. This study during my Ph.D. will aid me in obtaining ideas for the construction of bridges using pre-stressed concrete. This mechanism of construction of bridges is extremely helpful as this increases the strength of the concrete thus, making the Bridges stronger and economically efficient. This mechanism is most suitable in my country where the Bridges constructed have not sufficiently adopted this mechanism of construction.

• What is your long-term goal post-graduation?

Example: My long-term goal is to work with a nonprofit organization such as W.H.O. so that I can be involved in vibrantly and well-designed healthcare programs and policies to provide a healthy life to one and all irrespective of their socioeconomic background.

• Optional: Anything else you would like to share with us? For instance, you can talk about how your parents and their education/profession have impacted you. Any community service work? Has any book/person/event influenced you and/or relates to your course of study? If you have overcome any adversity in life (social, financial, etc), you can write a few lines about it here.

Examples:
● Having spent most of my childhood in extreme weather (sub-zero to 50 deg C), resource scarcity (walking a mile to fetch drinking water), and rather deprived conditions, my experiences taught me the best lessons in my life; planning under constraints, managing resources and a respect for good human relationships.
● When I was 11, militancy began in my hometown, Kashmir. For thousands, 1989 was a devastating year as Kashmiris were forcefully driven out of their homeland
and displaced from their roots. At that time, I did not understand the gravity of the situation, except that militancy displaced my family as well. I was angry and
frustrated with the helpless situation they were forced into. The media, over the years, preferred to concentrate on the Indo – Pakistan issue rather than that of
the displaced Kashmiris. This event and the consequent lack of reaction from people around made me realize that if I wanted the situation of the displaced Kashmiris to get any better, I needed to contribute more to their cause. I started visiting camps with my father and we sponsored several families helping them educate their children and fulfill their basic needs.

Example: I decided to combine my vision with my mother’s knack for creativity and design. With her assistance, we outlined a simple plan; we would hire a budding and inexpensive tailor to make indigenous and authentic jute bags based on my mother’s creative inputs. These bags became a fashion fad in the year 2000, thereby encouraging me to display in local exhibitions. The response was overwhelming;
encouraging my mother and me to hire more daily workers and to begin creating and selling jute bags in the domestic market. Today, 15 years later, my mother and I
have established a fully compliant factory under the brand name of ‘Kalakriti’ (www.kalakriti india.in), giving wages to a workforce of approximately 100 daily
workers. We have also diversified from jute bags to a full range of home furnishings, and export globally. The satisfaction of giving employment and social benefits like
medical and retirement benefits to the workforce and establishing a business at an early age is perhaps one of the strongest motivators in my decision to become an
entrepreneur.