Importance of SOP & LOR

By Aakriti Jain

• About us

• Why study abroad?

• Breaking the common Myth: No admission without Top Grades Via LOR and SOP

• (Original) Statement of Purpose Meaning

Objective of a SOP / Essay / Letter of intent?

Different types of SOP requested by Universities?

Working on Your Essay

Structure of SOP?

Importance of SOP?

Writing Strategy, Theme & Content Dos

Who should write your SOP?

Structure, Theme & Content Don’ts

Critical factors which institutions look for an UG statement of interest?

• Letters of Recommendation• Meaning

• Who should recommend you?

• What admission officers check in LOR?

• Useful tips and requirements of LOR?

• Some Considerations

Contents

About us Meetuniv.com is an leading college search and information website for students

looking at to pursue higher education abroad.

The website offers one of the largest course information listing of undergraduate(UG) and postgraduate (PG) courses from USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand,Singapore & many more

The portal is backed by one of the largest media groups in the country TimesInternet & is incubated out of their innovation center (Tlabs) in Noida. The portalis also backed by PeeshVC, an USA based Ed-Tech Fund.

Users can get information of 3,000 colleges & search for over 40,000 courses

Users can opt for personalized counseling sessions by IVY league experts, whohelp at the important stages of a higher education college shortlisting &application.

MeetUniv.com have counseled more than 106452 Study abroad aspirants andholds 13484 university connects

Why Study Abroad? Renowned education

Comprehend a New Culture

Refine Your Language Skills

See the World

Career Opportunities

Find New Interests

Mark Lifelong Friends

Personal Development

Experiencing life like never before

Statement of PurposeMeaning:“A statement of purpose, or personal statement, is a brief and focused essay about one's career or researchgoals, and is frequently required for applicants to universities, graduate schools, and professional schools. AnSOP is a concise essay about one's career goals, identified means to achieve them and accomplishments so fartowards those goals. It is a required document when applying for admission to most professional programs inthe United States. Often, SOP is used as a yardstick to assess the capabilities of a prospective student in termsof critical thinking, analytical abilities, interests, aims and aspirations. It is a good way for an applicant tocommunicate with the admissions committee. Most admissions committees look for a short, crisp andideologically clear SOP.”

Objective of a SOP / Essay / Letter of intent?• To distinguish yourself from other applicants

• To present a picture of your personality

• To highlight your accomplishments, experiences, potential, future plans

Different types of SOP requested by Universities? • Essays on specific topics

• Graduate and undergraduate essays

• Letter of intent

• Statement of interest

• Essays in specific fields (business, law, engineering, medicine, etc.)

• Essays for specific programs

Statement of PurposeWriting Strategy, Theme & Content Dos

• Take a lot of time to consider the content

• Read the question carefully

• Follow the recommended length

• Write an original essay that is based on personal experience or observations. Write about something important to you.

• Convey a positive overall image.

• Keep your essay focused: Do not try to mention everything you are interested in. Get to the point fast.

• Be concrete, specific, interesting, and persuasive.

• Mention achievements relevant to undergraduate / graduate admission.

• Mention work, volunteer or extra-curricular activities that relate to your field.

• Use the full and correct name of the program you are applying for.

• Research each university and let them know why you want to come to that particular university

Who should write your SOP?

YOU and Only YOU. Your are the best person to describe your own self, likes, dislikes and why

exactly do you want to apply for the said course. Besides Universities admire the originality in

SOP and can easily distinguish it with a professional one or the one with traces of PLAGIARISM.

Plagiarism is the practice of taking someone else's work or ideas and passing them off as

one's own and is considered to be a punishable offense which can further result in immediate

abandoning of application.

Statement of PurposeWorking on Your Essay • Carefully read the questions and essay instructions in the application form • Research additional material on the topic • Search the Internet, read other essays, read books on essays, check out the college’s website,

etc. • Brainstorm questions • Compose several drafts, write a final but ORIGINAL version • Revise and edit the essay • Refrain from copying from other essays

Structure of SOP? The SOP has an introduction, body and conclusion. It must NOT be written in the format of a letter. Also the structure should NOT be that of an autobiography. • Short is better than long • First few sentences are very important to catch the reader’s attention • Transition appropriately from one paragraph to another

Importance of SOP? • The level of importance varies between institutions • Some institutions use the essays to assess a students writing competency • For highly selective schools, the essay is the distinguishing factor. • There needs to be consistency between essays and grades.

Statement of PurposeStructure, Theme & Content Don’ts

• Don’t start your essay with, “I was born in …,” “My name is…,”

• Don’t try to second-guess or flatter admissions staff.

• Don’t try to impress your reader with your vocabulary. Don’t use unnecessary words, slang, or words you don’t understand.

• Don’t write in a flowery, complicated manner. Keep it simple.

• Don't include a lot of dates. This makes an essay sound like a timeline.

• Don’t sound hesitant. Do not use expressions like, ”I hope to do that,” or, “It seems like the experiment has given good results.”

• Don’t use generic statements or platitudes. E.g., “While at graduate school, I worked for many organizations on many different projects...”

• Don’t include an undergraduate-style paragraph about how well-rounded you are when applying to a graduate school. (Some PhD candidates spend a lot of time describing their high school achievements!)

• Don’t repeat information already mentioned in the application (GPA, test scores, etc.)

• Don't spend your time describing your English proficiency.

• Don’t set and describe unrealistic plans.

• Don't simply state ideas, support them.

Critical factors which institutions look for an UG statement of interest?

• Schools want to build communities of creative, interactive, well-rounded individuals including

focus on non-academic strengths, interests, extra-curricular activities, etc.

• Schools look for the best minds in a subject area.

Letters of RecommendationMeaning:A recommendation letter or letter of recommendation is a letter in which the writer assesses the qualities, characteristics, and capabilities of the person being recommended in terms of that individual’s ability to perform a particular task or function. Recommendation letters are always specifically requested to be written about someone and are therefore addressed to a particular requestor. Letters of recommendation are typically related to employment, admissions to institutions of higher education or scholarship eligibility

Who should recommend you? • Think about a person who knows your abilities best - this is not always the teacher / professor of the class you

received the highest grades in.

• Consider teachers in whose classes you initially struggled, and then succeeded.

• If you have not been the best at school / college think of people other than teachers who know you academically and socially.

• You may also consider taking recommendations from social organizations where you participated in some kind of voluntary work.

• Take recommendations from people who are familiar with different aspects of your skills and experiences to be able to put forth your qualities to the admissions committee.

• Try to get specific letters than general ones.

• Hierarchy / designation of the recommender does not matter. It is much more effective to have a

reference from someone who knows you well enough to comment on your strengths and may be

mention a few potential areas of improvement as well.

Letter of Recommendations What Admission Officers check in a LOR?• Committed and motivated students

• Students with diverse backgrounds

• Grades

• Level of difficulty of classes taken

• Test scores at school level / college level

• Potential vs. achievement

• Uniqueness of the student

• Classroom performance

• Critical thinking skills

• Initiative and class participation

• Self motivation

• Oral and writing expression

• Leadership

• Teaching potential (if you apply for a TA)

• Work habits (Teamwork potential)

• Knowledge of the field

• Adaptability to new situations

• Emotional maturity

• Ability to relate with others

Letter of RecommendationsUseful tips and requirements for Letter of recommendation• Some institutions use your recommendations when considering your application for financial aid awards.

• Send only the exact number of recommendation letters requested (no more and no less).

• Send the letters in the format requested. E.g.. Printed letter, or online. Online recommendations will require youto register and provide a password to your recommenders.

• On pre-printed forms it is best to fill in the information at the top yourself. Many pre-printed forms have sectionsto rate the student’s abilities.

• Letters should be on official letterhead of the recommender.

• Make sure to choose appropriate people to write your recommendation letter

• Make appointments with the people you’d like to write your recommendations. Provide them a copy of yourresume’, a list of courses you’ve taken with that teacher, a list of work and research experience and publicationsand statement of interest so that they have the right background to write the contents. Give them enough time: atleast 2-3 weeks

• Explain your goals for study in the University. to the recommender.

• Provide the proper forms and give detailed instructions to the recommender on how to fill them out.

• Make sure you recommender follow the timelines indicated by your university, you should take the responsibilityto follow up with them. You should make sure the person’s full contact information, including designation andcoordinates are mentioned.

• Understand the meaning of waiving your right to read the recommendation (By law, enrolled

students have the right to access their files, including recommendations. If you waive the right to read

the recommendation, it will remain confidential.)

Some ConsiderationsLOR:• If you write your own recommendations, it will be very clear to them as your writing style cannot vary as much.

• Make sure official letterhead of your recommender is used

• Focus on affiliation (with the student)

• LOR should give honest and factual information

• Always ask your recommender to substantiate his / her comments with specific examples.

• Beware of the power of words! Avoid bland words: good / nice / fairly / etc.; use powerful words: effective / mature / etc.

• Intangibles qualities are as important. E.g. empathy / commonsense / commitment / abstract thinking style are critical in decision making process of institutions.

• If asked for a confidential letter, handover the letter in a sealed and signed envelope.

Please provide your recommenders with the adequate information:

• Your resume

• A short “statement of purpose” that outlines the sort of college you hope to attend and why you think that sort of college would be best for you. Write one or two solid paragraphs. Make sure to focus on the academic issues related to your college choice, so that the teacher can provide specific information to support your application.

• A full list of the colleges to which you are applying, including addresses, with application deadlines clearly stated. If you are applying to particular departments, scholarships, or other special programs, makes sure to clarify that information for the teacher.

• The recommendation form or forms the teacher will need to complete (note this might be the form your

high school uses, or it could be the form from the Common Application, or you might include the form from each

individual college to which you are applying).

• Your contact information, including phone number, home address, and email address, in case the writer

has any questions

Some Considerations• If the letter is to be turned in to the school guidance office, include an envelope in which the completed

letter can be sent to the guidance office.

• If the teacher has to send the letter directly to the college, include stamped, addressed envelopes for each college to which you are applying (make sure to clip these to the appropriate blank forms, to make it easy for the teacher to do the collating).

• A short note of personal thanks to express your appreciation.

SOP:• It is okay if you do not have all the answers or your plans are unclear. Build a working plan to the best of

your abilities. It is also okay if you are going to use the opportunity of the program to explore options and finalize your plans.

• Do not use templates. Customize each SOP using the research you have done on the program and institution. Everybody including the institutions like to see themselves as special and having been specially chosen by the candidate. If sufficient research was done in choosing the right program and institution, then it can help your SOP convey your specific reasons for preferring the given program and institution without making artificial and superficial statements.

• Use simple, short sentences and simple language. (The SOP is not meant to test your vocabulary or your command of English literature or your knowledge of quotations) Avoid flowery language.

• Make sure the SOP reflects your true level of maturity. (Do not ask somebody else/ senior/

relative to write it for you. It will invariably not reflect your maturity levels and is clearly a

dishonest beginning to a career. By the way, it is easy to spot SOPs that have been written by

somebody else - one can make out from the quality of writing, the maturity of thoughts etc.)

All the Best!