Looking for a PERFECT Statement of Purpose (SOP), a.k.a. Personal Statement for your graduate or a PhD program?
Then, you should probably look somewhere else because this blog is all about creating an IMPERFECT SOP. One that is personalized and unique to your own story.
First of all, remember that SOPs are not just bullet-points of what you can and can’t do, it is a story. Your story. Your honest and imperfect story. A journey that led you to your present day. Keep this in mind as you build your SOP using this guide.
Ok! Let’s get started.
Create an outline
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The program you are applying to may have guidelines that they would like you to elaborate on in your SOP. So, start with a rough outline. Note some bullet-points of specific aspects they suggest in their guidelines. Also, list down the topics that you’d like to include in addition to the guidelines. Common topics to include are academic background, work experience, some skills that you’d like to highlight, and a career or research plan you foresee for yourself in the next few years.
I will expand on each of these aspects in this blog. To build your SOP simultaneously, make sure you grab a piece of paper or a blank word document. Start creating it section-by-section. As a result, you will have a SOP ready for final editing and proofreading before you submit.
Tell an honest story – no sugar coating
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Yes, no sugar coating. No matter how much you read on the internet that your SOP needs to be perfect, I am here to tell you as a fellow graduate student that it DOES NOT have to be perfect. Sure, if you use AI tools to generate your SOP, it will create a perfect but generic SOP, which I am sure you are not looking for. Your SOP has to be honest and true to your story before being perfect. Human stories are NOT perfect and they don’t have to be.
No matter the program, an honest narration of your story will always be appreciated. Honestly, the committee can spot the difference between a generic but perfect SOP and an imperfect but honest one. I can confidently say that they would rather choose an imperfect and honest one.
Now that we have established a tone, begin with talking about how and when did you choose your particular field or when did you develop interest. Don’t go all the way back to your childhood. Instead, maybe summarize why you are passionate about your specific topic. What leads you to still continue to pursue it. Other examples are describing the starting point in the field, your undergraduate and graduate program and how it left an impact on you as an individual and moved your academic journey forward.
This provides a good starting point to your reader and sets the tone of what to expect.
Previous work experience
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Remember. You are telling a story. A story of your journey till the present day. So, to bring your reader up to speed, the next important aspect to include is work experience. This is too broad of a term, so be mindful of what you choose to include here. For example, if you are applying to a PhD program specializing in Biochemistry, there is no point in mentioning that five years ago, you worked as a cashier in a grocery store.
Add what you think is relevant to your field and program you are applying for. If you have worked different type of jobs, choose which ones you would like to highlight. Work experience does not have to be a full-time paid job. It can also be your experiences volunteering for a particular role or shadowing on someone else’s project. Don’t be afraid to state it explicitly. Honest over perfection.
Example, you can state “During my graduate program, I had the opportunity to shadow a PhD student and learn xyz techniques”. By all means, include paid and full-time experience, but be sure to include a well-rounded summary of your work. Top it off with listing any certificates or licenses that you have earned which is relevant to your PhD program.
This is a good point to pause and reflect on the introduction, education, and work experience sections. Check if you missed anything. If yes, go back and modify. Do not pay attention to formatting or spacing just yet. Focus on content. When you are ready, move forward.
A demonstration of skills
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This is the time to think about your strengths (if you haven’t already). Many of us are self-critical and forget to identify our strengths. This awareness will come handy throughout your PhD program. So, it is time to shift your focus from self-criticism to self-awareness. Explain what soft skills you value and would like to bring to the program
For example, “I value leadership and teamwork and intend to improve these skills as a PhD student”. Also, include any hard skills that you have learned. This could be anything in the realms of research, teaching, or service, such as proficiency in statistical software, any specific laboratory techniques or experiments that you are trained for, working with big datasets, scientific writing, and more.
Be sure to highlight a mix of soft and hard skills. Though you may think that hard skills will be of more value, you will realize through the course of your PhD that soft skills come in handy when interacting with other humans. Be it advisor, peers, guest speaker, or anyone else.
Willingness to learn
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If you have reached here, you have already described your strengths.
Review the skills section. Identify at least 2-4 skills or techniques that you currently do not have expertise in but would like to hone if you get a chance. This is important because it shows the committee that you are self-aware, open to learning, and most importantly, you have ability to set vision and goals for your own progress.
A proactive approach is not only appreciated but usually proves to be beneficial for your own journey as compared to taking a laid-back and “doing the bare minimum” approach. Think critically. If you have a long list of skills, highlight 2-4 skills MOST important to you and include those. You can expand more on other skills in an interview or during the program. Don’t forget to choose a mix of soft and hard skills, whether you like it or not.
Research interests and passion
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You have laid the foundation. You are now ready to express your research interests and passions. PhD program admission process differs from university to university. For some programs, an online application is completed first and then you get paired with a lab or faculty while for others, you need to establish a contact with one of the faculties first, and then apply.
Depending on your situation, mention BRIEFLY about your interactions with any faculty member and how your interests align with their ongoing research. If you haven’t got the chance to do so, still talk about your interests. Use the university website as a resource. Carefully read each faculties’ research areas. Think about what area you would be passionate about. It communicates that you are well-read and well-informed about a particular department and this will put you apart from other applicants.
Your interest in a specific program
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More than anything, the committee wants to know WHY you are interested in their program. Why should they admit you?
Important note- your answer to this question will differ from program to program. No two programs are identical and you will need to explore their website, specifically the department and faculties’ research to answer this last question. Highlight what you like about the program. Mention any faculties’ work that is inspiring and any other detail that you’d like to include.
Also, briefly explain what your vision is for yourself. Do you aim to become a researcher? A specialist? An educator?
Whatever it is, share your vision. Let the committee know that you have a plan. Plans change. They understand. But, what is important is to at least have some idea about how you want your career trajectory to look like. This is the last section of the SOP. Finally, conclude with a sentence or two, that if given a chance, you will demonstrate your abilities, keep an open mind, and grow professionally and personally.
Final tasks
Woohoo!! You have your imperfect but honest SOP ready. I suggest saving the draft and not looking it further. Maybe give it a day and then read your work out loud.
Time for re-reading the entire draft. Read it out loud. Modify and make changes as you read. Make it crisp and cohesive. This is when I recommend you use any AI tools such as Grammarly to quickly check for spelling and punctuation errors. It is still an imperfect story. But, it is without any distractions that might make it hard for the reader to follow through.
Lastly, ensure formatting, fonts (both size and color), and margins are all appropriate. “Save as” the document as a PDF.
It’s time to submit your SOP and I wish you all the best for your PhD journey!
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