Maharashtra Board Class 12 English Chapter 3.4 Statement of Purpose Textbook PDF Download

Statement Of Purpose

Ice Breakers

Match the professions with the desired qualities.

What is your career goal?

Which of your qualities would help you in achieving your career goal?

List the obstacles which might hamper in achieving your goal/s in life. One is done for you.

Lack of proper guidance

Teacher's Note

A Statement of Purpose helps you tell universities why you want to join them. It is like telling the teacher why you want to join a special class or activity - you must explain your reason clearly. Just like when you ask your parents to buy something, you give good reasons - the same way, you tell universities why they should choose you.

Exam Trick

Remember: SOP = your story. Just like you tell stories to your friends, tell your career story to the university. Write about your dream, your work, and why this university is best for you.

Points to Remember

SOP means Statement of Purpose.
It is a letter you write to universities when you want to get admitted.
You must tell about your goals, your skills, and your dreams in it.
Write it in simple and clear English - no mistakes.
It should be about 500 words long.

What Is A Statement Of Purpose?

A Statement of Purpose (SOP) is an application made to a university to seek admission to a particular course. It is an essay which describes you as a person, your aims and ambitions. It speaks about your journey of life and the qualities you have nurtured in the process. The scorecard or the transcript gives your academic achievement. It is objective but SOP gives an idea about your innate qualities and is subjective in nature. The SOP gives you an opportunity to show the special qualities which make you distinct from others. It explains why you want to join the course, what is your liking, how you have developed your liking. It justifies how you will be able to achieve your aim. It also explains why you have selected a particular university. The SOP is a gateway to your career as the admission committee judges you or screens the applications on the basis of the SOPs received. Hence, it is a very important document.

The SOPs for undergraduate, postgraduate and doctorate levels would be different. The SOPs differ according to the requirement. The number of words in which an SOP is written is also different for different universities. At this level when you would pass your Std XII examination and write personal statements to universities for admission to undergraduate course you should follow the format given below.

Teacher's Note

Different universities want different things from you. Just like your teacher asks different questions to different students, universities also ask you to write about different things. So always read what the university wants before you write.

Exam Trick

Remember: Read the instructions carefully first! Just like you read math problems carefully before solving, read what the university asks for. This will help you write exactly what they want.

Points to Remember

SOP is different for undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
Each university may ask for different things from you.
Some universities want 500 words, some want more or less.
You must follow the exact format that the university gives you.
Never copy from internet - write your own true story.

Format Of The SOP

The Statement of Purpose should be written in around 500 words, tentatively in five/six paragraphs.

Begin with your introduction, talk about your personal background, your mental make-up and your aim in life.

The second paragraph should speak about why you wish to join this specific programme/course, your area of interest.

In the third paragraph, write about your qualities that would be helpful or suitable for this career goal or objective. Show how your hobbies and extracurricular activities would be helpful in strengthening your goals.

In the fourth paragraph, mention your experience in this field or any internship/project you have done. You can state something which makes you distinct from the other applicants.

In the concluding paragraph, state how admission to this particular course, university would be beneficial to you and how you look at it from a long term career perspective.

Write the Statement of Purpose in clear and lucid language. Do not make spelling or construction mistakes. You should be convincing. Show determination in your career. Your purpose of choosing this particular course and university should be in accordance with your career. Remember that your personality is reflected through this. Highlight your qualities, life experiences in such a way that your application should stand out from the rest.

Teacher's Note

Write your SOP like you are talking to someone important. Be honest about who you are. For example, if you love science, tell them why you love it - like a student from Delhi who loves learning about space and wants to become a scientist.

Exam Trick

Remember: Five or six paragraphs. Each paragraph has one job - introduction, reason for course, your qualities, your experience, and conclusion. Make each paragraph short and clear.

Points to Remember

Write about 500 words only.
Use five or six paragraphs - no more, no less.
First paragraph - tell about yourself and your goal.
Middle paragraphs - explain why you want this course and what makes you good for it.
Last paragraph - explain how this university will help you.

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