10 Mistakes To Avoid While Preparing Your SOP
Statement of Purpose (SOP) or Letter of Motivation is perhaps one of the most important documents you would write in your lifetime. This document can be the difference between you ending up in a top graduate school or settling for an average educational institution. Even after the extensive help and instructions available all over the internet, it is common to find students making mistakes in preparing their SOP. In this video, we list few of the common mistakes so that you don’t repeat them with yours.
1
Last Minute Preparation
1. Start working on SOP at least a month before you have to send your application
2
Weak Introduction And Conclusion
1. Start with a motivational paragraph and end by summarising your accomplishments
3
Using Informal Language
1. Do not use local dialect or unofficial jargon. Use professional language
4
Highlighting Weak GPA Or Backlogs
1. Do not give highlight your poor academic performance
5
Exceeding The Word Limit
1. Do not exceed the word limit mentioned on the course website(2 pages in general)
6
Including Irrelevant Information
1. Don’t digress from the point and divulge personal information
7
Making The SOP Excessively Flashy
1. Use a simple font and basic formatting, and don’t use any color other than black
8
Excessive Flattery
1. Do not waste your words on flattering the university and university professors
9
Being Dishonest
1. Avoid making up facts. Honesty and authenticity are the hallmarks of a good SOP
10
Not Proofreading And Editing
1. Lastly, an expert ‘review’ can be just as valuable as the SOP ‘writing’ itself.
