All About Writing an SOP for Bachelor of Arts

While a student applying for a master’s program or‌ an MBA candidate can include a variety of viewpoints in his or her SOP for Bachelor of Arts, a student applying for an undergraduate course finds it challenging to do so. 

Not everyone would have a long resume of extracurricular activities or would have traveled the world. As a result, creating the SOP for an undergraduate course becomes a completely different process. To start, a student applying for undergraduate courses has a lot of options for what to include in the SOP. 

How should we approach the procedure? Is there a difference? Right now, we’re talking about how to write an SOP for bachelor’s degree programs. Australia, the US, Canada, and Ireland all require visas.

Why is the SOP for Bachelor of Arts important?

Your application is judged by the Statement of Purpose (SOP). It aids the admissions committee in evaluating your outlook on life, your professional objectives, your beliefs, your subject knowledge, and your vision. Simply put, a strong SOP gives universities a picture of your overall personality. 

This is your chance to explain to the committee why they should select you over the other applicants. A strong SOP can support a weak academic score by emphasizing your long-term ambitions. A well-written SOP also demonstrates how effectively you can communicate your ideas through writing.

What should the SOP for Bachelor of Arts contain?

For your Statement of Purpose, there are a number of essential components. These consist of-

• Personal background
• Financial background
• Reasons for being interested in the chosen field
• About extra-curricular activities
• Published works, if any
• Papers submitted if any
• Interests, hobbies
• Academic details
• Professional experience (full/part-time, voluntary)
• Immediate and long-term goals
• Reasons why you wish to study at this particular institution

Sample Statement of Purpose

Most colleges and universities demand that SOPs follow a standard format. The Statement of Purpose (SOP), however, will differ depending on the courses the applicant chose and the various colleges to which they are applying.

• The SOP can be divided into three to four paragraphs, each of which should clearly state the student’s intention to enroll in the course at a college or university. SOP addresses the decision of the student regarding why to pursue the course in the first paragraph. The main driving force behind the student’s decision to continue with the course must be mentioned in this.
• The student’s background, academic and professional accomplishments, and short-and long-term objectives are covered in the second paragraph. The student needs to distinguish between short-term and long-term objectives.
• The third and fourth paragraphs should discuss why the student should pursue this course and why they want to attend this University or college. How the student’s chosen university will assist in realizing their professional aspirations?
• The SOP’s conclusion section should be strong and have an impact. Here, students can discuss what they hope to contribute to the university and how their experiences will have a positive ripple effect on their peers and the university as a whole.

MBA Sample Format

• Describe your background and what made you decide to pursue an MBA.
• Describe your long-term goals for the profession you chose.
• You must explain your decision to pursue an MBA after earning your bachelor’s degree because MBA programs accept students from a variety of backgrounds.
• Describe your work experience in detail; most colleges require it. However, don’t confine your SOP to that.
• You must list the jobs of responsibility you have taken on if you lack work experience.
• Do some research on the university, and then explain why you chose it.
• Your long- or short-term future plans should be included in the SOP’s conclusion.

Sample format for Ph.D.

• Describes your research goals and yourself.
• You can discuss your research subject, your approach to it, and any supplemental research ideas you may have.
• Your prior academic accomplishments can serve as evidence of your dedication to your field.
• Its SOP must be reasonable and expert because it is the culmination of all courses.
• Mention any research papers you’ve written and provide a synopsis of them.
• You must explain your decision to attend that specific university for research. Make reference to their faculty and department to make it appear more personal.
• Write about your professional aspirations, both immediate and long-term.
• Your SOP should come to a modest close.

The five fundamental steps to writing the SOP for Bachelor of Arts program are listed below.

1. Compile a list of your most significant academic accomplishments.

You cannot bring three years of professional experience or four to five years of college experience to the undergraduate level. Instead, you have your growth over the last 12 years. You have a lot more to include because your journey has been long. Just try to recall the past 12 years, including the tiniest details and your favorite professors, as well as the challenges and happy accomplishments.

It might be your victory in the district-level cricket tournament or your first triumph in a fifth-grade interclass debate contest. Whatever it may be, you have a lengthy 12-year history to accumulate. Consider all the instances, and if you can still recall them, add them to your list.

2. Reflect on your life’s journey thus far without looking for a theme.

This is the one step that is wholly invalidated in contrast to the five fundamentals of how to write an SOP. We advise you not to focus on a theme other than the story of your life at this time. This is the forum where you could discuss everything you’ve done and how you came to this conclusion.

You continue to investigate, decipher, and long to learn. Don’t look for examples of leadership or any specific trait; you have to say everything. You are still malleable, so adapt your SOP as necessary, and choose no specific instance.

3. Finish the first draft.

We pull this step forward at the UG stage and ask you to start by writing it down. 

4. Talk about your lists and draft the first version.

A great way to start narrowing down your list is to discuss it with friends, family, and, if you share that compatibility, your teachers.

Find out what they think of your draft, which passage they would prefer you to omit, and the entire list of topics you should cover.

Request assistance so that your drafts can be examined and analyzed. Keep in mind that they might be able to view your accomplishments objectively and find something more humorous than others.

5. Put your essay to rest.

It is now time to finish your essay after discussing the draft and the lists. We constantly advise writing a piece. Once you’ve finished, rewrite the explanation of the purpose in its entirety. Be very clear about your objectives and make sure everything in your SOP for the undergraduate program is included.

Once you’re done, proofread it to make sure there are no grammatical or typographical errors. You might need to write and rewrite your essay an indefinite number of times. Keep going until you are satisfied.

Suggestions for crafting an effective Statement of Purpose

• Keep it simple and stick to the overview. Write a brief family history.
• Keep your financial details private. You will need a different document if you are applying for scholarships.
• Have professional conversations. Discuss life lessons rather than conversations at the water cooler.
• Do not use more words than are permitted.
• Be direct and avoid using flattering language.
• Don’t use too many specialized words.
• Avoid lying in your statement of purpose; doing so could get you rejected.
• Avoid using colorful papers or fonts.
• Don’t say that the institution was your second choice in your essay.
• Humor can backfire, so use it with caution!

Key takeaways

• When applying for admission to universities and colleges abroad, students must submit a Statement of Purpose (SOP) that showcases their personalities to the admissions committee.
• Students have the opportunity to make an impression on the admissions committee by strongly presenting their profile in the form of an essay that describes personality traits that were previously not covered in academic documents.
• The information on the SOP for graduation, master’s and Ph.D., SOP tips, how to write the SOP, how long the SOP must be, and much more is available for your learning.

Liked this blog? Read next: 7 easy steps to write SOP for humanities

FAQ

Q1. How do I begin an SOP?

Answer- SOP Introduction: First Paragraph

Talk about your long-term objective and how it relates to your desire to enroll in the course you are applying for. Write about your knowledge of the selected field and what you hope to contribute to it. In two to three lines, briefly describe your background and how it relates to your future objectives.

Q2. What format does a statement of purpose use?

Answer- An SOP is typically two pages long, double-spaced, and written in 12-point font. You can write 800-1000 words, depending on the size and type of font that you use.

Q3. What information shouldn’t be in a statement of purpose?

Answer- Don’t use overly common language or information that has been copied from other sources, such as websites. Don’t make your SOP sound meaningless, void, or empty.