Common Mistakes to Avoid in SOP

Is your Statement of Purpose (SOP) up to boost your application? Many students make avoidable errors that weaken the impact of their SOP. To help you craft an impressive and authentic document, we highlight the common mistakes in SOP that applicants make and how to steer clear of them. Avoiding these will not only strengthen your application but also reflect your maturity and preparedness for higher education abroad.

When we prepare our SOP, we all want to create a winning statement that can get us admitted into our desired college or university. The process of SOP writing may take multiple attempts, many hours invested, frequent online research for sample SOPs, or even taking external help. However, there could be some common mistakes that can jeopardize your efforts. Sounds confusing? You may think about all your hard work and efforts in creating the SOP. However, what is not true in the case of SOP is that hard work always pays off. Hard work is essential, but smart work is what you need when it comes to an SOP. However, including too many irrelevant details is one of the major mistakes in SOP writing. In this article, we will look at some of the common mistakes in SOP to avoid.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in an SOP

Here are the most common mistakes that should be avoided while writing an SOP:

1) Random details and abrupt structure

When you start writing your SOP, you will be able to think about many events, reasons, achievements, or failures from your life, which you feel like including in it. However, this is one of the biggest mistakes you can make. It is important to choose those details or experiences from your life which are relevant to the programme you are applying for. In fact, these random details may make you go beyond the expected SOP word limit. Besides choosing relevant information, you need to structure them in such a way that there is a proper flow and everything seems connected to the purpose of the programme. Remember the formula of LRCF (Logic, Reason, Coherence, and Flow). Every event that you mention, for instance an event that motivated you to pursue a particular course, must be connected through LRCF (logic, reason, coherence, and flow) with your background and your future goals. Do not commit the mistake of writing events that are randomly and abruptly connected. Make sure that there is structure, coherence, and flow in your SOP. The Admissions Committee must not be confused while reading your SOP.

2) Talking too much about your childhood fantasies

This is another common mistake in SOP writing. Childhood fantasies, when discussed in a graduate application or an MBA SOP, make a document less credible. These can nevertheless be discussed in an undergraduate application. Childhood dreams help you decide what you pursue in your secondary education (11th and 12th grade) to achieve your undergraduate aims by enrolling in a Bachelor’s programme. While making an application to higher education (Master’s degree), you need to sound more focused and clearer rather than a dreamer. Your goals need to be precise instead of discussing how you ended up developing an interest in a certain field, which works for the undergraduate applicants; on the other hand.

3) Not giving it enough time

One of the easiest SOP mistakes to avoid is starting early. It is essential to give enough time to write, rewrite, revise or proofread your SOP. As we know that a statement of purpose is one of the important documents for admission into a foreign university; it will need your considerable time and attention. After preparing your initial draf t as per the format and guidelines, you must revise the draft a few more times, to check for relevant details, grammatical errors, SOP word limit and chronological f low. Your SOP needs to be drafted with patience not keeping time as a constraint.

4) Beating around the bush and not paying attention to career goals
SOP is a reflection of the previous achievements and plans. If we focus more on our achievements and less on discussing our career goals, then the Ad Com would regard us as someone more proud and less focused. Every aspect discussed in our SOP has a defined space of its own. Things need to be explained, but in a way that nothing overshadows anything. Our achievements should portray our strengths and determination while goals are required to showcase our focus and clarity of vision. Both need to be explained in a manner that our candidature seems to be an absolute fit for the chosen course and university.
5) Not taking a second opinion
Always take external help. It may be someone you know or someone who understands your purpose enough to help you in stating it properly in a draft. Write on your own, but always take 
a second opinion, because what is ordinary for you may be extraordinary to someone else and the same goes the other way round. This can either be avoided or corrected with a secondary perspective. However, at the same time, you need to remember that ‘When You Write the Story of Your Life, Don’t Let Anyone Else Hold the Pen’. If you let someone else write your essay, it would turn out to be a completely different story, because it is always you who understands your aim in life. Taking help from an industry expert would make a huge difference in your profile presentation. They can assist you in presenting your academic strengths and professional desires strongly. However, referring to a lot of people would lead you nowhere. It would result in confusion and you would end up with a messier document that you would not be able to finalize. Hence, it is always better to take help from a subject matter expert, who knows what to include in your SOP and what not to include in your SOP. Getting input from mentors, teachers, or peers helps identify overlooked SOP mistakes, whether grammatical or structural.

6) Making the SOP flashy or unrealistic

This is a subtle but significant common mistake in SOP.  Considering that the aim of the SOP is to impress the Ad Com and get an offer letter, you may end up getting distracted and using wrong ways to grab attention; this may not lead to favorable results. Focusing your SOP only on your achievements, may give the impression of you being boastful. It is important to keep a balance in such a way that these accomplishments should not create an unrealistic perception of you. Despite your achievements, the SOP should present you as a humble, keen learner, and curious person.

Moreover, using complex vocabulary, just to showcase your verbal ability may not fetch you great returns. Sticking to simpler word choices and clear ideas always works the best when it comes to an SOP. Another big ‘No’ is using bold letters, italics, random fonts, colours or unusual type of formatting. The SOP should have a formal tone and clear presentation of ideas and content.
7) Not conducting your research

A significant SOP mistake is not researching the university or program thoroughly.  Writing random stuff about the chosen course, university or college, and country in your SOP would not give a good impression. If you talk about your f antasies of studying abroad without any goal, or mention a popular destination you have always aspired to join without giving any relevant reasons f or choosing that destination or give out reasons like college inf rastructure or a country’s weather conditions, or even some f amiliar people living in the chosen country, then the Ad Com may consider you to be naive. Conducting proper university research on the course curriculum, college faculties, campus facilities, and the industrial exposure you might get by studying in the country, when related to your goals, would bring out your candidature as a more focused one.

8) Writing more or less than needed (not understanding the value of space and SOP word limit)

Word limit for SOP is a very important factor that most of us do not consider while writing. It is essential to understand that time is precious. The people sitting out there to evaluate your profile have a limited time to get this job done. There are thousands of students enrolling in the same course in the same college in a particular country right before the deadline. Evaluating such a huge number of applicants based on their profiles needs both time and patience. Hence, you should always consider sticking to the SOP word limit communicated by the university. If not, the ideal word limit for any given generic SOP is anywhere between 800– 1000 words. Failing to follow this guideline is one of the common mistakes in SOP submissions. Therefore, if you have a lot to discuss, it is better to choose your words wisely and wrap up everything in the least possible words. On the other hand, if you do not have much to describe your profile, then you should focus on explaining your goals and talking about the industrial trends with facts and figures.

9) Being too direct or too casual in the beginning and conclusion

Another common yet critical SOP mistake is starting with generic quotes or ending abruptly.  It is important to be careful when you are writing the introduction and conclusion of the SOP. The introductory paragraph should be written in such a manner that it can create a ‘hook’ for the Ad Com and they get interested in your profile from the beginning. The best way to start an SOP is to include an interesting anecdote that can justify your motivation for the specific programme. It helps to build a good and catchy beginning for the reader. If you will be too direct in stating the reason of choosing the programme, it may be possible that the reader may not wish to read the complete draft. Also, a casual start of the SOP with a quote or general overview of the programme must be avoided. The idea is to create a good impression from the beginning, which can build interest in the mind of the reader. Similarly, ending the SOP on a positive note is equally important. Concluding your draft by showing your preparedness for the programme and mentioning what makes you a worthy candidate will help to create a lasting impression.

10) Using jargon or technical terms more often
Please ensure to use simple language, keeping in mind that members of the Ad Com may not be technically sound as per your industry. Using too much jargon would confuse them, making them feel disconnected, and they may end up losing interest. It is okay to use technical terms a few times just to explain your motives clearly and let them know that you know what you are planning to do with your life. They should be able to relate to your decision to apply to a particular course and your plan for the future.

Common Mistakes that lead to Rejection or Permanent Blacklisting!

Did you know that if not drafted honestly, an SOP may lead to a rejection or permanent blacklisting, which is even worse? Check out the most essential points you should keep in mind while drafting your SOP or Admission Essays:
1) Never lie or provide false information in documents

The Ad Com expects you to provide information that is 100% true, which is why you are required to submit proof for everything you have done, ranging from your academics to your extracurricular activities. If you are unable to provide them with the desired proof of your endeavours, such as academic transcripts and participation certificates for all the activities done, the authorities find you at fault and reject your application. In some cases, they may permanently blacklist your profile. This is one of the most severe mistakes in SOP submissions.

2) Never copy your SOP or essay from your friends or the Internet

Plagiarism is considered a serious offense in universities abroad. This is one of the most dangerous SOP mistakes and should be avoided at all costs. Never copy anything from the Sample SOPs or Sample Essays spread across the Internet or any ex-applicant’s

documents. Copied/plagiarised documents may lead to a straight-away rejection from foreign universities, which may also result in permanent blacklisting of the aspirant’s candidature. Always write your essay/SOP on your own. To save yourself from this situation, you might want to refer to tips and tricks for writing a winning statement of purpose.

Do’s for SOP Writing

• Interesting Introduction: Begin your SOP with a captivating opening that grabs the reader’s attention. This will help make your SOP stand out from the rest.
• Originality: Your SOP should showcase your distinctive perspective and life experiences. Avoid using generic templates or replicating someone else’s SOP. Instead, concentrate on highlighting your own goals, skills, and aspirations.
• Tailored SOP: Create a unique SOP for each institution to which you are applying. Learn about the university’s principles, strengths, and requirements for applicants by doing research on the programme. You can better match your objectives and interests with theirs by doing this.
  Relevant Supporting Details: Give instances, accomplishments, and experiences to support your qualifications and programme fit. To strengthen your arguments and improve the persuasiveness of your SOP, use specific examples.
• Be Clear: Avoiding unneeded jargon or sophisticated words will help you write straightforwardly and succinctly. A lack of clarity is one of the most overlooked common mistakes in SOP creation. Keep the topics of your sentences and paragraphs clear and concise. Use appropriate sentence structure, punctuation, and grammar.
• Proofread: Spend some time carefully editing and proofreading your SOP to make sure there are no grammatical or spelling mistakes. To acquire alternative viewpoints and suggestions for development, ask your instructors, mentors, or friends for their opinions.

Don’ts for SOP Writing

When writing your Statement of Purpose (SOP), there are certain things you should avoid to ensure your document is effective and impactful. Here are some don’ts for SOP writing:

• Don’t be vague: In your SOP, stay away from clichés and generalisations. Be precise and include real-world examples to back up your assertions. Your SOP will become more 
  interesting and memorable as a result.
• Don’t focus solely on your achievements: Highlighting your accomplishments is crucial, but you should not rely on them to win over the Ad Com. Instead, concentrate on your development as a person, the difficulties you overcame, and the lessons you learned. This will demonstrate the strength of character you possess.
• Don’t exceed the prescribed SOP word limit: Adhere to the specified word or page limit for your SOP. Going over the limit may give the impression that you cannot follow instructions or that you are unable to communicate concisely.
  Avoid irrelevant details: Avoid including irrelevant details or excessive information that does not contribute to your overall narrative.
  Don’t make unsupported claims: Make sure that any assertions you make in your SOP are supported by data or examples. Unsubstantiated statements can undermine your document’s trustworthiness and raise suspicion in the minds of the Ad Com.

All the points discussed above need to be considered seriously as they would help you make your application remarkable and outstanding. You may always seek help from industry experts as they are updated with the latest industrial trends and hence would be able to guide you with what is best for you. With proper research, you can always apply on your own, though when taking professional assistance, you would understand the difference between self-applying and taking help from outside agencies. In both cases, we wish you all the best with your application.