Shiksha Guidelines for Admission Essays for Abroad

While there are separate guidelines given by different universities for admission essays, some universities, on the other hand, have no set instructions. In such cases, we follow some basic rules. Check out the article to understand what our experts at Shiksha say about admission essays to study abroad. 

When you apply to universities abroad, one important part of your application is the admission essay or statement of purpose (SOP). This essay allows you to show who you are beyond your grades and test scores. Here are some simple guidelines to help you write a great admission essay.

A good admission essays, showcasing your personality, achievements, and aspirations, to the admissions committee (Ad Com) are important for getting admitted to your chosen program and university. While many universities have specific instructions for the applicant regarding the essay, some institutions leave it to you to write an admission essay. Now, in case no specifications are provided by the university, how do you get around to writing your admission essay? It seems like a daunting task, but don’t worry, we have you covered.  

Guidelines for Admission Essays for Studying Abroad

One can check the admission essay guidelines for studying abroad in detail.

1. Understand the Purpose of the Essay

The main goal of your admission essay is to let the university know more about you. They want to understand your motivations, experiences, and how you will fit into their community. Think of your essay as a way to tell your story and explain why you are interested in their program.

2. Choose the Right Topic

Pick a topic that reflects your unique experiences. You might write about:

• A significant event in your life that changed you.
• Challenges you have faced and what you learned from them.
• Your passion for a certain field of study and how it developed.
• Cultural experiences that have shaped your views.

3. Be Authentic and Honest

It’s important to be yourself in your essay. Write in your own voice and be honest about your experiences and feelings. Admission officers appreciate sincerity and can often tell when someone is not being genuine. Share personal stories that highlight who you are.

4. Structure Your Essay Well

A clear structure makes it easier for readers to understand your thoughts. Here’s a simple outline:

• Introduction: Start with an interesting opening to grab attention. Introduce the main idea of your essay.
• Body: Use several paragraphs to explain your experiences and insights. Each paragraph should focus on a specific point that supports your main idea.
• Conclusion: Summarize your key points and express why you are excited about studying at that university.

5. Use Clear and Simple Language

While it’s good to be creative, clarity is more important. Use simple words and avoid complicated sentences or jargon. Make sure every sentence adds value to your message. If English isn’t your first language, consider asking someone who speaks it well to review your essay.

6. Highlight Your Unique Perspective

As an international student, you bring a different cultural background that can enrich the university community. Feel free to write about your culture, traditions, or experiences that may differ from other applicants. Providing context for any cultural references will help admission officers understand you better.

7. Revise and Edit Your Essay

After writing your first draft, take time to revise it. Look for ways to improve clarity and flow. It’s also helpful to ask teachers, friends, or family members to read your essay and give feedback. They can help identify confusing parts or areas that need more detail.

8. Stay Within Word Limits

Most universities set specific word limits for essays. Make sure to follow these limits while still conveying all necessary information clearly. Being concise shows respect for the reader's time.

9. Avoid Repetition

Make sure not to repeat information already included in other parts of your application (like resumes or recommendation letters). Your essay should provide new insights about who you are.

10. Proofread Before Submission

Finally, proofread your essay several times before sending it in. Check for grammar mistakes, typos, and formatting issues. A well-polished essay shows professionalism and attention to detail.

Basic Guidelines for Admission Essays

There are some basic rules to follow in case the universities do not provide specific essay guidelines: The Shiksha guidelines for admission essays for abroad are as following: 

• Avoid too short or too lengthy essays. Keep the word limit between 800-1000 words, if no word limit is mentioned. Avoid giving an essay title because it may increase the word count. 

• Follow formal formatting without random capitalizations, bold sentences/ words, or italics.  

• Maintain a professional and formal tone in your essays; avoid the usage of emojis, hashtags, and/or fancy symbols. 

• Do not write abbreviations such as BYOB, RSVP, ETA, ASAP, and others. 

• There is no need to mention your name in the header and footer section or anywhere else on the page, either at the top or the bottom of the page, unless it is specified by the university.

After receiving the theme or topic of the admission essay, the applicant may begin working on it, while keeping some important points in mind. Some important pointers to follow when the college/university has provided the essay prompt/ prompts:  

• The essay should be written in an MS Word document.  

• You must check the spacing and formatting of your essay carefully before submitting it, even if you are sending it online and not as an attachment. 

• Ensure that the documents that you attach are comprehensible and readable. 

• Use serif fonts such as Times New Roman or Ariel, with a font size of 11-12 points, single spacing, ‘normal’ 1-inch margins, 0 indents, and justified alignment. 

• Make sure that your file format is according to the university requirements because the application only accepts specific versions of word files (.doc and not .docx, or .rtf or .pdf files). 

• You must draft the essay in a proper format having an introductory paragraph, a few body paragraphs, and a conclusion. 

• Do not use any essay templates available online because this it will make your essay unnatural and inauthentic. 

• Avoid plagiarism; it is unacceptable by universities abroad. 

• Proofread and double-check the document for content, space, character limit, or word. 

• In case of pasting the whole text into the box, you must ensure that the entire content has been copied and nothing is missing. 

• Make appropriate adjustments when transferring the essay into the text box as it can disturb the word count because it can be counted differently than the word doc. 

• Edit the document in the box itself as there can be formatting errors like missing bold/ italics words or extra spaces.  

• There should be a clear demarcation between the paragraphs, without any spaces between the paragraphs. 

Should you need further help with your admission essays, you may contact our experts for free admission services.

Also read:

• Importance of Grammar in your Admission Essays
• Importance of Vocabulary in your Admission Essays
• Sample Essays for Study Abroad