How to write SOP for UG Courses?

If you are applying for an undergraduate course abroad, chances are, the university has asked you to provide a statement of purpose or a personal statement. Irrespective of what they call it, the task for you is to provide the university with your life story and motivations on a piece of paper. While all students have to provide a statement of purpose (irrespective of which form it is asked), the fact remains that students planning to study bachelor courses are often confused about what to write. We would help you decipher the same.

SOP for UG Courses - What to Include?

There are many things that you can include in your statement of purpose. It is important to remember that there is no set rule that necessitates you to include all of the following things in your SOP. As we have discussed in how to write an SOP for UG courses, it is important to keep in mind the chronology. While you might have a rich list of events that you want to include in your SOP, it is important to ensure that you do not exceed the stipulated word limit. Also, remember, your SOP is not a copy of your resume in a paragraph. Keep it narrative and you cannot go wrong. Here is what you must include in your statement of purpose:

1. Expectations from the program

Statement of Purpose, primarily, is a document that talks about your purpose for undertaking the course. However, it is not a document that would talk about how you wish to die and in what position. What they wish to understand is the purpose behind your decision to pursue the course you have chosen for yourself. What is important for an undergraduate to understand is that you must write about why you wish to take up the course.

2. Academic Achievements

This is a rather important aspect of your SOP. While including your academic achievements you should not list them in the manner you do in your resume but mention how you achieved that. SOP should reflect your journey more than the results as the results can be seen in the academic transcripts submitted. What the admission committee wishes to understand is how you look at your academic achievements.

3. Co-scholastic activities

You must have participated in a lot of activities during your school days and must have listed all of them in your resume. You must mention them in your SOP as well. The only difference would be the reason why you wish to include a particular activity. It would be advisable to shortlist the activity that adds value to your personality. There are a lot of extracurricular activities that you can include in your SOP. Refer to our quick list to find out how to write about your extra-curricular activities in your SOP.

4. Subjects and Motivations behind them

It is important to mention the subjects you have studied, why you liked them in particular and how they would motivate or help in your further studies. Remember it is not necessary that you would mention only the subject that you intend to study. If you can correlate two subjects, it would be much better.

It is important to note that more than what all you can include in the SOP for a UG Application, you need to be clearer on what all not to be included in a SOP for UG courses. SOP for UG courses is essentially different from SOP for MS or SOP for MBA courses and provides a different line of thought. It can be more self-indulgent and include more about the personal motivations and aspirations. Also, unlike the SOP for Master’s programs, an SOP for UG programs often does not have any clear definitive goals. They are aspirational and talk about what motivates them but never really talk about a short term or a long-term goal. So, understand what all you can include, understand what all you should not include in the SOP for UG courses and writing the SOP would not be a problem at all. 

5. Projects Undertaken

If you have undertaken any training or any project work during your school years, you must mention the same. The same applies to any summer workshops or small summer jobs if you were able to pick up some learning for the same.

SOP for UG Courses Format

Now that you are aware of what to include in your SOP for UG courses, you must know the format of the same. SOP format for UG courses might vary as per the university and course requirements; however, the following points will provide you with an overview of the SOP format:

• Introduction: Introduce yourself, your background, and your hobbies in a few sentences. Do not forget to specify the course or major you are applying for, along with a brief statement of why you are drawn to it.
• Body Paragraphs: You may write 3-4 paragraphs here.
  • Academic Background: Give a brief description of your educational background, mentioning any noteworthy accomplishments or honours you may have won.
  • Future Goals: Describe your long-term objectives, both academic and professional. Describe your goals and how pursuing this course or major will help you get there, as well as what you intend to get out of the experience.
  • Extracurricular Activities: Any extracurricular or professional endeavours you have undertaken that are pertinent to the course or major you are applying for should be highlighted.
• Conclusion: Reiterate your key points and your qualifications for the course or major you are applying for.

It is important for you to take your application documents very seriously. These are as important as your SAT and ACT scores. For help with university applications, students seeking to study abroad can contact our Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors. The comments section below allows candidates to contact us as well.

Related Links:

What not to include in your SOP	How to Write a Winning SOP
SOP: All You Need to Know	SOP Guidelines