SOP vs Personal Statement
Many applicants are usually unaware of the difference between an SOP and a personal (history and diversity) statement. After all, there is a reason that the university asks you to submit both documents separately. This post aims to give a brief idea of what to include in both.
A well-written Statement of PURPOSE should reflect on your career aspirations. It should give factual (and not anecdotal) evidence of your interest in the program and your preparedness for it. It should also mention how your current academic standing would align with your short-term and long-term goals.
A well-written PERSONAL statement will talk about the aspects of your individuality and flair in a non-academic realm. You can talk about your hardships, how you conquered them and what the process instilled in you. Additionally, this is a place to highlight your non-academic achievements or accolades; how they add flavor to your personality.
In conclusion, the SOP and personal statement should not include the same information- avoid repetition and redundancy. However, your Personal Statement should be congruent with your SOP. Both essays are integral to your application and should be unique to you.
Always stay within the word limit and never lie on your essays!
Good luck!
#applicationprocess #SOP #personalstatement #essays #masters
