For graduate school a statement of purpose for the admissions process is generally a requirement. There are, however, undergraduate schools that ask for a SOP.
The statement of purpose question can appear in a variety of forms. The University of Pennsylvania, has a 450-word SOP: “Considering the specific undergraduate school you have selected, how will you explore your academic and intellectual interests at the University of Pennsylvania?” Cornell has a 650-word SOP. University of Michigan’s is 550 words and University of Wisconsin, Madison, is 650.
The crux of what you want to convey in a SOP is how qualified you are to participate in your area(s) of interest and what resources the school has that you hope to exploit to self-actualize your undergraduate career. Think of this from the standpoint of the admissions readers. They might have to make a case for your candidacy in front of the admissions committee. If your SOP indicates you have a commanding knowledge of the field(s) of interest you’re proposing to study, that is powerful evidence for them to make your case. Better still, if the school has a faculty reader from the department of interest then the chances for admission rise exponentially. So, an interesting, compelling SOP can do you a world of service.
The first rule is do your homework thoroughly. There is no way you can convincingly talk about a department unless you’ve reviewed its website. Specifics are extremely important to show the admissions people you’re well prepared and eager to become a part of the campus. Doing homework also extends to knowing key faculty in the department of interest. There is usually a section on most department websites that will have CVs of key faculty members. There is also Rate My Professor.com, where you can get a sense of the teaching capabilities and qualities, along with an overall rating of the department’s faculty.
The SOP in my opinion is like a good speech. It needs to combine ethos, pathos, and logos. Ethos requires you explain who you are and why you think you’re a solid candidate for the school. You must convince the reader of your capabilities and potentials. You want to show solid achievements, how the major or discipline holds your interest and how you plan to investigate further in their program. Tying in pertinent research to show experience makes points. Any significant papers you’ve written, courses you’ve taken, or books you’ve read demonstrates your interest. Once you’ve qualified yourself it’s time to capture emotions.
Pathos is getting the tone right, professional yet conversational. Write in the active voice using the simple past. Demonstrate your ideas with concrete examples. Realize that the reader will be reading between the lines to extract your competence and self-motivation and sense of humor and collaborative abilities. Make them want you.
That’s when you’re ready to get into the logos. Pose a question, define a problem, and discuss contemporary research in your area of interest. To sound reasonably savvy turn to Google Scholar, PubMed (for science topics) or Libgen.rus. Here is where you can bring up top faculty and research being conducted. If anyone is paralleling something that falls in your area of interest, touch on it. What courses excite you? Why do you want the degree? This is your forum. Indulge yourself.
Lastly, to make your points, do not shy away from telling stories in the SOP. Stories can define you and piece together who you are as a person. Impress the admissions committee with a creative storyline and you will reap benefits.
In the end, a fully developed SOP will not only express your qualities as a candidate for the school but will supply you with a usable blueprint once you land on the campus. It will focus you on what resources you need to access and why. Writing up a SOP is invaluable, whether one is demanded of you or not.