So you have decided to pursue your higher studies in Canada? Best-in-class education, opportunities to develop skills, affordable courses, and high standards of living, are some of the reasons that make Canada a popular choice amongst students in India. A recent study permit data shows that more than a third of all international students in Canada hail from India. So, after careful consideration, you choose a course that suits your choice of career and the finest institution in the country to pursue it from but to be able to obtain a VISA, you are required to submit a Statement of Purpose. Since you have never written one, you have no clue how to draft one. Well, you can now let go of the worrying because here’s a comprehensive guide to writing your first Statement of Purpose for obtaining a VISA to fulfill your dream of studying in Canada

What is an SOP?

Abbreviation for a Statement of Purpose, an SOP is a structured essay that students applying to study abroad at a particular educational institution are required to write which justifies their choice. It is a gist of who they are, what they aspire to be, and how prepared they are to pursue the course at the institution. The document is a peek into the candidate’s life, their achievements, the motivation behind the chosen course and career path, and their goals. It is the very first impression cast by the candidates which will determine if they will be granted the VISA. Well-researched facts, grammatical accuracy, use of correct tone, and true details are some elements that make up a good SOP.

Why is an SOP needed?

When applying to study overseas, your statement of purpose is what distinguishes your application from others and helps you stand out. VISA officers receive tons of applications every year as students wish to pursue the course of their choice from the best educational institution out there. A Statement of Purpose highlights your academic and extracurricular achievements and also gives them a gist of your skills and character. It also showcases your ability to communicate fluently which also plays a crucial role in determining if you will be granted the VISA.

Basic SOP format

This is how you should structure an SOP:

1. Opening:

The saying, “First impression is the last impression”, is very relevant to writing an SOP. A strong opening is bound to capture the mind of the reader. The opening should be clear and precise to be able to hit the right notes to make the reader read further. A dull opening on the contrary might lead to a loss of interest which can lead to the rejection of your application. The opening paragraph should start with facts about the field you wish to choose. For instance, if you’re interested in technology, the opening paragraph should talk about the contribution of technology towards building the modern world and its possibilities in the future, if you choose to go for medicine, talk about how we’re now capable of preventing and treating diseases which were once considered immedicable reducing the mortality rate, and so on. Adding statistical information in this part might cast a good impression on the reader as it shows that you put in the effort to conduct research. This should be followed by what piqued your interest in the field. It could be an instance, a habit, or a role model you choose which made you want to make a career in this field. What’s important to keep in mind is that this should sound genuine. If the reader senses that you’re trying to lie so that you can cast a false impression, they might not care to read further.

2. Your Academic Journey:

It is obvious that the VISA officers will want to know about your academic background so that they can assess your eligibility for admission. As the name suggests, you need to describe your academic journey which includes your performance at school as well as college. Start by writing about your stream/course of choice and your performance in the same. You may briefly describe the subjects that were a part of your course and highlight the ones that you performed the best at or the ones that you were interested in the most. You may also write about why the particular subject was your favorite. It could be because the content of the subject appealed to your interest, you were able to firmly grasp the concepts of the subject from a young age which made the subject easy for you or you eventually gained interest in the subject because you liked the way your teacher taught you. You may also mention receiving appreciation for your efforts from those around you. This is to be followed up by your achievements. Academic or non-academic, treat an achievement like one and mention it in the statement. This might either boost your credibility, justify your interests or at least make an impression that you’re keen to put in the effort and try new things. Once again, keep in mind that you don’t sound fake. Also, make sure that you don’t sound like you’re boasting about your achievements but also not sound like you’re selling them short

3. Work Experience (if any):

Work experience is your cherry on the cake. If you possess a decent amount of experience in the field, your application is bound to stand out from others. Apart from your academic and extracurricular achievements, this is what adds weightage to your application. Candidates with work experience are preferred as they possess the technical know-hows of the field. This part should sum up the experience you gained while working in the field. Be it a job, a freelancing gig or an internship. Mention the name of the organization, the position you joined at, promotions (if any), your roles and responsibilities and any awards you received. Do not forget to write about any course you completed or any skill you gained while at work. You may also talk about why you chose to work at the specific institution. However, your salary is something you might want to refrain from sharing.\

4. Why Canada:

As mentioned before, the statement also justifies your choice. Here is where it starts. There are institutions in other countries that offer the same course so you should be able to justify why Canada was on the list of your choices. Take your time and conduct thorough research from credible sources and you will find enough valid reasons to justify your choice. Maybe the course fee is affordable, maybe the institution you are applying to has no better alternative, maybe you like the environment and culture, maybe you can gain better opportunities, or the ROI on the course is the highest. Adding statistical information will once again, help you gain an edge. Here, keep in mind that your goal is to justify your choice and not please the Officer so write accordingly. Mentioning valid facts will help you cast a far better impression than appealing to emotions.

5. Why the institution:

Like other countries, there might be more than one institution offering similar courses. This is where you talk about why you wish to study at the particular institution. Affordability, quality of education, better job opportunities, helpful teachers, diverse community, accomodation facilities and availability of resources are some common reasons used by students. Double check to make sure that you are factually correct while writing this part as you are writing in support of your choice. If you expect something in particular, you may mention that too. Talk about how the institution will add to you more than just your knowledge and skill set. Writing about what you bring to the table upon admission might also help you in the process.

6. Career options after completing the course and your goals:

Completing the course will no doubt unlock loads of career opportunities in the field of your choice. You have to mention the possible career options you can opt for once you complete the course. This is to be followed by what you want to opt for amongst other choices and why you chose that field. Better opportunities for growth, proper use of your knowledge and skill set, wanting a different and challenging experience, more efficiency, etc. might be some of the reasons that could have made you choose that field. Deep introspection is vital here as you will need to mention the true reason why you chose the field. Also, keep in mind to not cast an impression that you will be staying there for long as that might lead to the rejection of your application.

Do’s and Don’ts of SOP writing

Here are some basic do’s and don’ts to keep in mind while writing your SOP-:

DO’S

• Do your research to support your choice.
• Tell the truth. A bitter truth is better than a sweet lie.
• Mention every detail that is relevant to your choice.
• Double check everything to make sure you have made no mistakes.
• Ensure that you have maintained a good flow while writing.

Don’ts

• Do not falsify information.
• Don’t sell your achievements short but make sure that you don’t sound boastful. You do not want to sound rude.
• Steer away from the unnecessary clutter. Focus on the quality of your statement rather than just quantity.
• Avoid plagiarizing content at all costs. Take your time to rephrase.
• Do not mention facts from sources that are not credible as the information might not be accurate.

Your SOP is something that will cast a significant impact on your VISA approval so make sure that you do it right. If you are acquainted with someone who has obtained a study VISA for Canada, ask them if they can share their statement with you. Else, there are a lot of samples available online which you can refer to.