When applying for graduate, dental, or medical schools, admissions typically request a personal statement or statement of purpose (SOP) from you, the applicant. The admissions department may use either of these terms interchangeably for application purposes.
So, you might wonder what each one is and why you might see one or the other when applying. A statement of purpose and a personal statement have both similarities and differences and we are going to cover them in this article.
First, we will inspect what a statement of purpose should entail.
Statement of Purpose (SOP)
Overall, your statement of purpose should showcase your future goals and what you are pursuing. When writing it, your focus should be on your future, not the past. The only time you might mention the past is when you explain your reasoning for your goals, which is very important. In addition, talk about why you are pursuing the specific degree you are applying for. Also, elaborate on exactly what you want and where you want to be once you obtain your degree. This section is important to the admissions committee and should be emphasized.
An overarching theme to keep in mind when composing this document is formality. Your statement should conform to academia and professionalism.
Specific elements to include in SOP:
Now, let’s look at what makes a personal statement different.
Personal Statement
This time, you are looking back at your life and acknowledging what important experiences inspired you. In your personal statement, you should discuss who you are as a person and what about your past has molded you. You should also detail your motivations for applying to your desired program.
Moreover, you must write about your past accomplishments. A creative way to do this would be by telling your success stories. Talk about a special time where you met someone who became your role model or saw something that inspired you to reach for the goals you have today.
Lastly, try to mention challenges you have faced and overcome. This will show admissions that you have come a long way and did not let the obstacles stop you.
Specific elements to include:
Comparison
Both a statement of purpose and a personal statement aim to reveal a student’s background, experiences, knowledge, interests, and most importantly, goals. They are used in the admissions process to understand a student’s passion, mindset, and long-term vision. A statement of purpose is typically not requested until graduate school, and personal statements are often needed at the undergraduate level.
Remember, the statement of purpose is more formal and academic, while the personal statement is less formal and more personal.
As it can be difficult to grasp these unique requirements and to get started on the process, ApplyGround can help. We can assist you from the start of the process till the end in several ways. The differences and necessities are important to understand and include in your statements, so taking the initiative to get assistance would be worth it in the long run.
