Ramani K. Raman

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Step 4: Analyzing

Until now you have gone about composing your SoP without any care in the world. This definitely helps you in cutting out unwanted worries in the initial stages which can stunt your thought process.

However, as of now, your SoP would probably be a bit long. A long SoP is unattractive. It immediately puts off the reader. Most universities specify word limits for the SoP. Stick to specified word limits rigidly. Don’t exceed by more than 50 words at the most. If no word limit is specified, then a good figure will be 700-800 words, or perhaps about one-and-half single spaced document. Anything longer than this, and the reader will be daunted by the task of reading your SoP - an immediate turn off! 

Cutting down words can be immensely difficult task. You feel that every sentence is necessary. But cut you must!

• Critically examine each sentence. Is it really necessary? Each sentence should say something solid about you. 

• Remove all philosophical musings - they are not appreciated and don't contribute to your impression in any way. 

• Remove all laborious explanations. State everything as succinctly as possible. 

• Remove any minor points. Weigh the balance between the space occupied by any sentence and the impact it will create on the reader. 

• You don't need to state everything. Don’t go about restating what may already be found in your resume or elsewhere in the application. Use space judiciously - be stingy!  

• Bulk of your SoP should be in the middle. Don’t have expansive introduction and conclusions. But at the same time, in an effort to keep them short - don't make them dull.

• Assign importance to each section in your SoP. Then make sure that the length of the section is commensurate with the importance ascribed to it.

Remember - Under no circumstance should you exceed the word limit if it is explicitly specified! 

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