by Karin Ash
How to Write Your Master’s in Engineering Statement of Purpose
Top engineering graduate programs expect applicants to have a high GPA, and some schools also expect an impressive GRE score – though in recent years, many schools have made GRE scores optional. Even if you earned superior grades in college, you will be competing against applicants who are equally qualified.
Your statement of purpose (SOP) is what will allow the adcom to view you as an individual with unique goals, potential, interests, values, inspirations, and motivations. It helps the adcom understand what drives you, what your short- and long-term goals are, and how their school can help you realize your dreams. It also enables the adcom to assess whether you are a good match for their program.
Table of Contents:
Structuring an Engineering SOP
Your SOP will ideally include the following:
- An introductory paragraph that grabs the reader’s attention and sets the stage for the paragraphs that follow
- A few highlights of your abilities, motivations, and educational and work accomplishments
- Reasons for any gaps in your chronological work history or lower-than-average GRE score or GPA
- A description of your short- and long-term goals
- An explanation of your interest in the program and school you’re applying to, ideally including courses or professors (and their research) that interest you and student organizations or research institutes in which you’d like to participate
- A summary paragraph that highlights key points and ties back to the introductory paragraph
Telling a Story in Your SOP
While including the elements listed in the previous section is important, a winning essay is also creative and interesting. It should not be formulaic or read like a checklist. It should also be written in your own words, as schools use AI-detecting software. But more important, when you use your own words, the essay communicates authenticity.
In essence, you are telling a story – your story. An engineer recently said to me in a somewhat panicked voice: “I know how to write facts; I don’t know how to tell a story!” The typical MBA candidate loves to discuss their background and is usually delighted to share the many exciting adventures they’ve had. By contrast, if I ask an engineering candidate, “Tell me about yourself,” I am sometimes met with silence and a reluctance to divulge personal information.
Engineers are taught to think logically, rationally, and in black-and-white facts and figures, and they’re used to situations that have a clear right or wrong answer. Yet a graduate school application demands that you explore the gray areas of your life. What made you choose a particular option? What motivated you to take a certain action? Why is what you’re writing about important to you? There isn’t a specific “right” answer to these kinds of questions, which can be freeing.
Why Engineering?
Engineering schools want to know what or who inspired you to become an engineer. When did you first believe that this was the right career path for you, and why? Take a step back and look at your life with objectivity so you can explain your life trajectory and the reasons you took certain turns along the way.
Most schools have a page or word limit for their SOP, but don’t let that inhibit you when you’re first creating your story from your outline. A good engineering admissions consultant can help you tell your story effectively and still adhere to the word- or page-limit requirements. Telling your story compellingly typically requires multiple drafts, and some of my past clients wrote as many as 12 drafts before they were satisfied with the final product.
As with the other elements of the application, give yourself sufficient time to write your SOP. It could be the reason the adcom at the engineering graduate program you’re targeting decides in favor of your admission.
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