Table of Contents
Overview
As a student looking forward to building a career in electrical engineering, studying abroad is considered a wise decision. However, most of the universities possess one criterion for selecting students: their statement of purpose. Writing an SOP is not rocket science, but it is utterly essential to craft it in an impactful and compelling manner. Don’t worry; our guide and toolkit are specially curated to help students like you who wish to write a forceful and inspirational SOP for an MS in electrical engineering. Not only this, but our sample SOPs are an added bonus, whether you have an engineering background or not. Keeping this in mind, let's check the toolkit for the same.
Toolkit for SOP for electrical engineering
Here, we have compiled a comprehensive toolkit for writing a university SOP for electrical engineering compartmentalised into 4 paragraphs. Make sure that you go through the sample SOPs and guidelines to secure an admission in Australian universities.
Action Item | Points to be considered | Examples |
---|---|---|
Introduction (motivation and goals) | Your inspiration to choose electrical engineering | The aspiration to achieve zero waste in the electronics and robotics industry OR To upgrade my skills as a technical writer and understand the know-hows of electrical engineering |
Your unique skill sets | knowledge of circuit design, electrical schematics, and control systems along with problem-solving, time management, and creative skills OR Proficient in writing about computer software and computer systems | |
Your long-term goal | To build a career as a robotic engineer. OR Move to a senior position as a technical writer | |
Body paragraph I (learning, execution, and impact) | Your academic background | Completed an undergraduate program in Mechatronics from Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology, Patiala OR Completed Bachelor of Computer Applications program from Stella Maris College, Chennai |
Your professional background | Worked part-time with the repair team at father’s computer shop OR Worked as a technical writer at Ameya Software | |
Your academic and professional accomplishments | A project on making a disinfector for Covid, the project developed problem-solving and time-management skills OR Knowledge of software documentation, created content for multiple products and posted it on on different blogging platforms | |
Body paragraph II (why course, why university) | Your reason for choosing the level of course (bachelors/masters/diploma) | The masters program will help me understand the essential skills required to become a robotics engineer OR The diploma would help me learn the technical know-hows of electrical engineering in a short time |
Your reason for choosing the course | The university’s broad coursework is specifically aimed at a range of areas, such as renewable energy, power generation, and control systems, which perfectly align with my career goals OR The university’s coursework is aimed at students with no relevant work or study experience in electrical engineering, which makes it the perfect course for me | |
Your reason for choosing the university or college | The program includes an integrated 60-day industrial training component, which I believe will help me develop my technical knowledge by providing me with practical exposure to the work done by robotics engineers in industry OR Wide range of subjects, with 28 core units and 13 elective courses within the diploma program | |
Your contribution to the university or college | By becoming a part of the student volunteer programs and contributing as a peer mentor for undergraduate students OR By contributing to the university’s writing club, owing to my experience and proficiency in writing | |
Conclusion (closing statement) | Your short-term goals | To get placed in a multinational corporation as a robotics engineer OR To get a job at a senior level as a technical writer in a software development company |
Your long-term goals | To start a robotics company OR To become an independent technical writer and offer writing services to multinational corporations | |
Your contribution to society beyond career aspirations | To work with non-profit organisations like Greenobin, which work with businesses to collect waste and use technologies to find alternatives to disposal of electronic waste OR To become a part of the volunteer team at Khalsa Aid, and provide assistance to people in distress |
Sample SOP for a student with a background in electrical engineering
“Electricity is the power that causes all natural phenomena not known to be caused by something else.” — Ambrose Bierce
Engineering is a broad discipline that greatly affects numerous aspects of modern life. To build a career in the same is equivalent to bridging the gap between our imagination and reality. As someone who has closely worked with electrical equipment, I have seen humongous piles of discarded e-waste filling up landmasses. Upon further research, I came to know about e-waste recycling and the latest techniques used to tackle this problem. One of the techniques which involves the use of robotics, known as an e-waste robot, particularly interested me. However, e-waste robots are still in the testing phase and not much work has been done on them, which motivated me to study about the same and work on it. My career aspirations in electrical engineering stemmed from the application of robotic technology. By applying robotic technology on a large scale, I aspire to achieve zero waste in the electronics and robotics industry. My love for science, coupled with my passion to work towards the problem of electronic waste, led me to build a career as a robotic engineer. I am confident that my problem-solving, time management, and creative skills will ease my journey towork in the field of electrical engineering.
The first step towards realising this dream of mine was when I decided to pursue an undergraduate program in Mechatronics from Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology, Patiala.As a part of my final year project, I, along with my team, worked on making a disinfector for Covid. The idea behind making the disinfector was to ensure that our essential items, such as mobile phones, wallets, cash, and keys, could not transmit Covid-19 bacteria and restrict its entry into our homes and workplaces. My role in the project was to work on the Atmega controller, which started and completed the entire sterilisation process within the disinfector. The project helped to solidify my knowledge of circuit design, electrical schematics, and control systems. This also has helped me develop problem-solving and time-management skills as I worked through the project for long hours to meet deadlines.On the professional front, I have been assisting my father in his work, who owns a computer shop specialising in computer hardware components, such as circuit boards, chips, and metals. After completion of my degree, I worked part-time with the repair team at my father’s shop while looking forward to pursuing a masters degree.
Upon further research, I applied to the University of New South Wales’ Master of Engineering (Electrical Engineering) program to help me understand the essential skills required to become a robotics engineer.The university’s broad coursework is specifically aimed at a range of areas, such as renewable energy, power generation, and control systems, which perfectly align with my career goals. In addition to this, the program includes an integrated 60-day industrial training component, which I believe will help me develop my technical knowledge by providing me with practical exposure to the work done by robotics engineers in industry. I am particularly enticed to study under Professor Laura Poole-Warren, famous for her research on the design and development of novel materials for neural electrodes and other soft-tissue interfaces.I look forward to committing to UNSW’s academic excellence, becoming a part of the student volunteer programs and contributing as a peer mentor for undergraduate students.
I want to continually push myself closer to accomplishing my long-term goal of starting a robotics company. For the same, my short-term goal upon completion of my degree would be to get placed in a multinational corporation as a robotics engineer. Working for a multinational corporation would not only provide me with hands-on experience as a robotics engineer but also strengthen my learning concepts.Beyond my career aspirations, I aspire to build a company that contributes to and actively works towards solid waste management in the robotics industry. In order to accomplish the same, I would work with non-profit organisations like Greenobin, which work with businesses to collect waste and use technologies to find alternatives to disposal of electronic waste. I believe I would be able to fulfil my career aspirations only with the help of a masters degree from the University of New South Wales.
Sample SOP for a student with a different background
“The writer is an explorer. Every step is an advance into a new land.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
I have always been fascinated by the way writers can influence the reader’s emotions simply through their expression of thoughts. It was my childhood love for reading books that inclined me towards writing as a kid. Being a technical writer for the past 4 years has made me proficient in writing about computer software and computer systems.Working closely with software companies has made me realise that, despite an undergraduate degree in computer science, my knowledge is limited. Nevertheless, now I feel it is the right time for me to increase my expertise and enhance my knowledge and understanding as a technical writer. As I have been writing about software development, I am often confronted with technical terms related to electronics, which makes it difficult for me to understand and work on its documentation. For the same reason, I have decided to get a diploma in electrical engineering to upgrade my skills as a technical writer and move to a senior position.
Academically, I have been a decent student and have managed to perform well throughout school and college. My Bachelor of Computer Applications program from Stella Maris College, Chennai,has well-equipped me with a basic understanding of computer systems, networking, and programming languages. I had planned to work as a software developer after the completion of my degree.The idea of becoming a writer had not occurred to me until I was in my second year of college, where I started working as a part-time content writer to sustain my expenses. With time, I began exploring other fields of writing, which introduced me to technical writing. Owing to my background in computer science, I decided to work as a technical writer and got an internship at Ameya Software, upon completion of which, I continued to work for almost 4 years. During my time over there, I was responsible for creating content for multiple products and posting the same on blogging platforms. After getting promoted to the role of technical writer, I became a part of the documentation team and worked on platform documentation, which was used to describe the product and services to the users. This helped to develop my knowledge of software documentation and build the interpersonal skills of communication, research, and critical thinking.
In order to pursue a postgraduate program, I looked for colleges and universities that would offer me knowledge about the technical know-hows of electrical engineering in a short time. For the same reason, I applied to the Advanced Diploma of Engineering Technology—Electrical program at Swinburne University. The university’s coursework is aimed at students with no relevant work or study experience in electrical engineering, which makes it the perfect course for me.The coursework is aimed at providing students with the essential knowledge required to design, install, commission, fault-find, and maintain robot control systems.What particularly interests me is the university’s wide range of subjects, with 28 core units and 13 elective courses within the diploma program. I believe that I would be a valuable asset to the university by contributing to the university’s writing club, owing to my experience and proficiency in writing.
To work towards my set objectives, I have planned to follow a roadmap that narrows down my short-term and long-term goals. My short-term goal after getting the diploma would be to get a job at a senior level as a technical writer in a software development company. In the long run, I aspire to become an independent technical writer and offer writing services to multinational corporations. Working independently will allow me to directly deal with clients, work on projects on my own, and help me build an entrepreneurial mindset.Apart from my career goals, I wish to become a part of the volunteer team at Khalsa Aid, and provide assistance to people in distress. I look forward to the challenge this degree will pose for me, and I hope to make this a deeply fulfilling experience.
How to write an SOP for electrical engineering
Now, we will understand how to write an SOP for electrical engineering in more detail.
Introduction (motivation and goal)
An engaging introduction is a basic requirement for writing a perfect SOP. To ensure that your SOP is engaging, initiate it with a quote related to electrical engineering. Along with this, explain to the SOP reader your motivation behind selecting electrical engineering. After this, the inclusion of your vision and future prospects will complete your SOP introduction.
Checklist for writing introduction:
- Hook (quote related to electrical engineering)
- Source of motivation
- Long-term goal
- Reason to pursue the course
- Unique aspects about your personality
- Future goals
Body paragraph I (learning, execution, and impact)
Talking about your academic background, you may start with higher secondary education or the degree or diploma that you have recently obtained. Adding information about extracurricular activities or any other certification you have garnered will bring perfection to the SOP. In addition to this, if you have attended training or were a part of any internship, add details of the same by highlighting relevant accomplishments. Furthermore, if you have any professional experience with an organisation, mention the same. It would assist official authorities to understand how passionate of a learner you are and your dedication towards your job.
Checklist for writing body paragraph I:
- Academic accomplishments
- Professional accomplishments
- Long-term goal
- Strengths and weaknesses
- Impact of all the cumulative experiences
- In case of a fresher, talk about internships and volunteerships
Body paragraph II (why course, why university)
When writing an SOP, you must present a strong reason for your selection in the electric engineering course at your dream university. You must clearly mention the reason for choosing your selected university or college based on its amenities. In addition to this, you must talk about the coursework and its relevance to your career aspirations. While closing the paragraph, do not forget to give the SOP reader a reason to show how you will be a valuable addition to their university.
Checklist for writing body paragraph II:
- The skills and knowledge you know related to electrical engineering
- Why this particular college/university?
- What do you like about the university?
- How can you be a valuable addition to the college/university?
Conclusion (closing statement)
You must consider the concluding paragraph as your last chance to impress your college or university’s admissions committee. However, make sure that you do not add anything new here except for your future goals. Segregating your future goals into short-term and long-term goals is a great way to show the SOP reader that you have realistic goals. You may mention your plans immediately after completing your course with respect to your long-term aspirations. This will help you define your career path and how your selected course will help you fulfil your goals. At the end, you can write about how your study will contribute to the betterment of society.
Checklist for writing conclusion:
- Path to achieve your career goals (short-term and long-term goals)
- What after the course (long-term goals)
- Contribution towards the society
Wrap Up
When writing an SOP for MS in electrical engineering, make sure that your passion and purpose highlight what you want to be. Then explain the trajectory of how you will complete your ambitions. At the end, give details of the action plans that you have crafted to fulfil your career aspirations as an electrical engineer.
FAQs
Why should you study electrical engineering?
Electrical Engineering is a broad term that renders multifarious opportunities and streams to select by a candidate. Moreover, this is a certification that is in demand throughout the world and evolving swiftly in various aspects. Additionally, the perks this profession offers are highly appreciable and satisfactory with median salaries at $97,448 per year. Hence, with great credibility and in-depth knowledge of the technology of electrical systems, engineers bring optimum outcomes to the table.
What is the importance of writing an SOP?
A statement of purpose or a SOP, is a crucial document that is submitted at the time of admission in any educational institution abroad. Most of the universities ask for an SOP to get a general idea of the student and his/her professional and family background apart from the academic scores. Apart from this, an SOP is also asked by a visa officer to provide a temporary visa to the candidate for a hassle-free stay.
Is 1200 words too much for SOP?
A standard statement of purpose written for a university or college application is written in around 600-1000 words. So, 1200 words exceed the word limit and might add a negative impact on the admissions committee.
What are the important things to include in your SOP?
Your statement of purpose must include the following:
- Introduction
- Academic and professional experience
- Reason to select course
- Reason to select university
- Long and short-term goals
Recommended Readings:
How to Write a Strong SOP for USA with Sample SOPs
SOP for Australia - How to Write an Effective SOP for Australia