SOP and LOR for Masters:?Now that we have a fair idea about the best and the top universities in the top five countries and why do we emphasize pursuing a PGDM Degree from these nations and universities.
So our second step should be to know the application process in all these universities. An application for admission to any of these colleges would have the requisite criteria of SOP and LOR.?So let’s delve into these two important aspects of applying to these international universities.
SOP and LOR for Masters in Finance Abroad
SOP
It stands for Statement of Purpose. This is simply like an essay that depicts the purpose of applying to a particular course, college, and university. It enlists past educational qualifications and work experience to the university’s admission council. In this detailed essay, one needs to elaborately answer a few questions including, why a particular course or degree has been chosen, why a particular college or university has been selected for the degree, what are the future aspirations of the student in the desired field, and also the career ambitions of the student.
- Reason out your interest in pursuing the degree- By reading your SOP the admission council must find that you are interested in pursuing the particular course or program. The admission council should be convinced enough by reading your SOP that you as a student will be able to manage the course obligations perfectly.
- Future career goals must align with the choice of course- In your SOP you are also supposed to mention the details regarding your career strategies and how those career plans will be accomplished smoothly and easily once your complete your degree. The council should be able to understand the link that your future career has with the program pursued.
- Do complete research- When one plans to apply at many universities in a country one must do proper research about each university. Each university has a different set of USPs and a distinct curriculum. Hence students must make sure that they are not just copying and pasting the same SOP for each university. On the other hand, they should always plan separate SOP for every university and should elaborate on what special factor made them apply to the same.
LOR
It stands for Letter of Recommendation. It is a recommendation given by your school and college principal, professors, employers, HR managers, etc. to the admission committee of the concerned university. It is a validation of your past achievements, contributions, skills, and qualifications. To apply to any international university, a letter of recommendation is obligatory.
Let’s take a quick view of the requirements of SOP and LOR for each of these countries and their universities.
SOP and LOR for Masters: THE UNITED STATES
When one applies for a PGDM degree in the USA, one has already had 2-3 years of work experience. This makes the SOP slightly longer and more detailed as it will include educational as well as professional qualifications. Also, often students learn many new skills while they work and that also has to be mentioned in the SOP.
The SOP requirements of these top universities are:-
- The University of Pennsylvania:- Students are expected to submit two essays of 500 and 400 words respectively. Additionally, students have the option of submitting a third essay to elaborate on something other than the set pattern for SOP.
- Stanford University:- Students are expected to submit two essays of 600 and 400 words respectively. Students need to ensure double-space formatting in their essays and both the essays must be uploaded in a single document format.
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology:- The students are expected to submit a single cover letter of 300 words.
- Harvard University:- The students are expected to submit one essay and there is no word limit. However, the students must ensure that they answer the question, “What more would you like us to know as we consider your candidacy for the Harvard Business School master’s degree?”.
- The University of Chicago:- The students are expected to submit two essays of 250 words. Also, students have an option of submitting another essay of 300 words in case they wish to elaborate on something different than the set pattern for an SOP.
The LOR requirements of the universities are:-
- The University of Pennsylvania:- The students are required to submit 2 professional LORs which must be given by supervisors of the firm, brand or company.
- Stanford University:- The students are required to submit 2 professional LORs.
- Massachusettes Institute of Technology:- The students are required to submit one professional LOR.
- Harvard University:- The students are required to submit 2 LORs. These could be recommended by either supervisors or colleagues or from someone with whom you collaborated.
- The University of Chicago:- The students are required to submit 2 professional LORs. One must be from the supervisor and another from a colleague of the firm, brand, or company.
SOP and LOR for Masters: THE UNITED KINGDOM
The SOP requirements for the universities in the UK are slightly varied. The universities have certain questions that need to be answered in an essay format. The SOP must highlight your goals for pursuing the particular degree and should depict your suitability for the university. The universities do not need video SOPs. The evaluation criteria for each college can be found on their official websites.
- London Business School-The students are expected to submit a 500-word SOP essay answering the 2 major questions. The first question asks about the future goals and career plans post the students complete their education at the university. The second question asks about the role of London Business School in accomplishing the goals. The admission council will assess the SOP based on the research done, the connection between your course and future career, and whether your SOP is realistic enough or not. Through your SOP the council will understand your ambitiousness to be a part of the London Business School.
- Said Business School, the University of Oxford- At Said Business School the candidates are required to submit a supporting statement of 250 words, mentioning that aspect of their life that has not been stated in the application form. The admission council examines the candidates through their essays, questions, and SOPs for excellent communication skills, analytical skills, and leadership qualities
- Cambridge Judge School- The students are required to submit one 500-word essay along with three 200-word essays mandatorily. For the 500-word essay students needs to answer the following questions regarding the contribution of a master’s degree at Cambridge to their long-term and short-term goals and how will the degree be helpful to them. For the 200-word essays, students need to answer, about the hardest decision that they have taken in life and its impact on them; about their teamwork projects, their learnings from such projects; about advice that they would have given them when they were 18 years old. The 200-word essays require the students to think deeper and write them with a true heart. These essays allow the admission council to get an insight into the thought process of the students.
- Imperial College Business School- The students are required to submit one SOP. The students have the liberty to include and add things on their own. The admission council does not issue any specific guidelines. Students should keep in mind that their SOP should be a true reflection of themselves and their purpose of applying.
- Oxford University- The Students are required to submit 2 professional or academic LORs to the university along with their application.
- The University of Cambridge-The students are required to submit one recommendation letter from the supervisor of the firm, brand, or company with which the student worked or interned.
- Imperial College London-The students should submit 2 professional LORs along with their applications.
SOP and LOR for Masters: GERMANY
SOP And LOR For Masters- Germany’s Universities SOP is generally termed as the letter of motivation and essays. The letter of motivation forms a crucial part in the admission process but has a limited view and should majorly be about the motivation to apply for the particular course in finance and the particular university, and the usefulness master’s degree for the candidate. The SOP is discussed in the interview rounds. The German universities offering a finance degree pay more importance to the entrance tests, academic scores, professional achievements, research skills, and practical knowledge of the candidate.
SOP requirements for the following best universities are as follows:-
- Mannheim Business School:- The students are expected to submit one LOR of 500 words highlighting, their goals; their purpose for applying; how the degree benefits them with their career goals, and how their candidature benefits the Mannheim Business School.
- ESMT Berlin:- The SOP is in the form of certain questions that the students need to answer in an essay format. Students should keep in mind certain points while answering which include, their leadership skills, analytical skills, willingness to learn the subject, and their approach toward business.
- TUM School of Management, Technical University of Munich:-The students are required to submit one letter of motivation which should be 2-3 pages. This should cover, their motivation for applying, their future aspirations and goals, their aims, their achievements and participation, their view towards the locality and society, and their view towards the business and corporate world.
LORs may be submitted in either English or German. They should be around 1-2 pages. The following are the requirements:-
- TUM School of Management, Technical University of Munich:- Students are required to submit 2-3 professional and academic LORs.
- ESMT Berlin:- Students are required to submit 2 LORs.
For Germany’s universities specifically, the LORs follow a pattern. This implies that they will cover the strengths and weaknesses of the candidates, the professional and academic achievements of the candidates, and the general opinion about the candidate.
SOP and LOR for Masters: THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
SOPs and LORs are required while applying to universities in The United Arab Emirates. The universities require at least 2 professional and academic LORs. The students are also required to submit 1-4 SOPs by following the criteria mentioned on the university’s official website.
SOP and LOR for Masters: SWITZERLAND
SOP And LOR For Masters- SOPs, and LORs are required to be submitted along with the application forms for the top universities in Switzerland. The LORs are in a form format that is filled by the student’s Principal, Professor, employer, and HR managers. One part of the form includes rating the candidates on a given scale and the second part includes text boxes. The SOPs should be elaborate and include your motivation and willingness to apply for the course, the university, and your future career goals.
Through this blog, we aim to simplify your application process by providing you with all the necessary details about SOP and LORs which form a very important part of the admission and application process. We hope that this will help you and will ease your admission process. All the very best!
