I haven’t blogged in a long time.. I have been lazy and busy.. however I won’t be able to write here…. I don’t know for how long..
I am posting my SOP (Statement of purpose), which I had written with lot of pain. You shall realize when you need to write one.. its not easy writing about yourself. This SOP helped me get offers from 5 colleges for my MBA, here in the UK. I hope it will help you make your own, using mine as a reference.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
Inspiration can come in many forms. My propensity for acquiring an MBA started when I was in school. The school I went to had a system wherein, each class had four houses and each house had an elected representative. The representative had the job of motivating the students in the house to gain points for the house. The points were given in terms of group behavior, academic performance and projects assigned. Throughout my schooling I have been the captain of my class house. This has taught me how a good leader can do wonders in motivating others towards achieving a common goal. I learned that good leaders are the ones “who motivate others to be good leaders rather than followers.”
Being elected as troop leader for a ten day national level (Boscoree) scouts and guides camp for my state; enhanced my leadership qualities. This trained me at an early age to organize and prioritize my job and finish my tasks in the given timeline. Being a troop leader I had to follow orders from seniors, work out a strategy and motivate my troop to get the work done in the allocated time. I felt motivated to take up management as a career when we won the best troop at the camp. Though at that time I did not know what an MBA was, I knew then that I would do better in life if I worked as a manager interacting with people. I have not always won however I have not let failure deter me. It has taught me more than what success could ever teach. When I was in the tenth grade, I stood for the head-boy elections at school. Winning this election was the most coveted goal of every school boy in the tenth grade. As part of the election process we had to visit every class from third grade to tenth grade to campaign our cause. The main idea of the whole process was to introduce all the candidates to the students and give the students and staff an idea of what to expect from the potential school head boys. After the elections, students I didn’t know came up to me and told me, they had voted for me because of my campaign speech. I didn’t win the elections that year but I did learn an invaluable lesson that we could influence people no matter what the end results were. My years in school harnessed the leadership qualities in me, which continued to be my asset throughout my years in college and later on at my workplace.
During my eleventh and twelfth grade I voluntarily joined the Youth Red Cross (YRC). I was elected as a treasurer from my college for it. As a treasurer I was given a job to motivate students to sell Red Cross stickers and raise funds for the Red Cross. This enhanced my salesmanship abilities; I also learned to handle and manage money responsibly. Our college was among the highest fund raiser that year. I have also contributed in whatever way I could towards the society by raising funds, collecting relief materials and participating in blood donation camps.
My experiences in school led me to realize that I was suitable for and felt most comfortable in leadership positions. I have always been intrigued by business for its similarity to a game of chess: it rewards innovative thinking and demands foresight. I chose to obtain a bachelor’s degree in electronics and telecommunication engineering knowing very well that a good corporate job in the I.T industry would serve as a handy basis for subsequent career in management. At college I was always an eager member of the team in charge of organizing cultural and technical events. I voluntarily helped in getting our college’s first magazine published. I was also on the editorial board of our college magazine.
I am currently working as a ‘Software Engineer’ in one of the most reputed firms in India, my domain of specialization being ‘Customer Relationship Management ’using Siebel. I am proud to be a part of a large team where we are encouraged to suggest and implement innovative ideas. Working alongside my Project Managers affords me an understanding of the corporation’s infrastructure and of the industry’s informal norms. It has also provided me with an opportunity to observe them in action from an insider’s position. Once I have completed my MBA studies, I aim to join the ranks of the head management team in a similar large corporation.
To this effect, I am eager to further the basis of my knowledge through MBA studies at your esteemed University. As an overseas student I look forward to interacting with the myriad professional backgrounds and cultures from across the globe, which will give me a database of perspectives and biases invaluable in today’s competitive, global, multi-cultural business world. The University curriculum, faculty and teaching methodology most appeals me. The program, focused on preparing MBA students for leadership positions, encourages independent, out-of-the-box thinking. I want to be a part of the intimate campus atmosphere which creates a comfortable and relaxed, yet inspiring learning environment.
I look forward to partaking in the MBA program at your University, where I will have the opportunity to grow academically and professionally, while influencing my peers with my experience and knowledge.
Ninad N. Dighe.
