A standard statement of goals and achievements is all that is offered in terms of personal expression in the Macquarie application. This part of application sees no change from previous many years.
Statement of Personal Aims and Achievements (Compulsory): Please attach a concise one-page statement of your personal aims and achievements, including details of your background, past experiences, personal and professional aspirations. This will enable us to learn more about your career progression, values, ambitions and leadership potential that we at MGSM consider important
SOP Tips: Statement of purpose seems a somewhat obsolete term in the new age of MBA applications. You should treat this as any other standard goal essay with a broader focus.
Some of the topics you should address clearly are:
- Career progression till date with special emphasis on rationale behind your career choices: show them what drives you, what motivates you and what were your thought processes behind taking up your career path.
- Your accomplishments and strengths: briefly highlight, with examples, what you consider to be your key strengths and how they will help you achieve your goals.
- What is your career vision and why that matters to you?: the more details you give about your vision, the better. Details show that its a credible, well-thought-out plan. If you can relate your goal to a personal passion- even better.
- What do you want to achieve personally in life?: do you seek learning, growth, position, better quality of life, re-location to a new country? capture what makes you want MBA in context of your personal aspirations.
- Why MBA, why now and why from MGSM?: this is at the heart of the SOP. You need not address it head-on but rather build in MBA as a means to reaching your goals. The right time and right school should be reasons very specific to your personal situation and demand of goals.
- What is your post-MBA plan? what function, industry, geography? be as specific as you can. Again details will show your plans are grounded and realistic.
- How you envision MSGM MBA will help you reach your short- and long-term goals? do extensive research on the program and find out why this school is best business school for you.
If you can credibly articulate answers to these questions, you will be on way to writing a strong SOP.
