USA · CHAPTER 6
Statement of purpose,LORs and resume.
US graduate committees read the SOP for research or professional direction and evidence. Keep it to the word limit (often 800–1,000 words), choose recommenders who know your work well, and use a one-page resume without photo or personal details.
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SOP structure
- 01
Hook with direction
The problem or field you want to work on.
- 02
Evidence
Projects, research, internships, results.
- 03
Programme fit
Faculty, labs, courses, location.
- 04
Goals
Short- and long-term.
Resume
- One page for students
- No photo, age or marital status
- Bullet points with results
IN DEPTH · TAP A TOPIC TO OPEN
SOP structure for US master's and PhD
- 01
Your research or professional interest
A specific problem you want to work on.
- 02
Preparation
Projects, papers, internships and coursework that prepared you.
- 03
Why this programme
Faculty, labs, courses and resources — name them.
- 04
Goals
Short-term and long-term goals, and how the degree connects them.
Documents US programmes ask for
- Statement of purpose (often 1–2 pages)
- Personal history or diversity statement at some universities
- Three letters of recommendation
- Academic CV or résumé (one page for most master's)
- Writing sample or portfolio for some fields
- Transcripts, sometimes evaluated by WES or ECE
QUICK ANSWERS
Your questions, answered.
Usually three. Choose professors who know your work well; for professionals, one or two can come from managers.
WHERE TO GO NEXT
Keep going: the pages that help next.
Each card says what you will find there. Looking for something else? See every page on the site.
USA GUIDE
Application & I-20
Apply to US universities, accept an offer, submit financial documents, receive your I-20 and pay the SEVIS fee before your F-1 interview.
USA GUIDE
Admission requirements
Transcripts, GRE/GMAT, SAT, TOEFL/IELTS, SOP, LORs and deadlines for US bachelor's and master's admission from India for Fall 2027.
ADMISSIONS
Admissions process
How applications work, from shortlist to offer, and where students go wrong.
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