Today you will learn
How to tell your story for a master's or scholarship. Your Pertamina audit, your 90+ students, your K3 certificate. Opening plus one goals paragraph, about 110 words.
You already know: cover opening from Day 22, past verbs from Day 16, proof with numbers from Days 18 to 22. Today your story replaces all fictional content.
Real samples we study: Berkeley personal statement (PDF), Purdue successful statements. Short quotes, same moves as yours.
Class: opening plus goals, about 110 words. Use Next to move. Arrow keys also move.
SOP vs CV Done
2 minRead. Choose.
Readers fund who?
Answer key
b. Proof plus clear goals. Committees fund futures, not childhoods.
Read real lines Done
3 minRead each one time. Then answer.
Real hook (Berkeley engineering): I first became fascinated with cars in high school, while attending the COSMOS summer science program. See the full statement (PDF).
Real goal (Purdue sample): My plans following completion of my current studies are to move directly into graduate work toward my master's in science. See the full sample.
My interest in process engineering began when I audited heat exchanger fouling over 30 days at Pertamina RU IV. I learned to turn plant data into clear reports for senior engineers. As a lab assistant I then trained 90+ students, and mentoring 10 teams won national funding for 20%. I plan to study for a master's in process engineering to deepen my design skills. This program will help me through its strong process systems lab. I look forward to bringing careful monitoring and teamwork to your department.
About 110 words. Your story plus real frames. We use this all lesson.
Real lines have:
Answer key
a. One moment plus one plan. Berkeley names a moment. Purdue names the next step.
Hook first line Done
3 minOne moment plus place. Then stop.
Best hook?
Answer key
a. Moment at Pertamina. Berkeley proves it: one fascinated moment opens.
Journey in 3 steps Done
2 minSay all 3 in order. Past tense.
Answer key
1. Audited. 2. Trained. 3. Mentored or won. All past, all hers. Three steps is enough.
Proof with numbers Done
2 minEvery claim plus her number.
Answer key
1. 30 days. 2. 90+. 3. 20%. Passionate with no number is noise.
Goals paragraph Done
2 minDegree plus why. Future tense.
Answer key
1. plan to. 2. design skills. Degree plus why, future tense.
Why this program Done
3 minName one real thing. Lab, course, or professor.
Model: This program will help me through its strong process systems lab.
Answer key
Copy the line, then swap in her real lab or course name. Flattery with no detail reads copy pasted.
Honest voice Done
3 minPlain beats showy. Rewrite one line.
1. Showy: Leveraging seamless synergy across platforms.
2. Showy: Passionate about world-class dreams.
Answer key
- 1. I learned to turn plant data into clear reports.
- 2. I plan to deepen my design skills.
Your words can differ. Plain plus proof wins trust.
Past and will Done
2 minDone or future?
Goals line?
Answer key
a. Goals face forward with will. Story stays past.
Useful phrases Done
2 minBank: My interest began when, I learned to, I plan to, This program will help me, I look forward to, teamwork.
Answer key
1. began when. 2. learned to. 3. I look forward to. 4. This program will help me. Copy these into your draft.
Build one together Done
5 minHer opening. Same order. Do with your teacher.
Story: audit, 90+, 20%. Goal: master's in process engineering.
Answer key
Model: began when I audited. Learned to write reports. Plan to study process engineering. Full lines grow in Activity 13.
Plan with story table Done
2 minChoose one lens. Copy its row. Each move has a job.
My goal lens, choose one:
Story table, what each move means: Hook tells one moment. Journey tells 3 past steps. Proof gives 30 days, 90+, 20%. Goals tell degree plus why. Program names one lab or course.
Answer key
Both good. M is easiest. S adds duty to serve. Example M: M, audit moment, lab plus mentoring, 30 days 90+ 20%, master's design, systems lab. One named program must appear in your draft.
Write your SOP 7 min Done
Write aloneAbout 110 words. Use Hook, Journey, Proof, Goals, Program.
Answer key, models for Ending M and Ending S
M model, about 110 words: My interest in process engineering began when I audited heat exchanger fouling over 30 days at Pertamina RU IV. I learned to turn plant data into clear reports for senior engineers. As a lab assistant I then trained 90+ students, and mentoring 10 teams won national funding for 20%. I plan to study for a master's in process engineering to deepen my design skills. This program will help me through its strong process systems lab. I look forward to bringing careful monitoring and teamwork to your department.
S model, about 110 words: My interest in serving Indonesian industry began when I audited heat exchanger fouling over 30 days at Pertamina RU IV. I learned to turn plant data into clear reports for senior engineers. As a lab assistant I then trained 90+ students, and mentoring 10 teams won national funding for 20%. I plan to study for a master's in process engineering, then serve local refineries with safer cleaner designs. This program will help me through its energy systems course. I look forward to bringing careful monitoring and teamwork to your department.
Check with colours Done
3 minTick each box. Fix one thing.
Answer key
Good check: hook yellow, journey blue, proof green, goals pink, program orange. If program is missing, add one lab or course name. Fix only one error today, add it to your error list.
Reflect and next step Done
2 minShort. Honest. Then finish.
I can now hook plus prove plus plan:
Answer key
Both answers are good. Honest is best. Keep your SOP for your portfolio. Day 24 uses fair voice for reviews. Well done.
Well done
Story told. Ready to apply.
Tip: arrow keys move slides when you are not typing. Your answers stay saved while you move.