'Advertising and shaping my personality' - a general Statement of Purpose

I've marked this urgent as I have to send this to my counselor tomorrow! I feel it's a bit too formal. But please go ahead and give me constructive suggestions. This is my first draft ever writing a SOP. I am planning to apply for my Masters in Advertising. Looking for mostly colleges in the USA.

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

When I was around 10 years old, I used to look forward to watching cartoons on TV every Sunday morning. I was also probably one of the few kids who also enjoyed the commercials as much as the cartoons. That was my first experience of an 'advertisement' in its most pure form to my artless mind.

The advertisements along with the vivid images pigmented my mind and germinated the seeds of advertising as an interesting idea in my mind back then. It was also during that time that I witnessed the golden era of not just Indian but also Western specifically North American advertisements on the TV. The penchant for jazzy advertisements helped foster my creative drive in school and excel with a flamboyant approach.

It was not until my Degree College, that I gained theoretical knowledge about the marketing environment and industrial norms around the world. I naturally always held a penchant for commerce and marketing considering my parents are from the commerce and banking background. Educating myself in Domestic and International Marketing as well as achieving a Bachelor's and a Master's Degree in Commerce has helped me solidify my short term goal of acquiring advanced knowledge of economics. I intend to fulfil my long term goal of working in the Advertising sector by learning the technical aspects in the Masters of Advertising program offered by the University.

With a view to gain practical knowledge in the Indian Advertising Sector, I started my internship in the Client Servicing department at an AD agency called Inter Publicity for 5 months. During my tenure at the agency, I managed to acquire valuable first-hand experience of the daily workings of an AD agency, the current trends as well as the perpetual nature of work the agency is involved in. Moreover, my fervid zest for language, regional and English, helped me immensely during the various AD campaigns I was assigned.

Advertising has played a huge role in shaping my personality especially garnering my interest in learning the theoretical aspects of music. Music is an important lesson or rather life skill that advertising has taught me about life. It shaped me and my ideas about the world. This knowledge of music also helped me during my time at the internship as I helped out the creative department. It was during my time there that I realised my time spent here did not feel like work at all. I was doing something that I loved at the same time getting paid for it! That was one of the moments which solidified my belief to pursue a career in advertising regardless of any obstacles.

The advertising program at this prestigious University will help me effectively develop my career as The United States of America has an opulent and glorious history in Advertising. Its schools and agencies are at the forefront of advanced media systems and provide some of the best educational knowledge and insight into this industry, which is why it is my obvious choice to study here.

Just like the kid 13 years ago who had an excited grin on his face every time a commercial showed up, I still have the same childlike glee every time I see or work on a commercial. And it is that childhood desire that ignites my passion.

Try talking more about how your experiences shaped you. Talk about how you would go about achieving your goals at the university. Talk about post-graduation plans.

That was my first experience of an 'advertisement' in its most pure form to my artlessnaive mind.


"my mind" gets repeated too often. You better rephrase this line.


I cannot get your idea very clearly here.... Is it that you say this had been the era in which Indian and Western advertising took a different turn?


Yes.... take this advice more seriously. These are essential features that SOP should cover. Here's a guideline for you to see whether these features are included.

First of all thank you for your reply, I really appreciate it. Furthermore, by experiences that shaped me, you mean academic or personal? Also when it comes to achieving goals and post graduation plans do I just straight out say that I'd like to complete X program with all its details and then work there at a certain position in the advertising industry? Again, thanks for your input.


No, not a different turn but it moved ahead progressively so as to usher an era where advertising gained more prominence in both the countries. Besides the corrections , that you have suggested which I will make, I also had used those points from the same website that you mentioned and it was the basic skeleton for my essay. But obviously, I have left out on a few things. Besides talking more about what shadman19922 said, what more do you think is missing out here. Also, I am basically shifting streams as I move from Commerce to Advertising. So during my graduation and master's years I have had less experience in Advertising academically. However, I have had practical experience at an ad agency, which I have mentioned above. Any way I can add more meat to this supposed drawback of mine? I really appreciate your input guys thanks a lot. I'd post a revised version soon if you could just answer the above questions for me. Cheers!