The area of Marketing - SOP for PhD

Hii All,
First of all, I would like to appreciate the efforts of the members and coordinators of this forum. I am planning to apply for PhD programme in US Universities, and for that I need to submit a SOP.

After reading a lot of SOPs on this forum, I got motivated and wrote a SOP for myself, but I don't know how to make it more impressive. I hope all of you will help me in correcting it. please feel free to give your suggestions and recommendations.

My SOP is given below:

I believe that academic field gives the opportunity to continuously learn and share knowledge with the society. I have always felt the need to incessantly update my knowledge, apply it in a specific domain and live up to the challenges the life brings to us, which justify my interest in achieving an expertise in the academic field.

In 2003, I was selected in XYZ University, considered as one of the best technical Universities in India, for the MSc. (Hons) programme and majored in Mathematics.

After completing my graduation, I was placed in a reputed IT consulting firm in India. But I declined the offer because I wanted to pursue research career and decided to go for higher education. I decided to pursue an MBA program from the same University (XYZ) since this university allows students to become a Teaching Assistant (TA) while studying for a postgraduate programme. I saw this option as an opportunity to hone my teaching skills, and become involved in the process of knowledge creation and dissemination. I was the only student in my batch who had taken up this added responsibility of a TA. Though it involved devoting considerable time and attention to the profession of teaching, I knew these challenges would also give me the opportunity to not only become a part of the academic community and develop my communication skills but also help me pursue my goal of becoming an academic researcher. During my education, I maintained decent academic performance and at the same time fulfilled my roles and responsibilities as a TA quite satisfactorily.

As an undergraduate and post-graduate student, I have always been interested in studying courses related to the field of Marketing. I gained more knowledge about this area by studying courses like Advertising and Sales Promotion, Marketing, E-business & Internet marketing, Retail Management Systems and Services Management Systems which have given me a strong base of knowledge and skills required to take doctoral studies. Further, my experience of over 3 years in academic field as a Teaching Assistant has helped me develop intellectual independence and advanced critical thinking skills. I have taught various courses like Principles of Management and Technical Report Writing, whereas I assisted Professors/Instructors for courses like Marketing Management Information Systems and Human Resource Management.

I also did thesis, as a part of my undergraduate degree, on the topic: "Developing Brand Strategies That Synthesize Internal Resources and Competitive Strategy" and got 'excellent' grade from my supervisor. That was the time when I got keenly interested in exploring more about this field and conducting research at various levels. Therefore, when I got another chance to do dissertation as a part of my MBA program I saw it as an opportunity to take my research interests to another level. I completed my dissertation on Cause-Related Marketing in May'2010.

Teaching and research is my passion and I have always had the motivation to conduct an independent research and be a future leader in academia by creating and disseminating business knowledge. A Research degree in Marketing would provide me an interdisciplinary environment for generating creative ideas in Marketing (field of my interest) and communicating these ideas effectively to others. Undertaking this postgraduate research study will help me fulfill my desire and drive me to excel in academic field and become a teaching and research faculty member.

ABC University Business School has a structured approach to progressing through the PhD programme and it offers excellent opportunities for professional and personal development. I want to specialize in the area of Marketing and after completing my Doctoral Degree, I would like to teach at a research-oriented university like yours where I can conduct research and instill in my students an enthusiasm for research and the study of marketing

Hi Seema!
do you have 2 Master degree? Mathematics and MBA? because you wrote you were selected for a master programme in Mathematics.




After garduation I had an offer from a reputed IT consulting firm in India. But I declined it because I wanted to pursue research career and go for higher education.


I chose the MBA programme from the same university (XYZ) because I had a chance to become a Teaching Assistant (TA) while studying.



would you comment on my last thread "my knowledge in the marketing arena"? Tnx

hello Zeinab,
Thank you so much for your feedback. I shall incorporate all the changes in my SOP.
Yes I did masters in Mathematics and then MBA and now i want to do PhD. I just wanted to ask one more thing,...do you think that my SOP is impressive or its interesting while reading? it is imp for me to know this bec I my adm will depend on my SOP to a grt extent and i dont want to make it boring or dull.

So, if you feel like, pls do give me ur views abt it. Thnx.

---------------------

Hi Kevin,
I just want to request you to pls comment on my SOP. I have seen your comments for various others SOPs and essays and I think my SOP will become perfect once you edit it. so pls pls plsssss accpet my request. i am planning to apply to a univ this weekend.

thanks so much.
seema

Hey, thx a lot for your feedback to my SOP. here are my advices:

1. you did good job in coherently describing your education and TA experinces, your motivation to pursue a PhD degreee and a detailed plan for your prospective career plan, good job!

2. I guess a little more professional understanding and foresight about your interest area will be helpful~

3.if you want your essay to be more interesting, why don't you add some little concrete stories happened during your TA experience or your dissertion research?

Hope these are hlepful~

Hi Seema
I think you have written an impressive SOP. Two master degrees shows your passion for knowledge! Just you can talk a little more about your interests in subjects such as sport or extracurricular activities!

Good Luck

Hi Seema, I'm really sorry I did not see this until now. Thanks for the kind words... I hope next time I have a chance to help with your essay I will not take so long...

I believe that academic field gives the opportunity to continuously learn and share knowledge with the society. This sentence has no meaning. It is too obvious.

I have always felt the need to incessantly update my knowledge, apply it in a specific domain and live up to the challenges the life brings to us, which justify my interest in achieving an expertise in the academic field.--This is a great sentence! How about adding a sentence of explanation after it, and then a THESIS STATEMENT that tells the message of the essay in a single sentence... then, end paragraph 1.

With that thesis statement, state your PURPOSE. State your plan.

Let's use the word instead of the numeral: ...of over 3 three years

I also did completed a thesis, as a part of my undergraduate degree, on the topic: "Developing Brand Strategies That Synthesize Internal Resources and Competitive Strategy" and

A Research degree in Marketing ----- what is the actual name of the degree? This is unclear.

I like the end a lot!! But it is missing a period at the very end.

Despite my little corrections and ideas... this essay is quite impressive. You are a student who knows where she is going, and that is impressive.