Can ChatGPT Help You Write Perfect SOP for Admission

Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the latest buzzword ever since OpenAI released ChatGPT, an advanced AI chatbot that is adept at writing essays, movie scripts, novels, clearing entrance exams, drawing up business proposals, giving life advice, and much more. 

As a study-abroad aspirant, if you are wondering whether this tool is a boon or can i use ChatGPT to write SOP for my master's, let’s find out.

If you ask us, it may not be a good idea. Why? Read below.

Impact of Using ChatGPT to Write SOPs

We have enlisted a slew of reasons that make it a prudent choice to reach out to a professional rather than only ChatGPT. 

• Lack of Authentic & Impactful Storytelling

An aspirant who chooses to be vulnerable about their experiences—something that is only possible vis-à-vis authentic human experiences—has a prominent edge over others who seek to present a pseudo-perfect façade. You are expected to elucidate your professional accomplishments, delve into extracurriculars, and interweave the qualities acquired into your SOPs. 

In this scenario, when you use AI-generated content, you risk losing the authenticity of your narrative, which could make your essay sound impersonal and generic.

Moreover, to offer the best learning experience, the admissions committee looks for diverse experiences in aspirants. To understand this and depict the same, you would need the assistance of a professional to help you highlight your qualities and stand out from the heaps of applications.  

• Plagiarism 

Plagiarism in essays is no less than a sin for study-abroad aspirants. Your application will go down the drain if plagiarism is detected. Moreover, the institution has the authority to blacklist your profile. 

So, thinking of ChatGPT as your friend and adding a prompt to write one for you might not be a great idea as it might lead you to land in the "plagiarism zone." Moreover, a multitude of universities and colleges are already working with plagiarism-detecting tools like Unicheck and Turnitin, both of which will launch tools that can decipher ChatGPT-based writing; by the end of the current year. Furthermore, GPTZero, an independent text review app coherently devised by Edward Tian (Princeton student), can identify AI-generated content.  

• Template Answers

Despite all the hype, the chatbot is still in the development phase and lacks the ability to weave a personal story. Most answers you will get from prompts will have an identifiable template, something the admissions committee can easily recognize.

A well-written Statement of Purpose (SOP) or an essay is never expected to have some cosmic perfection. The secret sauce to writing an impressive essay is – a human touch. And adding a dash of minute details that metaphorically leave an impression of a student's personality is paramount. 

•  Bizarre Output

According to the New York Times, "the chatbot is making probabilistic guesses about which bits of text belong together in a sequence, based on a statistical model trained on billions of examples of text pulled from all over the internet — makes it prone to giving wrong answers." It brings to the surface the inadequacy of the chatbot. Its output could have several inconsistencies, thus rendering your essay faulty.

Professional Assistance: Your Booster to Unique & Captivating Essays 

While ChatGPT can provide helpful information and guidance on various topics, including writing an SOP, it is essential to note that ChatGPT is an AI language model, not a human being. As such, ChatGPT does not provide a different level of insight, feedback, and personalization than a human mentor or professional can offer.

Writing an effective SOP or an essay requires a deep understanding of your goals, strengths, experiences, and academic background. It also requires a firm grasp of the language and structure of a compelling and persuasive essay. While ChatGPT can provide general tips and guidelines, it cannot tailor its advice to your situation or provide detailed feedback on your writing. At this juncture, study-abroad experts can help you.  

To help you understand the above points better, here is a look at an AI-generated SOP (Sample 1) followed by a personally written piece (Sample 2)-

Sample 1

Sample 2

I have had the opportunity to observe the changing marketing landscapes from a global perspective thanks to my extensive expertise as a digital marketing consultant. It is fascinating how marketing strategies are used to sway consumers' choices. My interest in marketing intensified as a result of this fascination. Every viral campaign piqued my interest in the subject – from Domino's rolling out regional menus to Pidilite's Fevicol being used interchangeably with white adhesive in India.

 

To further my career and expertise, I am keen on pursuing (course) at the esteemed (university name). Accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), the program is intricately curated in accordance with the dynamic industry trends to help students develop sound business insights through data and implement strategic marketing campaigns to deliver products and services successfully.  Through this course, I seek to solidify my existing knowledge of the principles of marketing, branding, and B2B marketing principles and articulate my viewpoints and experiences in the talent pool. Speaking about the course material, the modules on consumer behavior, modern brand management, marketing communications, and strategic digital marketing will significantly advance my knowledge of both the technical and commercial elements of digital marketing. Additionally, the dissertation module will be crucial for developing my research abilities and aptitude for problem-solving.

 

Throughout my academic career, I have garnered numerous remarkable academic accomplishments. Being tech-savvy, I chose STEM classes in high school was an easy decision. The knowledge I gained through my A-level subjects helped me knowledge I needed to cultivate a critical attitude as well as strong analytical and problem-solving abilities. I meritoriously completed my higher secondary education and went on to pursue (course)  at the esteemed (university name). During my undergraduate studies, I was inclined towards data-driven technologies like data analytics and data visualization, which form the backbone of all successful business and market solutions in today's world. I comprehend the key metrics that captivate customers towards a product and how marketing personnel tap these insights to optimize consumer engagement and drive profitability. To enhance my technical know-how of the subject, I have learned tools like MS Excel, Tableau, and Microsoft Power BI and developed a firm grasp of Python during my engineering. Additionally, I worked on a gamut of research projects involving a slew of technologies - data analytics & visualization, and more. These projects have been published in some of the widely renowned technological journals. 

 

I extended my passion for marketing when I joined the XXX and my university's (club name) as a core team member of the YYY team. We created from scratch a number of social media campaigns, tracked engagement, and developed strategies as necessary. I also worked to expand my knowledge by obtaining a variety of industry-recognized certifications and training in marketing, such as the Google Digital Marketing Strategy Training, the Adobe Marketing Cloud Training, the Marketing Foundation, and developing a B2B strategy course on LinkedIn Learning, as well as a virtual internship on pertinent subjects. I earned the coveted Google Cloud Digital Leader as well as Artificial Intelligence certification because it is crucial to master this ground-breaking technology now in order to stay technologically current.  

 

My internship phase etched my initial and most crucial professional experience. Under the tutelage of technological experts, I published unique positionings for their solutions by creating thought papers, and campaigns to provide their ideas with distinctive positionings. Through the design of 360-degree marketing themes and visuals and while making sure that these themes are maintained across different campaign touchpoints, this opportunity allowed me to use my creative side. I also worked alone to oversee and plan a number of marketing programs as a SPOC for the brand and marketing team. 

 

I was later promoted to the role of MMM in July 2023, and presently, I have been working in this capacity. My responsibilities included developing a distinctive brand positioning for the target market using tools for marketing analytics like Adobe Analytics, customer targeting, campaign testing using Adobe Target, and ultimately providing customer-focused content with Adobe Marketing Cloud. The experience has given me substantial insights into locating and successfully implementing data-driven solutions for a range of organizational difficulties.

 

In addition, I have demonstrated outstanding communication abilities. This chance to invent, produce, and opinionate my disposition has augmented my ardent interest in this extensive marketing field and prompted me to undergo a rigorous training framework.

 

I have now sought to challenge myself academically and complete the demanding master's program in order to strengthen and develop a staunch foundation in the nuances and intricacies of marketing from a global perspective, at this point I find myself professionally sound in the technological aspects of marketing. Speaking of which, I believe that the United Kingdom is the best place for me to pursue my academic goals because of its long history of academic brilliance and strong emphasis on practical knowledge. The country offers one of the most accommodating learning environments for students as well as cutting-edge infrastructure to support students' advanced learning. As a matter of fact, the UK has a long history of being a top choice for business education, particularly marketing, and is home to some of the best global corporations, which will give me a wealth of opportunities to predict new trends, shape consumer experiences, and boost sales. Studying marketing-related courses in the UK will provide me with an unrivaled opportunity to advance my profession by amalgamating creativity, innovation, technology, and strategic insights.

 

My short-term objective is to work for a company that enables me to be a renowned marketer and a significant figure in the corporate world after I complete my degree. With the increasing FDIs, India will soon become a hub for international business, which will be a priceless asset for me. I aspire to work for one of the MAANG companies with operations in India and use my training and skills to benefit the business. Years from now, I hope to head the business verticals of leading MNCs as a C-suite officer and take on greater challenges.

 

I look forward to becoming a part of your prodigious student community. The reputation of (university name) will be a prestigious addition to my prospects. With this, I hope the esteemed university's admission committee will favorably consider my application.