“If you think it’s expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur”. This quote aptly represents the variations between SOPs written by professionals and ChatGPT/AI. A Statement of Purpose (SOP) has the power to determine whether you will be able to fulfill your dream of studying abroad or not. It is not just any other document that you are asked to produce, but an academic document that gives an insight into your personality, background, interest in a particular course at a university abroad, how it will help you land a better job, future goals, reasons to return to your native country, English proficiency, and financial support.
There are two kinds of SOPs: a University SOP and a Student Visa SOP. A University SOP is addressed to a particular university’s admission panel, letting them know about your reasons for choosing a specific program at their university and how it will help you professionally. A Student Visa SOP is written to the Immigration officials of a specific country where you plan to study, for getting a Student Visa. It focuses on your reasons for choosing a particular country for pursuing higher studies and how you intend to return back home, after completing your studies.
SOP writing is an art that only a few individuals possess. Therefore, many students who aren’t adept in their writing skills, seek professional help. But, there are also some students who, in a bid to save time and effort, take the help of ChatGPT/AI to write a SOP. SOPs written by a professional writer and the ones written by AI are polar opposites. Contentholic is one of the leading agencies in India that provides the best SOP writing services. In this blog, we will get to know what sets the two apart from each other.
Key Differences Between SOPs Written By Professionals and ChatGPT/AI
We are familiar with what an SOP is and its types. L et us now get to know the stark differences between an SOP written by a professional and one written by ChatGPT/AI.
1. Experience
Professional SOP writers have years of experience in academic writing, so they are more likely to write an SOP based on their in-depth knowledge. They are well versed in how an SOP should be written based on the student’s requirements and the type of SOP, whether it is a University SOP or a Student Visa SOP.
Whereas AI was recently launched, it has no prior experience in writing an SOP. It doesn’t have any real-world knowledge or any idea of the context for which a SOP needs to be written. It is most likely to write an SOP in a very amateur manner, which will be very different from the way an SOP should be. It lacks the depth and insights that come from experience.
2. Format
A SOP written by a professional will be written based on the guidelines provided by a University and the Immigration authorities. It will systematically present information. On the other hand, AI being unaware of the necessary steps to write an SOP will haphazardly produce the content.
3. Writing Style
Professional SOP writers craft a SOP that reflects your unique story. They write the SOP in a way, that presents a seamless flow of information, where everything is interrelated. Every point has a context. They emphasize giving attention to details. In contrast to this, AI will write a SOP in a very mechanical manner, where nothing seems to be in place. It just merely gives statements.
4. Customization
Trained SOP writers take the time to understand your background, interests, goals, and aspirations. Based on this, they get on to writing your SOP and provide you with a compelling storyline. Their SOPs are filled with a personalized approach. They will write your SOP based on your needs and interests. While AI won’t be able to customize the SOP, its content will be very plain and basic, with no proper analysis.
5. Readability
When you get your SOP written by a professional, s/he is most likely to be very mindful of the words and the tone they use while writing the SOP. Their SOPs have a formal yet conversational tone. They use words that can be easily understood by the reader. The SOP is written based on the mind of the target audience. Whereas when you use an AI tool like ChatGPT to write a SOP, it might use a very complicated language. There might be certain words, idioms, and phrases that are not easy to comprehend.
6. Relevance
Professional SOP writers will come up with content that is related to your choice of course and university. They will take the time and effort to do proper research. On the other hand, AI in the midst of providing quick solutions, is most likely to state facts, figures, and statements that might not be relevant to your application.
7. Credibility
A human-written SOP especially when it is by a professional is most likely to be approved by the University and Visa officials, as it provides answers to the questions they have asked for, from a student. Whereas, the use of AI tools like ChatGPT in a SOP leads to rejection. You need to understand that with other students also using AI and having the same interest in a specific program at a university abroad, the SOP will end up looking similar.
AI won’t be able to distinguish between students and will produce content for an SOP with a duplicity of information. Also, the Visa authorities with the help of tools and technologies have grown to be quite efficient when it comes to checking whether an SOP is human-written or AI-generated.
8. Feedback
Professionals are ready to review and proofread your SOP to check for any grammatical errors or in case, any information needs to be added or improved upon. They believe in collaboration and provide students with constructive feedback. On the other hand, AI does the opposite. It will merely give you statements to write in an SOP, without providing you with any significant inputs.
Conclusion
SOP writing services have been on the rise ever since the increase in the number of students planning to go abroad for higher studies. Your acceptance into a university abroad for a course of your choice and getting approved for a Student Visa is largely determined by the way how you plan to write your SOP. While many students can write a SOP on their own, some seek further clarity and assistance. For this, they take the help of professional SOP writers. These writers are trained in the art of academic writing and take the time and effort to understand a student’s profile and compose their SOP.
Certain students want an easy way out and use AI to write a SOP. Using AI tools like ChatGPT may seem like a quick solution, but it serves no purpose. There is a huge difference between a manually written SOP and the one written by ChatGPT/AI. A SOP requires clarity of thought, ideas, and expressions, which can be presented only when it is written manually by yourself or by a professional and not by a machine. An AI tool lacks the essence and understanding that a human mind has when it comes to writing an SOP.
Therefore, if you wish to fulfill your dream of studying abroad, write your SOP on your own or with the help of a trusted professional like Contentholic, a recognized education consultancy firm. We have the best SOP writers in India who are ready to help you in case you need their guidance while writing an SOP. Feel free to contact us.
