Comments and thoughts on my Statement of Purpose
[#permalink]
15 Jun 2015, 08:43
Hello, I am posting an SOP draft for applying to Masters in Accountancy program. Its not the best SOP but i got a 700 GMAT so I'm hoping that it doesnt matter that much. Yet, I would like to improve it as much as I can. Quick points if anyone has any since I have to send it today... Thanksss :
As a child I innocently asked my parents, “Can I become a photographer when I grow up?” They very firmly replied, “That should just be a hobby, dear! But what you can definitely become is a doctor, an engineer or an accountant. That is the only way that you can earn money”… Well, those were the only 3 career choices “acceptable” in the Indian culture that I grew up in. Consequently, I chose Accounting as my undergraduate major. Little did I realize at the time, that it would turn out to be more than just the “acceptable” career for me, and only after I end up in a field quite different, yet with characteristics very similar to that of accounting…
While pursuing an MBA in Finance from Mumbai University (India), I was quite fascinated by Corporate Finance, not the borrowing but the lending side of it. The reason being the risk assessment, the variety of industries involved and the adrenaline rush that came when I received a new account, to find out the genuineness of its financials, business and facts presented by it. And when I actually carried out all the above functions as a Credit Analyst with Bank of India, it was truly an adventurous ride! But why then did I come to yearn for the accounting profession? Well, I was working along with the public auditors during the annual audit of our branch. In the process, I learnt about the various tasks they go through, the ingeniously planned approach they take towards understanding the business and detailed risk assessment, the variety of industries that they analyze and this too had that adrenaline rush that I used to crave for! The profession of public accounting required very similar skills to those of credit analysis. Yet the purview of their analysis was much broader than that of credit, covering every aspect of operations of a business and not just their ability to repay a loan. This truly intrigued me and I felt myself steering toward this broader role.
‘Accounting is not only the concern of accountants but also governments and public as a whole’ (Flanigan, Tondkar & Coffman, 1994). This statement being true for economies around the world, accounting has undoubtedly been of immense social and economic significance even in the Indian culture, making it a popular and acceptable career choice for most. And when I actually experienced its importance while working as a credit analyst, I could now appreciate the logic behind accounting being considered “the acceptable career”. Our benchmark for accepting any ‘data’ provided by the borrower was whether it was certified as true by a public accountant or not, be it financials, personal balance sheets or even projections. Such is the importance of a signature of an accountant in extending a loan to a business that it can help build businesses and eventually help economies to grow! And since experience is the best teacher, these experiences actually changed my perspective towards the accounting profession. I was more inclined to pursue it now than ever.
When I moved to US a year ago with my husband after marriage, I saw the wonderful opportunity to become a part of this profession and an MS in Accounting from the __________ will help me achieve just that. My previous employers, having realized my growing inclination towards the accounting profession, also encouraged me to go ahead with this plan of action. I have also demonstrated my strong willingness and capability to pursue graduate studies in the accounting profession by clearing the FAR and AUD sections of the CPA exam already. The program will help me view all the knowledge in a more practical perspective and will assist in my eventual goal of becoming a CPA. I have been among the top 10% students in the MBA in Finance graduate program and I believe I can perform equally well in the _________ graduate school set up too. I also believe that my professional background and current skill sets will definitely help in the ability to see the accounting profession in a more holistic sense. It will also help me manage the rigorous work and responsibilities of a graduate school accounting program.
Equally true for a graduate program in Accounting is the importance of good communication and management skills. I have over the years made it a point to keep building my management skills by being part of various college clubs and event organization committees, which has not only helped me develop good organizational skills but also a sociable attitude, excellent communication skills, the ability to perform under pressure and the quick thinking required during sudden mishaps. Taking initiatives to improve processes when required and trying something that has never been tried before keeps giving me the challenging environment that is needed for personal growth as well as some much needed food for the soul. The one event that I’m particularly proud of is winning the Area and Division level speech contest at Toastmasters International representing the Unity Club, Columbus, Ohio. At the time I was new to USA and trying to adjust to the new surroundings. Participating in the contest was an attempt to better connect with some amazing local people and avid speakers whom I met and now end up sharing a very good bond with.
A good college education goes a great way in shaping the skills required to succeed in a profession. A university with a 62 year old history will definitely have great bundle of experiences to learn from. The MS in Accounting program will immensely help me fine tune my current skill sets, help me to reconfigure them in the context of an accounting environment and help put a realistic, practical point of view to all that I have learnt and will learn during the program. The competitive and rigorous program will also prepare me for the challenging work environment as an auditor that may even require long hours and tight deadlines. This program will definitely go a long way in helping me eventually achieve the goal of becoming a CPA.