“Workshop on
Shortlisting U.S. Universities and Writing Your SOP: Key Strategies and Common
Mistakes to Avoid”
Wednesday, 23rd
July 2025
Event Report
By Ms. Keerthana
[Intern, Office of International
Programmes]
The Office of
International Programmes
organized a workshop titled “Shortlisting U.S. Universities and Writing Your
SOP: Key Strategies and Common Mistakes to Avoid” on 24 July 2025 at the
Chemistry Seminar Hall.
The event was conducted in collaboration with EducationUSA,
a U.S. Department of State-supported advising network, and the American Center,
Chennai.
The programme began with a welcome note and the introduction
of the guest speakers by the master of ceremonies, Ms. Shrestha.
The speakers were Mr. Rishi Kumar, Programme Associate at
the American Center, and EducationUSA advisers Ms. Elizabeth and Mr. Arvind
Sivamani. This was followed by the presentation of mementos and a group
photograph session.
The session continued with a college prayer led by Ms. Stephanie,
an intern, setting a formal tone for the academic engagement ahead.
Dr. Samuel Rufus, Dean of International Programmes, delivered
the inaugural address, emphasizing the value of well-crafted Statements of
Purpose and the importance of informed university selection. He also
acknowledged the support of the institution’s leadership, the efforts of the
student intern team, and the contribution of Ms. Rishitha in initiating the
collaboration.
Mr. Rishi Kumar opened the technical session by sharing an
overview of the American Center and its educational resources. He introduced
the audience to the wide range of academic tools and cultural programmes
offered at the center, including eLibraryUSA, which provides access to research
databases, online English learning platforms, and global newspapers.
He
encouraged students to make use of these free facilities and explained the
process of membership registration. He also touched on various U.S. exchange
and fellowship programmes available to Indian students.
Ms. Elizabeth
followed with an in-depth
session on SOP writing. Drawing from her own experience as a recent U.S.
graduate, she provided a clear explanation of what universities look for in an
SOP.
Her talk covered the elements of structure, personalization, tone, and
common writing errors. She distributed handouts with guided templates and urged
students to begin early, revise multiple drafts, and reflect authentically on
their academic and career goals. Her session received active engagement from
the participants and was appreciated for its clarity and relevance.
The final
speaker, Mr. Arvind
Sivamani, presented a detailed framework for shortlisting universities. He
advised students to evaluate institutions based on five factors: academic
alignment, financial affordability, location suitability, campus culture, and
career outcomes. Emphasizing the need for a balanced approach, he recommended
creating a shortlist that includes reach, match, and safety options.
He also cautioned against choosing universities solely based on
rankings or peer preferences and encouraged a research-driven strategy grounded
in EducationUSA’s "5 Steps to U.S. Study" methodology.
Following his session, a question-and-answer segment was
conducted, where he addressed individual queries from students and provided
detailed clarifications.
In his concluding remarks, Mr. Arvind Sivamani thanked the
audience for their patience and active participation. He also announced the
upcoming EducationUSA Fair and encouraged all attendees to make use of the
opportunity to meet representatives from U.S. universities.
The event
concluded with a formal
vote of thanks delivered by Prof. Arun Kumar Joseph, Associate Dean of
International Programmes, who acknowledged the speakers, organizers, and
participants.
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