SOP Sample for MS in Genetic Counselling in USA

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

From a child oblivious of world shaping inventions to an aspiring student of science, I have seen the influence of technology in the lives of people of various demographics. As I started finding answers to numerous questions that throbbed in my mind, I was fascinated, and my goals of pursuing science to bring a change in society started. My mother being a housewife, through her actions and encouraging words, ingrained in me the significance of education and its potential in realising my dreams. She has always been a constant inspiration for me right from my childhood. My enthusiasm never faltered as I progressed through different phases of my education, consistently scoring in the top percentile.

My predilection for science and eagerness to explore various fields of science led me to choose engineering after high school. After clearing the all India [UNIVERSITY_1] entrance exam, I joined [UNIVERSITY_1], one of India's pioneering institutes, where I graduated in Genetic Engineering. During my journey at [UNIVERSITY_1], every step in selecting electives and labs paved the path for making my interests clear for me.

In my sixth semester, I did a project on a device that helps patients remind them a particular medicine should be taken at a particular time. This system rings an alarm at a particular time in the day so that it helps some of the people who forget or are too busy to take their medicine. This system consists of electronic parts and software that is built for this system to work. Even though this project is out of my field, it helped me to understand the concepts of electronics.

In my second year's summer break, I worked with [PROFESSOR_1], a research and development consultant, and that experience was enriching. Under her guidance, I worked on "cloning and expression of ITIH5 in mammalian cells". I extracted the cDNA from pBK and then I cloned the ITIH5 from lentiviral vector and expression of pReceiver in MIA PaCa-2 cells and checked for its localisation. This project helped me to understand and implement the complicated lab procedures into various projects.

The keen interest I harboured for genetic engineering and genetic counselling saw me opting for various genetic classes and projects in my final year. In my final year, upon teaming up with four others for the major project, we did a project on "Green synthesis and characterization of calcium phosphate nanoparticles from Caragana arborescence". First I extracted the solvent solution from the leaves and then I synthesised the nanoparticles from the calcium phosphate. And then I checked for the biological activities such as the anti-microbial and anti-cancer properties. This project helped me gain a wide range of knowledge over the equipment and ideas that I can use to implement in various lab projects.

Beyond academics, taking part in various extracurricular activities made me become a better person. Being the executive of the discipline committee for the annual fest conducted at [UNIVERSITY_1] helped me to interact with people from various states, which helped me to improve my managerial and communication skills. All of these experiences, including serving as an active member of the local committee, have refined my organisational skills and taught me to be more empathetic.

Upon doing my final semester from home due to the COVID outbreak and complete lockdown all over the world, I joined as a volunteer in a local committee to help people in need. During this time I learned various lab and hospital techniques that helped me to manage my time and implement my knowledge on various problems in my field. During this time I learned to do various processes such as the rtPCR that helps me in my master's program. All these experiences have enabled me to strengthen my technical prowess by interacting with experts with prior experience in technical and functional aspects.

My prior experience, technical and academic capabilities, and my passion to deepen my knowledge in genetic engineering urge me to take up this course of study. To get deeper understanding of this field and provide innovative solutions to problems, it is important for me to pursue a master's in genetic counselling now. I am particularly interested in improving and studying the efficiency of genetic counselling.

A master's degree in genetic counselling from [UNIVERSITY_2] would be a perfect fit for me because of its strong focus on research and practicum. I believe that the excellent research facilities and eminent faculty of the university would greatly help me in my academic endeavour. I find the research that is going on in the university very interesting and I think these researches will be a great help for me. In the future I would like to work in a research firm where I can put my knowledge gained to practice and provide innovative solutions to solve real world problems.

I strongly believe that the dedication, learning attitude, and practical experience I have amassed over the years would help me add value to your university while building on my skills and expertise. I look forward to an enriching and gratifying learning experience at [UNIVERSITY_2].