1、Part 2 Personal Statement(PS)Personal Statement A personal statement,as a component of the application,is a statement introducing yourself to a committee/institution.It is used to supplement the information presented in the application with specific examples and convincing facts.Format of PSnYour pu
2、rpose/interest in the particular program/positionnBackground information supporting your interest or purpose:academic qualifications,previous research experience,current research interests,other relative experience nCareer goalsnThe reason(s)why you want to join a certain institution/universitynRest
3、atement of your interest or goal(optional)How to Write a Personal Statement Personal Statement,also known as Statement of Purpose,Letter of Intent,or even Autobiographical Statement,is among the most important element in your application.Nonetheless,theyre all asking for the same five pieces of info
4、rmation.You should write:nWhat youd like to study or on which field you want to concentrate.nWhy you choose to such field.nWhat background you have in the field.nWhy you choose a particular school.nWhat you plan to do after you graduate.DosDos nDemonstrate your considerable dedication to earn a mast
5、ers and even a doctorate degree.nClearly state your reasons to choose a particular school.nHave someone else proofread your essay.DontsDonts nBring up topics to a prospective admissions committee.nExcessive words on your extracurricular activities.nReuse the same statement of purpose for each school
6、 you apply to.The Organization of a PSnPrevious research experiencenCurrent research interestsnOther relevant experiencenCareer goalsExplanation of the organization of PS1.In the first paragraph,you should state your purpose or interest in the specific program/degree or Position,often beginning with
7、 a catchy opening.2.In the subsequent two-four paragraphs,you should discuss any specific questions,from the application,which might deal with the strengths of the program or position,your background,to your interest in the program or position.3.In the closing paragraph,you may reiterate your intere
8、st in the institution or the specific program You might also mention how this degree is a step toward a long-term goal.Tips for writing a PSnPrepare your materials.nPersonalize your personal statement.nBe clear and concise.nWrite correctly.nRevise your personal statement.Sample Personal Statement in
9、 EngineeringProgram:Electrical EngineeringProgram:Electrical Engineering As early as a senior middle school student,I held in great adoration of Chengning Yang and Tsung-dao Lee,two most prominent Chinese-born physicists to have won Nobel Prizes.Thenceforward,I have cherished the constant aspiration
10、 of becoming a renowned physicist myself the way these two Nobel laureates did.Even one decade later,I can still recall the first experiment I did in the physics course.When a transmitter in one corner of the lab was connected with electricity,a little bulb connected to a reception antenna in anothe
11、r corner lit up.Though by no means dazzling in itself,this light with its stunning magic ushered me as if into a wonderland,a world replete with intriguing mysteries that only belong to the realm of physics.I believed that I belonged to this special world.That marked the turning point in my life and
12、 with it I commenced my quests for answers capable of unraveling those mysteries.With an unusually solid foundation in physics laid during senior middle school(I received straight As in virtually every physics exam),I entered the Physics Department of Dalian Marine University.By the time I graduated
13、 in four years,which could only be described as transitory,I found that I had become emotionally attached to this discipline.Realizing that undergraduate studies had only exposed me to the relatively fundamental knowledge of this subject,I embarked on a Masters program,through very competitive entra
14、nce examinations,in fiber-optical communication at the College of Telecommunication Engineering,the University of Beijing Posts and Telecommunications(UBPT).The moment I came into contact with this brand-new field represented by telecommunications(China tends to lag behind western countries in scien
15、tific and technological develop in any given field by many years or even decades),I was filled with excitement over the wonderful prospect that this industry could enjoy.I yearned to be satiated with new concepts,new knowledge,and new expertise and I devoted myself to my program with indefatigable e
16、fforts.To my regret,after completing our share of research responsibilities in the 863 Project under the direction of my supervisor,we had no further opportunities to participate in any meaningful projects.I had no alternative but to duplicate the Nonlinear Optical Loop Mirror and its Applications i
17、n OTDM System which had already been completed by scientists abroad and to verify their research findings by means of computer simulations.It was precisely those backward research conditions and the lack of challenging projects that prompted me to generate the idea of seeking further studies abroad.
18、I believed that the status quo would impose serious restrictions on the development of my intellectual capacities and on the exploitation of my academic potential.But for two years before I could bring my overseas studies into a reality,I worked at the leading enterprise in the countrys telecommunic
19、ations industryChina Telecom Beijing Branch Company.As broadband networks engineer and as technical support engineer,I was responsible for the design and operation of four major projectsConstruction of Broadband Integrate Services Experimental Network,Experiment and Construction of Broadband DSL Net
20、work in Beijing,Test of Timing Clock of Beijing SDH Networks and Equipment Selection for Beijing CDMA Wireless Network.My distinguished work performance resulted in my being sent to Marconi Companys American headquarters to receive professional trainings in ATM technology.Nevertheless,I still felt t
21、hat in a company environment work was routinized and technology lacked innovativeness,falling far short of my passions and ambitions.The work was meaningful only to the extent of serving as a means of livelihood.Refusing to be mired in a mediocre condition,I decided that the time had come for me to
22、pursue research work that I had always loved.Relying on my solid foundation in physics,my well-trained experimental skills and hands-on abilities that I developed over the heretofore studies and work,I succeeded in entering the University of Texas at Arlington(UTA).In the superior laboratory conditi
23、ons,for the first time in my life I had a proud feeling of being involved in real scientific research.When I see how my inspirations turn into reality in the laboratory,once again for the first time in my life I feel that I am creating a kind of wealth far more precious and valuable than money knowl
24、edge.I realized that I had made an absolutely correct decision to come to the United States.At the Center of Nanostructure Materials and Quantum Device Fabrication and Electro Optical Research Center,I have done two years coursework and one year and half lab research.They have significantly enhanced
25、 my ability to solve research problems independently.Since last year,I have conducted extensive experiments in the field of nanotechnology and Semiconductor and optoelectronic elements.Although the approaches and solutions I generate during those experiments frequently differ from those of my superv
26、isors in many important aspects,I have merited positive comments from him.I am fully confident that by the end of this year my research efforts would come into full fruition.Nevertheless,I still feel discontented.In retrospect,I developed a commitment to scientific research very early and have perse
27、vered under the spirit of this commitment.After my arrival in the United States,I realized that there is tremendous research potential in me to be tapped.All I need to do is to find an appropriate academic environment.Even UTA disappoints me in that I have been kept waiting for nearly four year befo
28、re I could embark on a major research project that promises important research findings.I have come to the conclusion that whether in China or in the United States it is simply a waste of time passively waiting for research projects.Consequently,the best course of action for me to take is to pursue
29、seek a Ph.D.program at one of the top American universities.The University of#comes on top of my priorities because it is a top ranking university in the United States itself and in the entire world.In the field of Electrical Engineering,in particular,it enjoys an unparalleled position.It offers man
30、y research-intense programs and the research environment is impeccable.I am deeply aware that for a person who seeks excellence and who wishes to achieve some innovative research results in Electrical Engineering,it is imperative that he or she plunge into an environment which is as challenging and
31、competitive as it is stimulating,promising the realization of ones ambitions.If admitted,I plan to take advantage of the research resources to their fullest extent and within 4 to 5 years achieve major breakthroughs in research based on what I have so far accomplished.I expect that this may lay a so
32、lid foundation for me to undertake lifelong research at some reputed research institutes of American universities or world-class companies like Intel and IBM.The conventional technology based in communication,control,data processing,signal processing,medical instrumentation and in mainstream compute
33、rs is in a transition from electronics to optoelectronics and optically enabled technologies.Future generations of integrated circuits,the foundation of current high technology infrastructure,are expected to incorporate significant optical functionality.I hope that my prospective studies at your pre
34、stigious universities can solidify my knowledge and bring into full play my latent intellectual capacities.I have experienced too many disappointments and frustrations and what I look for is some truly creative and innovative research work that can lead to important breakthroughs,which can permit me
35、 to join the rank of elitist scientists exemplified by Prof.Cheng ning Yang and Prof.Tsung-dao Lee whom I idolize.Useful Expressions and Sentence Patterns1.Family influencel Under the influence of my father,I aspired to practice medicine.l I am so grateful that I was born in to a happy family,in art
36、istic atmosphere,and fortunately,owing to encouragement from my parents,I was able to develop my interests and strived for a career in art.l As a child,I often accompanied my father to his small coin shop and spent hours watching him work.This experience instilled in me the desire to own and manage
37、my own business someday.l As my parents are professors,I started reading edifying books very early in my life,which gradually fostered my sound personalities.2.Your interest l Having majored in world literature as an undergraduate,I would like to concentrate on English and American literature.l My i
38、nterest in social science dates back to my years in college,where I had the opportunity to study a number of subjects in the humanities and they have been both enjoyable and enlightening,providing me with a new and different perspective on the world in which we live.l I am especially interested in t
39、he information technology industry.l Computing science and its applications have always fascinated me and for the reason,I have found my A-level courses extremely interesting.l To make myself more insightful,I need training in a broader theoretical framework.That is why I am now eager to pursue furt
40、her study in your program.l When I began my undergraduate career,I had the opportunity to be exposed to the full range of engineering courses,all of which tended to reinforce and solidify my intense interest in engineering.3.Objectives/career goalsl My sincerest desire is to become a computer scient
41、ist.Specifically,I am interested in exploring how problems can be modeled and solved using artificial intelligence.I also want to learn about human cognition and machine intelligence.l I wish to further my study in the field of American literature,working toward a masters degree at first,and then,if
42、 possible,toward a doctoral degree.l Much of what Ive encountered might easily have dissuaded me from seeking a career in law,but instead,I find that I am more eager than ever to prepare myself to become a lawyer.l In terms of career,I see myself teaching literature,writing criticism and editing or
43、publishing poetry.l Upon completing my academic goals,I shall return to continue my research in this field.l For the next three years,I hope to join a program that will impart a solid foundation in the science and technical practice of medicine,while maintaining a personal connection with the patien
44、ts.Eventually,I aspire to a career in academic medicine,which will allow me to increase my effectiveness as an educator and researcher.4.Education l I achieved a score of GPA 3.8,the highest among the 80 students in my grade.l In the four years study at Shandong University,I studied strenuously and
45、was awarded a prize which only students in the top five percent could obtain;l I performed successfully in all the major courses with a GPA of 3.8.l One year ago,I earned my undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering at Southwest University.lIn recognition of my outstanding record,I was selected
46、 to do a graduate program,exempt from the lMandatory entrance examination,a privilege given only to a few of the best students each year.lI was admitted to the graduate program at the Department of Management to further my studies,and I attained my masters degree in 2005.5.Academic/research experien
47、cel In Fudan University,I completed not only the program of mechanical and electronic engineering,but also all the core courses of telecommunication engineering.l As a mathematics major,I have developed the analytical proficiency that is necessary for working through complex problems.My courses in s
48、tatistics have especially prepared me for data analysis,and my more theoretical courses have taught me how to construct an effective argument.l By majoring in electrical engineering with a concentration on biomedical engineering,I have exposed to all facets of scientific and analytical disciplines,f
49、rom mathematics to circuit analysis.l I was chosen in June 2003 to work as a student research assistant to Prof.Lin Yuan at the Institute of Chinas Economy,Xiamen University.nMy recent work includes several articles dealing in various ways with consciousness in fiction:I am becoming increasingly int
50、erested in the idea of fictional“character”and in characterization.I should also admit to writing fiction of my own.My novel Aristotle Detective,first published in 1978,was translated into Italian in late 1999,and the event resurrected my fiction-writing career.It was such a“hit”in Italy that the pu
