Form of adress in letter of motivation

If it's a letter of motivation for studying abroad, "Dear Ms./sir/madame, etc" sounds rather silly.  "Sir and Madame" are titles that you use when you are writing to a company to complain about a defective product.  Why not say, "Dear Student," and adopt a warm and friendly tone throughout the letter.  "Sir and Madame" sound quite ridiculous nowadays for the most part, and have taken on sort of an aggressive tone, and are used more often to insult than to show respect.  Seeing them on a motivational letter would not be very motivational.

EDIT: Hmm.  After reading some of the other motivational letters, I think I might have misinterpreted what you need.  Wait until someone else responds before you take my advice.  I thought a motivational letter was something else.

Hi Anon,

I don't think you need to address the recipient of the letter at all if it's a personal statement. Referees typically write "To Whom It May Concern", but this might sound somewhat arrogant if written by the applicant himself/herself. Dear Sir/Madam would also be all right, and wouldn't sound silly at all in a context where you don't know that much about the admissions officer who is going to deal with your application.

Englishuser