I am writing to express my interest in applying for the PhD program in the University of Trento.
I was born 25 years ago in Bressanone, a little city in South Tyrol, where most of the people speaks only German; so from my infancy I started to learn a bit of German.
After the normal school, I studied Telecommunications Engineering, from 2002 to 2008, at the University of Trento, where I obtained first a bachelor's degree and after the master's degree. During my studies, I was sometime a curious student because I knew that to pursue a scientific career, one most begin early. I expect that the PhD position will contribute to my future career.
During the bachelor's carrier I understood which one were my prefer interests in the computer science's area, for example pattern recognition, machine learning and image/signal processing. So, with the professor Farid Melgani, I decided to write my first final thesis about the reconstruction of cloud-contaminated areas, in multispectral imagery with contextual techniques, like the Support Vector Machines (SVM).
In the second cycle of my studies (the master's degree), I learned more about pattern recognition and machine learning, but I researched also in other directions, like Data hiding and Automatic speech recognition and understanding. I spend also 6 months in Łódź, in Poland, for the Erasmus program; there I improved my English, and I started to learn the basis of the Polish grammar. With this experience I learned a lot about myself and about Polish and European people and culture. I also strengthened my conviction to be a scientist, and to learn more about other countries. Always during this second cycle of my studies I decided to write the final thesis, as well with the professor Melgani, about the prenatal cardiac monitoring, using a PSO-based (Particle Swarm Optimization) approach.
My aim after completing my master's degree was to continue my academic studies as I have always been an determined student, who thoroughly enjoys carrying out
research. So after finishing my studies, I worked as researcher/computer programmer for one year at the T.R.I.T.on (Trentino Research & Innovation for Tunnel Monitoring) project, at the Work-project 5, which deals at the Road Safety through Automatic Video surveillance. During this time, I worked in a development team, and I learned more about working with different people in varied disciplines.
I am eager to learn more, and I would be grateful for your consideration of my candidacy.

Here are a few quick reactions after reading your draft.

Much of it seems to be devoted to a review of your previous academic career. Is this not available elsewhere in youe application? Are you sending a CV, which would normally cover a lot of this information?

I feel that your letter needs to focus more on your future goals and plans, and on these questions.

Why do you want to do your PhD? 

Why do you want to do it in the particular field you have chosen?

In what way do you think you can contribute new knowledge in that field?

Why do you want to do it at Trento?

Best wishes, Clive