Hi everyone
This board has been very helpful in writing my statement of purpose for my uni applications (postgrad studies in development studies) - especially the tutorial on how to write such a letter. The person I wanted to give it to for proof-reading and feedback, is currently defending her Phd and has absolutely no time... so I thouht, maybe I could get some feedback here? I would appreciate it very much!
Here's my draft:
Dear Sir or Madam,
With the
present statement of purpose I wish to support my application to the [name of
program] program offered by the [name of department or school] at the [name of
university].
This
summer I will be awarded my BA degree at the University of [name of current university] in
Switzerland, approximately ten years after my High-School peers. I cannot say that I've always wanted to study
international development. In fact, my rather late decision to pursue an
academic education is the result of a long and careful reassessment of my
career. I came to the point where I felt that my professional activity in the
field of business IT did not meet my personal ambitions to do something that
would make a difference for society in one way or the other. I realised, that I
needed a major career change and switched from business IT to human resources
process management as a first step in the process of redirecting my career in a
more humanitarian direction. After two
years of seriously re-evaluating my personal objectives, I came to the
conclusion that I want to aim at a career in development. My goal is to work
conceptually on programming and evaluating development projects for the United
Nations, a governmental development agency or an international NGO, wherever
possible taking a gendered perspective.
The next
and maybe most important step towards reaching this goal was to commence my
academic studies at the University of Fribourg. I adapted quickly to being a
student again and enjoy the encouraging and inspiring environment of a
university ever since. I have been studying Social work and Social Policy as a
major and Social Anthropology as a minor. My studies are focussed on social
policy, social research, gender issues, human rights and migration. I feel that
my choice of classes (please refer to my grade transcripts) provides me with a
broad and solid basis to specialise on development issues in my MA.
My BA
programme being highly research oriented, I have been able to acquire
considerable research skills working on our BA thesis on the labour situation
of clandestine migrant women in Switzerland and their coping strategies with
their precarious situation. Additionally I've been offered the opportunity to
conduct qualitative interviews for a project assessing the non profit sector in
Switzerland under the guidance of Prof. Dr. [name of professor] at the department
of Social Work and Social Policy at the [name of current university].
My
professional background provides me, in addition to specific knowhow, a variety
of skills beneficiary to my academic work as well as my future activity in
development. I learnt to take responsibility, how to handle
pressure and to meet deadlines, how to manage projects, to work in a team as
well as analytical thinking and communicational skills. Additionally I've been
able to develop leadership skills and gain experiences in university politics
in my positions as president of the students' equality commission and head of
communications department of my branches
student body committee.
When one
of the lecturers of an interdisciplinary gender studies seminar I attended in
fall term 2007 offered me the opportunity to attend the 52nd session of the UN
Commission on the Status of Women in New York this February, I grasped this
chance without hesitation. I was free to chose from all of the events offered
by international NGOs and permanent missions to the UN and took part in the NGO
consultation as well as in workshops like "Promoting Gender Equality and
the MDGs - Progress, Strategies and Finances", "...",
"..." and "...". Participation in these workshops further
strengthened me in my determination to become a development professional. I was
particularly impressed by the combination of academic understanding, personal
conviction and political mission noticeable at the conference.
I am
aware that reaching my goal will be highly competitive. Being a very targeted
and ambitious person, however, I'm determined to do my very best at working
towards it. The more lectures and seminars I've followed, the more I've read
during my BA studies, the more I've become aware of how little I actually know.
This understanding has further contributed to my determination to continue
learning as much as I can. I feel that
the international environment of the University of Bath as well as the
possibility offered by your MSc programme in international development of acquiring a solid understanding of different
perspectives and concepts in development before choosing my own areas of
special interest to focus on will prepare me in the best possible way for my
future plans.
As a
British citizen having lived outside of the UK most of my life, I would love to
accomplish at least one part of my education in my home country. Considering my broad academic foundation as well as my
professional background, I am confident
that I would make a suitable candidate to the [name of department]. I would be more than happy
if you could accept me to the [name of program] program this fall term. Thank
you very much for your time and for considering my application, I look forward
very much to your reply.
Yours sincerely,