Application_and_personal_statement

1、Application and personal statement1. Format of application for academic exchangeA brief self-introduction, purpose of the letter/reasons for your choicenAcademic area/ interest, research worknOther related qualifications/skillsnRequesting information, financial supportnContact informationnCompliment

2、ary closenSignatureApplication letter for a working group Dear Dr. Ripley, I am a researcher at School of Material Engineering, Purdue University (self-introduction). I have devoted nearly five years to the study of how inexpensive housing can be made of native materials in Third World countries (ac

3、ademic area); I was intrigued by the recent accomplishments of you and your students in designing and providing “instant” housing to victims of the recent hurricane in Central America (interest). Therefore, I wish to learn about construction techniques of developing new structures in your working Gr

4、oup for six months, preferably during April through September (purpose ). n During the past three years, I have been an assistant to Dr. Graham Benson who has shared the rostrum with you at many academic and global conferences on housing in South Central African . Together we, along with a group of

5、students, have spent the past two summers showing people in South Central Africa how to mix a specially prepared binder developed by our research lab with local materials to make durable homes in a matter of days. I would truly like to have the opportunity to do research work in your group so as to

6、learn state-of-the-art technology in housing-building materials. (research work)n I would greatly appreciate it if you could send me more information about application at your earlier convenience. (complimentary close)nEnclosed: CV attached (contact information)Application letter for a graduate prog

7、ramnDear Mr. Williamsn I am a student in the Department of Physics, expecting to graduate with a bachelors degree in July next year (self-introduction). I am very much interested in pursuing a masters degree in Particle Physics at the Particle Physics Department of Oxford University (interest). From

8、 my review of graduate programs and discussion with my professors, I find that Oxford University has the largest particle physics group in the UK, with a large academic and support staff. I intend to enter in autumn of 2007. (purpose) n In my undergraduate years, I have worked hard. As you can see f

9、rom my curriculum vitae, my GPA in major courses is 3.8/4.0 and I have remained top 5% of about 100 students. I have also worked with Dr. Liu Wei and Professor Luo Lei on research topics like the applied physics at the enterprise level (research work). Because of my excellence in study and research,

10、 I have been awarded scholarships three times. In addition, I am well-prepared linguistically to further my studies in the UK. My IELTS is 7.5 and my GRE is 1300.(related qualifications/skills) I would be grateful if you would send me thenapplication forms for admission and financial support at your

11、 earliest convenience. Thank you for your consideration. (purpose) Application letter for attending a conferencenDear Dr. Nelson,n I am a PH.D. candidate in a School of Environmental Science and Engineering China of Shandong University, P. R. China.nI have heard from Prof. Wang Dongliang that the In

12、ternational Conference on Cities and Conversation will be held in the University of California, September 1-5, 2007. I am writing to you about the possibility of attending the forthcoming conference.n I am currently doing research in Prof. Wangs working group on water pollution prevention technology

13、 and water reuse, the area that I have always been interested in. I believe that attending such a conference will provide me with a very good opportunity to exchange ideas and expertise with attendees from different parts of the world and, more importantly, to learn from them.n I would be grateful i

14、f you send me more information about application form and financial support.n I look forward to your early reply.Useful expressionsnOpeningnI am a researcher/ a Ph. D. candidate at.nI learned from. That the conference will .nPurposenI am writing to apply for/inquiring aboutnI wish to attend.nResearc

15、h interests/areasnMy research is concerned primarily with.nMy study field includesnResearch worknCurrently I am involved innI have been undertaking. on .nI have been engaged innI have devoted . to the study ofnExpectation of academic exchangenAttending will provide me with a very good opportunity to

16、 nA continuous exchange of ideas as well as interaction among colleagues will enable me to keep up to date with new advances nFinancial supportnMy trip to the UK will be financed bynIf possible, I wish to obtain a scholarship .nRequesting information/materialsnI would appreciate it if nI would be gr

17、ateful ifnEnclosuresnPlease refer to my enclosed CV for details.nI am enclosing my CV, together with my photographs.n.2. Personal Statement (PS)n 耶魯(Yale)大學(xué)這樣解釋入學(xué)申請(qǐng)中P的重要性：“你的成績(jī)、簡(jiǎn)歷以及推薦信所能告訴我們的信息是有限的。通過(guò)你的個(gè)人陳述，我們尋找的是申請(qǐng)者自己的價(jià)值，以及他是如何看問(wèn)題的，我們尋找的是思維上和表達(dá)上的清晰”?？梢哉f(shuō)， 它為申請(qǐng)者提供了一個(gè)展示 “真正的你”、“最佳的你”的機(jī)會(huì)。2.1 What is a

18、personal Statement?n It is also named Academic Statement , is a good supplement to both the rsum and the cover letter. It is often regarded as the third important document in the process of application for a post in an institution.n A personal statement usually provides more freedom for an applicant

19、 to talk about his/ her past experience, interest and goals. A personal statement differs from a rsum in that it is an account of ideas rather than a list of facts to prove that you are the right person they are seeking for. 2.2What are the requirements for a good PS?n A good PS is concise and it is

20、 usually kept within 500 words.n A good PS only contains a number of selected key points in its structure.n A good PS shows that the applicant has a good reason for his/her choice and a clear purpose for his/her future.n A good PS supports every statement or self-evaluation with specific examples or

21、 convincing facts.n A good PS should be both self-confident and modest.2.3 Format of personal statementsn Your purpose/interest in the particular school , program, or position;n Background information supporting your interest or purpose: academic qualifications, previous research experience, current

22、 research interests, other relative experiencen Your future career plan or target.n The reason (s) why you want to join a certain institution/university2.4 Features of a Personal Statement nIt differs from a cover letter in that a PS usually provides more freedom for the applicant to talk about his/

23、her past experience, interests and goals.nIt differs from a cover letter in that a PS is an account of ideas rather a list of facts.nIt is not autobiography. 2.5 Guidelines for a Personal Statement 1) Make it concise usually within 500 words relevant to the desired goal.2) Enrich the cover letter or

24、 CV by elaborating the selected key points.3) Support every statement or self-evaluation with specific examples and convincing facts.4) Tell who you are, set yourself apart from others.5) Be assertive and confident, but modest and down to earth. (avoid excessive self-praise and high-sounding adjecti

25、ves) e.g. outstanding, superb, exceptional, diligent 2.5 Three Common Aspects of Personal Essay Topics1. To evaluate a significant experience or achievement that has special meaning to you.2. To discuss some issue of personal, local, national or international concern and its importance to you.3. To

26、indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you and describe that influence.Personal statement For English and American Literature Having majored in literary studies as an undergraduate, I would like to concentrate on English and American literature. (purpose/interest in the particular

27、program/position)n I am especially interested in 19th-century literature, womens literature, Anglo-Saxon poetry, and folklore and fork literature. My personal literary projects have involved some combination of these subjects. For the oral section of my comprehensive exams, I specialized in 19th-cen

28、tury novels by and about women. The relationship between ”high” and folk literature became the subject of my honor essays, which examined Toni Morrisons use of classical, African, and Afro-American folk tradition in her novel. I plan to work further on this essay, treating Morrisons other novels and

29、 perhaps preparing a paper suitable for publication.n(background information supporting your interest or purpose, previous research experience, current research interests, other relative experience) In my studies toward a doctoral degree, I hope to examine more closely the relationship between “high

30、” and folk literature. My junior year and private studies of Anglo-Saxon language and literature have encouraged me to consider the divisions between folklore, folk literature, and “high” literature. Should I attend your school, I would like to resume my studies of Anglo-Saxon poetry, with special a

31、ttention to its folk elements. (Career goals)n Writing poetry also figures prominently in my academic and professional goals. I have just begun submitting to the smaller journals with some success and I am gradually building a working manuscript for a collection. The dominant theme of this collectio

32、n relies on poems that draw from classical and folk traditions, as well as everyday experience, in order to celebrate the process of giving and taking life, whether literal or figurative. My poetry draws from and influences my academic studies. Much of what I read and study finds a place in my creat

33、ive work as subject. At the same time, I study the art of literature by taking part in the creative process, experimenting with the tools used by other authors in the past. (Career goals)n In terms of a career, I see myself teaching literature, writing criticism, and going into editing or publishing

34、 poetry. Doctoral studies would be valuable to me in several ways. First, your teaching assistantship program would provide me with the practical teaching experience I am eager to acquire. Further, earning a Ph.D. in English and American literature would advance my other two career goals by adding t

35、o my skills, both critical and creative , in working with language. (reason why you want to join a certain institution/university)n Ultimately, however, I see the Ph.D. as an end in itself, as well as a professional stepping stone; I enjoy studying literature for its own sake and would like to conti

36、nue my studies on the on the level demanded by the Ph.D. program. (restatement of your interest or goal )2.4 Questions to Ask Oneself Before Writing1) What is most unusual, distinctive or impressive about me?2) Have I overcome any unusual obstacles or hardships?3) Are there any special qualities or

37、skills that set me apart from others as a successful graduate school candidate?4) When did I become interested in my field of study and what have I learned about it.3. Personal EssaynSome foreign universities require applicants to provide not a PS, but a descriptive essay on a certain topic in order

38、 to help them evaluate an applicants personality or individuality. Such an assay is often called a personal essay. Samples of Personal Essay QuestionsnWhat one person has had the most significant influence on your life?nWhat is your greatest achievement and why do you consider this an achievement?nWhat was your most significant leadership experience?nIf you were to write a book, on what theme or subject matter would it be based and why?nAttach a small photograph of something important to you and explain its significance.nAssume you are at a position to ask