XXXX University is my first choice for graduate school towards the MA Degree in Asian Studies for a variety of reasons, most importantly the fact that there are several faculty members at XXXX whose research dovetails nicely with my own research aspirations for the future. The Bay Area is also where I want to be because I am an activist for the LGBT community. I am committed to studying the cause of modernization in my country, China, particularly with respect to issues of gender and sexual orientation. I feel strongly that my undergraduate studies have prepared me for excellence as a graduate student in Asian Studies at XXXX. I want to promote greater social equality in China in particular – and Asia more generally speaking - for a host of discriminated and marginalized groups, rural-urban immigrants, sex workers, gay people, “left-over women” (women who are still unmarried after the age of 28), etc. Closely observing recent processes of legalization of same-sex marriage in Taiwan as well as Germany has me enthused with respect to our hopes for mainland China. Gay people in China suffer from different degrees of social discrimination at the hands of both the State and private individuals and groups. For many of those who choose to embrace their identities, family issues, mental illness, workplace discrimination and harassment etc., continue to plague them, which may lead to distorted lives for them and their surroundings. As a result of pressure to continue the family line, for example, many gay men lie to straight women about their sexual orientation in the hope that their proposals of marriage will be accepted, and an heir produced to appease their parents. The result is traumatic for everyone involved, the gay man at the center, the woman duped into a false marriage, their respective families, and any children that might result from such a marriage, all locked in a cruel charade. There is a lot of work to be done in China before the validity of same-sex marriage is recognized. Yet, I look forward to consistent, yet gradual, increases in human liberty and the recognition of human rights in this regard. At the current stage, the Chinese State is not the key issue for most LGBT groups in China. Rather, these groups tend to focus more on the area of public opinion, addressing what is seen as a lack of understanding and communication between the minority and the majority. China has a lot of “coming out” to do, not just gay people coming out to their parents, but also parents coming out to the public through their public acceptance of their gay children. I look forward to an in-depth analysis of the many ways in which Chinese people are becoming more flexible with respect to gender issues. Thus, it would be a special honor for me to study under Professor ____ whose primary research focuses on the role of transnational capital in the transformation of (East) Asian societies. I also profoundly admire the work of Professor ____ that deals with the centrality of social identity, especially relevant for China. I find his reflections on the fluidity of the “social self” to be especially inspiring. I seek a full immersion as well in social media, the Internet, and the role of state censorship in China. Thus, studying under Professor Xiao Qiang would be another dream made reality at Berkeley, learning everything that I can, in particular, about the role of Chinese public opinion. Naturally, I hope to focus my research in this area on online LGBTQ communities in China and obstacles they may face due the state censorship and control of the internet. Finally, the work of Professor ____ in Comparative Literature could round out the interdisciplinary flavor of my education at Berkeley, putting her concept of ‘gender performativity’ to the test in the Chinese arena. I want to dedicate myself to researching social issues in China, organizing like-minded people for progressive issues in a human-centric manner, so as to maximize our spiritual and moral as well as material lives. Despite a timeless prohibition in China of gay relations and the fact that the Communist State has always heavily promoted heteronormativity, same-gender attraction has never stopped thriving in numerous ways, always there as an undercurrent beneath the surface and most often in the closet. This itself breeds social disfunction, perpetuates unhealthy stereotypes, and does nothing for social progress towards a more harmonious society, supposedly, the central goal in China. The strict one-child policy from the Maoist era is no longer with us. Now China allows families to have two children if one of the parents is an only child. This new two-child policy is designed to address the issue of aging in China. Among a host of issues in which I look forward to engaging is the lingering, widespread presence of female infanticide due the traditional preference – and aggravated by the one-child policy – of Chinese people for having a son instead of a daughter, particularly when they are allowed only one child. Family, sex, traditional values, and national policy are all entangled together in complex webs of social injustice and disfunction with repression breeding social and moral decay. Myself and my colleagues in the Chinese LGBT community have great hope that more liberal policies will take hold regarding sexuality in China, not so much because this is what justice requires, but because it is good for business and the economy. MA Asian Studies Personal Statement Pursuing Equality in China

Sitting in the corner, ragged and tremulous, an old beggar was reaching out for money. Feeling heavy with empathy, even though I was only ten, I asked my mom why my grandparents lived comfortably while this elderly beggar had to suffer being homeless, kotowing and begging for his life? Calmly, mom said: "it is just the realistic face of society." This is Chinese reality, but do we deserve it? Can it be changed? Soon, I began to find answers for myself. From campus journalist in middle school to a journalist trainee for the China Youth Daily, I devoted myself to learning all that I could about reality and improving it in my way. To better supervise the formation and operation of public policy, I examined how employment was related to political affiliation and achievement. Since we are the creators of millions of mansions in the sky, why can't we provide shelter for homeless people in the city?" I felt angry and helpless but could not shake my keen sense of responsibility, as if this situation were at least partly my fault. So, I continued to daydream about becoming a critical journalist with an incisive mind skilled at denouncing injustice and inequality in Chinese society. I wanted to help all Chinese people to see and understand how and why they were also responsible for the happiness or misfortune of their neighbors and that we need to improve our society to improve our individual lives. Thanks to my major, independent study of comparative philosophy, I moved forward from a simple phenomenological investigation to theoretical thinking, examining theories of freedom, democracy, and equality in ethics, as well as Confucianism, Legalism, and a variety of traditions in Chinese moral philosophy, giving me more insight into social ideals. Learning in a variety of disciplines, especially economics and social psychology, enabled and inspired my critical thinking about Chinese realities from interdisciplinary perspectives. I began to pay particularly close attention to widely held visions of Chinese democracy, transnational supervision of Chinese human rights, and Chinese participation in the regulation of international trade. I began to locate China in the context of the moral issues that I was grappling with, as a contender, a Cold War adversary, and an economic miracle of development with growing power on the world stage. Earning the MA Degree in East Asian Studies at XXXX University can help me to achieve all my professional goals. Europe's highly developed social system and high-quality academic environment will not only offer me a firsthand experience of democracy and a free market economy, but also contribute objectivity and creativity to my research into Chinese ideological and political control. Your courses represent exactly what I want to study, carry on my previous interest, and help shape my future career as a Chinese investigate journalist. Believing in the power of communication, I will strive to be an emissary between China and Europe, promoting advanced ideas from both sides. In this way, I will achieve my central goal of lending strength to those lacking it and enabling the inspired to push forward with their dreams. Master's in South East Asian Studies A Personal Statement

A few years ago, I was sitting in the former Rubel Library at XXXX University with my classical Chinese tutor and we made an electrifying discovery.  We solved a mystery of two versions of an eighteenth-century painting scroll depicting eight scenes of ghosts, by the artist, Luo Pin (1733-1799). At that moment, the power of Luo Pin’s creative imagination enabled me in a flash of inspiration to see the complexity and enigma of Chinese history and culture.  It was at this moment when I came to clearly understand what I most wanted to emulate in my life, Luo Pin’s example as an artist, philosopher, and teacher. My long-term career goal is to become a “professor in practice,” where I will publish scholarly and critical writing, hold a teaching position at an art school or research university, and continue to produce and exhibit my artwork. I believe that the Ph.D. program in the History of Art at XXXX will provide me with the optimal environment to accomplish my goals. If I am accepted to your program, I plan to draw on the diverse expertise of the XXXX art history faculty for inspiration.  For example, I plan to continue to study Asian art with my master’s thesis advisor, Prof. XXXX. I also plan to study specifically with Prof. XXXX. While I am interested in continuing to conduct research in the history of Chinese visual culture, I am equally if not even more eager to study current trends in international art. In light of installation art’s current dominance of the gallery and museum exhibition spaces around the world, one idea that I am formulating is an examination of the emergence of installation art as a ‘global’ style--similar to the “International Style” of architecture that emerged after WWI--using the work of Chinese-born artist, Chen Zhen (1955-2000), as a case study. The most formative experience of my adult life was my participation in the 1987 Duke Study in China program.  I was fortunate to be in China during an exceptionally open time, well after the end of the Cultural Revolution, but before the economic constriction that led to the Tiananmen Square incident of 1989.  I studied and traveled extensively throughout the country and, in short, lived, breathed, and drank in the local flavor of China.  The trip left me with a deep wonder and abiding respect for Chinese art and culture. My subsequent trips to Asia were also important.  After college, I moved to Taipei to continue independent study of Chinese language.  Amid teaching English as a second language and writing for a bilingual magazine dedicated to improving the environment, Simple Earth, I directed and produced a 15-minute video on urban pollution called “Evernocs.”  I later spent five weeks traveling around Japan: visiting Kyoto, Nara, Tokyo, among other important cultural places.  I returned to a rapidly modernizing China in 1995 for five weeks to participate as a technical official for “The Tour of China” professional cycling race. Perhaps the most valuable outcome of my experiences living in Far East Asia so far has been gaining an acute sense of the rapidly changing global contexts of how we perceive and understand the west vis à vis the east. Experiences outside of graduate studies have been invaluable to me in terms of further developing my interdisciplinary interests and solidifying my decision to pursue a doctorate.  Over the past few years, I have taken numerous art courses at MIT, RISD, Mass College of Art, Harvard, and the Museum School, which have provided me with a good grasp of the inside culture and teaching styles of distinguished art schools.  I have also written art criticism for Art New England and the NY Arts Magazine.  This engagement has further intensified my passion for ‘seeing’ art and sharpened my skills of close observation and interpretation.  On the other hand, working for several years as an assistant to Prof. Philip Heymann at Harvard Law School has brought me into close contact with critical issues of criminal justice, international law, and human rights, and given me critical insights into the challenges lying ahead to preserve liberties in times of political violence and terrorism.  This experience has inspired me to incorporate these issues as part of my own critical consciousness as a theoretician and as an artist. Finishing two graduate programs, one in history at Harvard and the other in studio art at the Art Institute of Boston, has left me very highly motivated to pursue a Ph.D. in the history and theory of visual arts. My thesis project at Harvard, “Seeing Ghosts in Late Eighteenth-Century China in Luo Pin’s 1766 Guiqu tu (Ghost Realm Amusements) Scroll,” required translation of classical Chinese texts.  Thus, I spent a year working closely with a Chinese tutor, Zhu Hong, a post-doctoral researcher from the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.  Together, we translated colophons from the scroll as well as large sections of the artist’s writings on his philosophical beliefs gleaned from Buddhism and Confucianism that had never been available in English. My thesis won the Allan R. Crite Prize for “singular dedication to learning and the arts,” an accomplishment that not only capped off a stage of radical personal growth but convinced me to work on developing my thesis for publication. My course of study in the MFA program at the Art Institute of XXXX, meanwhile, was not only greatly beneficial to my development as a visual artist, but was invaluable in terms of deepening my understanding of contemporary art. The field of visual arts is at a critical juncture. The current generation of curators eloquently supports “newness” as they see it, most notably in new media arts and installation art and increasing numbers of artists are becoming engaged in those art practices.  On the other hand, on parallel tracks, there is also a rapid intensification of the construction of new museums and building additions to older ones around the world.  These phenomena, coupled with the rapidly growing strata of international art fairs as well as international biennales and triennials add to a visibly confused if not chaotic stage of art appreciation. Therefore, I see a great need for artists to have vast working knowledge of art history and theory. I understood that need some years ago, and that is why I am so enthusiastic about the possibility of embarking on the Doctoral Program in Art History at XXXX. Such training will help me to enhance my artistic and philosophical dialogue with one of the chief sources of my inspiration, Luo Pin. PhD Art History Chinese Visual Culture Statement

My educational background is quite diverse. I spent my last three years at the XXXX College Australia and have successfully finished year 12 there. My choices of subjects reflected the diversity of my interests - English, Mathematics, International Studies, Legal Studies, and Economics. I excelled in International Studies and was awarded Academic Merit. Upon my return to Surabaya at the start of year 1999, I attended IBMT (Institute of Business Management and Technology), an International University which follows the United States curriculum, at which I majored in International Management. The subjects I took were Accounting I and II, Sociology, Psychology, World Civilization, English Composition, Public Speaking, and Organizational Management. I finished the semester with a GPA of 3.6. The excellent quality of your university, as well as helpful teachers and friends, have contributed immensely to my success. In the classroom I can do much more than to warm the seat; I can add a lot to class discussions. As I have grown older and more mature, I have begun to realize the value and significance of helping others and contributing to my surrounding community. I was involved in many clubs and social activities such as the United Nations Youth Conferences, Geelong Radio Station, Peer Education Street Theatre, 40 Hours Famine Committee, Amnesty International, a badminton club and basketball club. I also value very much my work experience at Weighton and MacDonald's Law Firm Geelong. My greatest accomplishment in social activities is to be one of the two students in my school selected and awarded scholarship of AUD 1000 to attend the National Youth Reconciliation Conference in Darwin, Australia. After I returned to Indonesia, I became an active member of the Rotary Club and The British Council. These extra-curricular experiences have provided me with a balance for rigorous schoolwork and further developed my interests and talents while serving others. Living in Geelong, a small yet cosmopolitan city in Australia has helped me to develop rapidly interpersonally. The experience of living in such sharp contrast to my life in Surabaya, Indonesia, has given me a broader view of the world and the ability to adapt to a different culture which every international student must possess. Living isolated from Indonesian speakers has also made my English improve surprisingly fast. I'm a blend of two contrasting lifestyles, and my thoughts, ideas, and actions reflect this blend. If it were not for my parents giving me the opportunity to study in Australia, I wouldn't have been so privileged to have such an educational background. After finishing senior school, I would like to fulfill a lifelong wish, which is to study Asian Studies and International Studies. Indonesian reformation will open immense international relations opportunities in near future. I aspire to work closely with the United Nations and to be involved in Indonesia's international affairs. This is why I believe that an Asia Pacific Studies degree at XXXX University would be the perfect course for me. There are three specific reasons why I want to study at XXU, Japan. First, I wish to receive a high-quality Asia Pacific Studies degree. Second, I hope to take full advantage of one of the leading Japanese Universities to excel at my studies Third, I desire to experience multicultural exposure and dynamic learning environment once again. I'm aware that Asia Pacific Studies is a degree which develops many skills and covers facts that are valued and relevant in many walks levels of society, whichever route I decide to take, I can be sure that the study will equip me with the necessary skills to continue to acquire new knowledge and understanding throughout my lifetime. I believe that the combination of my experiences and academic knowledge will qualify me as a candidate for graduate school in Asian Studies. Studying is what I do best, and in Japan I will have the perfect opportunity to excel at it. Exemplary Southeast Asian Studies MA Statement of Purpose

Throughout my academic and professional careers, I have maintained over a decade of conceptual continuity, developing myself as an artist and an international art industry professional. Indeed, my entire life has been spent living in many different countries across three continents, and later, through my work with interior architects and designers, work which took me around the world. My passion has always been in the visual and performing arts, as culture is the most beautiful and direct experience that touches people's minds and souls. I feel that everyone should have opportunities to experience culture and be touched by artists' ideas and aesthetics. Currently, I have exhausted every opportunity for promotion and experience at my academic level. I crave the opportunity to gain further academic and professional knowledge that only a quality educational institution can provide. I bring years of practical experience in international art promotion, sales, design, and management. My experiences and background will add to the rich tapestry of a metropolitan university, and I am genuinely excited to begin my work. While I currently live in Southeast Asia, I am anxious once again to immerse myself in a new and diverse culture. For me, the cultural surroundings of an educational institution are just as important as the school's reputation. London is a city that is teeming with cultural events. More than this, I was impressed by the city's response to the arts. There seemed to be an exhibition or musical performance everywhere, and the public's response was enthusiastic, with local citizens, tourists, and students taking advantage of the events. Combined with this was the omnipresent influence of governmental sponsorship and level of involvement in the arts. And what is an artist or group of artists without their public, their leaders' support, without the need for their creative spirit, their reflections of the most profound truths, and what it truly means to be alive right now? It is to this end that I pursue higher education. My contributions to the art and cultural worlds will be to create, develop and direct a management company for visual artists, actively seeking out burgeoning artists. I will be able to utilize my battery of contacts and friends in the field, as well as extensive experience and education, to do justice to rising talents. I have already learned that young artists need more than just a white wall or an empty pedestal to display their work. Artists need guidance from grants and appropriate venues for their work to gain recognition on local, regional, and even global levels to reach the right dealers and patrons of art. Additionally, artists need guidance to organize and collaborate with other artists, sharing experiences, ideas, and forums in which to plan. While serving artists is intrinsic to my plans, an artist without their public is lost. The public must be reached out to and educated, exposing them to the enjoyment and experience of culture. Education need not be programming or 'medicine'; instead, it is about leading people to become more aware of their cultural happenings. The public often lacks the appreciation of what art can do for their mind and soul, something that needs to be experienced, over and above purchased consumer durable goods. A cultural education is to change the public's perspective on culture. I look forward to the opportunity to develop myself as a creative leader for art, artists, and the public they reflect and challenge. Your time and consideration are appreciated, and I eagerly await a personal interview. Crafting a Purposeful MFA Visual Arts Statement

“What is the essential role of economics in each country’s social life? Why have many proven theories of economics failed to apply to China’s economic conditions?” Those are just some of the questions that I constantly pose to myself during the past few years of my undergraduate program in economics at XX University of China. Economics, as a rigorous system of generalized models that aim to be universally applicable, has repeatedly proved its efficacy in explaining general issues in economic life. But when applied to the specific economic issues in a particular country or region, its value becomes seriously undermined due to the distortions and interventions resulting from such factors as historical tradition, social conventions, and political system. As a Chinese student, I have an especially strong feeling about this situation. In the special and complicated social environment which is China, the lack of an in-depth understanding of the non-economic factors that affect the present social and economic life of the country makes it difficult for me to devote to the study of economics as my lifelong career, even though my academic training is designed to prepare me for such a career. I simply do not see much realistic significance or feel any true motivation. Such a dilemma has led me to considerable confusion because my initial intention in choosing economics as my major was to gain insights into many fundamental problems of China by applying analysis of economics. It is such a delight for me to find that the University of XX offers master's program in East Asian Studies, which is characterized by a wide coverage of research subjects and practical applicability of research findings. This is the very solution to my present dilemma and frustration, hence my determined application for this master's program. As early as my middle school education, I have developed a strong interest in social studies and have demonstrated a correspondingly outstanding academic performance in the relevant subjects — history, political science, and philosophy. When I entered senior middle school, I chose to concentrate on humanities and with due efforts I succeeded in becoming the top student in my grade. By the time I graduated from the school, I was given the special privilege to enter XX University of China, arguable the best university in China in social sciences, with the exemption from the otherwise requisite national university entrance examination. I chose to major in economics, a subject that I then thought could enable me to make direct contributions to the improvement of social welfare. In the heavy and competitive coursework, I relied on diligent efforts and effective study strategies to achieve a high overall GPA (4.4)，with particularly satisfactory performance in the specialty-related courses, which can be indicated by the scores in my academic transcript. My solid academic foundation I have laid in economics will serve as a useful steppingstone leading me to an equally outstanding performance in my proposed degree program in East Asian Studies. While concentrating on economics, I continued with my special love for other subjects of social science and have tried, through self-education, attending optional courses and even auditing, to broaden my overall academic horizon by venturing into sociology, Asian history, and philosophy. I also learned how to search for useful information out of a bewildering wealth of technical materials in the library and to make full use of the library resources to carry out some tentative research. In addition, I volunteered to take part in research projects headed by some of my teachers to maintain my persistent interest in broad sociological issues and to improve my ability to perform standard academic research. Under such circumstances, it is easy to comprehend how excited I am when I discover that the program of East Asian Studies will allow me to combine my professional knowledge of economics with my research interest in broad sociological issues in East Asia. As a student from China, I have a deep understanding of China’s thousands of years of historical and cultural traditions. I have a deep understanding about the social and economic realities of other East Asian countries. My knowledge about the East Asia will be my unique asset in undertaking this program in East Asian Studies. While feeling very proud of the rapid social and economic development of China over the past two decades, I am also deeply concerned about some inherent social and economic issues of China such as unemployment, the rich-poor polarity, the failure to fully implement the rule of law, the slow progress in political reform, the unbalanced social and economic development between the eastern and the western regions of the country, the status of ethnic minorities, and loss of traditional values and moral standards, etc. Underneath the increasing material prosperity lie some alarming social problems. I would also like to explore the successes and failures of traditional Eastern Asian culture in the modernization campaigns. I am convinced that it is pointless simply being worried about the existing problems and blaming people for those problems. It is more important for me to acquire the necessary academic foundation whereby to search for effective solutions to those problems. I have long admired your esteemed university for its significant achievements in the teaching and research of East Asian Studies. I believe that in the academic environment of your university, which is at once liberal and rigorous, and under the effective guidance of my prospective supervisor, my interest and research potential will be given the fullest development. In addition, your instructive teaching will allow me to perform creative research concerning the subjects I am interested in. My Oriental background, my experience of the social and economic development of China—the largest East Asian country—over the past decade, and my academic foundation across a diversity of academic fields will all render me a competitive applicant for your well-respected program. My only wish is that my application will be seriously and favorably considered. Chinese Student's Purpose Master's in East Asian Studies

From an early age, my mother was my role model, and mentor. She managed a real estate company and introduced me to the rudiments of investment, finance, business, the very mechanisms that drive an economy. She would share her business experiences with me and placed the seeds of ambition, and critical thinking in my developing mind. What began as a dream, imagining myself in an exciting and dynamic world that would stimulate my mind, turned into ambition as I helped in the family business, laying the necessary foundation for my future in Economics. Indeed, from the time I was in middle school, I have kept my eye firmly on a future in Economics, to be a part of the machine that acts as the clockwork of entire countries, even the world. My ambition turned into drive, and I succeeded in getting into the finest high school in Dalian, China, my hometown. Dalian has a reputation of being a model city in China, but it is so much more than just a beautiful city. It is an example of what careful planning, ambition, and focus can accomplish. Being immersed in Dalian's aspiring culture was infectious and I am proud to have grown up there. Completing half of my high school education in China and the remainder of my education in America has impressed upon me the value of a quality education, and so I gave everything I had, and practiced my English as much as possible. English is an international language, even in China, which enjoys one of the fastest growing economies in the world, second only to the United States and needs quality researchers and economists to help point or lead the way to ensure China's economic growth and future. I aim to fill this need, completing my education in the US, focusing on Global Economic Research, and going on to work in a multinational capacity. The ideal would be for me to work for one of the foremost investment banks, acting as an investment manager, helping clients make the most of their portfolios as I build my experiences to be applied later to larger projects and pursuits. I have lived and seen firsthand how existing Chinese business practices are being forced to adapt or simply become defunct or absorbed by progress. For the future, I anticipate making valuable contributions to economic thought, ensuring the continued growth of Chinese businesses, and making positive contributions to good business practices, injecting critical guidance for successful projects. Throughout my time in education, even at a youthful age in China, America's educational institutions and their reputation are well-known. Coming to America was a choice for investing in my future, to increase my academic foundation, and give my ambition the requisite knowledge it needs to bring my dreams to fruition. Having lived, worked, and been educated in two different countries, in truth, two different continents, has expanded not only my world view but my ability to not only speak two languages competently, but also, and more importantly, interact effectively with people of differing backgrounds, cultures and creeds. Moreover, I have traveled throughout China Beijing, Shanghai, Hainan, Hong Kong, and Japan. If my future is truly to be in a multinational research environment, it will no doubt have an international dynamic that I will be better equipped to meet the needs and challenges of. It will be one more facet of my abilities wherever I may choose to bring my skills to. While ambition and drive are two critical elements necessary to be successful in academics and research work, I am aware of how multidisciplinary Economics truly is. With my background in business, love of Mathematics and proven ability in Economics, I am a strong candidate for XXX's Economics program. Throughout my academic career, I have challenged and pushed myself to be the best student that I can be. I have no fear of public speaking, despite English not being my arterial language. My confidence comes from my certainty that I have done all I can to grasp, digest and apply course material. And academic challenges are personal challenges for me, seeing me completing a 2-year program in 18 months, six months less than students who speak English as a first language, and completing four classes in a six-week winter semester, achieving a perfect GPA at the same time. When academic outlines are clearly laid out, I know what I must do, they become my personal goals, and I always achieve them. To be successful in procuring research opportunities, there is a need for healthy competition. Competition not only ensures your own professional future, but that of others around you; it is how economies evolve and grow. Even in my leisure time, playing sports, I am an incredibly competitive and well-rounded player. While it is all wholesome fun, and keeps my body healthy, I always play to win; it is in my nature, who I am, and I make no apologies for it. My skill in soccer alone opened the door to the finest high school in my hometown. I fully intend on keeping this aspect of my life alive, managing my time as I always have between academics and my sports life. More than this, I have a keen sense of family. I owe to my family my love of economics, finance, business, mathematics, growing up with my mother as my role model, an ambitious and mold breaking, successful woman. I have received many gifts from my parents, an analytical mind, a sense of responsibility, and a sense of where I want to go in life. My parents sacrifice for my future will never be in vain. In truth, thanks to my mother's example, I see that I can make societal contributions, helping those that are struggling financially utilize what they have but also invest not only in their future, but our collective futures. I am genuinely excited about my future as an Economics major and look forward to the opportunity to develop myself as a creative leader in Global Economic research. Your time and consideration are appreciated, and I eagerly await a personal interview. Economics Personal Purpose Statement Ambitious Chinese Economist

I am a young Russian woman who is eager to get a degree in business from a distinguished program in Germany. I have always admired German culture and achievements; that is why I worked extremely hard my entire life to arrive at the point where I can say that I am fluent in German. I am most proud of this achievement, and I want to put it to effective use professionally. I also want the prestige associated with a German education, the world-wide recognition.  At least from a Russian perspective, German education is the best in Europe. Obtaining a degree in business from a distinguished German university will open a considerable number of career opportunities in my native Russia, where German-educated applicants for employment positions tend to be favored. My professional dream is to run my own business in the travel industry. I have already acquired tourism industry knowledge, but it is not enough to open my own travel agency. I feel the necessity to get profound knowledge in the areas of marketing, finance and accounting, management, and statistics which I will be able to gain by studying at your program. I especially admire the way that your university has fully embraced internationalism for well over a century, long before it was fashionable to do so. This is especially powerful for me when coupled to your emphasis on cutting-edge technology. I see XXXX as a seat of progress, and one of the world’s foremost centers of research and development, the perfect launching pad to global opportunity. XXXX University is my first choice for studying towards the BSc in International Business because of the unique opportunities that your program offers, its global orientation and highly diverse student body. I keenly look forward to practicing the art of cross-cultural communication and learning from my colleagues from all over the world. Finally, I also appreciate how your program provides its students with the opportunity to acquire not only theoretical knowledge, but also practical experience through participation in an internship. I have been working as a travel agent for the past 2 years and this experience has allowed me to spend significant periods of time in many places, thereby greatly enhancing my multicultural and multilingual experiences in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Malta, Croatia, Finland, Estonia, Spain, France, Switzerland, Germany, and Turkey.  I was in Turkey and Cyprus on a familiarization (FAM) tour. FAM tours are organized for travel agents to gain experience in a certain region, the hotels in particular, so that the agent will be able to share this expertise with others in the future. I feel strongly that this experience as I strive to excel in your international business program. My German, both spoken and written, is as good as my English and I work hard at continuously improving it. My French skills, however, are especially still in need of a lot of work. But, as with German and English, I see all four of my languages as living souls that I continuously nourish, especially those that I never take for granted, the one’s that I intentionally learned through a lot of extremely demanding work. I am a graduate of the State XXXX Pedagogical University of Russia, and I have helped to tutor many elementary and middle-school students on a volunteer basis for many years.  My knowledge of psychology helped me to learn to communicate effectively with students and their parents alike. I have finely honed negotiation and conflict resolution skills and I am an accomplished team player with a lot of resistance to stress.  I studied economics in high school and received excellent grades. Since that time, I have been an avid reader in the literature on economics and business. With your help, it is in this area where I will make my mark. I thank you for consideration of my application to your program. BSc International Business in Germany Consulting Firm Support

I am convinced that I should study architecture as it will allow me to continue incorporating many of the strongest aspects of my personality into my academic studies. These aspects include my fascination with art and design, my interests and enjoyment of various cultures and environments and a passion for solving practical problems whilst working with others. My initial interest in architecture began whilst studying for my GCSEs and has since developed through the regular reading of architectural journals and increased awareness of the built environment. I opted to study the International Baccalaureate instead of A-levels because as a strong all-rounder in school, I wanted to continue with the subjects I enjoy and avoid narrowing my future career options. The IB also seemed a sound basis for a degree in architecture that encompasses both the arts and sciences. My preferred subject on the course is art, and it is in this field that I have chosen to concentrate my Extended Essay. I have yet to formulate a specific research question for this in-depth study, but my focus area is that of 20th century British architecture. Both separate work experiences that I undertook have fueled my desire for a future in a creative yet practical profession. I spent the first of these in the creative and studio departments of an advertising agency and the other with a professional photographer. During both exposures to the world of work, I gained valuable computer graphic skills. In addition to my academic achievements, I have been involved in several extracurricular activities. After completing a stage lighting course, I was responsible for the stage lighting in several school productions which particularly enhanced my understanding of designing with arrangements of light and space in mind. Throughout my education I have pursued various sporting interests, including football. I played for Exeter City FC youth for two years and most recently captained my local youth team. My most satisfying recreational achievement was leading two successful Ten Tors teams. This physically enduring and challenging experience has allowed me to develop excellent leadership and teamwork skills, both of which are essential in architectural work as well as a university environment. In my gap year I intend to spend six months in Europe where I hope to widen my knowledge and experience of the different cities and cultures. I also plan a work experience placement with a local architectural practice. Overall, I believe myself to be an appropriately sociable and committed student with a solid academic foundation in the arts and sciences. I consider myself to have the uncommon combination of creative flair, personal enthusiasm and technical ability allied with the intellectual capacity to cope with the demands of higher education. With these qualities I have much to give to a career in architecture. BSc Architecture Personal Statement UK Example & Experience

I am genuinely excited about my future as a Finance major. From an early age, my mother was my role model and mentor. She managed a real estate company and introduced me to the rudiments of investment, sharing her business experiences with me and giving me a working knowledge of finance. What began as a dream, imagining myself in an exciting world that would stimulate my mind, turned into ambition as I helped in the family business, laying the necessary foundation for my future in business and finance. Indeed, from the time I was in middle school, I have kept my eye firmly on end in business and finance. As a result of a lot of arduous work, I got into the most exemplary High School in Dalian, China, my hometown. Dalian is a model city in China, but it is so much more than just a beautiful city. It exemplifies what careful planning, ambition, and focus can accomplish. Immersed in Dalian's aspiring culture was infectious, and I am proud to have grown up there. Completing half of my high school education in China and half in America has impressed upon me the value of quality education. So, I gave everything I had and practiced my English as much as possible. English is the business world language, even in China, where business is the backbone of the Chinese economy. China has one of the fastest growing economies in the world and needs robust, focused, and visionary business leaders. I aim to fill this need, completing my BS and MBA, focusing on real estate and other areas of investment, and going on to work in a multinational capacity. I have seen firsthand how existing Chinese business practices are being forced to adapt or become outdated, absorbed by progress. I anticipate becoming involved in the continued growth of the Chinese business world. Coming to America has been a significant investment in my future, making my academic foundation much more prosperous and bringing my professional dreams in finance to fruition. Living, working, and being educated on two continents has expanded my worldview and my ability to speak two languages with complete competency, interacting effectively with people of many diverse backgrounds, cultures, and creeds. I have traveled throughout China, Beijing, Shanghai, Hainan, Hong Kong, and Japan. This will prove invaluable since I see my professional future serving in a multinational business environment. Ambition and drive are the two dominant elements of a successful businessperson. I embody both traits, and my academic record of accomplishment is indicative of this. Throughout my academic career, I have challenged myself and pushed myself to be the best student possible. I have no fear of public speaking, despite English not being my mother language. My confidence comes from my certainty that I have done all I can to grasp, digest and apply course material. Math is more than an aptitude since I genuinely love the subject. And academic challenges are personal challenges for me, like completing a 2-year program in 18 months, six months less than students who speak English as a first language and completing four classes in a six-week winter semester, achieving a perfect GPA at the same time. When academic outlines are laid out, I know what I must do, they become my personal goals, and I consistently achieve them. To be successful in business, there is a need for healthy competition. Competition ensures your business future and that of others around you; it is how economic entities evolve and grow.; Even in my leisure time playing sports, I am a competitive and well-rounded player. While it is all wholesome fun and keeps my body healthy, I always play to win; it is in my nature and is who I am, and I make no apologies. My skill in soccer alone opened the door to the finest high school in my hometown. I fully intend on keeping this aspect of my life alive, managing my time as I always have between academics and my sports life. I owe my family, my love of business, and growing up with my mother as my role model, an ambitious, mold-breaking, successful woman. I have received many gifts from my parents, an analytical mind, a sense of responsibility, and a sense of where I want to go. My parents' sacrifices for my future will never be in vain. In truth, thanks to my mother's example, I see that I can make significant contributions to society. And by developing my family's business, I can put my dreams into action. BS in Finance Personal Statement Consulting Firm sample

I would very much like to attend your undergraduate Physician Assistant Program at XXXX College in Manhattan, NY. I hope to attain my second B.S. Degree in this area. I feel great satisfaction in assisting others, improving their health and the quality of their lives. I am currently a student at the College of XXXX working towards a B.S. in Biology and I will be graduating this coming January 2011. The greatest contribution that I might be able to make to society would be to help one person at a time. This will mean that, throughout my lifetime, I will have the privilege of helping thousands of people. I look forward to a long and highly productive career assisting physicians on the forefront of their specialties, doctors who are already moving in the right direction and can profit from the help of a creative assistant to help their practice become ever-more effective at healing our patients. Immediately after completing your program, I look forward to working in a state-of-the-art hospital for several years assisting a primary care team. I am very dedicated to becoming the best PA possible. My first language is English, and I am also a native speaker of Albanian. Furthermore, I took 6 years of Italian from grades 6-11 so that I am conversationally fluent in this language as well. My language skills are mirrored by my great appreciation for diversity and the opportunity to work with patients from all ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds. I have volunteered my time to help a pharmacist streamline his pharmacy, XXXX Pharmacy, in Staten Island. And this experience has helped me to advance my communication skills with patients—I strive to connect in some way with each one. I have learned the arts of patience and dedication, and I have cultivated the ability to listen and comprehend the problems that people bring to me. I also volunteered at a nursing home, and I have a special affection for geriatric patients. I helped the residents with feeding, changing, and assisted with the day-to-day operations of the facility. This experience further cemented my realization that becoming a PA was the correct career choice for me to make. I am a quick learner and problem solver who loves doing research. I am convinced that my background in biology will also help me to excel in your program. I especially appreciate the opportunity that I had to work closely with a professor in the lab doing research on Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia. Accompanying my parents to their native Macedonia has also had a favorable impact on my life. My family is from the city of Debar, which is a small and close-knit community. Spending prolonged periods of time in a country devastated by war, political strife, and acute poverty, has helped me to mature and become especially serious about my studies. There is only limited access to quality care in my parents’ homeland; critically ill patients with limited resources seldom survive. This has motivated me to help my own community by studying towards the BS Degree as a Physician Assistant at XXXX College and I thank you for considering my application. Sample BS Degree Physician Assistant Personal Statement

I consider myself to have become a professional artist, at least since 2010. My three most recent solo exhibitions (2017) have been entitled “It’s Wonderful Your Demons Came Today,” “This Too Shall Pass”, and “Internal Dialogue" (2016), this last one at the Lazarides Gallery in London. Through art I seek interaction with the spiritual, leading to re-generation, always with an eye towards engagement with the psychological forces that mold our lives, enhancing our self-understanding and subsequently our ability to shape our own destinies. I have also had an interest in social justice issues, as reflected by the title of my exhibition at the Jonathan Levine Gallery in New York in 2015: “This Land is Not for Sale.” XXXX College is my first choice to earn the MFA because I see it as the epicenter of the New York art world. I have wanted to live in NYC for many years, but always felt I should move there for a reason. I have a lot of close friends in New York and have visited at least once a year for a long time. New York City has always filled me with inspiration and excitement, and I have an experience of rebirth each time that I visit. I consider myself a serious artist and feel strongly that NY is now where I need to be. I see XXXX as the leading trailblazer in NY Contemporary Art and find myself most inspired by creative energies at XXXXX, on the part of students as well as faculty. It would be a huge honor to study at XXXX under artists such as XXXX, XXXX, XXXX, and XXXX. All four of these artists have been on my radar for quite some time and they are all having conversations that I would love to join. Born in 1975 in Portsmouth, Virginia, I have now spent much of my adult life in California and currently live and work in Oakland. Earning my BA in Fine Art from the Academy of Arts University in San Francisco, I count it an enormous privilege to have enjoyed a profound and sustained immersion experience in the Bay Area art scene. Nothing compares to it for me – except New York City. I want to stand up as an American artist with one foot in the Bay Area and the other in New York. While I have made contributions to dozens of group exhibitions, I am especially proud of what I have accomplished over the course of the last couple of years, working with the Jewish Museum of Art in San Francisco (2017) and the National Portrait Galleries of Scotland as well as London (2016). Nevertheless, while successful, I feel as if I have hit a ceiling and I hope being accepted into your MFA Program at XXXX College will help me to reinvigorate my career, build new community ties, and have more rapid growth experiences, teaching at some point and continuing to share my work. Thank you for considering my application. Expert Examples for MFA Personal Statement Editing