Sample Statement of Purpose for Chemical Engineering
It is always difficult to foretell what kind of a person a child will grow into in the future. This axiom can apply to me perfectly. In my elementary school, I won the second prize for XX and this cultivated in me the ambition to become a mathematician. However, as I grew up, I found my real interest was in chemistry. This interest led me to be fascinated with all the subjects related to it, Applied Chemistry during my undergraduate program and Chemical Engineering during my Master’s program. What is more, I am determined to take up chemical engineering as my lifelong pursuit.
My formal advanced education in chemistry started with my undergraduate program in Applied Chemistry at the College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering of XX University. As is often said, the journey of exploring the realm of knowledge and probing into the unknown is infinite and strenuous. However, to me, the desire to fulfill ambitions and the joy from discoveries prevailed over any sense of hardship. My undergraduate program was as rewarding as it was joyful.
I believed that the most important task as a undergraduate was to lay a firm groundwork in terms of the basic knowledge and experimental techniques so that more advanced studies could be pursued. Based on this awareness, I decided that a good job in all the core courses, including experiment courses, was primary. I tried to understand the principle underlying each chemical phenomenon and how each principle was derived. To do so, I had to understand the textbooks thoroughly and supplement my classroom education with information from the Internet, the library, the lectures and other sources. This way of learning allowed me to become familiar not only with the core courses like Physical Chemistry, Principles of Chemical Engineering, Analytical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Chemical Engineering Analysis, Calculus, etc. but also with quite courses not offered to students of majoring in chemical engineering such as Polymer Chemistry, Polymer Physics, Spectroscopy Analysis, Chromatography Analysis and Fine Chemicals Synthesis. My dedicated academic efforts paid off—I was awarded scholarships for six times, including 2 highly competitive first-class scholarships (only available to top 5%).
Subsequent to my undergraduate program, I undertook a Master’s program at Department of Chemical Engineering, University of XX and with it I delved deeper into the fascinating world of chemical engineering and performed some pioneering research. Considering the fact that China is country rich in biomass and that the conversion of biomass resources into fuels and other useful chemical products would significantly reduce dependence on the exhaustible but unrenewable fossil fuels, I chose to concentrate on the topic XX under the guidance of Prof. XXX, my supervisor. As part of a XX and sponsored by XX , our research would decrease environmental pollution and promote sustainable social and economic development.
The underlying principle behind my research was to liquefy the raw materials of wood into biomass heavy oil, with distilled water as solution. My experiments examined the effect of such factors as reaction temperature, duration, ratio of biomass/water, the chemical composition of the raw material, and catalyst on the liquefaction of wood and the productivity of liquefied products. As the research has not been conducted on an extensive scale in China, I had to formulate research plan, consult technical literature, set up the laboratory, procure necessary equipment, and fix technical problems. For example, when I found that the mechanical pressure meter on the autoclave, the main equipment of the lab, displayed low sensitivity and precision, I added an electronic one to fix the problem.
It is always difficult to foretell what kind of a person a child will grow into in the future. This axiom can apply to me perfectly. In my elementary school, I won the second prize for XX and this cultivated in me the ambition to become a mathematician. However, as I grew up, I found my real interest was in chemistry. This interest led me to be fascinated with all the subjects related to it, Applied Chemistry during my undergraduate program and Chemical Engineering during my Master’s program. What is more, I am determined to take up chemical engineering as my lifelong pursuit.
My formal advanced education in chemistry started with my undergraduate program in Applied Chemistry at the College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering of XX University. As is often said, the journey of exploring the realm of knowledge and probing into the unknown is infinite and strenuous. However, to me, the desire to fulfill ambitions and the joy from discoveries prevailed over any sense of hardship. My undergraduate program was as rewarding as it was joyful.
I believed that the most important task as a undergraduate was to lay a firm groundwork in terms of the basic knowledge and experimental techniques so that more advanced studies could be pursued. Based on this awareness, I decided that a good job in all the core courses, including experiment courses, was primary. I tried to understand the principle underlying each chemical phenomenon and how each principle was derived. To do so, I had to understand the textbooks thoroughly and supplement my classroom education with information from the Internet, the library, the lectures and other sources. This way of learning allowed me to become familiar not only with the core courses like Physical Chemistry, Principles of Chemical Engineering, Analytical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Chemical Engineering Analysis, Calculus, etc. but also with quite courses not offered to students of majoring in chemical engineering such as Polymer Chemistry, Polymer Physics, Spectroscopy Analysis, Chromatography Analysis and Fine Chemicals Synthesis. My dedicated academic efforts paid off—I was awarded scholarships for six times, including 2 highly competitive first-class scholarships (only available to top 5%).
Subsequent to my undergraduate program, I undertook a Master’s program at Department of Chemical Engineering, University of XX and with it I delved deeper into the fascinating world of chemical engineering and performed some pioneering research. Considering the fact that China is country rich in biomass and that the conversion of biomass resources into fuels and other useful chemical products would significantly reduce dependence on the exhaustible but unrenewable fossil fuels, I chose to concentrate on the topic XX under the guidance of Prof. XXX, my supervisor. As part of a XX and sponsored by XX , our research would decrease environmental pollution and promote sustainable social and economic development.
The underlying principle behind my research was to liquefy the raw materials of wood into biomass heavy oil, with distilled water as solution. My experiments examined the effect of such factors as reaction temperature, duration, ratio of biomass/water, the chemical composition of the raw material, and catalyst on the liquefaction of wood and the productivity of liquefied products. As the research has not been conducted on an extensive scale in China, I had to formulate research plan, consult technical literature, set up the laboratory, procure necessary equipment, and fix technical problems. For example, when I found that the mechanical pressure meter on the autoclave, the main equipment of the lab, displayed low sensitivity and precision, I added an electronic one to fix the problem.
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As a crystallization of my research findings, my research paper XX has been published by XX. In addition, the same journal XX has accepted another paper of mine entitled XX Through those researches, I have mapped out my research interests. In the broad world of chemical engineering, the knowledge I have gained is just a tiny faction and it is necessary for me to venture into the even greater world of the unknown and the unexplored. As far as biomass resources are concerned, we can use them as an important renewable resource. Through thermochemical means like pyrolysis and gasification and through biological means like fermentation, they can be converted into fuels and other industrially meaningful products. So far, even though we have been living in the shadow of global energy crisis, no effective alternatives have been unraveled. If we can discover through chemical engineering feasible substitutes for fossil fuels, immense contributions can be made to human advances as a whole.
I am deeply interested in chemical engineering as a lifelong career and I am determined to develop myself into a well-trained chemical engineer. Yet I am clearly aware the immense efforts I have to make in order to fulfill this aspiration. This constitutes the very motivation behind my present application for a Ph. D. program from the Department of Chemical Engineering of the XX University. There are some important reasons for my choosing your esteemed university. The most important reason is that its research on biobased products is one of the strongest research orientations, which perfectly matches my past research experience. Your strong faculty is also an important factor; the 1:1.9 faculty/student ratio promises to give each student sufficient instruction and attention, allowing for close communication. Finally, your curriculum is scientifically designed, requiring students not only to focus on core subjects within their own discipline but also go beyond their discipline to attend courses in other departments in order to develop a broad ken of knowledge. All those make me believe that I will receive the best education I can expect.
I am convinced that I am a worthy candidate for your program. I received a BS degree for my undergraduate program and a Master’s degree in engineering. This science and engineering background may give me important advantages over other applicants. I also have the experience of working as teaching assistant to my advisor in two courses—Advanced Chemical Thermodynamics and Green Chemistry. This may enable me to contribute to your program through my teaching assistantship. Last but not least, I have evolved a strong ability to perform independent research. Together with my sound academic foundation, my important research potential will make me very successful in your program as in my past programs.
I am deeply interested in chemical engineering as a lifelong career and I am determined to develop myself into a well-trained chemical engineer. Yet I am clearly aware the immense efforts I have to make in order to fulfill this aspiration. This constitutes the very motivation behind my present application for a Ph. D. program from the Department of Chemical Engineering of the XX University. There are some important reasons for my choosing your esteemed university. The most important reason is that its research on biobased products is one of the strongest research orientations, which perfectly matches my past research experience. Your strong faculty is also an important factor; the 1:1.9 faculty/student ratio promises to give each student sufficient instruction and attention, allowing for close communication. Finally, your curriculum is scientifically designed, requiring students not only to focus on core subjects within their own discipline but also go beyond their discipline to attend courses in other departments in order to develop a broad ken of knowledge. All those make me believe that I will receive the best education I can expect.
I am convinced that I am a worthy candidate for your program. I received a BS degree for my undergraduate program and a Master’s degree in engineering. This science and engineering background may give me important advantages over other applicants. I also have the experience of working as teaching assistant to my advisor in two courses—Advanced Chemical Thermodynamics and Green Chemistry. This may enable me to contribute to your program through my teaching assistantship. Last but not least, I have evolved a strong ability to perform independent research. Together with my sound academic foundation, my important research potential will make me very successful in your program as in my past programs.
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Statement of Purpose - Computer Science
We are currently in the midst of a technological and computing revolution that will drastically change our lives and potentially redefine what it means to be human. I am very excited at the prospect of devoting my long-term career to such a dynamic, fast advancing field. Ever since I was young, I have enjoyed dabbling with computers and experimenting with different applications. Because my own lifetime has essentially coincided with the rise of the modern computing industry, I can sense that there are still tremendous developments to come in this field. It was natural for me to choose Computer Science as my university major, and now, as I near the end of my undergraduate studies, it is my central goal to continue my education in a more competitive, elite, and international environment.
There is only one logical destination for my postgraduate studies: the USA, a country which stands at the center of the computing universe. The US has been the chief driver of innovation in computing, and the most innovative and successful companies in this field are based there. Studying overseas in the US will thus give me not only a greater range of professional skills but also a much broader, more international perspective. Therefore, I am applying to join your MSc in Computer Science program, commencing in the fall of 2013. I am convinced that I am well prepared for the challenges of studying in your master’s program because of my extensive academic and practical background, which I will describe in detail below.
My academic experience thus far has provided me with a wide range of practical knowledge and skills that will be immensely useful when studying overseas at the graduate level. As a high school student, I excelled in courses related to physics, mathematics, and chemistry. I was fortunate during this time to have teachers who saw my interest in these subjects and encouraged me to continue broadening my scientific understanding and developing my analytical skills. It was due in large part to their guidance and advice that I chose to major in Computer Science in the university. As an undergraduate, I found that I deeply enjoyed learning about programming and systems analysis, and with my strong mathematics background I performed very well in courses concerning calculus, statistics, and differential equations. Now, in addition to my specialized knowledge of computer science, I have an appreciation for the breadth of this field and the nearly endless possibilities for further study.
In addition to the courses that I have taken, I have been very active outside of the classroom, participating in extracurricular activities and pursuing new experiences so as to push myself and broaden my horizons. For example, I took some time to travel across Europe by myself, an experience which, although at times difficult, ultimately made me a much more independent and confident person. I am now comfortable adapting to new situations and interacting with people who are different from me, qualities which will be tremendously useful when studying in the USA. Furthermore, when a my hometown was devastated by a natural disaster, I volunteered to help the victims as an organizer, which involved raising money and providing food, blankets, and other supplies as needed. Aside from the enhanced communication and leadership skills this experience offered me, what I most value is my newfound understanding of the importance of service and helping those in need. Finally, in the university, I was the publisher of the monthly newsletter of my department, a role I took on in order to meet new people and learn a new range of skills. As these experiences show, I am highly motivated and proactive at learning new skills and experiencing new things. This is precisely why I have decided to continue challenging myself by studying for a master’s degree in the USA.
We are currently in the midst of a technological and computing revolution that will drastically change our lives and potentially redefine what it means to be human. I am very excited at the prospect of devoting my long-term career to such a dynamic, fast advancing field. Ever since I was young, I have enjoyed dabbling with computers and experimenting with different applications. Because my own lifetime has essentially coincided with the rise of the modern computing industry, I can sense that there are still tremendous developments to come in this field. It was natural for me to choose Computer Science as my university major, and now, as I near the end of my undergraduate studies, it is my central goal to continue my education in a more competitive, elite, and international environment.
There is only one logical destination for my postgraduate studies: the USA, a country which stands at the center of the computing universe. The US has been the chief driver of innovation in computing, and the most innovative and successful companies in this field are based there. Studying overseas in the US will thus give me not only a greater range of professional skills but also a much broader, more international perspective. Therefore, I am applying to join your MSc in Computer Science program, commencing in the fall of 2013. I am convinced that I am well prepared for the challenges of studying in your master’s program because of my extensive academic and practical background, which I will describe in detail below.
My academic experience thus far has provided me with a wide range of practical knowledge and skills that will be immensely useful when studying overseas at the graduate level. As a high school student, I excelled in courses related to physics, mathematics, and chemistry. I was fortunate during this time to have teachers who saw my interest in these subjects and encouraged me to continue broadening my scientific understanding and developing my analytical skills. It was due in large part to their guidance and advice that I chose to major in Computer Science in the university. As an undergraduate, I found that I deeply enjoyed learning about programming and systems analysis, and with my strong mathematics background I performed very well in courses concerning calculus, statistics, and differential equations. Now, in addition to my specialized knowledge of computer science, I have an appreciation for the breadth of this field and the nearly endless possibilities for further study.
In addition to the courses that I have taken, I have been very active outside of the classroom, participating in extracurricular activities and pursuing new experiences so as to push myself and broaden my horizons. For example, I took some time to travel across Europe by myself, an experience which, although at times difficult, ultimately made me a much more independent and confident person. I am now comfortable adapting to new situations and interacting with people who are different from me, qualities which will be tremendously useful when studying in the USA. Furthermore, when a my hometown was devastated by a natural disaster, I volunteered to help the victims as an organizer, which involved raising money and providing food, blankets, and other supplies as needed. Aside from the enhanced communication and leadership skills this experience offered me, what I most value is my newfound understanding of the importance of service and helping those in need. Finally, in the university, I was the publisher of the monthly newsletter of my department, a role I took on in order to meet new people and learn a new range of skills. As these experiences show, I am highly motivated and proactive at learning new skills and experiencing new things. This is precisely why I have decided to continue challenging myself by studying for a master’s degree in the USA.
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Regarding my goals for the future, I plan to take what I learn in the USA and apply it to the computing industry in my native country. This industry is rapidly growing and shows great potential, yet compared to other, more advanced countries it is still in its relative infancy. By studying in your master’s program and possibly working for a short period in the USA, I expect to have the expertise, the perspective, and the experience necessary to lead our industry to a new era. I also have many friends with similar goals, and I hope that we can one day collaborate to put our country on the map as an innovative force in the computing world.
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SOP Number: 1
I am a 22-year-old computer science student at the department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Tehran. As an undergraduate student who actively searched for new technologies and its applications in CS, I became interested in Artificial Intelligence (A.I.), especially Machine Learning and Cognitive Science. My future goal is to pursue my studies towards a Ph.D. which would allow me to become a great researcher in A.I., leading to a career in teaching.
When I was twelve, I was admitted into Allame Helli, which is a school for talented students and is a branch of NODET (National Organization for Developing Exceptional Talents). Years later, at this school, students were introduced to computers and I started writing simple programs which was a fulfilling experience. Soon after, I became very interested in this field and decided to study Computer Science in one of the best universities in Iran. My decision compelled me to have great determination to study for the nationwide entrance exam. I achieved an extraordinary rank of 547th among 350,000 participants and was accepted as a student of Computer Science in School of Electrical and computer Engineering in University of Tehran which is the most prestigious university in Iran.
My studies and courses at the university helped shape my future vision and research interests. When I studied the Artificial Intelligence course, it made me think how computers could act like humans. I was also given a great opportunity to work as a web developer at a company in Iran. My enthusiasm and hardworking mindset made me quite competent at my job and therefore was given major projects on the website such as setting up a Text Message System and designing an Online Game System. This job experience taught me how to overcome the challenges and presented the opportunity to teach my colleagues an iPhone programming course. It equipped me with the ability to communicate technical concepts to a diverse audience. Another project I was involved in at the university was a client-server application. It was used for supermarket delivery and then changed to an online shop. My knowledge in web development greatly improved because I enjoyed my job and spent many long hours trying and testing new and improved things. I became a professional in this field which led to quite a few good work opportunities after one year. Developing was a great experience but Computer Science is not limited only to developing. Due to my interest in the Artificial Intelligence course, which I succeeded at, I decided to write my B.Sc. thesis in this area. I covered how upgraded AI functionalities of social network websites can give recommendations to users on how to make new friends and new friends suggestions on the website.
I take satisfaction in having the ability to make a difference and have a positive impact in the world. This is why I became interested in teaching. One thing I enjoyed tutoring C++ to some of my undergraduate friends in the Electrical Department. They all ended up passing their programming course with high grades. To amplify my enjoyment I decided to become a teacher assistant for Fundamentals of Computers and Programming at the university. After that, I became a TA for Internet Engineering and Database Lab and taught web technologies, web developing languages and database. Since the summer of 2013, I have been teaching PHP, HTML and JavaScript for Web Programming in NODET.
I became a professional in web developing and had a deep knowledge of web technology. Because of this , I was given the opportunity to lecture in a seminar about web and network security. Managing directors of 50 major Iranian IT companies attended that seminar and I expanded their knowledge on web technology and improvement of current web systems.
I am a 22-year-old computer science student at the department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Tehran. As an undergraduate student who actively searched for new technologies and its applications in CS, I became interested in Artificial Intelligence (A.I.), especially Machine Learning and Cognitive Science. My future goal is to pursue my studies towards a Ph.D. which would allow me to become a great researcher in A.I., leading to a career in teaching.
When I was twelve, I was admitted into Allame Helli, which is a school for talented students and is a branch of NODET (National Organization for Developing Exceptional Talents). Years later, at this school, students were introduced to computers and I started writing simple programs which was a fulfilling experience. Soon after, I became very interested in this field and decided to study Computer Science in one of the best universities in Iran. My decision compelled me to have great determination to study for the nationwide entrance exam. I achieved an extraordinary rank of 547th among 350,000 participants and was accepted as a student of Computer Science in School of Electrical and computer Engineering in University of Tehran which is the most prestigious university in Iran.
My studies and courses at the university helped shape my future vision and research interests. When I studied the Artificial Intelligence course, it made me think how computers could act like humans. I was also given a great opportunity to work as a web developer at a company in Iran. My enthusiasm and hardworking mindset made me quite competent at my job and therefore was given major projects on the website such as setting up a Text Message System and designing an Online Game System. This job experience taught me how to overcome the challenges and presented the opportunity to teach my colleagues an iPhone programming course. It equipped me with the ability to communicate technical concepts to a diverse audience. Another project I was involved in at the university was a client-server application. It was used for supermarket delivery and then changed to an online shop. My knowledge in web development greatly improved because I enjoyed my job and spent many long hours trying and testing new and improved things. I became a professional in this field which led to quite a few good work opportunities after one year. Developing was a great experience but Computer Science is not limited only to developing. Due to my interest in the Artificial Intelligence course, which I succeeded at, I decided to write my B.Sc. thesis in this area. I covered how upgraded AI functionalities of social network websites can give recommendations to users on how to make new friends and new friends suggestions on the website.
I take satisfaction in having the ability to make a difference and have a positive impact in the world. This is why I became interested in teaching. One thing I enjoyed tutoring C++ to some of my undergraduate friends in the Electrical Department. They all ended up passing their programming course with high grades. To amplify my enjoyment I decided to become a teacher assistant for Fundamentals of Computers and Programming at the university. After that, I became a TA for Internet Engineering and Database Lab and taught web technologies, web developing languages and database. Since the summer of 2013, I have been teaching PHP, HTML and JavaScript for Web Programming in NODET.
I became a professional in web developing and had a deep knowledge of web technology. Because of this , I was given the opportunity to lecture in a seminar about web and network security. Managing directors of 50 major Iranian IT companies attended that seminar and I expanded their knowledge on web technology and improvement of current web systems.
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These experiences have led me to believe that a fulfilling and successful future lies in teaching and research, which can be achieved by high standards of education. Therefore, I have decided to apply to University of Texas at Dallas (UTD). I have searched the ongoing projects at UTD and found that they align with my research interests such as Deep Learning, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. I have read about pioneering works and various projects on Social Networks, Data Mining and Databases in your university and this is very stimulating and inspiring for me.
It would be a privilege to join UTD’s computer science department and attend classes knowing that your faculty members are highly reputable in the world. I am aware that attending your computer science program will require diligent work, and an energetic and unwavering mindset. I can assure you that I am absolutely motivated and ready for the challenge.
It would be a privilege to join UTD’s computer science department and attend classes knowing that your faculty members are highly reputable in the world. I am aware that attending your computer science program will require diligent work, and an energetic and unwavering mindset. I can assure you that I am absolutely motivated and ready for the challenge.