Professional Documents
Culture Documents
At very young age as a student in high school, computer for me was only a means of
entrainment as I found it exciting to play games and generating various mathematical series
and patterns thorough BASIC programming. I was dumbfounded to know that games are
nothing but programs. Curious to know how to program I developed a serious interest in
Computers. This keen interest in mathematics along with a strong liking for computers, and
particularly programming, prompted me to choose engineering with Computer Science as
my major. This decision gave me ample opportunity to consolidate my creative energies and
harness my technical aptitude.
In the third year of my engineering studies, I was introduced to the subject of Computer
Networks. Already having a sound knowledge in practical computer networking, I was at
ease with this subject. During this course, I learnt the software side of networking i.e. how to
actually implement and develop different servers. The sessions in the labs were devoted in
developing programs like implementation of connection-oriented and connectionless Echo
Servers, concurrent multithreaded File Transfer Server and Chat Server.
My predominant research interests have evolved into three categories that I believe are
interconnected. The three areas of interest are Computer networks, Distributed systems and
Information Security. I would be very eager to work in any of these areas or interrelated
areas like Networking or Distributed Systems along with Information Security. I worked as a
teaching assistant for juniors in C, C++ and Oracle programming. The teaching experience
has helped me to communicate articulately and interact effectively with diversity of peers.
During the last two years, besides the college academics I spent most of my time attending a
number of extra-curricular workshops, seminars and conferences in different fields of
computer science.
I look forward to a career in research where I cannot only use my academic background to
achieve my research goals but also make original contributions to my field of interest. I
believe that graduate studies would provide me with the opportunities to attend advanced
courses and would be the stepping-stone to my career in research. University of North
Carolina at Charlotte suits my research interests because of its advanced academic
curriculum and world-class research groups. I believe that it is the best environment for me
to achieve my goals while gaining experience and exposure to a diverse student body and
faculty. I believe that no other school provides students with the combination of culture,
education and research environment, required for an overall personality development, as
offered by your institution.
Summarizing all written above, I believe that my serious intention for study, my projects, my
certifications and strong academic background in various areas of Computer Science will be
beneficial for my graduate studies and research. Attending your prestigious institution would
give me an opportunity to receive high-level education under the guidance of prominent
professors and excellent teachers. I would regard my admission to University of North
Carolina at Charlotte not only as a great honor but also as a great responsibility and
challenge to prove myself.
High Regards,
Computer Science
My interest in applied science dates back to my school days. During high school, I was fascinated with electronic gadgets.
Soon thereafter, designing and building basic circuits started as a hobby. Along the way, however, I realized that the
problem-solving aspect of making electronic gadgets was what I enjoyed the most. Engineering was a natural career choice
after this.
During my undergraduate studies at the Electronics & Communication department of M.K. College of Engineering, subjects
like Microprocessors, C-Programming, Computer Networks interested me the most. I was awestruck by the potential of Intel
8086 microprocessor, more so by the manner in which its faster and more powerful cousins revolutionized the working of
computers in a decade. I was now determined to focus on microprocessors during my Final Year project.
During my first job at Neville Engineering and Locomotive Co. (NELCO), I developed a real-time monitoring system for the
Molding Line in Foundry. Success on this project gave me the confidence to provide software solutions to real-life problems.
Although I liked the job, software development at NELCO was a support function. I therefore switched to Mohinder Belgian
Telecom Ltd. (MBT), a multinational company providing software solutions in wide-ranging fields, telecommunications being
its forte. At MBT, I have been involved with Project ART, Belgian Telecom's new front-end system providing intelligent
access to its Customer Service System (CSS). Working on this project has helped me hone my programming skills on real-
life problems. I developed an appreciation of 'the big picture', and conversely how important details are. I also discovered
leadership skills in myself, and frequently assisted colleagues who had little or no background in computers. As an outcome
of this, the company asked me to take occasional seminars on Operating Systems and C-Programming for my colleagues. I
have been appointed Team Leader within a year and today, I independently look after enhancements and maintenance of
three modules out of the sixteen in Project ART.
During my work on project ART at MBT and through my interaction with colleagues, I have grown to admire the role of
Computer Networks in empowering end-users. I am not directly involved with Computer Networks in my job, but through avid
reading of periodicals and journals like 'Network World', I have sustained my interest in the field. In fact, after reading about
the immense potential of path-breaking protocols such as 'Multicast' and applications like 'Voice Over IP' and 'Virtual Private
Networks', I cannot help but feel excited about the potential for new research in this area.
While my present job has helped me develop a thorough insight into project handling, the industry environment that I am
currently in cannot support my desire for research. I possess industry-hardened skills in Computers, but I must build on these
to achieve my goal of undertaking cutting-edge research in advanced computing, with specific reference to Computer
Networks. I therefore believe that I must return to the academic world for further growth.
I wish to earn an MS degree in Computer Science. I intend to follow this up with a Ph.D., and later, a career in research and
teaching. I have spoken to my professors, seniors and colleagues about my choice of University, and have applied to
Princeton University because it is reputable for its research facilities and computing resources. The department web site
revealed a very strong faculty involved in extensive research in the area of Computer Networks. This has strengthened my
resolve to study at Princeton University.
I bring along a strong grasp of fundamentals in Electronics and Computers, an aptitude for teaching and team work, a zest
for challenges and an enthusiastic desire to learn all I can. I would like to take with me, in addition to knowledge of Computer
Networks, a network of strong and lasting relationships with my teachers and fellow-students. I hope that my background and
qualifications are found suitable for an MS in Computer Science at Princeton University.
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 masters 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 masters
degree in the USA.
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
masters 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.