Scholarships Source

MOTIVATION STATEMENT

Since I was in Senior High School, I have believed that mathematics is an important factor in a life. All human activities in several fields such as information technology, economics, physics, social and others will run well if they are cited in a good mathematics framework. This circumstance stimulated me to attend faculty of mathematics and natural science. I choose statistics as my specialization even though at this time, there weren’t many people know about statistics and few students choose statistics as their specialization. I saw in several developed countries such as The Netherlands and Belgium, the mathematics degree-holders not only have many opportunities but also were cited as important scholar in their societies.

As a student at XXXX Department faculty of XXX of XXX University, I had numerous opportunities to do many activities. From XXX to XXX I had chances to become a lecturer assistant in mathematics and statistics laboratory. My resposibilities are taught and supervised students in the following subjects; Basic Programming, Computational Statistics, Statistical Methods and XXX.

Besides studying, I was active in the student senate and became the head of research and development division. In XXX I, in a team, became the third winner of Indonesian student research competition. Overall I am pleased with my academic record and I believe that it has prepared me very well for graduate school.

Presently, I work as a XXX for XXX. My responsibilities are teaching, conducting research individually or in a team and etc (mention your responsibilities)…… Working as a statistics lecturer needs deep knowledge of fundamental mathematics and experiences in advanced research of applied statistics. Even though my undergraduate programme has given me a strong background in the fundamentals of various mathematics especially statistics, this is not enough for me to be a professional lecturer. I have to continue my study to enrich my skills and broaden my knowledge.

Currently, our institution which one of the functions is to XXXX to the government of Indonesia, has formulated its Long Term Plan known as the XXX PLAN, which directed toward the establishment of the Integrated National XXX System. This plan is including the development of statistics in various fields such as economy, demography, agriculture, and health. It leads the need of statistician who expert in those fields. Today, there is no Master of Science in XXX in our institution. These circumstances persuade me to apply Master of Science in XXX under XXX Scholarship programme.

Master of Science in XXX is needed in Indonesia because of the following reasons:

1. It will improve education in XXX and Indonesia in general, and strenghten the establishment of the Integrated National System
2. I will fill the masters of XXX scarcity and strengthen the sustainable development of Indonesia.

Considering all factors above. I believe that the chosen study will benefit Indonesia in general

I consider myself to be a good candidate for XXX Scholarship because I am young, energetic, hardworking, visionary, and motivated person who believes that I can do something for the benefit of my country to whom I have been working. I did my best with all maximum efforts I could give for my institution. But this is not enough. Frankly, I am not satisfied yet with what I did. I believe that I can do much better if I am trained and developed through a master of science in Belgium.

Sample Cover Letter Requesting a Full-Time Position
533 West 112th Street, #8E
New York, NY 10025
March 5, 2000

Mr. Akira Arioshi, Country Manager
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
One Exchange Square
London EC2A3EH

Dear Mr. Arioshi:
I am writing because of my strong interest in obtaining a project associate position with your organization, particularly in the Prague office. Richard Stern, who was my professor at the Central European University in Prague, suggested that I write to you. I have also learned about your organization's activities during my work with the National Agency for Privatization (NAP) of Romania, and I am particularly familiar with the technical assistance programs that your organization undertook in my country.
I am interested in applying for work with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development because of your work in the Czech Republic, particularly in reforming the state sector. I am especially impressed by the flexibility and efficiency of EBRD, given that it is a relatively new organization, and am also aware of the expertise and excellent work of your staff.
As you can see from my enclosed resume, after working with the National Agency for Privatization, I have studied and worked for one year at the Central European University in Prague. I have also published several papers on privatization in the region. I am currently a graduate student at the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University in New York. My areas of specialization include International Economic Policy and Eastern Europe. My course work has provided me with the skills necessary for a better understanding of economic transformation in the region. I believe that my practical experience and my academic training would thus allow me to contribute to your organization.
I would very much appreciate the opportunity of an interview. I will be in Prague between 12 and 16 March, and then in Bucharest until 22 March. I will plan to call your office during the week of 8-12 March to see if an interview would be possible and make any other arrangements. In the meantime, please feel free to contact me via telephone at (1) 212-866-1493 or email at dm499@columbia.edu.
Good first paragraph: reference to personal contact, immediate explanation of interest. Should mention current graduate work sooner.
Rather than offering general praise, give specific examples of projects you were impressed by and why.
Give specific examples of relevant coursework, particularly if not included in your resume.
Good example of definite follow-up plans. Be sure to execute them exactly!
Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to talking with you soon.

Sincerely,

Dana Minar


source: http://www.columbia.edu/itc/sipa/empa/admin/career/sampleletters.pdf
Other source: http://www.helsinki.fi/rekry/materiaalit/Sample%20cover%20letter.pdf

Personal Statement and Statement of Motivation
Almost all graduate programmes ask applicants to submit a personal statement, and a statement of motivation, as part of the application process.

Some general tips:

• Stick to the word/ space limit given.
• Address any obvious gaps or weak points in your application either in a separate cover note or in the application essay, but always keep the explanation positive. For example, state what you learned from a difficult experience and how it has made you a better student.
• Get someone you trust to proof-read each statement for grammatical and spelling errors. Make sure statements are clear, interesting, and logically organized. The personal statement is an important demonstration of your written communication skills.

The personal statement

The personal statement gives the universities a chance to get a glimpse of you as an individual, an insight that is not possible in the grades and numbers that make up the rest of your application. Extracurricular activities give the admissions committee an idea as to the type of person that you are. The personal statement is not meant to be an autobiography in chronological order; or a CV. Instead, use your imagination to come up with an interesting format and content that will maintain the reader's interest. Admissions officers read many essays. Since the programme is extremely competitive, try to have an interesting first sentence that grabs the reader's attention and makes the essay more memorable. Make sure that your statement is a true representation of yourself and your abilities — it is important that the essay be genuine and honest. Remain truthful not just because it is ethical, but because it is powerful.

Motivation

The statement of motivation is an important part of the application, and it is essential that you write the best statement possible. It is important that your dedication to your field resonates in your application. The goal is to write a clear, concise, and persuasive statement that sincerely reflects your views and aspirations. The admissions committee that reviews applications wants to see if there is a good match between you and the department or school and whether the Master programme can meet your needs. Think about what you want to achieve in the Europe, and a well thought out answer is critical. It is an opportunity for you to distinguish yourself from other applicants.

Four important questions should be answered in the statement of motivation:

• Why do you wish to pursue a graduate degree, and why now? How do your career goals relate to your past experiences and your decision to apply for graduate study.
• What are your academic, professional or research interests? The admissions committee will be looking for a good match between you and the department to ensure that they can satisfy your interests. They are also looking for a demonstration of intellectual maturity and understanding of your field.
• Why are you applying to this particular institution and degree programme? Tailor the statement of motivation to the programme including, if possible, references to professors you wish to work with, courses you wish to take, and unique facilities available at the institution. Admissions officers want to see that you have done careful research about their program and that you are a serious candidate.
• What can you contribute to the department or programme in terms of your background, abilities, or other special qualities and interests? Discuss any relevant past experiences and achievements, as well as any special qualities you feel you can bring to the programme, such as your international perspective. Be sure and explain any academic difficulties you might have experienced and what you did to correct them.

Sample Academic Cover Letters

502 W. Main Street #221
Urbana, IL 61801
October 20, 2003
Music History Search Committee
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
422 South 11th Street
Indiana, PA 15705

Dear Members of the Search Committee:

I am writing in response to your advertisement for the Assistant Professor of Music History position at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, as advertised in the Chronicle of Higher Education. I am currently a Ph.D. student in Musicology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and will complete my degree
in May 2004. I respectfully submit this letter of application, for I believe my experiences and commitment to teaching make me well qualified to meet the needs of IUP’s dynamic program.
As a teaching assistant at the University of Illinois, I have gained valuable experience leading undergraduate discussion sections for both music majors and non-majors. In addition to classroom instruction, I have advised students on appropriate research topics and edited and evaluated their work. Based on student evaluations, I have earned the Graduate Teaching Award for every semester that I have taught and have been listed four times among the top ten percent of teachers rated at the University of Illinois. I also co-created a public Music Appreciation course entitled Music for All, which attracted the interest of concertgoers of all ages and backgrounds. I am firmly dedicated to the education of music students as well as general audiences
and eagerly welcome an opportunity to develop similar programs at IUP.
My course work has covered a wide range of topics in the various musical eras. My research, comparing Beethoven’s symphonies with the more modern compositions of late-twentieth century American composers, has provided me with the opportunity to draw connections between the different periods and to communicate
difficult concepts clearly to students of all levels. I am committed to an interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and teaching, and all of my courses are structured with this in mind. Rather than simply lecturing to a class, I strive to cultivate an interactive environment in which students can express themselves freely while learning to engage with the past in meaningful ways. I emphasize critical thinking and the need to consider music within its larger social, historical, and intellectual contexts. IUP takes great pride in its training of young scholars, and I feel that it is my responsibility to uphold these standards and to encourage and challenge students to work up to their potential, in hopes that their experiences in my classes will teach them far more than the history of music.
In addition to the standard period surveys, I am fully prepared to develop courses on opera history, Lieder, music and rhetoric (with special emphasis on the Baroque period), Twentieth century music, Romanticism, and music and the visual arts.
I welcome an opportunity to discuss my teaching and future research projects with you. I have enclosed my CV, and you will be receiving my letters of recommendation under separate cover. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
Mary Blake

taken from: www.grad.uiuc.edu/careerservices