A personal statement is an integral part of any university application. Some programs have strict word limits in place, while others do not have any word limits. Here is an example of a 800-word limit personal statement that was admitted to top programs in the US and Canada.
800 Word Personal Statement Example
Being from an average family with not even a single person, let alone a girl, having education beyond matriculation, I ‘self-made’ my career with dedication, diligence, and, most importantly, passion. I got my early education from a below-par private school, where I consistently maintained the first position at the school level. In 8th grade, I got an academic excellence scholarship at the state level, bringing pride to my school and my family. While this overwhelming experience gave me the courage to dream bigger and achieve better, it buoyed my family’s faith in my abilities. Working with the same zeal and eagerness, I got admission to one of the top engineering programs in Sweden. I didn’t consider this program as an end to a means but a means to an end. Therefore, I explored my potential thoroughly at this great learning place. My quest for excellence ultimately added another feather, i.e., Dean’s Gold Medal, to my cap for being a high achiever.
After graduation, I tried my luck with school teaching, tutoring, and a corporate career. However, what enchanted me the most was the research on software-defined networks I did at my alma mater. The satisfaction from this work enlightened me exactly where my inner calling was. Determined to follow my career in networking, I took a Python course offered by the university of Michigan on Coursera. I proceeded to pursue a master’s in electrical engineering.
During graduate study, I attended the Advanced Computer Networks course Dr. John Nichole taught. In addition to his strong profile and vast knowledge, what impressed me the most about him was his vision. He always advised his students not only to work for scholarly excellence but also for things that transformed them entirely. Furthermore, he believed in quality learning and creating an impact on others. To internalize these concepts, he assigned us a project of writing a research paper on ‘the use of artificial intelligence for ICT4D’, which aims to bridge the technology gap between developed and underdeveloped countries. It showed me how networking and ICT could potentially change the lives of even those who cannot afford them. The utility and impact of this work kept me enthusiastic throughout this project, and I became more inclined toward research.
Dr. Mika Abromovic, a Ph.D. scholar at Georgia Institute of Technology, taught us Advanced Wireless Communication in the second semester. The best part of this subject has been the similarity of its course content with the subject Advanced Wireless Communication taught by Gordon Stubber himself. Its challenging course content, open book exam, and demanding semester project made me spend more time on this subject. Having developed enough interest in this subject, I decided to do a dissertation. The best researcher I could find was Dr. Mika Abromovic. In the first week of my research, he assigned me a project, ‘Space-time block coding using Quaternion Algebra.’ It was about a decoupled decoding problem. It surprised me and, at the same time, motivated me that only a few works existed on this topic, and this problem remained unsolved even till 2022.
Another motivation has been that the solution to this problem would ultimately help to increase the performance of existing wireless systems at a meager cost. This minimum cost factor can help us realize wireless communication systems even for underdeveloped areas. Starting from the basics of quaternion algebra, a completely new mathematical domain, I kept looking for ideas to help me solve this problem. Working persistently on this research area, I have written four international papers in the last eight months on this topic, out of which two papers have been accepted for publication, and two are under submission.
This research experience has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life. Where I tried to use my knowledge to solve the challenging problems of my field, I also spared some time to add to my learning experience. I have been working as a teaching assistant for both MS and BS programs for the last two semesters. I have also worked as OC for an international conference, CSdiFo, and Sports Gala. In addition, I am an executive member of the Character-Building Society and ACM Sweden Chapter. Most importantly, I worked as a donations team member, collecting donations and organizing street stores in underprivileged areas to provide an authentic shopping experience to those who could not afford it.
Given the magnitude and diversity of my work, I aim to pursue a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the USA, which is undoubtedly a hub of research and development. On my return, I would like to join my alma mater to impart my knowledge and continue my research work. I also hope to pass on my knowledge to future generations, leaving behind a legacy of my own.