Attention Angelica Li

Dear Mountainhiker:
I am a Chinese student planning to study in a European univeristy. Would you please help me with my statement of purpose? I have worked on it for a week and it'is my fourth version.
I'd be greatly appreciated for any of your comments!

Angelica Li

Dear Sir or Madam:
A Student of ……’s inaugural program of International Business, I am writing in support of my application for acceptance into your graduate program in Cultures and Development Studies

My Academic Qualifications
I am confident that my undergraduate courses in economics, business, politics, law, literature and philosophical linguistics have laid a valuable foundation for this graduate program, in view of the fact that the field cultures and development studies is a broad and diverse complex involving humanities and social sciences as well as portions of natural sciences. Though my major is business, its interdisciplinary nature and its nationwide pioneering attempt to incorporate humanism into the study of business have offered me the freedom for my own intellectual adventures. While studying English Linguistics and literature allows me to use and develop my oral and written communication skills, I also enjoy the opportunity in business courses to research and analyze information and to present this in an accessible and interesting manner. My ability of in-depth thinking and effective communication being well acknowledged by both of my classmates and teachers, I was often asked to be the leader in any kind of group work, and more often than not, my teamwork received the highest rating on class performance.

Besides, my undergraduate studies, though far from enough for my long-term purpose, have adequately prepared me for advanced research, I am now solidly grounded in mathematics, statistics and basic theories of economics, all fundamental subjects in learning business. In addition, after over three years of extensive reading in related fields, I have developed my own understanding of the present Chinese economy system as well as the Chinese society. The Chinese government is presently struggling to adapt a policy which would peacefully integrate the advantages of a market economy with the current Socialist system. To a certain extent, I feel that the government has been successful in implementing this aim. However, many problems have yet to be resolved. Chief among these is the problem of sustainable development. At present development is seen just as growth of GDP (though there is an increasing awareness of ecological development), and few have considered it the enhancement of the freedom and well-being of people in a socio-cultural sense. Therefore, I think my area of proposed studies will be of great importance to the development of an emerging discipline in China.

My Community Voluntary Work
Never content with just performing well in my exams, I have been keen in obtaining hands-on experience. To understand the real problems in real life and thus put what I have learned from books into practice, I worked as a weekends volunteer in a community center at Fangzhuang Office under Fengtai District Government in Beijing from March 2002 to June 2004, and gained invaluable experience with cultural investments and community cultural policies. My regular work was to act as an English teacher of the aged, unemployed or housewives. On several occasions, I contacted and invited my friends or professors to give small lecture on themes like "The Art of Kun Opera", "How to Make Better Use of the Internet for More Efficient self-study", and "Chinese Medicine and Daily Health Care", etc. I had also assisted in a large program with the aim of promoting the concept of ecological tourism amongst local Beijing people; my job included conducting surveys in communities and working as a guide at Beijing Archives Museum. Through these activities, I had access to the first-hand practical information on the development of communities, some of them reflecting for-front trends of Chinese government’s local economic policies. Academically, as well as socially, the most important aspect of these experiences for me was realizing how important culture means for sustainable development of communities and how great efforts are needed in the future to achieve such a goal.

My Experience as a Correspondent & My Interest with European Culture
Working as a correspondent and editor at the school news centre has enabled me to practice my written and interpersonal skills and to effectively pass on my knowledge and interest to others. The two columns I am responsible for are called “Lives of Foreign Students at ……” and “Exploring into Traditional Chinese Culture”. On one hand, my role of a reporter provided me with many opportunities to talk with foreign students and to make friends with them. As a matter of fact, it was through interaction with them, especially those who were from Europe, that I found my strong interests with European cultures. On the other hand, my editor work with traditional Chinese culture further strengthened this interest: the more I explored into the traditional culture of China and tried to show its beauty and essence to my European friends, the more I found its elusive affinity with European cultures. I indeed enjoy the great intellectual challenge in the comparative study of the east and west, and I have even decided to make it an object of my lifelong exploration.

My Study Plan & My Career Goal
Through a master's degree program, I plan to explore further the issues I’ve pondered on during my undergraduate years. Living in a visual culture society which is driven by the joint force of multimedia, digital technology and cyberspace, I feel that it is important to integrate existed views and theories to address such issues: how can we cope with the sense of constant uncertainty in this post-modern era? What on earth does development mean in light of the quality of life? Where can modern people find the sense of belonging in this bustling business world? Thus far, my attentions have concentrated largely on the issue of uncertainty and the relationship between culture and community development, and I plan to explore further the cultural features of society with special emphasis on how culture and public policies interact to promote community development, and how they impact the cultural meanings and values of communities. I would also seek to increase my knowledge of European languages, which will allow me to study the lingering cultural impact of globalization in sustainable development.

Upon the completion of my graduate studies, I will strive to integrate development efforts with programs for supporting and helping the dissemination of indigenous cultural expressions, for example the expansion of traditional music and dancing. Eventually, I would like to secure a post in a higher education institution when I return to China, or as an alternative to work as a policy consultant in a non-profit organization with the aim of promoting education and intercultural communication.


The Master program in Cultures and Development Studies at …… is uniquely equipped to guide me toward these objectives. While searching for a graduate school that would accommodate my interdisciplinary interests, I was thrilled to find that this program employs multifaceted approaches and methodologies for prospecting, guiding and evaluating sustainable development initiatives. With courses set under the Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology, I will have access to a wide array of studies both within and beyond my chosen major.

In …… I’ve found a high reputation in academic research and professors whose interests mirror my own, I have no doubt that, if admitted, I will be offered the freedom and instruction that I need to pursue fully the awakening of my own critical consciousness.