Cover Letter

Hi,

I wonder if anyone could have a look at this cover letter for a PhD. I would be grateful if you could give me your opinion and correct my english. Thank you very much!!!

Regards

Cris

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to apply to the PhD in XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX starting in XXXXXXXX.

I graduated in XXXXXXXXXXX at the University of XXXXXXXX. During my studies I did some research namely in applied sport psychology where I developed a mental training program based on a computer game and simulator. Since my internship in Sport Psychology Unit in XXXXXXI have returned to my country and was given the chance to work with athletes, teams, coaches and parents. I am passionate about sport and helping sport agents to be better mentally.

Over the last year I have worked in research, specifically in career development of elite Volleyball coaches involving the adaptation of the retrospective interview of Côté, Ericsson, Law (2005) and Gilbert Côté and Mallet (2006). This was a valuable experience.

One of my dreams is to be able to research and work in the area of Applied Sport Psychology and at the same time to have financial stability. The main reason for my application is the practical component that research involves. I believe I have the discipline and determination to face and succeed the four years doctoral programme. Sport psychology community needs applied work adapted to the main characteristics of elite sport: time and efficiency.

One of the principles of nudges resides in the importance of irrational behavior, and the benefits that we can obtain from good architecture of choices in the sense they help to improve individual´s decisions by offering a nudge in the right direction (Thaler and Sunstein, 2008). The authors enumerate many factors that can lead to mistakes in human judgment and decision-making. But as Hausman and Welch (2009, pp 129) say:” Why shouldn’t these factors influence preferences? Why should these factors be regarded as interferences with rational choice rather than as rational determinants of choice?”

In my opinion this addresses the use that nudges can bring to sport agents. According to Thaler and Sustein we should account for how individuals make decisions and then “nudge” people towards making better decisions.

Damásio (2011) says that we are not thinking machines; we are feeling machines that think. The author explains that we have a great level of complexity that allows us to respond in a more complex way than animals. We can use logic, rational thinking and knowledge. As a consequence we can react differently to emotions by modifying emotional answers and creating new answers. If we relate this idea to the principles of nudge and use it in the right direction we are able to develop a good architecture of choices (Thaler and Sustein, 2008).

If we take into consideration what Samantha Stosur said after winning the US Open: “You can’t control the emotion that comes but you can decide what to do with them”, then we can make a connection to sports.

In my opinion, one of the research area/topic that can be studied is precisely the use of nudges to guide sport agents in responding to emotions, which could be a great advantage in the sense that it would allow them to decide better and perform closer to their potential. Individuals will make good decisions in contexts in which they have good experiences, good information and proper feedback (Passell, 2009).

I hope that my genuine enthusiasm for this opportunity comes through and you are persuaded that I have the skills to make a strong contribution to this University.

Thank very much for considering my application. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours sincerely,