Letter to a Dutch university

hello!

I'm about to apply for a Bachelor in a Dutch university.

I'd like someone to read comment on my letter. Any kind of advice is welcome!

To whom this may concern,

I am an Italian student applying for the Global Management of Social Issues bachelor’s degree program offered by X University. I am currently attending my last year of secondary school and my grades at school show that I am a hard worker with a high sense of duty.
One major aspect that impressed me when visiting the website of the program was the importance given to the students' experiences and background.

Since I was a child I’ve always been interested in social issues and I am sure this program will help me expand my knowledge; in fact I am inquisitive, determined and highly motivated.
Being from Italy has helped me develop a really deep understanding of some of the most compelling contemporary problems, such as immigration and political instability.
However, while living in a developed European country, one may not be aware of certain problems, some of which I had the opportunity to come across during my journey to Colombia. In the three weeks I spent there, I learned how to speak Spanish and I was able to discover what poverty really means. During my stay I visited both the capital city, Bogotà, and some small towns on the coast. The chasm between the living conditions of the rich and the poor made me feel “obliged” to do something. I had always felt a strong desire for justice, but on that occasion I finally realized that I wanted to make a real difference, to deal with all these difficulties people usually turn their back to. I wasn’t brought up to accept social abuses and inequalities; therefore I decided to apply to this program, which in my opinion will help me be a voice for all those people who need help and have a concrete impact in the world.

My mother’s job as an accountant has strongly influenced the development of my interests, since I could gain an insight into economics and its implications in various fields.
I spent a summer working with her and I realized that my interest in economics does not stem from a fondness for finance or accountancy, but it is due to the fact that it is often the key to understanding social problems.

My self-motivation has always characterized my experiences in life. One of the reasons why I believe I am a suitable candidate for this program is that I am always up for a challenge, especially when it comes to such important issues such as the so called “wicked problems”. Sympathizing with the victims of abuses is not enough. I am ready to take on responsibility and work for tangible change and effective solutions.

My school - despite its scientific orientation - offers a solid basis in the humanities upon which I was able to develop a well-defined moral character. It has also enriched my natural appeal to research, because the school provides students with critical and analytic thinking skills that can be easily applied to humanitarian and philosophical matters. At this school, we are encouraged to take part in activities in which teamwork is essential. For instance, over the last two years I have been involved in a project that aimed at promoting interest in science to children of the primary and middle schools. I took an active part in the organization of the project itself with a team of other students.

I know how valuable it is to study and interact with people from different cultural backgrounds in order to have a wider insight into other cultures and perspectives; that is why I want to study in an environment as multicultural as possible. I had the chance to work with students coming from all over the world while I was attending a summer school in Brighton, England. I was able to improve not only my language skills, but also my collaborative skills. I also experienced the life in an English family through adopting their daily habits and traditions.

My love for traveling has taken me around the world and in particular to the Netherlands, where I was struck by the open-mindedness of Dutch people. I personally think that the Netherlands is a very innovative country that is undergoing a rapid development, and it perfectly mirrors my creative attitude. I was also impressed by how people managed to make foreigners feel at ease. That is why I believe I will be able to adapt perfectly to the life in the Netherlands .

Thank you for considering my application, and I look forward to receiving your reply.

Best regards,