Motivation Letter for Application of Master

Hello all,

I'm a senior student from a renowned university in China, and I'm applying a MSc in Switzerland. I've sent my statement of purpose for other applications, but this Swiss university requires a motivation letter. I'm not sure if my format is correct. And I was wondering if anyone could help check my letter, in aspects of grammar, content, logic, etc.

Thanks a lot in advance!

Sincerely,
HeloSido

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Faculty of Sciences
University of V
January 31, 2013

Dear Dean’s Office:

I am applying to your Master of Science in Biochemistry. After completing the Master’s program, I plan to continue my doctoral education. My career ambition is to become a creative biochemist researching natural products and applying my results into the development of cosmetics and perfumes.

The story began as a little girl fascinated by beauty and science. Those warm afternoons in the backyard, she cautiously picked an azalea, peeled off its petals and grated them in a bowl. Slowly, the magenta mixture began to change its hue. The little girl gaped as if there was a new world opening its gate. Color, odor, flavor… all mysteries of the chemical world appealed to her from then on. “Chem is try.” Gradually I learned this sentence; despite so many tries during my chemistry major life, I can still remember the days when I first came across this nine-letter word by trying.

As an everlasting enthusiast of nature, once participating in Biology Olympiad in high school, I studied widely in zoology, botany, biochemistry, genetics, etc. During the year of 2007 and 2008, I was awarded twice in China High School Biology Olympiad. This experience helped me acquire the candidature of the independent recruitment of X University, in which I got full marks of the written test and ranked the 6^th out of about 1000 applicants from Y province. However, when I was admitted to X in advance, I stuck to choose Applied Chemistry as my major despite my specialty in biology. To be a chemist sounds great. I can look into the molecular scale to comprehend chemical processes and life phenomena like “oxidation” (eventually I found out what had happened to my azalea petals), and also study how to develop new formulations of cosmetics and fragrance and to analyze their contents, in other words, the “beauty science”.

With curiosity since my childhood and accomplishment of high grades – my overall GPA ranks the 1^st in the class, I have reinforced my desire to explore deeper into this miraculous chemical world. At the end of my sophomore year, concerning my biology background, I decided to carry out projects in the biochemical area. Supervised by Dr. Z, I gradually grasped the experimental methods of bioanalytical chemistry and understood how bioinformatics apply to database and literature search. Though hard efforts taken, every day in the laboratory is fun whenever I see the protein ladders separated on SDS-PAGE gel or analyze the mass spectrum data of acetylated peptides (the only unpleasant thing is to kill innocent rats) with the spirit of trial and error – “chem is try”. I have managed to design a project of co-application of liquid phase isoelectric focusing and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry in protein acetylation study which got sponsored by school’s Chemical Talent Training Fund. Currently I am working on it with the collaboration of a graduate, aiming at a further setup of an identification technology platform for protein serine and threonine acetylation.

Simultaneously, the spirit of trying encourages me to broaden my outlook and absorb a wide range of knowledge. Besides my chemistry study, I continued my enthusiasm for life sciences and selected several courses which were related to the subject of biochemistry and bio-products. I completed the curriculum of my second major – International Economics and Trade, in which the theoretical economics training, together with the global cases studied, promoted my management performance. Additionally, I have been learning French for two years and still attending classes of 10 hours per week in order to get fully prepared for my future study in Europe.

It is also indispensable for an aggressive trier to enrich herself with practical experience. The winter vacation of my junior year in the Urban Water Quality Monitoring Station was the first time for me to apply what I learned into practice. Then in W Company, I cooperated with my line manager to research into green chemical analysis and to handle product quality control tasks. From these two internship experiences, not only did I recognize the differences between a public institution and an industrial enterprise, but also I was much involved into the research job. By engaging in school’s Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program for which I arranged academic reports and lectures, I understood more about the procedure of academic work.

Every previous attempt and harvest has firmed my mind to devote myself into a research career. And especially, the experience in W draws my attention to natural products research, for this is the very foundation of diverse industrial domains such as pharmacy, food and cosmetics. Also, I always have a particular interest on the beauty science. Internship interviews at some renowned enterprises, including L’Oréal and Estée Lauder, made me realize the importance of solid expertise and comprehensive abilities to a scientist in R&D fields. That strengthens my resolve to pursue my postgraduate study in biochemistry; then I will deepen my research on bioactive ingredients and extend their application to beauty products in the future.

It is still a long way to go. The decision made to choose chemistry three years ago has turned into a landmark. Similarly, the choice of University of V will become another significant step on my path. A Master of Science in Biochemistry is no doubt the best option. The combination of high-level theoretical work and intensive laboratory practice will lay a solid academic basis for my following doctoral education and then a good start of my professional life. From series of individual short-duration internships and a one-semester master thesis, I will specialize and develop an in-depth view in my domain of interest. Since Switzerland is a world-class chemical industry base, in which locate two of the world’s five largest fine chemical companies (Lonza, Clariant) and global leaders in the fragrance and flavor production (Givaudan, Firmenich), I will take this advantage to contact these enterprises for further comprehension of the industry. Meanwhile, in V, the beautiful and international city with a French-speaking atmosphere, there will be a great chance for me to fully grasp this language.

I wish to enroll at University of V, a university of repute for research and teaching, to stretch my mind and better equip myself. Looking forward to studying in the heart of Europe, I am prepared to face any challenges and eager to seize every opportunity to grow. Thereafter I can fulfill my dream as a promising biochemist to explore the beauty of the chemical world with endless curiosity and endeavor.

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

Sincerely yours,