Motivation Letter - Master

Hi everybody

I'm currently writing a motivation letter as I am applying for a Master in Computer Science. I have read some of the examples and also the guide posted by mountainhiker. I have already found this very helpful and drafted a few versions of my letter. I would be very happy if you could take a look at my current version.

Thank you all
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Dear Sir or Madam

I am writing to apply for the Master in Computing Science program at the University of XXXXX starting in february 2012.

I have long been interested in computer science in general and I have started pursuing a career in this field about seven years ago with an apprenticeship as application developer. I am now studying for a Bachelor in Computer Science as I wanted to deepen my knowledge about computers and to learn more about its inner workings. During this bachelor program I was teached the basics of functional programming and compiler construction and was fascinated by this topics. Proof of this can be seen in the fact that I have earned the best possible grades in both courses. I am also applying my functional programming knowledge in other courses where possible to become more proficient. Nonetheless I would like to continue learning more about these topics, especiallyabout the theoretical framework behind them.

Complementing my strong academic performance are my skills in time management and leadership. As I am working as freelancer on call alongside my study I have developed a good time management system. I have learned to prioritize tasks and if I am under pressure I now excel at using time as best as possible.
In other areas such as leadership I have learned much through past experiences. To improve my team leading skills I have volunteered as project leader in the third term project of my study. This was quite a challenge as the team consisted of 8 people, further complicated by one team member who refused to do any serious work. Due to my leadership we were able to overcome these obstacles and still deliver a satisfying product. I have learned a great deal about how to handle difficult situations in a team and how important good leadership is from this experience.

During my free time, I really like to enjoy the outdoor life from time to time. In the winter I like to go skiing in the Swiss Alps, when it is a bit warmer I prefer to go cycling. Cycling helps me to relax from the everyday life and is a nice change to the intellectual challenges faced at the university.

I want to study at XXXX University because it has an excellent computing science progam that best meets my aspirations of studying software technology. The course description of the functional programming and compiler construction courses sound fascinating. Another reason is that Haskell is a prominent topic at XXXX University and I really enjoy using this language. Further strengthening my choice is the good reputation of the university.

Please feel free to contact me regarding any questions or concerns you might have. Thank you for reviewing my application, and I look forward to your acceptance.

Sincerely yours,
XXX YYY