My Statement of Purpose for MSc Finance program: Please comment

Hi Guys,

This is the draft for my SOP, which I am planning to submit early next year. I still haven't put in the specific names, but it would be great if you could comment on the ideas and arrangements. Any suggestions are more than welcome.. Thanks so much!

And just FYI, the universities I am hoping for are the likes of Warwick, City University, Imperial College and LSE...if I'm lucky enough.

Here it goes..

As a Royal Thai Government Scholar, I believe that by studying in the MSc Finance Program at XXX University, I will be provided the best knowledge and background needed to succeed in my future career, working to improve the living standards of Thai people through my awaiting position at the Social Security Office, where I will be a part of the team managing the largest pension fund in the country.



Ever since school days and throughout college, I have always been keen on learning how mathematical theories can be used in real life situations. This prompted me to study Engineering at , which is widely regarded as the most prestigious Engineering program in the country. Majoring in Industrial Engineering, I expanded my knowledge of mathematical models and statistical theories, and most importantly, I learned how both areas could be combined to help solve business-related questions. One example of this was when I worked with a teammate on a research project on the topic of demand forecasting, on which we applied econometric methods.



After graduating, I began working as a logistics engineer in a cement company, where I had hands-on experiences of using statistical methods in optimizing the company’s logistics operations. However, upon completing one year of work, I started to consider seriously about my future career, and realized that instead of working for the benefits of a particular company, I would rather pursue a profession in which my dedication will be contributed towards a better society, especially in key areas of interest such as poverty, childhood education, and wealth gaps.



Although my scope of interest lies not just within any country, having been born and raised in Thailand has made me aware of the ongoing problems in the kingdom in recent years. As Thailand tries to progress on towards being an industrialized country, with all the attention focusing on the country’s economics performances and political regimes, the majority of people, especially in rural areas, still live their lives without the adequacy of basic necessities. Thus, in my opinion, providing the people with the fundamentals of life will be a key improvement towards continuous development. The Thai government has come up with various schemes in order to deal with his problem. For example, a range of funds have been given out at the community level, but very few seemed to have made noticeable impact. For this, I consider financial management to play a very crucial role. Regardless of the amount of funds allocated, ineffective planning can lead to a substantial loss. Therefore, by acquiring the knowledge in the financial management field, I believe I can be a part of the movement that can bring the country further towards long-term development.



I then applied and got accepted to the Master of Arts in International Economics and Finance program at . During the one-year course I learned the basics aspects of finance, which includes the basics of portfolio theory and quantitative analysis in finance, and also the fundamentals of the financial market.



Upon completing the program, I strongly felt that in order to progress on towards a successful profession in the financial sector, I needed more than just the basics; I needed to dive further into the deeper aspects of the theories and techniques in finance that would help me develop the necessary mindset and skills. This encouraged me to apply for the Thai Government’s Scholarship, and was selected out of more than 300 applicants to acquire the scholarship from the Social Security Office for a master’s degree in finance, which, apart from the financial support, upon completing the degree I will have an opportunity to work at the Social Security Office as an Investment Analyst, part of a team working on a portfolio with the approximate amount of US$ 25 billion in total, providing coverage for more than 9.4 million private employees in the country.



As my future career path is clear, I need to find the program that would help me excel in the financial area. Given the renowned MSc Finance program at , especially in areas of quantitative-based subjects, I strongly believe that it will provide me with invaluable expertise to succeed in my career. Furthermore, I am also looking forward to experiencing the views of Prof. XXX, who has done a research on the topic of XXXX, which I found to be very insightful in terms of the underlying concepts of pension fund management.



Lastly, I am hopeful that my background and motivation will be able to prove my suitability to this program. Furthermore, I believe that I can bring diversity, and also will be a lasting part in the network of alumni and teachers.