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Writing a Statement of Purpose

"Word for word, the graduate admissions essay is perhaps the single most important proseanyone will ever write. In ways that students rarely understand, it can be the ticket to the future of your choice, or not." This quote is from an article titled "The Statement of Purpose," by DonaldAsher. It was distributed by Veronica Acevedo, UCSC Career Adviser, during her recent lunch

time presentation, "Writing a Shining Statement of Purpose." For those of you who missed it, hereare the highlights.

Start the process of researching graduate schools and programs sixteen months beforeapplications are due- usually between December and February of the year prior to beginning aprogram. Applications to graduate school generally require the application form, academictranscripts, letters of recommendation and a statement of purpose.

Your statement of purpose should be about 1 to 1 1/2 pages. Discuss your career goals, and howan advanced degree and this program would help you get there. Include relevant experiencessuch as research you have done and skills you have demonstrated.

Relevance is key, and doing your homework about graduate school programs will help youdetermine relevancy. Ask some of these questions... what degree programs does this schooloffer? What areas of emphasis does it offer within that major? What license and certificatepreparation does the program provide? What original research is being done by which faculty atthis school? The answers to these questions should help you decide to which schools andprograms you'll apply. This information should also be incorporated into your statement of purpose. Only include your life story if it's relevant.

Write, rewrite, and rewrite. Ask for help. Ask others to review your statement- career counselors,faculty you've asked to write a recommendation. Keep the tone positive. Use correct grammar and spelling. Be concise. Don't complain or make excuses for poor test scores or evaluations.

Read others' statement of purpose. The Bay Tree Bookstore carries Applying to CompetitiveGraduate and Professional Schools, by Thomas Reefe. Another resource is Graduate

Admissions Essays at Work , by Donald Asher. Both books are available for reference at the

Career Center. It's not too soon to start the process, and the Career Center, at 125 Hahn StudentServices, is the place to begin.

WHAT DO COLLEGES LOOK FOR IN A STATEMENT OF PURPOSE?

The primary question admissions committee members ask themselves when they read aStatement of Purpose is: What does this essay tell me about the person who wrote it?

Put yourself in an admission officer's shoes. From among thousands of applications, you have tochoose the fraction of students that will comprise next year's incoming class. A mix of interesting,confident and enthusiastic people who will make the class a stimulating place. Academicachievements and good test scores are important. But in an era where the majority of applicantshave good academic records, it becomes increasingly difficult to distinguish between individuals

and decide who gets the offer of admission.

When you apply, each of the items in the application packet-recommendations, extra-curricular achievements, work samples - adds an extra dimension toyour personality. But it is the SoP that brings you to life. Which is why each essay is readcarefully by at least two and often four or five people before a decision is taken on the application.Does this mean that the SoP is the main deciding factor? No. Your academic record . grades andthe courses you took- are the first section admission committee members turn to. Standardizedtest scores are useful to know where you stand in the applicant pool. For graduate schools,relevant work or academic experience is important. Being from a reputed school or college



backward information flow to perform propagation using work-listsin an efficient manner. I have been in correspondence withProfessor J.D.Ullman about my algorithm and other aspects of theproblem.

I have chosen to pursue graduate studies at Stanford Universitybecause by working under the guidance of the distinguishedresearchers I am confident of making an original contribution inthe field of Computer Science. My interest in research hasburgeoned during my undergraduate studies at IIT. I have excelledin our the well-rounded and exacting undergraduate program andhave developed a solid background to take up research in Computer Science.

I have decided to go in for graduate studies which calls for apersonal commitment to the fulfilling craft of independentresearch and that involves willingly making personal sacrificesof time , leisure and immediate reward . In turn I shall getintellectual satisfaction and the gratification of becoming a

contributor to knowledge through research and the greater personal rewards of learning and discovery.I believe that Ipossess the motivation, intellectual ability and preparation toset out on this exhiliarating and arduous path and to makesignificant original contributions to your on-going researchwork.

I look forward to joining Stanford University as a graduatestudent at your esteemed department.

XYZ ________

________ I, (RST) , am in the final year of the four year {\it Bachelor of Technology} program of the {\it Computer Science and Engineering}program of the {\it Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay}.My career objectives lie in the pursuance of research and academics in theoreticalcomputer science - especially in {\bf mathematical logic, automatedtheorem proving,program correctness and semantics of programminglanguages}.I believe that graduate studies leading to a {\bf Ph.D}through research work of quality in these fields are a necessary steptowards my goal.

The undergraduate courses of the CSE department of IIT have given me acomprehensive exposure to all the core fields of computer science andmathematics.Man's attempts at mathematically modelling objects of studyand then using these models to reason, predict, draw new meanings andinterpretations have always fascinated me. Hence , in course of mystudies I've come to realize that I wish to pursue research andacademics in the above mentioned areas of theorotical computer science.These areas, I believe are rapidly developing and offer great scope toone who is confident of producing fruitful work and coming up with



creative ideas.

I have performed reasonably well in my undergraduate courses at IIT,butsince IIT admits only the best students throughout the country, Ibelieve ,in view of the competitive atmosphere, that the grades securedshould not be considered in an absolute sense.

My interest in theoretical computer science has inspired me to carry outresearch and implementation in this subject, as can be seen from myattached resume. Simultaneously , I have kept myself abreast with therecent trends in research through literature surveys during projects,related to courses and otherwise. I have availed of every oppurtinity tolearn more about my areas of interest. I have taken/have enrolled for anumber of relevant courses offered by the computer science,mathematicsand humanities departments. My senior thesis (home paper) {\bf PROGRAMVERIFICATION USING ALGEBRAIC METHODS} has given me a chance to explorethese areas in greater depth (details in resume).All these activitieshave gone a long way towards making my background very strong in my

areas of interest.

I have also had a good deal of teaching experience as can be seen fromattached certificates. This experience convinced that I have thecommunication skills and the ability to explain things precisely tobecome a teacher.

My years at IIT have been enlightening ones but I need to constructivelybuild up on what I've learned so far. {\bf Duke} ,I think is the ideallearned so far.Duke, I think, is an ideal choice towards this end.Mydecision was based on a careful examination of the department brochures

and information from faculty members and alumni. I have alsocommunicated with Dr.Henry Greenside ,Director of graduate studies of the Computer Science department.

Duke has a stress on research-oriented study, flexibility and closer Professor-student relationships. I think that having such a soundacademic environment at a reputed University such as Duke, with the workof a small group of teachers serving as a model, I will be able toattain my true potential. Specifically I am keen to participate in theongoing research activity at Duke in the following fields:

\begin {itemise}

{\item Finding efficient proof procedures for first order logic theoremproving.}{\item Reasoning in equational logics}{\item Program correctness and program transformation}\end {itemise}

I look forward to making my contributions to the advancement of computer science - starting at Duke.

\end {document}



substantial knowledge of the basic areas of Computer Science.Any amount of learning in Computer Science would be incomplete withouthands on experience of Programming.In this regard I completed various miniprojects both out my own interest and also as a part of some of my courses



My senior year dissertation under Dr. S.Seshadri ( Ph.D. Wisconsin Madi-son ) is titled B+ -Tree Concurrency Control Algorithms in Real-time environ-ment. Operations on B+ -Tree are crucial while maximizing concurrency in aDatabase System. In real-time environment in which each such operation hasassociated deadline it is more crucial. There are specialized algorithms for thepurpose. As a part of the project, I will be doing performance evaluation of these algorithms.To considate my knowledge in my field of interest, I had credited the courseAdvances in Database Technology in the fall semester. The course involvedthe study of various classic papers in Databases. I presented a seminar on MainMemory Databases as a part of the course. I am also crediting a course onDistributed Databases in the Spring semester. I am also an active member of SIGDB ( Special Interest Group in Databases ) of the institute, which keepsme fully informed about the latest development in Databases. I have presentedsome latest papers during its meetings.

Teaching Experience

I was a teaching assistant for the fresher's course CS101: Computer Pro-gramming and Utilization during Fall 93. I was also an organiser during unixworkshops and C language workshop conducted by students of our department.This has made me confident that I will prove to be a very good teacher.

Reasons for selecting University of Wisconsin

Your university is considered to be one of the best universities in databasesresearch. Your faculty has distinguised researchers in the field of databases. Iam also familiar with some of the research papers published by them. My guide

Dr.S.Seshadri, an alumnus of your university has encouraged me to apply here.As a result, I am very enthusiastic about joining your university for graduatestudies.

Summing Up

I am aware of the hard work and perseverence necessary for research work and Iknow that it is not always as exciting as the published results seem to indicat**e.

Nevertheless, I am sure that my aptitude and drive will see me through thechallenge. Looking forward to joining University of Wisconsin at Madison.

ABC ________ _____-\documentstyle[12pt,a4]{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin {document}\centerline {\Large STATEMENT OF PURPOSE}\vspace{0.5in}



I am a student of Computer Science and Engineering at Indian Institute of Technology (I.I.T.), Bombay. I wish to pursue a career in research inComputer Science. I would like to embark upon this venture through theDoctoral Program offered by the Department of Computer Science at RiceUniversity.

My deep interest in Computer Science stems from a natural aptitude for logicand mathematics, the ``queen of sciences''. I consider Computer Science not

just as a field to pursue a research career in, but as ahobby. Throughout my undergraduate study, I have endeavoured to gain abroad perspective of Computer Science. My fields of interest rangeover a wide spectrum of areas; however I am especially fascinated byProgramming Languages, Real-Time Systems and Parallel Processing.

My training at I.I.T., Bombay has not only equipped me with a strongtechnical base but has also instilled in me a deep interest inresearch. During the course of my B.Tech. curriculum, I have presented aseminar titled {\bf ``Selected Topics in Advanced Architectures''} under theguidance of Prof. S.S.S.P. Rao. During the summer of 1994, I had the rareopportunity of working at {\bf Bhabha Atomic Research Centre

(B.A.R.C.)} , Bombay, a forerunner of Parallel Processing inIndia. The training at B.A.R.C. has demonstrated to me how emergingtechnology when combined with ingenuity can be employed to solveapparently diverse problems in Physics and Medicine. I am currentlyworking on my B.Tech. project titled {\bf``Statechart Simulation UsingBinary Decision Diagrams''} under the guidance of Dr. S. Ramesh. Despite theintense competition at I.I.T., I have been consistent in myperformance; with a Cumulative Points Index of {\bf 8.83} I stand $9^{th}$in a class of 33 students.

Study in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at I.I.T., Bombay has demandedlong hours of continuous work, self-motivated efforts and aconsiderable amount of group activity. It has given me several

opportunities to participate in various departmental activities,albeit in a small way. Learning by myself and sharing my knowledgewith others has always been of prime importance to me. I have limitedteaching experience from tutoring an elementary course on FORTRAN-77 for students of first year B.Tech. program. I enjoyed the experience andwould like to teach in future too.

I look upon graduate study as an avenue to refine my skills and givea direction to my research career. It would be my first chance to makefundamental contribution to the field in which I undertake research.The excellent research facilities at Rice University and the distinguishedfaculty are a great source of inspiration to me. The emphasis onmultidisciplinary seminars and research projects would definitely

encourage me to explore other related areas within the realms of Computer Science.

I hope I fit in with your expectations of a promising graduate student.Admission to the Department of Computer Science at Rice Universitycould well be that golden foundation upon which the entire edifice of myscientific career rests.

\vspace{0.6in}



\flushleft{\today} \\Bombay. \hspace{2.85in} (SSS)\end {document}

________ _____-\begin{center}{\Huge Statement of Purpose}

\end{center}

My objective in graduate studies is to prepare myself for mylong term goal of a career in research and teaching in Computer Science.The first step in that direction is pursuit of Ph.D. in Computer Science.

Ever since I was in high school, I wanted to be a scientist.Hence I joined IITBombay, where I chose Computer Science as my undergraduate major.The undergraduate programme in Computer Science and Engg. inIIT Bombay is unarguably one of the best in India andthe core courses in the undergrad curriculum have helped me get aa sound grasp of the fundamentals of almost all aspects of Computer Science,

which is reflected by my position in the top five in a class of 33.At IIT, I also discovered theintellectual satisfaction of solving difficult problems on my own.In the summer vacation after the first year, I worked for some time witha research scholar in the department of Computer Science and Engg.This work led to a research paper,``Heuristics for Distributed Knowledge-Based Systems'', which was published in1994. Because of this and my success in the undergraduate courses,I feel that a career in research is suited both to my aptitude and temperament.

My idea of research in graduate studies is a proper balance of theory and practice. i.e. to get theoretical results and to see, as far aspossible, the

immediate impact of the same through their implementation. I am aware of thetough and arduous nature of this task and willing to take on this challenge.I believe that I have the requisite intellectual ability, motivation and thewillingness to sacrifice leisure for work in order to fulfill my objectiveof scientific research and the attainment of intellectual satisfactiontherefrom. Thus I believe that I will be able to make a meaningfulcontribution to the research work at Rice University.

The exacting nature of the undergraduate labs in IIT Bombayhave already given me a comprehensive knowledge of systems and



systems programming. But I feel that astrong background in theory is essential for a successful career in researchin an academic environment.

So in order to augment the knowledge of theory which I got from thecore courses, I am trying to learnas much of theory as possible in my undergraduate programme. I took twocourses on {\em Algorithms} and one on {\em Formal Specification and Verification of Programs}for my department electives in the seventh semester and I will be taking a course in {\em Combinatorics}next semester. My credit seminar topic viz. {\bf Randomized Algorithms} under the guidance of Prof. Sundar Vishwanathan, wasalso in theory. Looking at the beautiful results in algorithms, I am sure that Iwould be exhilarated to get some new exciting results on my own. Butimplementing the results and proving their practicality would give megreater satisfaction. My one-year B. Tech. Project, under the guidance of Prof. D. M. Dhamdhere, involves the design andimplementation of an {\bf Optimizer Generator System}. In this, I have tocome up with my own idea for implementing inter-procedural may-aliasing.

Currently, my research interests are in Parallelizing and Optimizing

compilers and I have worked in both. I am also interested in Algorithms.I am eager to explore some of these in greater depth and make my owncontribution, howsoever small, to those fields.

During my preparation for my B. Tech. Project, I readnumerous research papers from Rice University.Thus my choice of Rice University for graduatestudies is based on a careful examination of theinformation regarding the faculty members and the research currently going onin your school.

I look forward to joining your department asa graduate student. I am confident that

graduate studies in Rice University will prove to be a rewardingtask and I shall be able to fulfill my career objectives.

\begin{flushright}XYZ\end{flushright}

________

_____-\documentstyle[a4,12pt]{report}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}\begin{center} {\Large \bf Statement of Purpose} \end{center}

\vspace{1cm}

\noindentI am a senior year student in the Department of Computer Science and

Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, one of themost renowned institutes for undergraduate studies in India. My decisionto pursue graduate studies has been motivated by my eventual objective of meaningful research in the field of {\bf Computer Networks} and {\bf Communications}. I firmlybelieve that I possess the requisite background and aptitudefor pursuing active research in this field at your University.\\



\noindentA strong desire to ingrain the fundamental principles of any subject

of study has enabled me to adopt a rigorous and analytical approach to problemsolving. More importantly, it has inculcated in me the methodology of scientific inquiry. Throughout schooling I maintained the first position inmy class. In consonance with my interests, I worked towards obtaining admissionto the Indian Institutes of Technology and secured a rank of 92 among 85,000candidates who appeared in the entrance examination. Computer Science andEngineering was a natural choice for my undergraduate studies in light of my fascination for computers.\\

\noindentMy interest in research has burgeoned during the course of my

undergraduate studies at IIT, Bombay. My major field of interest is computer networks and telecommunications. At present I am working on my senior year B.\ Tech.\ Project on {\bf Fast Packet Switching in ATM Networks} under the guidance of Dr.\ M.\Khalid. It involves thedesign of a non-blocking Disjoint Path Packet Switch and the analysis of itsperformance in terms of the throughput, delay, packet loss rate, hardware complexity and the

ease of growability. The proposed switch combines thedelay/throughput performance of $N^{2}$ disjoint path switches and themulticasting performance of Shared Medium switches in a single architecture.The attempt is to reduce the hardware costof implementing the switch without compromising on any of the performancecharacteristics of an ideal packet switch. To consolidate my knowledge inthis field I had also taken an elective course titled {\em Introduction toComputer Networks} last semester in which I got the highest grade in the class.\\

\noindentApart from delving deep into the field of Computer Networks, I have triedto broaden my perspectives in other fields of Computer Science as well.In my junior year I presented a Seminar on {\bf Anti-aliasing in Computer Graphics}

under the guidance of Dr. Sharat Chandran. The seminar involved anexhaustive study of the various anti-aliasing techniques used to overcomethe jagged effects arising due to the discrete sampling in a raster graphicssystem. I also implemented an anti-aliasing software package as part of a project in an elective course on Computer Graphics.\\

\noindentI also have the abilityto work in a group project effectively. I had done my industrial training inthe Regional Computer Center at Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited andduring the course of the summer project I developed a data compressionpackage. Thepractical experience I gained after working in such a big organization

has given me immense confidence in tackling time-b================================================Starting the essay Writing your admissions essays or Statement of Purpose (SoP) is a long and intensive process -ten to twelve drafts over a two-month period are fairly common. It is necessary to put in this hardwork to come up with an essay that is uniquely yourself, and a compelling read which convincesthe admissions committee that you are right for their school. This is a great opportunity to lookinside yourself and be rewarded by a better understanding of who you are and what you want.General Disclaimer <disclaimer.html>This page was last modified on Monday, November 19, 2001 9:02:47 AM



Copyright © Statementofpurpose.com 1999-2001Contact Webmaster <mailto: [email protected]>======================================================

Starting the essay

Preliminary Research Write out your resume. It is best to get this out of the way so that your SoP is not a repetition of the information in the resume. It should instead, use the resume as a reference and highlight thelearnings you have received during some key points in your career. There are a number of sitesthat help you to write a suitable resume for your college applications. You could also browse your local bookstore for resume-writing aids.Research the universities you are considering applying to. Find out the strengths andweaknesses of each. Good sources for this exercise are - university and department web sitesand brochures, home pages of students, your seniors or friends who are studying at thatuniversity or in the same field elsewhere, your college professors, friends in the same field. If it is

possible for you to access the university's web site, find out which professors work in areas thatinterest you and write to them about your plans. Some professors respond, some don't - but youhave nothing to lose at this stage. In fact, you could gain a better idea about the areas of research emphasized upon by that particular department. After finding out some details aboutyour potential universities, decide whether you still wish to apply there.While you should startwork on this as early as possible, recognize that it is a long process and will continue through thevarious stages of writing your SoP. At the same time, you will have to draw the line at backgroundresearch sometime as you are working on a timetable.Visit some web sites that talk about how to write your essay. A search for 'college admissionessays' on Yahoo will yield some sites. Check out the sample essays. If you do not have easyaccess to the Internet, go to your local bookstore and browse through a few books. In India, 'ThePrinceton Review: The Student Access Guide to College Admissions' is good and easilyavailable. Read their section on application essays. Remember that the essays you read areusually the best the authors could find. You are not expected to write as well; most people whoget admission to top schools do not.====================================================================

~ Sample Essays and Table of Contents<http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0028610490/markalanstewarta>

~<http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0028610490/markalanstewarta>

PerfectPersonalStatements<http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0028610490/markalanstewarta>Mark AlanStewartON THIS PAGE you'll find the Table of Contents for Perfect Personal Statements, with links to



three perfect personal statements from the book.

For a more detailed Table of Contents, ~click here <http://www.west.net/stewart/psinfo.htm>.PART 1CREATING PERFECT PERSONAL STATEMENTS

•The Questions•

Preparing to Write Your Essays•Writing Your Personal Statement—Content and Theme•Writing Your Personal Statement—Style and Format•Submitting Supplementary Materials•The Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Writing Personal Statements•Personal Statements and Medical School Applications•Personal Statements and Electronic Media

PART 2RECOMMENDATION LETTERS AND IN-PERSON INTERVIEWS

•Recommendation Letters•In-Person Interviews

PART 3THIRTY GREAT PERSONAL STATEMENTS

(BY SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS) •Essays that Relate a Personal Anecdote ~—(samplefor an M.A. program)

<http://www.west.net/stewart/pss2.htm> •Essays that Admit Shortcomings ~—(samplefor law school)

<http://www.west.net/stewart/pss3.htm> •Essays that Connect the Applicant's Past, Present, and Future•Essays by Risk-Takers with Distinct Points of View•Essays by Applicants Clearly Focused on Goals•Essays by Applicants with Unique Life Experiences•Essays that Explain why the Applicant Chose This Particular School•Essays that Explain Deficiencies or Blemishes•Essays by Applicants who are Committed to a Cause•Essays by Multifaceted Applicants ~—(samplefor B-school)

<http://www.west.net/stewart/pss1.htm>PART 4ADVICE FROM THE EXPERTS

Advice From the Law Schools•Boalt Hall (University of California at Berkeley, School of Law)•Cornell University Law School•Georgetown University Law Center •The University of Michigan Law School•The University of Texas at Austin, School of Law•UCLA School of Law

Advice From the Business Schools•

Columbia University, Graduate School of Business•The Fuqua School of Business (Duke University)•University of Illinois M.B.A. Program•Leonard N. Stern School of Business (New York University)•Stanford University, Graduate School of Business•Amos Tuck School of Business Administration (Dartmouth College)

Advice From the Medical Schools•Stanford University School of Medicine



•New York University School of Medicine•University of Michigan Medical School•The Pritzker School of Medicine (The University of Chicago)•University of Washington, School of Medicine

=========================================================================

======Here are a LOT of SOPs and a lot of variety too! Choose the one you like or just concoct up your own. Some of these are tex files to be compiled using LaTeX.

Imp points to note:Read the following BEFORE READING THE SOP.I have given this to many students.If two sops to a univ should never have anything in common. (this may be considered as

cheating)See that not many students use the exact contents (sentences) in their sops (uniqueness and

individuality are important aspects of a sop).V. IMP - make a sincere attempt of writin a sop or at least the points BEFORE U READ THIS

(and get biased).I would not consider this sop as the best possible (it is slightly high-sounding). Many

succesful people consider frank and simple sops as ideal.Reflect your personality and inclination in the sop.

Remember: A good sop is a v. imp. determinant.

Hope it helpsAll the best------------------------------------------------------------------

Statement of Purpose

My objective for graduate studies in Computer Science is toprepare myself for the long term goal of pursuing a career of teaching and research.I have nurtured a strong passion to

become a scientist and pursue research. In the pursuit of knowledge , I have always adopted a rigorous approach in order toattain an in-depth understanding of the subject at hand.This hasamply reflected in my consistently brilliant career,alwaystopping the class and having received numerous national levelawards.With a GPA of 9.72 , I am ranked first at the IIT amongnearly 350 students.

I have been involved in research in parallel and distributedcomputing systems.I studied various problems in distributedsystems and distributed databases including deadlock detectionand resolution , termination detection , distributed snapshots

and consistency.I have been attracted towards the field of correctness of parallel programs. I published a Technical Reportreporting errors in two published deadlock detection algorithmsand highlights their underlying deficiencies with respect to thedistributed nature of computation. I am also involved in thedevelopment of an optimizer generator which would automate theprocess of writing optimizers based on the specifications of theoptimizations.I am currently engaged in writing a paper on anefficient algorithm for performing global data-flow analysis. Thenew algorithm that I have developed utilizes the notion of



backward information flow to perform propagation using work-listsin an efficient manner. I have been in correspondence withProfessor J.D.Ullman about my algorithm and other aspects of theproblem.

I have chosen to pursue graduate studies at Stanford Universitybecause by working under the guidance of the distinguishedresearchers I am confident of making an original contribution inthe field of Computer Science. My interest in research hasburgeoned during my undergraduate studies at IIT. I have excelledin our the well-rounded and exacting undergraduate program andhave developed a solid background to take up research in Computer Science.

I have decided to go in for graduate studies which calls for apersonal commitment to the fulfilling craft of independentresearch and that involves willingly making personal sacrificesof time , leisure and immediate reward . In turn I shall getintellectual satisfaction and the gratification of becoming a

contributor to knowledge through research and the greater personal rewards of learning and discovery.I believe that Ipossess the motivation, intellectual ability and preparation toset out on this exhiliarating and arduous path and to makesignificant original contributions to your on-going researchwork.

I look forward to joining Stanford University as a graduatestudent at your esteemed department.

XYZ ________

________ I, (RST) , am in the final year of the four year {\it Bachelor of Technology} program of the {\it Computer Science and Engineering}program of the {\it Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay}.My career objectives lie in the pursuance of research and academics in theoreticalcomputer science - especially in {\bf mathematical logic, automatedtheorem proving,program correctness and semantics of programminglanguages}.I believe that graduate studies leading to a {\bf Ph.D}through research work of quality in these fields are a necessary steptowards my goal.

The undergraduate courses of the CSE department of IIT have given me acomprehensive exposure to all the core fields of computer science andmathematics.Man's attempts at mathematically modelling objects of studyand then using these models to reason, predict, draw new meanings andinterpretations have always fascinated me. Hence , in course of mystudies I've come to realize that I wish to pursue research andacademics in the above mentioned areas of theorotical computer science.These areas, I believe are rapidly developing and offer great scope toone who is confident of producing fruitful work and coming up with



creative ideas.

I have performed reasonably well in my undergraduate courses at IIT,butsince IIT admits only the best students throughout the country, Ibelieve ,in view of the competitive atmosphere, that the grades securedshould not be considered in an absolute sense.

My interest in theoretical computer science has inspired me to carry outresearch and implementation in this subject, as can be seen from myattached resume. Simultaneously , I have kept myself abreast with therecent trends in research through literature surveys during projects,related to courses and otherwise. I have availed of every oppurtinity tolearn more about my areas of interest. I have taken/have enrolled for anumber of relevant courses offered by the computer science,mathematicsand humanities departments. My senior thesis (home paper) {\bf PROGRAMVERIFICATION USING ALGEBRAIC METHODS} has given me a chance to explorethese areas in greater depth (details in resume).All these activitieshave gone a long way towards making my background very strong in my

areas of interest.

I have also had a good deal of teaching experience as can be seen fromattached certificates. This experience convinced that I have thecommunication skills and the ability to explain things precisely tobecome a teacher.

My years at IIT have been enlightening ones but I need to constructivelybuild up on what I've learned so far. {\bf Duke} ,I think is the ideallearned so far.Duke, I think, is an ideal choice towards this end.Mydecision was based on a careful examination of the department brochures

and information from faculty members and alumni. I have alsocommunicated with Dr.Henry Greenside ,Director of graduate studies of the Computer Science department.

Duke has a stress on research-oriented study, flexibility and closer Professor-student relationships. I think that having such a soundacademic environment at a reputed University such as Duke, with the workof a small group of teachers serving as a model, I will be able toattain my true potential. Specifically I am keen to participate in theongoing research activity at Duke in the following fields:

\begin {itemise}

{\item Finding efficient proof procedures for first order logic theoremproving.}{\item Reasoning in equational logics}{\item Program correctness and program transformation}\end {itemise}

I look forward to making my contributions to the advancement of computer science - starting at Duke.

\end {document}



________ _____-

Statement of Purpose

Long Term Goals

My undergraduate studies in the Department of Computer Science and En-gineering at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay has exposed me toa stimulating academic environment where learning and research go hand-in-hand. Through the many opportunities I have had here, I have found that Ihave a deep interest in research work and a strong aptitude for the type of pro*

*b-lem solving and problem discovery that it involves. I have, therefore decided topursue active research in Computer Science as a career.

.......Areas of Interest

Of the many fields in the Computer Science spectrum, I am interested in com-puter systems. In particular, I am interested in Databases.

Immediate Goals

I plan to work towards a Ph. D. with a focus on Databases. I would also liketo follow up my interests in Computer Systems through my course work. I feelthat this should be my next step on my road to a research career in Computer Science. I would be most willing to work directly for a Ph.D. if it is possible.However, I would be willing to do M.S. as a first step towards obtaining myPh.D.

Academic Background

Throughout 12 years of schooling, I had always been among the top rankingstudents in the class. I was ranked 47th out of 80,000 students (99.94%ile) inthe national level entrance examinations to the IITs. I was ranked 2nd in the

state level entrance examinations for the state engineering colleges. Currentlywith G.P.A. of 9.00 on scale of 10.00, I am among the top 5% of the students of my batch in the Institute. This high level of consistency in my academic recordmakes me feel confident enough to hold my own againgst the very best.

Preparation for Graduate Study

My undergraduate preparation at the Computer Science and Engineering De-partment of the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay has given me a very



substantial knowledge of the basic areas of Computer Science.Any amount of learning in Computer Science would be incomplete withouthands on experience of Programming.In this regard I completed various miniprojects both out my own interest and also as a part of some of my courses



My senior year dissertation under Dr. S.Seshadri ( Ph.D. Wisconsin Madi-son ) is titled B+ -Tree Concurrency Control Algorithms in Real-time environ-ment. Operations on B+ -Tree are crucial while maximizing concurrency in aDatabase System. In real-time environment in which each such operation hasassociated deadline it is more crucial. There are specialized algorithms for thepurpose. As a part of the project, I will be doing performance evaluation of these algorithms.To considate my knowledge in my field of interest, I had credited the courseAdvances in Database Technology in the fall semester. The course involvedthe study of various classic papers in Databases. I presented a seminar on MainMemory Databases as a part of the course. I am also crediting a course onDistributed Databases in the Spring semester. I am also an active member of SIGDB ( Special Interest Group in Databases ) of the institute, which keepsme fully informed about the latest development in Databases. I have presentedsome latest papers during its meetings.

Teaching Experience

I was a teaching assistant for the fresher's course CS101: Computer Pro-gramming and Utilization during Fall 93. I was also an organiser during unixworkshops and C language workshop conducted by students of our department.This has made me confident that I will prove to be a very good teacher.

Reasons for selecting University of Wisconsin

Your university is considered to be one of the best universities in databasesresearch. Your faculty has distinguised researchers in the field of databases. Iam also familiar with some of the research papers published by them. My guide

Dr.S.Seshadri, an alumnus of your university has encouraged me to apply here.As a result, I am very enthusiastic about joining your university for graduatestudies.

Summing Up

I am aware of the hard work and perseverence necessary for research work and Iknow that it is not always as exciting as the published results seem to indicat**e.

Nevertheless, I am sure that my aptitude and drive will see me through thechallenge. Looking forward to joining University of Wisconsin at Madison.

ABC ________ _____-\documentstyle[12pt,a4]{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin {document}\centerline {\Large STATEMENT OF PURPOSE}\vspace{0.5in}



I am a student of Computer Science and Engineering at Indian Institute of Technology (I.I.T.), Bombay. I wish to pursue a career in research inComputer Science. I would like to embark upon this venture through theDoctoral Program offered by the Department of Computer Science at RiceUniversity.

My deep interest in Computer Science stems from a natural aptitude for logicand mathematics, the ``queen of sciences''. I consider Computer Science not

just as a field to pursue a research career in, but as ahobby. Throughout my undergraduate study, I have endeavoured to gain abroad perspective of Computer Science. My fields of interest rangeover a wide spectrum of areas; however I am especially fascinated byProgramming Languages, Real-Time Systems and Parallel Processing.

My training at I.I.T., Bombay has not only equipped me with a strongtechnical base but has also instilled in me a deep interest inresearch. During the course of my B.Tech. curriculum, I have presented aseminar titled {\bf ``Selected Topics in Advanced Architectures''} under theguidance of Prof. S.S.S.P. Rao. During the summer of 1994, I had the rareopportunity of working at {\bf Bhabha Atomic Research Centre

(B.A.R.C.)} , Bombay, a forerunner of Parallel Processing inIndia. The training at B.A.R.C. has demonstrated to me how emergingtechnology when combined with ingenuity can be employed to solveapparently diverse problems in Physics and Medicine. I am currentlyworking on my B.Tech. project titled {\bf``Statechart Simulation UsingBinary Decision Diagrams''} under the guidance of Dr. S. Ramesh. Despite theintense competition at I.I.T., I have been consistent in myperformance; with a Cumulative Points Index of {\bf 8.83} I stand $9^{th}$in a class of 33 students.

Study in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at I.I.T., Bombay has demandedlong hours of continuous work, self-motivated efforts and aconsiderable amount of group activity. It has given me several

opportunities to participate in various departmental activities,albeit in a small way. Learning by myself and sharing my knowledgewith others has always been of prime importance to me. I have limitedteaching experience from tutoring an elementary course on FORTRAN-77 for students of first year B.Tech. program. I enjoyed the experience andwould like to teach in future too.

I look upon graduate study as an avenue to refine my skills and givea direction to my research career. It would be my first chance to makefundamental contribution to the field in which I undertake research.The excellent research facilities at Rice University and the distinguishedfaculty are a great source of inspiration to me. The emphasis onmultidisciplinary seminars and research projects would definitely

encourage me to explore other related areas within the realms of Computer Science.

I hope I fit in with your expectations of a promising graduate student.Admission to the Department of Computer Science at Rice Universitycould well be that golden foundation upon which the entire edifice of myscientific career rests.

\vspace{0.6in}



\flushleft{\today} \\Bombay. \hspace{2.85in} (SSS)\end {document}

________ _____-\begin{center}{\Huge Statement of Purpose}

\end{center}

My objective in graduate studies is to prepare myself for mylong term goal of a career in research and teaching in Computer Science.The first step in that direction is pursuit of Ph.D. in Computer Science.

Ever since I was in high school, I wanted to be a scientist.Hence I joined IITBombay, where I chose Computer Science as my undergraduate major.The undergraduate programme in Computer Science and Engg. inIIT Bombay is unarguably one of the best in India andthe core courses in the undergrad curriculum have helped me get aa sound grasp of the fundamentals of almost all aspects of Computer Science,

which is reflected by my position in the top five in a class of 33.At IIT, I also discovered theintellectual satisfaction of solving difficult problems on my own.In the summer vacation after the first year, I worked for some time witha research scholar in the department of Computer Science and Engg.This work led to a research paper,``Heuristics for Distributed Knowledge-Based Systems'', which was published in1994. Because of this and my success in the undergraduate courses,I feel that a career in research is suited both to my aptitude and temperament.

My idea of research in graduate studies is a proper balance of theory and practice. i.e. to get theoretical results and to see, as far aspossible, the

immediate impact of the same through their implementation. I am aware of thetough and arduous nature of this task and willing to take on this challenge.I believe that I have the requisite intellectual ability, motivation and thewillingness to sacrifice leisure for work in order to fulfill my objectiveof scientific research and the attainment of intellectual satisfactiontherefrom. Thus I believe that I will be able to make a meaningfulcontribution to the research work at Rice University.

The exacting nature of the undergraduate labs in IIT Bombayhave already given me a comprehensive knowledge of systems and



systems programming. But I feel that astrong background in theory is essential for a successful career in researchin an academic environment.

So in order to augment the knowledge of theory which I got from thecore courses, I am trying to learnas much of theory as possible in my undergraduate programme. I took twocourses on {\em Algorithms} and one on {\em Formal Specification and Verification of Programs}for my department electives in the seventh semester and I will be taking a course in {\em Combinatorics}next semester. My credit seminar topic viz. {\bf Randomized Algorithms} under the guidance of Prof. Sundar Vishwanathan, wasalso in theory. Looking at the beautiful results in algorithms, I am sure that Iwould be exhilarated to get some new exciting results on my own. Butimplementing the results and proving their practicality would give megreater satisfaction. My one-year B. Tech. Project, under the guidance of Prof. D. M. Dhamdhere, involves the design andimplementation of an {\bf Optimizer Generator System}. In this, I have tocome up with my own idea for implementing inter-procedural may-aliasing.

Currently, my research interests are in Parallelizing and Optimizing

compilers and I have worked in both. I am also interested in Algorithms.I am eager to explore some of these in greater depth and make my owncontribution, howsoever small, to those fields.

During my preparation for my B. Tech. Project, I readnumerous research papers from Rice University.Thus my choice of Rice University for graduatestudies is based on a careful examination of theinformation regarding the faculty members and the research currently going onin your school.

I look forward to joining your department asa graduate student. I am confident that

graduate studies in Rice University will prove to be a rewardingtask and I shall be able to fulfill my career objectives.

\begin{flushright}XYZ\end{flushright}

________

_____-\documentstyle[a4,12pt]{report}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}\begin{center} {\Large \bf Statement of Purpose} \end{center}

\vspace{1cm}

\noindentI am a senior year student in the Department of Computer Science and

Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, one of themost renowned institutes for undergraduate studies in India. My decisionto pursue graduate studies has been motivated by my eventual objective of meaningful research in the field of {\bf Computer Networks} and {\bf Communications}. I firmlybelieve that I possess the requisite background and aptitudefor pursuing active research in this field at your University.\\



\noindentA strong desire to ingrain the fundamental principles of any subject

of study has enabled me to adopt a rigorous and analytical approach to problemsolving. More importantly, it has inculcated in me the methodology of scientific inquiry. Throughout schooling I maintained the first position inmy class. In consonance with my interests, I worked towards obtaining admissionto the Indian Institutes of Technology and secured a rank of 92 among 85,000candidates who appeared in the entrance examination. Computer Science andEngineering was a natural choice for my undergraduate studies in light of my fascination for computers.\\

\noindentMy interest in research has burgeoned during the course of my

undergraduate studies at IIT, Bombay. My major field of interest is computer networks and telecommunications. At present I am working on my senior year B.\ Tech.\ Project on {\bf Fast Packet Switching in ATM Networks} under the guidance of Dr.\ M.\Khalid. It involves thedesign of a non-blocking Disjoint Path Packet Switch and the analysis of itsperformance in terms of the throughput, delay, packet loss rate, hardware complexity and the

ease of growability. The proposed switch combines thedelay/throughput performance of $N^{2}$ disjoint path switches and themulticasting performance of Shared Medium switches in a single architecture.The attempt is to reduce the hardware costof implementing the switch without compromising on any of the performancecharacteristics of an ideal packet switch. To consolidate my knowledge inthis field I had also taken an elective course titled {\em Introduction toComputer Networks} last semester in which I got the highest grade in the class.\\

\noindentApart from delving deep into the field of Computer Networks, I have triedto broaden my perspectives in other fields of Computer Science as well.In my junior year I presented a Seminar on {\bf Anti-aliasing in Computer Graphics}

under the guidance of Dr. Sharat Chandran. The seminar involved anexhaustive study of the various anti-aliasing techniques used to overcomethe jagged effects arising due to the discrete sampling in a raster graphicssystem. I also implemented an anti-aliasing software package as part of a project in an elective course on Computer Graphics.\\

\noindentI also have the abilityto work in a group project effectively. I had done my industrial training inthe Regional Computer Center at Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited andduring the course of the summer project I developed a data compressionpackage. Thepractical experience I gained after working in such a big organization

has given me immense confidence in tackling time-bound practicalproblems.\\

\noindentMyundergraduate studies in the invigorating environment of IIT, Bombay hasgiven me substantial knowledge of the basic areas of Computer Science. Ibelieve that I also possess the ability and temperament to functioneffectively as a Teaching Assistant. I was an assistant for a course on Computer Programming for freshmen and I have helped in organizing two



workshops on UNIX and C conducted by our department. \\

\noindentHaving been part of an exacting undergraduate program at IIT,Bombay, I have internalized the desire to explore frontline knowledge in myresearch area. I believe that the Graduate Program at your University willprovide me the opportunity to satisfy the same and enable further honingof my technical and analytical skills acquired thus far. I am fully awareof the commitment and perseverance required for research and believe thatmy aptitude and motivation will see me through the challenge. I am alsoconfident that given an opportunity, I can contribute to the ongoing workin your graduate program in a productive manner. I therefore look forwardto joining your University for pursuing higher studies leading to a Master's/Doctoral degree.\\

\begin{tabbing}xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx\= \kill\>XYZ\\\end{tabbing}\end{document}

________ _____-\documentstyle[12pt,a4wide]{report}\pagestyle{empty}%\setlength{\parindent}{0in}%\setlength{\textheight}{10in}%\setlength{\textwidth}{7in}%\setlength{\topmargin}{-1cm}%\setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-1cm}\begin{document}

\begin{center}\center{\underline{\bf Statement of Purpose} }\end{center}

\vspace{.2in}

I am a final year student of the B. Tech. program inComputer Science and Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay.

My undergraduate preparation here has given me a verysubstantial knowledge of the basic areas of Computer Science.

I have always strived to develop a clear understanding of the basicconcepts and acquire an insight into the Science of Computing.Any amount of learning in Computer Science would be incomplete withouthands on experience of Programming. In this regard I have completed variousprojects, both as part of my courses and out my own interest also.

Of the many fields in the Computer Science spectrum, I have developeda keen interest in Declarative Programming Languages, Computer Graphics,Computational Geometry and Design and Analysis of Algorithms.



I have excelled in academics at every step in myeducation. In my 12 years of schooling I always ranked first/secondin the class. In the entrance examination for the IITs, I stood 17thamong 80,000 students. I have consistantly done well throughout myundergraduate studies also. My GPA is 8.38/10.00 after the end of seventh semester.

The urge to obtain an in-depth understanding andspecialized knowledge in my areas of interest, has made me optfor Graduate studies. I would like to follow up my graduatestudies by taking up a research oriented post in either academiaor research laboratories so that I can contribute my own bit tothe ever-increasing knowledge in these areas.

I believe that the initiation of the process of originalcontribution is best done by working towards a Ph.D. I view themasters degree as an intermediate step in achieving this goal.Hence, I would like to take up an M.S. culminating in a Ph.D. as

my immediate goal.

%%%% Univ paraFrom the information about current faculty research, which I obtained

from the application brochure, I find that pioneering research work isbeing done in declarative languages and related architectures at theArizona State University.Being part of such an excellent research team will be a big step inachieving my long term goals. The highly competitive andintellectually stimulating atmosphere at the Arizona State universitywill bring out the best in me.This prompts me to apply for graduate studies at your university.

Keeping in view my background and career plans, I wouldprefer a research assistantship but I would also like to haveteaching experience. I have studied in English medium through outand have had teaching experience here in IIT also, which makes me confidentthat I would be a successful teaching assistant.

In conclusion, I would say that I am very keen andenthusiastic about joining your university. I am aware of the hard work andperseverence necessary for research work butI am sure that I will be able to justify to the fullest the confidence reposed in me.

\end{document}

________ _____-

I am a final year student of the B. Tech. program in



Computer Science and Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay.

My undergraduate study has given me a sound base in thewhole gamut of fields in Computer Science and Engineering.always strived to develop a clear understanding of the basicconcepts and acquire an insight into the Science of Computing.

I have developed a keen interest in Database ManagementSystems, Real Time Systems, Operating Systems, Object OrientedSystems and related fields.

I have excelled in academics at every step in myeducation. In my 12 years of schooling I always ranked first/second in the class. I was also ranked FIRST in the MathsOlympiad at the State level. I was selected in top 1% of theexaminees in the Physics talent search examination. In theentrance examination for IIT, I stood 47th amongst 80,000candidates.

I have done well throughout my undergraduate studies andhave obtained top grades in the courses related to my areas of interest. This has resulted in my high GPA of 8.92/10.00 by theend of sixth semester.

The urge to obtain an in-depth understanding andspecialized knowledge in my areas of interest, has made me optfor Graduate studies. I would like to follow up my graduatestudies by taking up a research oriented post in either academiaor research laboratories so that I can contribute my own bit tothe ever-increasing knowledge in these areas.

I believe that the initiation of the process of original

contribution is best done by working towards a Ph.D. I view themasters degree as an intermediate step in achieving this goal.Hence, I would like to take up an M.S. culminating in a Ph.D. asmy immediate goal.

From my literature survey, I find that the research workin Computer Graphics at Cornell University is state of the art.The additional information I got from my correspondence withProf. Greenberg and from my brother ABC who is doinghis Ph.D. at your university, have confirmed my belief thatCornell is the college where I want to pursue my Ph.D. Thecomputer graphics program at Cornell is considered to be one of the best programs in the world in this field. Being part of such

an excellent research team will be a big step in achieving mylong term goals. The highly competitive and intellectuallystimulating atmosphere at Cornell University will bring outthe best in me. This prompts me to apply for the program inComputer Graphics at Cornell University.

Keeping in view my background and career plans, I wouldprefer a research assistantship. This would give me a better opportunity to pursue my interest to the fullest. However, Iwould also like to have teaching experience for one semester. As



I have studied in an English medium throughout and alsohave the experience of being a course assistant and a lecturer in two workshops, I am confident that I will be a successfulteaching assistant.

In conclusion, I would say that I am very keen andenthusiastic about joining your university. I am sure that I willbe able to justify to the fullest the confidence reposed in me.

XYZ ________ _____-Statement Of Purpose

Introduction:

As we near the end of the twentieth century we can see the ever growing need for computer technology. Over the centuries man has always wanted tocompute, and process information as quickly as possible. he has alsowanted to communicate with his fellow human beings who are widely

distributed over this vast world. No one thirty years ago would ever dream of computers being used as they are in the informationsuperhighway, rather than for scientific computing.The sudden boomin the use of computers today, is evident by the visible 70% increase inthe number of hosts on the Internet yearly. Man has needed computersnot only to control the forces of nature, but also those of distance,and time.

Ever since I was a child I have been interested in mathematics,and have always stoodfirst in my class in it. When my teenage years came along, I decided that I would pursue a career in mathematics and science. It was with this hope that I studied very deligently for the IIT

entrance exam. My hard work payed off, and I joined IIT (Bombay) for a bachelors degree incomputer science and Engg. During my stay at IIT, I was introduced to computers in my very firstmonth. It was an extremely exciting experience because it was the first time I had used acomputer, since the use of computers in our country, is only restricted for those who arefinancially well off.

My Work:At IIT, I was introduced to various new concepts in computer science. The very first

courses of Discrete Structures, and Data structures, aroused my interest immediately. I startedalso getting interested in Databases, Computer Architecture, and Compilers. I did my Bachelor'sseminar project "Building Applications using the Object Oriented Paradigm" under the guidance of Prof. N.L. Sarda. It mainly consisted of studying the Object-Oriented Paradigm, and Object-Oriented Databases. I studied how to build Object-Oriented Applications above relational

databases, which came in use during my short job with Burroughs Wellcome pharmaceuticals, inbuilding an Engineering inventory system for them. I also studied how objects are stored, andindexed in Object-Oriented Databases. My Bachelor of Tech. project consists of parallelisingsequential code and running independent sections of code in parallel. For doing this I have beenstudying data dependence issues. During the course of my work I got particularly interested inExact Array Dependence. I have read a lot of papers related to the field. Prof. PushpakBhattacharrya is my guide on this project.

My Purpose



My vocation has always been to work towards new frontiers of technology, and alwayswork with the purpose of getting the best result. Over the last few years during my stay at IIT, Ihave become motivated towards pursuing a career in research. Research has interested me,because one is always working on something new, that no one else has worked on, and one canalways pursue one's own interest to the fullest. Research provides one with new challenges daily,which one won't come across in other jobs. I strongly believe in both the theoretical aspects of research as well as their applications. I consider the latter to be as important and relevant as theformer.I am extremely interested in pursuing a MS/PHD at your university. I am primarily interested inDatabases, Parallel systems and graphics. In fact, ten years from now, I envisage myself as a fullfledged research professional in an organisation or a faculty member at one of the leadinguniversities. In order to fulfil this aim of mine, I seek to enrol for a MS/PHD in computer science atyour University. Through the department brochure I realize that a vast gamut of opportunitiesexist in your department. Hence I am keen in joining your program, and furthering your research.

My Good And Bad Points:

I strongly believe in maintaining ethical integrity in all myendeavours. The maintenance of strong christian values is of utmost

importance in my work. I am also a very friendly person to work with.My bad qualities include having a bad memory, and being absent minded.

I would like to end by saying that that I am fully aware that a career in research and academics requires a high level of intelligence, unwaveringdedication and a lot of sacrifice. I am confident that I would meet all theabove demands, and hence I appeal to the Graduate Admissions Committee toconsider me for admission, and financial aid.

________ _____-\parskip 0.1in\begin{center}

\Large {\bf Statement of Purpose}\end{center}\vspace{15mm}

\noindentMy schooling and three and a half years of undergraduate studies in EE atthe Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay have made the choice of further study, for me, an obvious one. This should be attributed in part to thevalues that have been inculcated in me during my formative years in aneducated middle class family background.



\noindentBeginning with a passing interest in EE, these years of in depth studyhave convinced me that my future lies in microelectronics. The challengesand possibilities for research in device, analog and digital circuit, andVLSI circuit design fascinate me. This I believe has come about througha sequentially structured introduction to this field through the courses: \\Modern Physics,Electronic Devices,Analog Circuits,Digital Circuits,Integrated Circuit Design and Technology.

\noindentIn addition, I have worked on a number of related projects.I have worked on MOS capacitor characterization under Prof.Rakesh Lal using a quasi static approach. My B.tech seminar (home paper)dealt with Monte Carlo simulations of small Si MOSFETs. My guide wasProf. J. Vasi of the EE Dept. of IIT Bombay. I have undergoneeight weeks of practical training in a Dept. of Electronics lab where I

studied the theoretical and practical aspects of active and passivecoupling of edge emitting semiconductor lasers to optical fibers. An LD-SMoptical fiber module was made and experiments were carried out. Inmy senior year I presented a seminar on Noise in Semiconductor Devices under the Microelectronics Seminar Series at IIT Bombay. My senior year B.Techproject (senior thesis) involves design of ultra low noise analog circuits.The final goal of the project is to design, with an intent to fabricate, anultra low noise integrated circuit operational amplifier. My B.Tech projectwork is progressing under the guidance of Prof. D. K. Sharma of the EE Dept.of IIT Bombay. I can quiteconfidently say that my abilities in circuit visualization, analysis, anddesign are unparalleled in my department.In the process of pursuing my interests in EE, my academic performance has

been outstanding. I have been consistently ranked 2nd in EE out of 64students, and 8th in IIT Bombay out of 325 students. I was included inthe director's academic honor list for the academic years\begin{itemize}\item 1991-1992\item 1992-1993\end{itemize}

\noindentMy academic pursuits have not however, prevented from participating withinterest in various extracurricular activities. I have taken part invarious literary activities. I am a regular participant in elocutioncompetitions and debating society meetings and have been the editor of

the hostel magazine. These activities, have led to the development of a multifaceted personality and have equipped me with strong interpersonalskills. This helps me to lead, as well as follow the leader when workingas a team.

\noindent>From where I stand now, I see myself engaged, in the long term, in a career devoted to active research in microelectronics. It is with this objectivein mind that I want to pursue an M.S. at Stanford University. My ultimate degreeobjective, would however be a Ph.D.



In choosing Stanford University as the university of my choice, I've looked carefullyat the faculty and the available infrastructure.

\noindentThe essence of university education lies in the success of the symbioticrelationship between the student, and his department. With your reputein the field of my choice, you do have a lot to offer me, and at thesame time, I am confident of contributing meaningfully to the researchendeavors at your University. It is with this in mind that I am looking forward toa long and rewarding relationship with you.

________ _____-% -*-LaTeX-*-%%\begin{center}{\Large \bf

Statement of Purpose}\end{center}

\begin{flushleft}{\bf Academic \& Career Objectives}\end{flushleft}

My long term career goals include the pursuit of research inthe field of Theoretical Computer Science and teaching in an academicenvironment. I have found that a career in research is bothintellectually stimulating and satisfying and hence I have decided totake this up as my career objective.

\begin{flushleft}{\bf Degree Objectives}

\end{flushleft}

I want to work towards a Ph.D. in Computer Science in thefield of Theoretical Computer Science. My interests include both thedesign and analysis of Algorithms as well as Computational Complexity Theory.

\begin{flushleft}{\bf Reason for Graduate Work}\end{flushleft}

I have always been fascinated by mathematics. As a part of myundergraduate curriculum, I have been exposed to a range of advanced mathematical techniques and I have been especially drawn towards

both the analysis of Algorithms and Complexity Theory. These fieldshave both a strong mathematical flavor as well as the potential for research which is what attracts me towards them.

The fact that these subjects form a unifying feature of allfields in Computer Science and their quest towards achieving the limitsof what can and can't be done, form part of the reasons for myfascination in them.

An undergraduate degree is merely an exposure to the various



fields in any branch of higher education. I feel that myundergraduate curriculum has given me a sufficient enough exposure toall the various possibilities for research that are possible and Ihave chosen the one for which I have both an aptitude as well as a liking.%that I both have an aptitude for as well as a%liking.

In order to pursue an active career in research, it isnecessary to both study and understand the finer nuances of anysubject. I believe that Graduate Studies will not only provide me withadvanced knowledge about the field but also prepare me to be a goodresearcher. It is precisely this reason which prompts me to take upGraduate Studies as the next step towards my career objectives.

\newpage

As an initial step towards achieving my goal, as part of myundergraduate studies, I have chosen my electives so as to enhance myunderstanding of these subjects. These include such subjects as{\tt Design \& Analysis of Algorithms}, {\tt Combinatorics} and

{\tt Abstract Algebra I}. I have also audited (taken as non-credit)a Graduate level course {\tt Algorithms \& Complexity}.I have attended an Advanced Mathematics Training Programme inSummer '93 so as to enhance my mathematical abilities.

% -*-LaTeX-*-%

\begin{flushleft}{\bf Why have I chosen Stanford}\end{flushleft}

I have chosen Stanford as the place at which I would

like to pursue a doctoral degree because I find that the graduateprogram is fully suited to my needs and that it possesses a strongfaculty in the field of Theoretical Computer Science.

I have also consulted the professors in my university who areworking in the field of Algorithms and Complexity Theory and they havestrongly recommended the research work in these fields at Stanford.

Hence, I have applied to Stanford so as to fulfillboth my academic as well as my career objectives.

XYZ ________

_____-\documentstyle[a4wide,12pt]{letter}\pagestyle{empty}\newcommand{\Space}{\hspace{1cm}}\begin{document}

\begin{center}{\Large \bf

Statement of Purpose}



\end{center}

My aspiration to work at the frontiers of Scientific research leads meto apply to your university. I believe that a comprehensive knowledgeand a good grasp of fundamentals are essential for such a career. Ifeel that Graduate studies in Computer Science in a good University likeyours will help me realize this objective. Therefore I am seekingadmission to the Ph.D. program atHarvard with a specialization in Computer Science.I have compellingreasons to believe that I will be extremely successful both as aGraduate student and later as a researcher.

%As a first step towards%obtaining a Ph.D., I am seeking admission to the Master's program at%Harvard University with a specialization in Computer Science. I would%prefer doing a direct Ph.D., if it is possible. I have compelling

My superlative performance in school fetched me a number of awards atthe national level. I was awarded the prestigious National Talent

Search Scholarship in class ten.%and was in the top twenty five in the%National Standard Examination in Physics in my twelfth.I had developed a keen interest in science anddecided to choose it as my career. I therefore, took the JointEntrance Examination for admission to the five Indian Institute of Technologies, which are considered the best academic centers for science and Engineering in India and qualified in the top 0.3\% of those who took the test.

I have always adopted a rigorous approach in order to attain an in-depthunderstanding of the subject at hand. This has given me a broadconceptual basis, which, I believe, is essential for my research

career. My grades in the basic courses reflect my quest for fundamentals. My overall grades in my undergraduate studies have been good,but not excellent. This again reflects my approach to courses more asan introduction to concepts that need further independent study by thestudent, rather than as a run-up to a semester-end examination.

Over the past two years in Computer Science I have developed a specialinterest in {\bf Programming Languages and Distributed \& Parallel Systems.}I have been involved in research in these areas and have consistentlyobtained good grades in the related courses. In Spring' 95, I will betaking two Graduate level courses in these fields namely `DistributedDatabases' and ̀ Advanced Compilers'. I have written an article on``Distributed File Systems'' with Prof. M.R. Bhujade which appeared in

the September 1994 issue of {\bf CSI (Computer Society of India)Communications}. In this article the basic concepts underlying thedesign and implementation aspects were discussed and contemporarysystems like Locus, Andrew and Unix United were surveyed in detail.

I am currently working on ``Register Allocation Algorithms'' for myB.Tech thesis under the guidance of Prof. D.M.Dhamdhere. In my projectwe have introduced a technique of live range confinementwhich adapts the live range of a data item to the availability of register. Instead of splitting a live range like in a Chow-Hennessy



allocator we are implementing the confinement technique.Half way through the project we have already sent part of our work for the{\bf ACM SIGPLAN'95Conference} on {\bf Programming Language Design and Implementation}sponsored by the {\bf Special Interest Group on Programming Languages,Association for Computing Machinery.}

%I had also presented a course paper on language Linda which consists%of operators that embody tuple space model for Parallel programming%and involves Distributed Data Structures.

I have a reason also to be confident of my abilities as a teacher. Aspart of a nation wide teaching program, I have taught school childrensubjects like Physics, Mathematics and English for four semesters (threehours per week). This was an interesting experience which I feel wouldstand in good stead in the future.

I take immense pleasure in learning new concepts. This inquisitivenature of mine along-with a desire to realize my full potential driveme to pursue research. I am aware that research calls for complete

dedication and commitment. I consider myself to be mature, perceptive,persistent and open to criticism % qualities which I believe are%essential for group research.

%by working under the guidance of distinguished professors like Prof. A%b ffffffffffffff, whose interests match closely with mine, I am%confident of making an original contribution to the field of Computer %Science.

I have studied in one of the best institutes of our country and feelthe need to expose myself to research in United States which iscurrently a world leader in Computer Science.

I have chosen to pursue Graduate studies at Harvard University becausethe facilities at Harvard seem to foster a healthy researchenvironment as I could gather from the brochure of your department.I believe that I possess the motivation, the intellectualability, and the preparation to set out on this exhilarating andarduous path, to do justice to a demanding Graduate program and to makesignificant contributions to the ongoing work at your University.

%I have chosen to pursue graduate studies at University of Maryland because%by working under the guidance of distinguished professors like Prof. A%b ffffffffffffff, whose interests match closely with mine, I am%confident of making an original contribution to the field of Computer %Science. I believe that I possess the motivation, the intellectual

%ability, and the preparation to set out on this exhilarating and%arduous path, to do justice to a demanding Graduate program and to make%significant contributions to the ongoing work at your University.

I look forward to joining Harvard University as a Graduate student atyour esteemed department.\vspace{25pt}

{\bf ABC}



\end{document} ________ _____-\documentstyle[11pt,a4wide]{letter}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}

\begin{center}{\huge {\bf Statement of purpose} }\end{center}%\vspace{1cm}%{\Large {\bf My goals}}\\I am applying to the PhD program in Computer Science at Brown University.After considering my aptitude and thetype of work that I enjoy most, I am convinced that

I want to take up a career in research in Computer Science.A PhD is just one step towards realising this goal.

\ \\{\Large {\bf My preparation for the same}}\\My formal introduction to Computer Science began at IIT-Bombay. Under its excellent faculty, I got exposed to the entire spectrum of Computer Science. In an environment that is intensely competitive, and whereresearch goes hand-in-hand with learning, I also got a lot of drill inboth theoretical research work and implementation, thus laying a soundfoundation for graduate study.

My academic and co-curriculur record has been consistently good. Throughoutschool as well as now, I have been at or near the top of my class. I havelisted some of my achievements, on the attached resum\'{e}.What I would like to stress most however is the fact that I have been

{\em consistent} in {\em all} academic or co-curriculur (and evenextracurriculur) tasks that I have undertaken.

\ \\{\Large {\bf My primary interests}}\\I have always loved problems whichinvolve plenty of visualisation. At IIT, this resulted inan inclination towards {\bf Computer Graphics} and

{\bf Computational Geometry}, and also Algorithms.{\em These are the subjects that I

want to pursue in my graduate study}.

I chose the elective {\em

Computer Graphics} and a graduate level course {\em Algorithms andComplexity} this semester, in line with these interests. My B.Tech. Project(home paper), under {\bf Dr.Sharat Chandran},

is on {\bf Visible Surface Determination} (hidden surface removal), a verypopular topic in Computational Geometry.

\ \\{\Large {\bf Why Brown University ?}}\\It would be a clich\'{e} to say that all fields in



Computer Science are highly interlinked.I have experienced this myself, since frequently, while working on a

problem in one field, I have (through abstraction/ reduction/ analogy)landed up looking at another problem, that one would normally put under a different field altogether.

Hence, two criteria that I considered while selecting a universityfor my Ph.D. were\begin{enumerate}\item the university must be very strong in {\bf Computational Geometry}and/or {\bf Computer Graphics} (my primary interests), and\item it must be fairly good, if not exceptional, in other fields of Computer Science too (especially, algorithms and combinatorics).\end{enumerate}Brown University more than satisfies these criteria. My B.Tech.Project guide,Dr.Sharat Chandran also strongly recommended it. An added attraction isits participation in theScience and Technology Center for Computer Graphics and ScientificVisualisation.

There is one more ({\em and the most compelling}) reason.In my B.Tech. Project, my guide and I areconcentrating on developing better methods

for the moving/ multiple viewpoint case of hiddensurface removal. The preliminaryideas that have emerged out of this effort use a

result on {\em Dynamic planar point location} by{\bf Prof.Roberto Tamassia}. The {\em line sweep} technique is the other major component in these ideas, and it was from {\bf Prof.Preparata}'sbook on Computational Geometry, that I first learnt it.{\em The fact that both are from Brown Universityconvinced me that Brown University is the natural

choice in realising my graduate goals.}Subsequently I corresponded with Prof.Tamassia, and his

encouraging reply reinforced my decision to apply to Brown.

It would be a pleasure to continue my current research focus at Brown under their supervision. At the same time, I am sure that many other problems whichthe Brown CS department is currently focussing on, would be equallyinteresting to work on.

\ \\{\Large {\bf What I plan to do at Brown}}\\I plan to carry on advanced study of both Computer Graphics and

Computational Geometry, as well as related fields (e.g. algorithms),not only through coursework but also by{\em participating in one of the several ongoing projects}.

This will also give me the opportunity tocontribute my bit to the understanding of the fields which interest me

so much.

I am keen thatthe output of my PhD (and in fact, any PhD),be well worth the time and effort spent on it. For the reasons mentioned



above, I am sure that Brown Universitywill provide me the right environment for this.

\ \\{\Large {\bf Financial Aid}}\\I would be fully dependent on aid to finance my graduate studies.If I am granted an assistantship, then given my long term goals,

a research assistantship would bean ideal experience for me. I also have some experience as a teachingassistant. Not only have I enjoyed it, but the students have also appreciatedit. This makes me confident that I will be a good teacher also.

\ \\{\Large {\bf In conclusion...}}\\I am aware that Brown University expects very high standards from its students.On my part, I can assure you of hard work. I believe that my enthusiasm willenable me to meet those expectations. My consistency in all previous academicand co-curriculur activities is what gives me confidence when I say this.

Eagerly looking forward to a long and mutually profitable

association with the Computer Sciencedepartment of Brown University,

\begin{flushright}Your's sincerely, \\xyz\end {flushright}

\end{document}

________ _____-\documentstyle{report}

\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}\begin{center} {\Large \bf Statement of Purpose} \end{center}

\subsubsection*{My Long Term Goals}My undergraduate training in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the IndianInstitute of Technology, Bombay,has exposed me to a stimulating academic environment where learning and research go hand--in--hand. Through the manyopportunities I have had here, I have found that I have a deep interest in research work and astrong aptitude for thetype of problem solving and problem discovery that it involves. I have, therefore, decided topursue active research in

Computer Science as a career.

\subsubsection*{My Areas of Interest}Of the many fields in the Computer Science spectrum, I am especially interested in Computer Systems. Within this field,I am interested incomputer networks, distributed systems, operating systems and distributed operating systems.My junior seminar work,my practical training and my courses have given me plenty of exposure to these areas and I feelthat I have sufficient



motivation and aptitude to work in this field.

I am also interested in Programming Language design and Programming Systems. I have workedin these areas in mysummer project at TIFR and in my ongoing B. Tech. project. I would like to continue to learnabout these areas inmy graduate program. \subsubsection*{My Immediate Goals}I plan to work towards a Ph. D. program with a focus on Distributed and Parallel OperatingSystems. I would also like to follow up my interestsin Computer Networks, Distributed Systems, Operating Systems and Programming Languagesthrough my course work. I feel that this should be mynext step on my road to a research career in Computer Science.

\subsubsection*{Why Duke?}I have selected Duke as the place for me to continue with my education because I found that theGraduate Program inComputer Science suited my needs perfectly. I have found the Duke Computer ScienceDepartment faculty and the research

being carried out in Computer Systems, especially in Distributed Operating Systems, to be veryimpressive.I feel that to be associated with this group for the many years of my Ph. D. would stand me ingood stead for my researchcareer. I have also been impressed by the computing facilities available at Duke for research andeducation. These aremuch superior to those available to a graduate student in India. Taking all these factors intoaccount, I feel thatDuke is the perfect place for my graduate studies and I am confident that I will make a positivecontribution to theongoing research work at Duke.

\subsubsection*{Am I Prepared?}

My undergraduate preparation at the Computer Science and Engineering Department of theIndian Institute of Technology, Bombay,has given me a very substantial knowledge of the basic areas of Computer Science. Through my

junior seminar work, I have acquired a good knowledgeof distributed operating systems and the problems they entail. It also exposed me to the broadfields of computer networks, distributed systems and operating systems. I have also beenexposed to practicalcomputer networks and network programming in the course of my practical training at the StateBank of India, Head Office.My course projects have given me plenty of experience in programming using variousprogramming languages, softwarepackages and operating systems. I have selected {\em Introduction to Computer Networks} as anelective course in

the seventh semester so as to broaden my knowledge in this area. Therefore, I feel confident thatI have acquiredboth a broad base in Computer Science and a strong foundation in Computer Systems.

\subsubsection*{Summing Up}I am aware of the hard work and perseverence necessary for research work and I know that it isnot always as exciting asthe published results seem to indicate. Nevertheless, I am sure that my aptitude and drive will seeme through thechallenge. I hope to have a long and mutually profitable association with Duke.



\begin{tabbing}xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx\= \kill\>XYZ\\\end{tabbing}

\end{document}

________ _____-

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE------------------------

It is after a good deal of self-evaluation that I have decided to pursuegraduate studies in Computer Science leading to a doctorate. This decisionfollowed naturally after carefully considering my academic background,the areas of my interest, and my ultimate professional ambition, which is topursue a research career, either as a teaching faculty member, or in anR & D department of the industry.

My undergraduate education at IIT Bombay has provided me with a strongand comprehensive background in Computer Science. The curriculum includedall the basic courses such as Data Structures and Algorithms, DiscreteStructures, Computer Organization and Design, Systems Programming, Theory of Computation, etc.

I had always been fascinated by the field of Artificial Intelligence, whichis why I chose the topic of "Human and Artificial Intelligence" for my junior thesis. The literature survey that this entailed exposed me to the fundamentalconcepts, as also the research work in progress, in the various domains of Artificial Intelligence. I concentrated on issues involved in Natural LanguageProcessing and Knowledge Representation.

My B. Tech. project (senior thesis) is "Word Recognition, Spell Checking andCorrection using ART-based neural networks". We are investigating the use of neural networks, configured under the Adaptive Resonance Theory paradigm, for the task of detecting spelling mistakes in English text and generating goodsuggestions for incorrectly spelled words. This guided independent work hasgiven me a good understanding of the theoretical, experimental and computationalskills required in Computer Science.

I have been a teaching assistant for the introductory course "Computer Programming and Utilization" conducted by Prof. R.D. Kumar of the Computer

Science department. I have also helped in organizing, and given a lectureon the "VI" editor, during the UNIX workshop conducted by the Computer Science and Engineering Association of our Department.

There are two reasons why I believe that graduate study in a reputeddepartment, such as yours, is important for a person aspiring for a researchcareer. Firstly, working for a thesis under the guidance of an expert whosework can serve as a model is the most effective method of transforminga student into a largely independent researcher making significant originalcontributions. Secondly, the emphasis of graduate study on intensive and



independent study of a specialized area is an ideal way of making a student capable of reaching the frontiers of knowledge in a subfieldquickly and keeping abreast of the latest developments.

I feel that with its comprehensive facilities and competent facultydoing quality research work in the field of Artificial Intelligence will bethe ideal place for me to pursue graduate studies. The working atmosphereof a vigorously active department will be helpful in motivating me towardsexcellence.

In short, I believe that a good graduate program is an essential step for realising my professional ambition of becoming a competent researcher. I alsobelieve that I possess the motivation, intellectual ability and preparationto do justice to a demanding graduate program. My excellent undergraduaterecord, and my high GRE scores are testimony to that.I, therefore, look forward to joining your department as a graduate student.

________ _____------------------------------------------------------------------------------

>From :----XYZIndian Institute of Technology,Bombay, INDIA.

To :--

Professor

Dear Professor,

I am a final (fourth) year Bachelor of Technology studentof Computer Science and Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology (I. I. T.), Bombay. I am keen on joining the Graduateprogram (MS / PhD, preferably PhD) at your University, and havereceived the application materials. I have made a keen perusal of the technical brochure provided along with the application form,and have noted that your research interests concur with my areas of interest, which are :

(1) Artificial Intelligence, specifically Learning andNatural Language Processing.

(2) Neural networks and neural modeling.

Sir, I am writing to you because I wish to have some morespecific information regarding the research activities in thesefields at your University, and my chances of admission to theGraduate program at your University. I would be grateful if youcould spare some time in evaluating my credentials, which I havesummarized below (I have also enclosed a copy of the bio-data formwhich I had earlier sent to your University) :



I am doing my undergraduate study at I. I. T. Bombay, oneof the premier institutes of advanced technical education in India.I have maintained a consistent Grade Point Average, my CumulativePerformance Index being 8.43 (on a scale of 10).

My credit seminar (junior thesis) was on "Human andArtificial Intelligence". I concentrated on some aspects of intelligence, especially Knowledge Representation, Memory, andLearning, both from the human and the computer perspective. Itinvolved an extensive literature survey, and a presentation at theend.

My final-year project (senior thesis) is on "WordRecognition and Spell Checking using ART-based Neural Networks".Working under the Adaptive Resonance Theory paradigm (developed byStephen Grossberg and Gail Carpenter), a neural network is to betrained to recognize English words, and make intelligentsuggestions in case of spelling or grammatical mistakes. We arealso studying other models of learning for this purpose. My guideis Professor Pushpak Bhattacharya.

As my financial resources are limited, I would berequesting financial aid from your Department or University, in theform of TA / RA / Fellowship. I have some teaching experience, as Iam a course assistant for a Fresher course, "Computer Programmingand Utilization". This involves engaging weekly tutorial classes,evaluating term papers, programming assignments, etc.

Sir, I would be extremely grateful if you would devote someof your valuable time in making a frank appraisal of my chances of gaining admission to your University with full financial aid. Iwould really like to work under your guidance for my post-graduatestudies. I shall be eagerly awaiting your reply.

Thanking you,

Yours Sincerely,XYZ

_____________________________________________________________________

BIO - DATA----------

Name : XYZ

Home address : TTTTMalad (East), Bombay,India 400 097

Citizen of : IndiaMarital Status : UnmarriedDate of birth :

Educational Background :----------------------



Degree / Certificate Date Awarded Performance-------------------- ------------ -----------

(1) Secondary School 1987 623 / 700 (89 %)Certificate (1st in school)(Matriculation,from Fatima DeviEnglish High School)

(2) Higher Secondary1989 563 / 600 (93.8 %)Certificate (7th in city of (K. C. College,Bombay)

Bombay)

(3) Bachelor of May, 1993 8.43 / 10Technology (Expected) (at the end of (I. I. T., six semesters)Bombay)

Objective tests taken :---------------------

(1) GRE : June 1991, Score : 2370 (Verbal : 770Quant : 800Anal : 800)

(2) TOEFL : Taken on 24th October, 1992

(3) GRE Subject test in Computer Science : Taken on 10th October, 1992

Years of instruction through : 15 yearsthe medium of English

Years of formal study : 12 yearsthe English language

Junior thesis : "Human and Artificial Intelligence"Senior thesis : "Word Recognition and Spell Checking

using ART-based neural networks"

Practical Training : (May and June 1992) At Tata Electric Cos. (R & D).Study of CASE tools, work on automaticdocumentation generator.

Financial support : I shall be requesting financial aid from theUniversity. I will not be requesting aid fromother sources.

Education Plan : I wish to apply for the term beginningAUG / SEPT 1993 as a candidate for Master's /



Doctoral degree in the field of Computer Science ____________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE------------------------

It is after a good deal of self-evaluation that I have decided to pursuegraduate studies in Computer Science leading to a doctorate. This decisionfollowed naturally after carefully considering my academic background,the areas of my interest, and my ultimate professional ambition, which is topursue a research career, either as a teaching faculty member, or in anR & D department of the industry.

My undergraduate education at IIT Bombay has provided me with a strongand comprehensive background in Computer Science. The curriculum includedall the basic courses such as Data Structures and Algorithms, DiscreteStructures, Computer Organization and Design, Systems Programming, Theory of Computation, etc.

I had always been fascinated by the field of Artificial Intelligence, whichis why I chose the topic of "Human and Artificial Intelligence" for my junior

thesis. The literature survey that this entailed exposed me to the fundamentalconcepts, as also the research work in progress, in the various domains of Artificial Intelligence. I concentrated on issues involved in Natural LanguageProcessing and Knowledge Representation.

My B. Tech. project (senior thesis) is "Word Recognition, Spell Checking andCorrection using ART-based neural networks". We are investigating the use of neural networks, configured under the Adaptive Resonance Theory paradigm, for the task of detecting spelling mistakes in English text and generating goodsuggestions for incorrectly spelled words. This guided independent work hasgiven me a good understanding of the theoretical, experimental and computationalskills required in Computer Science.

I have been a teaching assistant for the introductory course "Computer Programming and Utilization" conducted by Prof. R.D. Kumar of the Computer Science department. I have also helped in organizing, and given a lectureon the "VI" editor, during the UNIX workshop conducted by the Computer Science and Engineering Association of our Department.

There are two reasons why I believe that graduate study in a reputeddepartment, such as yours, is important for a person aspiring for a researchcareer. Firstly, working for a thesis under the guidance of an expert whosework can serve as a model is the most effective method of transforminga student into a largely independent researcher making significant original

contributions. Secondly, the emphasis of graduate study on intensive andindependent study of a specialized area is an ideal way of making a student capable of reaching the frontiers of knowledge in a subfieldquickly and keeping abreast of the latest developments.

I feel that with its comprehensive facilities and competent facultydoing quality research work in the field of Artificial Intelligence will bethe ideal place for me to pursue graduate studies. The working atmosphereof a vigorously active department will be helpful in motivating me towardsexcellence.



In short, I believe that a good graduate program is an essential step for realising my professional ambition of becoming a competent researcher. I alsobelieve that I possess the motivation, intellectual ability and preparationto do justice to a demanding graduate program. My excellent undergraduaterecord, and my high GRE scores are testimony to that.I, therefore, look forward to joining your department as a graduate student.=======================================================================

Background Issues Ask yourself why you want to study further. Take a piece of paper and start writing down all thereasons. Spend about half an hour on this, so that you can go beyond cliched ideas like wantingto improve your prospects or contribute to society. Write a few sentences on any reason thatparticularly strikes a chord with you.Make lists of instances you can use in your SoP. For example, if you've been asked to talk aboutan important event in your life, list down events that have made a significant impression on you.Don't worry if these are events that are not 'conventionally' important or seem insignificant; whatmatters is that they have had some influence over you. Similarly, make a list of people youadmire or who have influenced you - this could be a friend, a family member, a teacher, etc. andneed not necessarily be a famous person.Go through your resume and reflect on what you have learned from your various experiences.How have they molded your interests and led you to this point? Pick one or two cases that youcan talk about in-depth. For graduate school, it is best to take at least one professional situationand show what you did and learned.Make a list of schools you plan to apply to. As you continue through the background check, youwill add a few universities and delete several. A final shortlist of ten to fifteen schools is common.Ask yourself why you wish tostudy at each of the schools you have listed. For graduate study, it isimportant to ensure that your interests are compatible with the research interests of the

department you are applying to. As you progress through the background check and understandmore about your interests through subsequent revisions of the SoP, add to and improve the list.==========================================================================EDITING AND REWRITING

Language GuidelinesTake another 7-8 days to write 3-4 more drafts. Go through the objectives and pitfalls often. Refer

to, and edit your lists as you go along.FlowWhile each paragraph should make a complete statement on its own, the essay should logicallyprogress from paragraph to paragraph. Read your essay for flow, or have someone else read it,and ask yourself if there seems to be an abrupt shift between ideas in two consecutiveparagraphs.StructureThis follows naturally from flow. Do all the paragraphs mesh together to form a cogent whole?Does the essay, through a logical progression of ideas, demonstrate your interest, enthusiasm,



and fit in the department you have applied to?LanguageAvoid slang and abbreviations. For acronyms, use the full form the first time and show theacronym in parentheses. Use grammatically correct English and ALWAYS read your essaycarefully for spelling mistakes before you send it off - your computer's spellcheck may not flushout all the errors. Try to make your essay crisp, cutting out unnecessary adverbs, articles andpronouns (for instance, a careful reading may yield several "the's" that are superfluous).ToneUse a consistent tone throughout the essay - it will only confuse the admissions officers if youalternately sound like Ernest Hemingway and Shakespeare, and is hardly likely to endear you tothem! While you should avoid flowery language and cliches, there is no harm in looking for themost apt phrase or sentence. Be careful while using humor - it can misfire and harm your chances.===================================================================

RESOURCES

Don't miss our section on book reviews<book_reviews.html> US News and World Report annually ranks universities in the United States. Here are links to some of their lists

Undergraduate college ranking<http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/corank.htm>

MBA schools<http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/beyond/gradrank/mba/gdmbat1.htm>Engineering schools <http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/beyond/gradrank/eng/gdengt1.htm>

Engineering school rankings by specialization<http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/beyond/bceng.htm>Businessweek has the more celebrated of B-school rankings. Here's the list:



Businessweek's best B-school rankings (2000)

<http://www.businessweek.com/bschools/00/index.htm>

Other businessweek B-school services<http://www.businessweek.com/bschools/index.html>Sample SoPs

UIUC English Department - 12 SoPs<http://www.english.uiuc.edu/hove/persamps.htm>

~IIT Bombay EESA site - Engineering SoPs<http://www.ee.iitb.ernet.in/teesa/apping/sop.html>

~"Perfect Personal Statements"<http://www.west.net/stewart/pssample.htm>

CV and SoP Samples<http://clined.wvsom.edu/OPTI/GME_Tmpl.cfm?RecordID=110>

AdmissionsEssays.com<http://www.admissionsessays.com/essays/free_essays.htm>Style Guides



Strunk & Whyte's Style Guide

<http://www.bartleby.com/141/index.html>

The Slot/Curmudgeon's Stylebook<http://www.theslot.com/contents.html>

Wired StyleGrammarNow! <http://www.grammarnow.com>Stats Every Writer Should Know <http://nilesonline.com/stats/>Word Detective <http://www.word-detective.com/>Roget's Thesaurus <http://humanities.uchicago.edu/forms_unrest/ROGET.html>Richard Lederer's Verbivore <http://pw1.netcom.com/%7Erlederer/index.htm>

funde for sop writing

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