Master’s Financial Economics Personal Purpose Statement
- Robert Edinger
- May 28, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Jan 6

Born and raised in Shanghai, China, I moved to the United States for college to pursue the best education in investment management, greatly admiring the US educational system. I aim to work internationally throughout my career and am making significant progress in becoming proficient in both English and Mandarin Chinese. As a highly motivated young woman, I applied to U.S. universities independently and am now a senior at XXXX University, soon to graduate with dual degrees in Mathematics and Economics.
XXXX University is my top choice for graduate school due to its extensive course offerings and esteemed career services. I consider it one of the world's premier programs and am eager to be part of the vibrant atmosphere in New York City. I anticipate a thorough exploration of financial economics and am particularly interested in specializing in asset allocations and investment strategies. After completing the program and gaining further experience, my long-term goal is to become an independent equity analyst and establish an investment management firm with partners, focusing on high-net-worth clients, particularly in China. In addition to being a native Mandarin speaker and fluent in English, I am also proficient in Japanese, having studied it since high school and spending my sophomore year in Japan; this skill will be advantageous in my future endeavors.
I am a dedicated and compassionate individual who believes in giving back to the community and supporting those less fortunate. This belief led me to volunteer as an English tutor for underprivileged children in Chicago during my sophomore year. I interned at XXXX securities in 2009, gaining insights into basic stock valuation and stock analysis. In 2010, I interned at Chicago Bancorp, collaborating with Martin Investment Management and Ziegler Capital Markets. These experiences enhanced my communication and negotiation skills, enabling me to achieve win-win outcomes and maximize client benefits. Working with Martin Investment Management honed my research skills, assisting in stock selection and report writing. My time at Ziegler Capital Markets deepened my understanding of investment banking operations.
I am passionate about capital markets and investment strategies, a passion inspired by my father, who has guided my career choice. He has spent years researching investments and advising me, becoming my personal hero due to his wisdom in long-term stock investments and success in the stock market. We particularly enjoy investing together on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. Acceptance into XXXX will allow me to learn extensively about Asian markets and contribute to enhancing the Chinese regulatory system after graduating and returning home.
My father and I are dedicated followers of Warren Buffet's models and advice, especially regarding investment during economic downturns. Buffet is my American hero, admired for his wisdom and philanthropy. I aspire to achieve wealth and the joy of giving much of it away to worthy causes.
I am a competitive candidate for XXXX's program due to my global perspective and passion for finance. I taught myself Japanese in high school and continued classes at Northwestern, preparing for a trilingual career. During my sophomore year, I studied at Waseda University in Tokyo, enhancing my language skills and understanding of Japanese business culture. I connected with a Waseda alumnus at Fujitsu consulting, shadowing him for several days. As a Chinese business professional, I enjoy studying the differences in business strategies between Japanese and Americans. My multilingual abilities and international experience have given me an advanced understanding of critical global issues. In my senior year, while studying full-time, I completed two internships, becoming skilled at time management and multitasking, which will help me maximize my education at XXXX.
Master’s Financial Economics Personal Purpose Statement






This statement is genuinely impressive—confident, polished, and full of the kind of clarity that makes an applicant memorable. What stands out immediately is the writer’s sense of purpose. From the very first lines, you can feel the determination of someone who charted her own path from Shanghai to the United States, navigated the application process independently, and is now graduating with two demanding quantitative degrees. That alone signals discipline, resilience, and intellectual maturity.
The narrative also shines in how it blends academic ambition with global perspective. The applicant’s trilingual fluency—Mandarin, English, and Japanese—is not presented as a résumé bullet but as a lived experience shaped by study abroad, cultural immersion, and genuine curiosity about how different societies conduct business. This…