Now that I have 2 years work experience as a senior researcher, I feel that it is the right time for me to undertake graduate studies. I hope to earn the PhD Degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of XXXX because I feel that I am the best fit with your program. I relate to and admire very much the research interests and pioneering endeavors of your faculty in Electrical Engineering and I am excited to find that my area of focus is well represented among the diverse ongoing projects in which your faculty is engaged. I am convinced that XXXX University has the most to offer me for my preparation to meet my principle long term goals. After completing my undergraduate studies, I pursued a Master's program at Loyola Marymount University. During that period, I completed many challenging projects. For my Capstone Project, I concentrated on image compression and encryption – comparing two different approaches to design and assimilation. I have always very much enjoyed technological research and have been a senior researcher at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) for almost two years now. Our work environment involves joint collaborative work on projects with high technological value, in order to transfer and settle technology in Saudi Arabia. I have had the privilege of making major contributions to numerous projects. For example, our ASIP Project, for example, involves the design processors having instructions with parallel operations. It also relates to methods of decoding long instructions which have multiple operations for such processors and for mapping input and output ports to the same addresses. I am also very excited about our EMTYAZ project which is a joint project with KACST& Saudi Signal Corps. Finally, we are working on EMTYAZ, Software Defined Radio (SDR). The objective of the project is to design a very high performance jamming resistant. My long-term vision is about technology transfer and settlement and owning the next big thing. I seek to contribute as much as possible to building up the infrastructure for scientific research within KACST where I am currently employed -inventing and developing useful technology for the world. I seek to make a highly effective contribution to scientific research, enriching the lives of people worldwide through new technological innovation. I want to continue my education to improve my knowledge and research capabilities Thankfully, KACST is providing me with full funding to complete my PhD in Electrical Engineering at XXXX University. I also very much appreciate the focus on sustainability that is pronounced in your program at XXXX as I seek to make it a central integral pillar of my own professional development and the systems that I look forward to developing in the future in the KSA, always expanding the circles of scientific production research and interdisciplinary communications. The greatest possible contribution that I can make to my society, Saudi Arabia, would be to distinguish myself in the area of research and development in Electrical Engineering, perhaps teaching the subject as well later on in my career. I look forward to a long lifetime of professional engagement in the support of local innovation, content generation of all kinds through development of nationally-qualified professional standards of communication development. I look forward to providing technical consulting services to government sectors that will lead to vast improvement in performance, productivity, and flexibility in electronic communications. As a graduate student in your program, I look forward to learning as much as I can, in particular, about Information theory and coding, signal and image processing, digital design, and communication theory. I love the way in which rapid developments in electrical engineering require one to constantly stay abreast of the research in order to stay current on the latest technological advances. I feel very strongly that I am ready for both the challenges and the unavoidable failures that come with them. I understand that great research requires patience and that one must understand that results do not come automatically and that the road can be arduous. I persevere because that is where I find my joy, solving problems. I think about engineering challenges almost all of the time, out jogging, lying in bed before I go to sleep, and when I wake up in the morning. This will help me to excel as an investigator and developer. What I enjoy most is always learning something new, always being in touch with people and learning from them, especially those with extensive experience in an area that I seek to master. I always keep myself up-to-date in software, hardware, publications, for example, and I have a lot of valuable connections with friends and associates who help me to learn what I need to learn as efficiently as possible. Research, networking, and staying up-to-date are all integral parts of my daily routine. I thank you for considering my application to your world-class program in Electrical Engineering at XXXX University.

A dual citizen of Canada and my native Brazil, I have long enjoyed living and studying in the USA as well, for long periods of time. Earning my MBA at XXXX University (2014-2016) has helped me to more fully appreciate the strength and relevance of my favorite proverb, suggesting that it is better to teach a man to fish than to give him a fish. Earning the MBA gave me the opportunity to continue to build on the Executive Certificate that I earned in Technology Innovation and Product Strategy in Brazil (e-Commerce) in 2014. Now, I hope to be selected to attend your distinguished PHD Program in Systems Engineering at XXXX University. I have been richly blessed with enormous opportunity to put my undergraduate studies in the USA in Computer Science (1993-1997) to good use; especially with respect to E-Commerce in Sao Paulo, expanding my horizons personally as well as professionally. I am fully confident that your PHD in Systems Engineering Program at CXX will serve me as the optimal springboard for the launch of a new phase in my career, helping my global fellowman to prosper, how to fish, metaphorically speaking. I calculate that I will be able to continue my full-time work load and family responsibilities and still study approximately half time, 20-25 hours per week. Thus, I especially appreciate the flexibility in this regard of your mostly online program at CXX. Born and raised in Sao Paulo, Brazil, I first came to the United States when I was 19 years old (1991) to serve as full-time missionary for the Mormon Church in the Seattle area. After my two-year service, I went on to attend Brigham Young University in Provo Utah and stayed until my graduation in 1997, returning to Brazil to begin my career in the computer technology/e-commerce industry. Ten years later, I immigrated to Canada with my wife and 3 children, in 2007. We currently live in XXXX, British Columbia, in the Pacific North West, 30 minutes south of Vancouver. 10 years from now, I would like to be teaching at a college level, a practical, hands-on educator with a real-world focus. I do enjoy juggling theory and practice, however, especially when I build a robot, balancing the “chalk board” and “the lab” with a good deal of “trial and error.” My ideal job a few years down the road would be as an educator, teaching interdisciplinary technology courses, machine learning, robotics, and real-world applications. For me, a “system” is a set of connected things or parts forming a complex whole; and systems engineering is the approach and means to enable the realization and successful integration of such systems. I now realize that I’ve been applying a systems-engineering approach to my work all along, just not fully aware of doing so. Being able to holistically envision how the different parts interact with each other and the processes needed to make them work together seamlessly is an ability that now, after many decades, thankfully, comes natural to me. Learning how to disassemble things since early childhood allowed me to combine the big with the small picture from early on and I feel strongly that I am now ready to give my finest contribution in systems planning, implementation, and operations. I hope to bring my most valuable gifts to CXX, an inquisitive mind and a great urge to learn and contribute to research, dedication to work hard coupled to a firm determination to succeed. It is my sincere hope that my many years of experience both at the strategic and tactical levels in several different industries will provide me with valuable things to share in discussions with my colleagues. Community service has always been central to my heart and in many ways, I am still the missionary believer that I was during my two years (92-93) of full-time missionary activity with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I could not have been happier as an LDS missionary because of my profound joy of serving the community and feeling close to them. I continue to be very active in my community in Canada and this is another reason why I hope to be able to study part rather than full time at CXX. I currently serve as a volunteer youth leader at Scouts Canada, part of the Venture scouting program. I am responsible for organizing career-planning and skills development activities, etc. I also volunteer at a local “DIY (do-it-yourself) Maker’s Club” here in Surrey, BC. I teach young people how to program electronics and create small robotics projects. I've been heavily involved with Arduino and Raspberry Pi hobbyists in my area, building and playing with all sorts of robot projects. Aside from being fun and challenging, this hobby allows me to maintain my critical thinking skills and develop further patience and resilience. Since last year I been taking flying lessons. Learning to fly a Cessna 152 has been a lot of fun and helped enhance my ability to interpret and react correctly in response to circumstances. I hope in the long run that flying will also contribute, perhaps in subtle ways, to making me a better technology professor in my old age. Thank you for considering my application to Systems Engineering at CXX.

I am applying for the XXX Scholarship to study Mandarin language and Chemistry at the XXXX University in Hong Kong. Since Hong Kong is now part of China—the principal gateway where East meets West meet in Asia—I will have the opportunity to learn a great deal about Chinese language, culture, society, and politics. This will also prepare me professionally to contribute to the advancement and preservation of America’s national security interest because China is now a superpower that is widely seen as having the potential to surpass America in military strength within only a few decades. I am convinced that my chosen field of study, Chemistry, will also be of critical importance to our national security interests over the long term since Chemistry is one of the principal foundations of scientific and economic advancement, as well as being of instrumental importance to the development of weapons systems and security concerns. I am scheduled to graduate from XXXX College with a degree in chemistry in 2012; but, if chosen for your program and given the opportunity to study in Hong Kong for one year, I will graduate in 2013. Mandarin language studies are not offered at XXXX College. Thus, the XXXX Scholarship will enable me to develop language skills critical to my contribution to America’s national security. This is especially important since Mandarin Chinese is widely thought to be on track to become the world’s dominant language of the future, second, perhaps, only to English. I currently speak Spanish, also a widely used international language. Thus, I am convinced that mastery of both Spanish and Mandarin Chinese will provide me with the optimal platform for developing the academic foundation that will be most conducive to my future service of my country in the area of national security.

I am a man of African American heritage and was born and raised in Holly Springs, MS. I have a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, a master’s degree in Public Policy and Administration and I will graduate as Doctor of Pharmacy in May 2013. I was an employee of XXXX for 9 years, including 5 years as Store Manager, until I started my current course of study in September 2009. It was a very difficult decision to leave a position as Store Manager, which I greatly enjoyed, to embark on a very demanding course of study in a field that was new to me. However, I am a person who is prepared to move out of my ‘comfort zone’, to work very hard and to do all that is necessary to achieve his ambitions. My ambition is to become a District Manager in XXXX within 10 years and I consider that this program of study, combined with my ‘hands on’ experience as an employee and Store Manager at XXXX, is one that will get me where I want to be. I can offer a successful and relevant academic record to date and believe that I shall be of even greater use to the company when I complete my current studies which will provide me with a more ‘rounded’ knowledge of its area of business. It is my hope also to provide an example of success to inner city and minority students who might benefit both themselves and their communities by working in health related careers such as pharmacy. I have worked as a volunteer mentor for inner city students and have gained great satisfaction from this activity. I believe that I have ‘made a difference’ in the lives of some young people and hope to do so, even more effectively, in the future when I am a qualified professional in pharmacy. Anyone submitting an application for a corporate internship would naturally make positive comments about the relevant company but my very positive feelings about Walgreens are, I assure you, genuinely held. I regard myself as part of the XXXX ‘family’ and I hope to re-commence a career with a company that actually does those things that most companies merely claim to do such as seeking to provide genuinely first class customer care, encouraging staff to provide their opinions and actually considering their input, encouraging staff to advance within the company as far as they can go, to enjoy their work and not turn up just for the paycheck as well as many other positives within its corporate policies. I also know that some have reached high executive responsibility from the basic positions within the company which demonstrates the reality of its stated commitments. I seek, and rise to meet, challenges in my life, I am hard working, determined and I relate very well to others and genuinely want to help them to advance by finding and taking all the opportunities open to them. I believe that it will be recognized that I have demonstrated these qualities in my service to date with the company. I share the very positive philosophy the company has embraced towards its people and its customers and hope to be in position to apply that myself and help others to do so in the future. Thank you for considering this application.

A highly professional physician from Saudi Arabia, I like to think about the future and prepare for it, planning for what I hope will be my own central role as a leader in the movement of streamlining and upgrading our healthcare systems, infrastructure, and human resources - for many decades to come. I hope to be accepted to your competitive Healthcare Administration Fellowship at XXXX on the basis of my extensive preparation and my intense passion for the progressive advancement of global health care. A medical doctor in my own country, Saudi Arabia, I have also earned the Master of Public Health Degree from XXXX University and since September of 2014, I have been giving my all to my studies towards the Doctor of Public Health Degree (DrPH) focusing in Epidemiology here at XXXX. I hope to be considered favorably for the Healthcare Administrative Fellowship at XXXX at least in part on the basis of my potential to contribute to the advancement of healthcare services throughout the course of a long professional lifetime upon my return to my country. The Saudi healthcare system is shifting to privatization, creating the need for professional healthcare administrators trained in the management of high-end healthcare organizations. I plan to devote a lifetime to helping to improve the quality of healthcare services provided to our people, in constant search for pragmatic balance between accessibility and price. Currently, in my DrPH Program at XXXX, I use a variety of methods that I have learned in my studies in Epidemiology to evaluate the healthcare services provided during AlHajj seasons by studying the patterns of mortality during AlHajj and its association to the services provided in the hospitals serving the pilgrims. Being selected for your Fellowship Program will prepare me to make my maximum contribution to global health, especially as it concerns the Middle East region. In addition to the singular issues surrounding AlHajj, Saudi Arabia has one of the worst obesity rates on the planet. Thus, I hope to contribute to the development of a national plan to decrease the prevalence of obesity and subsequently chronic diseases such as Heart Disease and Diabetes Mellitus. The privatization of the healthcare sector should improve many services; but it also needs to be harnessed towards the most lethal of public health challenges. Saudi Arabia faces many emerging, infectious diseases such as Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) alongside older diseases such as Dengue fever and Malaria, especially in the south of the country. Decentralization of control and prioritization, hopefully, will help to improve this and increase awareness of the need to utilize primary healthcare services according to local exigencies. There are also potential disadvantages to the privatization of healthcare services in Saudi Arabia, especially cost increases, particularly difficult for the uninsured. A rigorous auditing system needs to be implemented to guard against fraud. Once full privatization has been implemented, it is quite likely that many US healthcare organizations will go into the Saudi market. I look forward to being of assistance to these investors, especially with respect to my native Jeddah, the most international of all Saudi cities. At some point, I look forward to establishing my own polyclinic center and gradually transforming it into a state-of-the-art international hospital. In order to realize my long-term goals, I look forward to a full immersion experience in your fellowship program with special focus on emergency preparedness as well as quality improvement. I particularly look forward to engagement with the Performance Excellence Center. Thank you for considering my application to your distinguished program.

When I was twelve years old, a man visited our house in Saudi Arabia and asked my parents lots of questions relating to our health and the medical history of their families. I was intrigued by this visit and curious about the reasons behind it. I had lots of questions about why such information is collected and why it is useful. My parents explained as far as they were able and over time I did a little research of my own. I became of the specialty of Biostatistics and eventually also that the specialty is not widely studied or its fruits applied in my country, indeed it is not possible to study Medical Biostatistics as a major undergraduate or graduate subject in Saudi Arabia. It is my goal to be part of the solution to this ‘gap’ in my country’s knowledge and skills especially as these are essential to the well-being of so many. Among other notable medical problems in Saudi Arabia, there are notably high rates of chronic preventable disease such as obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure. Many members of my own family have suffered with these conditions and this situation has fired a great determination in me to help to reduce the chances of the next generation suffering as much. If the country is ever to reduce the incidences of these conditions, it will be necessary for much work to be conducted by Medical Biostatisticians to identify causes and possible remedies and I want to be involved in doing so. I have a scholarship from the Saudi Ministry of Health for the Master’s program and have contracted to work for the Ministry at the end of my studies. Having gained an excellent bachelor degree in Mathematics, many careers were open to me. After very carefully considering how my knowledge and skills might be most usefully applied, I decided to pursue Medical Biostatistics in which field I believe that I can make a beneficial difference to the lives of many and help to fill a real need for such specialists in Saudi Arabia. It is my goal to become one of the pioneer specialists in Saudi Arabia conducting useful research and, ultimately, pursuing a Ph.D. and passing on my knowledge, skills and passion to other future specialists in the field at a Saudi university. I have taught high school level mathematics and found great satisfaction in doing so, seeing a new concept understood, especially by a struggling student, is a special joy. I relish the thought of being able to share knowledge and skills again in my future career. I appreciate that skills in Mathematics, though vital in the specialty, are by no means sufficient alone. I understand that it is necessary to possess almost limitless academic curiosity and to be capable of creative and original thinking about problems. It is vital to separate the superficial from the underlying and not so easily identifiable causes of apparent problems. I understand that a truly effective professional in this field must be able to relate well to others to encourage cooperation, collaboration and the sharing of insight and opinion which is so vital to excellent outcomes. I also aspire to acquire and to apply the soft ‘artistic’ skills of intuition and subtle interpretation to supplement the scientific models and techniques that I shall be using. My special area of interest is in public health and biomedical research, particularly in the design and analysis of large and complex data, primarily in the context of epidemiological studies. I also aim to contribute to consulting and collaborative research in various other related fields in my future career. I am aware of the vital importance of statisticians maintaining independence and objectivity so that their skills are not used as a tool to ‘prove’ that what is untrue is ‘true’ or vice versa and that this ethical component is of great significance where there may be entrenched or even corrupt pressures for a pre-decided or biased outcome. These considerations are perhaps particularly relevant in the medical applications that are of special interest to me in which scandals have occurred. I am a native Arabic speaker and have been enrolled in the Intensive English Program at the Language and Culture Institute, Blacksburg, VA. I feel confident speaking, reading and writing English. I like the French language and intend to learn the language when time permits. I have undertaken various voluntary activities in the US including holding offices in Saudi and women students’ organisations and have been involved in the ‘Feeding America’ program. I am happy to take the lead or work as a team member as required. I am a confident public speaker and event organizer. I have a wide range of interests and hobbies. I like to write and was involved in school journalism with I should love to do again should the opportunity arise. I enjoy craftwork and art, I am a sporty and energetic person who enjoys keeping fit and believe that the health of body and mind are closely linked. My choice of your program is made because of the close alignment between my specialist interests and those being taught, the prestigious faculty, the outstanding facilities and the successful outcomes for so many graduates. I can assure the reader of highly enthusiastic, committed and diligent participation in the program, if selected. Thank you for considering my application.

The Master of Professional Studies in Homeland Security with a special, intensive focus on Cyber-Threat Analytics and Prevention, at the University of XXXX, is my first choice for graduate school. I deeply admire the sheer cutting-edge excellence of your program and its pioneering online flexibility which will allow me to continue in my current employment position. Since May of last year, 2017, I have been employed full time as a Security Administrator for ManPowerGroup’s public sector operations, providing highly trained employees with special skills to meet the enormous, ever-changing personnel needs of the US government. Many of these positions require security clearance and I have been intimately involved with these aspects of our function, in addition to cybersecurity and the security of our local facilities. In my last semester at the University of XXXX and set to graduate in May of 2018, I am currently working on my Capstone project, an in-depth analysis of the extent to which US immigration control is or can be a useful instrument against terrorism. Being accepted to and completing your especially distinguished program will enable me to become a more well-rounded security professional, well versed in most if not all of aspects of Security Studies most closely related to my central focus on cyber security. I am dedicated, hardworking and have a keen desire for learning and professional advancement. My long-term goal is to serve in an executive position with the federal government and to be fully immersed for decades to come in cybersecurity policy making and threat prevention. A Bosnian-American woman, I was born in Bosnia and lived there until the age of 7 when I fled along with neighbors looking after me to live as war refugees in neighboring Croatia – leaving both of my parents behind in Bosnia. A little less than 3 years later, we were relocated to Germany and then, at the age of 15, I was allowed to come to the USA. That was 1998. I have never returned to Bosnia, as the memories of war still scar my heart deeply and I am not yet ready. However, after 20 years of becoming American, and giving my all, heart, body, and soul to the study of security, especially everything having to do with cybersecurity, I am ready to give my all 100% to graduate study at the University of Pennsylvania’s vanguard program in Homeland Security. The depth and horrors of war, genocide, and chaos that I witnessed as a little girl, as I see it, make me a natural choice for Security Studies, since I have special and profound appreciation for peace and stability. I want to inspire other women to get more involved with cybersecurity – as well as STEM programs across the curriculum. I feel strongly that women need to become full partners in our security efforts and this is perhaps particularly true in the area of cybersecurity where we also continue to be underrepresented. I plan to continue to devote much of my energy on a volunteer level to working to involve girls not only in cybersecurity issues, but engineering, mathematics and science as well. In particular, I want to be an inspiration to my two lovely daughters. I thank you for considering my application to Homeland Security at the University of XXXX.

A professional photographer, my education so far is mostly in the areas of Cytogenetic Technology and Molecular Genetic Technology. I am especially proficient in setting up cultures for chromosome analysis on peripheral blood, bone marrow, and POC specimens. I have a long history of excellence in aseptic technique and I feel strongly that my background makes me a strong candidate for selection and admission to your distinguished Masters of Applied Clinical and Preclinical Research at XXXX University. In August of 2016, I earned my BS Degree in Cytogenetic Technology at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX. Previously, I had completed several graduate courses in Molecular and Cellular Medicine at the University of Arizona (2013-2014) where I also earned my EMT Certification in 2012 and my BS in Molecular and Cellular Biology in 2011. A very hard working laboratory professional, I have extensive experience in the Life Sciences and I am a co-author of an article published in the Journal of Molecular Cytogenetics. Completing your program will enable me to fulfill my long-term goal of serving as a clinical research manager or coordinator at a large hospital. Since August of 2016, I have been serving as a Cytogenetic Technologist at XXXX University’s XXXX Medical Center. This position has enabled me to learn many valuable things about Clinical Research Management generally speaking, and has enhanced my interpersonal/soft skills. I have worked under stressful situations as an EMT and as much as I had time to do so, I went out of my way, in particular, to at least try and understand some of the worst-case-scenario patients that I encountered in the ambulance and later at the detox center, learning their case histories and trying to think of ways to help them. My high level of motivation to complete your distinguished Master’s Degree Program in Applied Clinical and Preclinical Research at XXXX has been augmented still further by the deep tragedy to which my life has been subjected over the last few years, on a personal level. First, my fiancé collapsed dead from a pulmonary embolism just as I was getting started at the XXXX Center, which made it very difficult at first, handling her funeral and estate, as well as my grief at the same time that I was undertaking very challenging studies. XXXX, my academic advisor at the XXXX Center, helped me vent my sadness and keep going; cheering me up so that I could go on to excel in my studies and in the laboratory, where I threw myself totally, so as to escape my grief. XXXX, one of the earlier pioneers in the field of Cytogenetics, was super intelligent. She had the ability to look at a cell you were stuck on and tell you in seconds which disease the patient was suffering from. I was close to Vicki and again tragedy struck me close to home as she also become ill and would be gone from a degenerative disease by the time that I finished the program. It was difficult watching someone at the top of their game and, in the course of a year, have difficulty opening a PowerPoint file. She tried to lecture and make herself available to all of us right up to the very end, continuing to give all she had to her students. I owe what I hope to achieve in the future to my advisor XXXX, the background, knowledge base, and the sharpened analytical insight. She taught me to dial back my linear thinking and examine the whole situation, constantly probing with ever-deeper questions. Making Clinical Research Management my focus for the balance of my productive lifetime appeals to my appreciation of good design. Nothing pleases me more than taking on a project with a lot of moving components and interplay between various groups; and sewing it all together in an ethical and organized way. I particularly look forward to managing clinical trials related to Oncology (tyrosine-kinase inhibitors, etc). The amount of travel that will be involved, visiting the trial site, going to meetings, writing reports, appeals to me as an "always on the go" type of person. I fear that if I did not always stay very busy, I might slip into some kind of depression. I live for my career. Community service is also central to my existence and I have done volunteer photography for non-profits and helped out with fundraising events, something that I look forward to continuing for many decades to come. I thank you for consideration of my application to XXXX University.

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." - Eleanor Roosevelt. I am an entrepreneur, designer, and brand development consultant who is passionate about creativity, community, and commerce. Particularly, I love creating things that cultivate a sense of confidence in others. Above all, I consider myself to be a dreamer with a vision. My dream is to become a successful serial impact entrepreneur who is able to drive positive change on a global scale. My vision in accomplishing that dream is also my biggest motivation for applying for the Strategic Design and Management graduate program. Since finishing my undergraduate studies, I have gone from experiencing both successes and failures as an entrepreneur and designer, having started three separate companies of my own and consulting other entrepreneurs on how to effectively develop their brands. In just eight years, I have witnessed how it's no longer “business as usual”. In a world that increasingly demands better-designed objects, communication, systems, and organizations to meet social needs, I believe my professional goals of becoming a future game changer and innovation pioneer in the new economy and having the ability to create my own trajectory while also making the world a better place can only be achieved through receiving an education from an world class institution whose values and mission I share. I aim to develop a high level of mastery in the areas of strategy, innovation, and design thinking methodologies in order to learn how to apply a design-driven, systems-oriented approach to recognizing and developing business opportunities that are financially sustainable, address unmet social needs, and have the potential for scalable impact. During my studies, I hope to excel in my coursework with thoughtful curiosity, maintaining an open mind and always learning from my mistakes. Understanding that a large percentage of students in the program are international, I believe I can add to the richness and diversity of the cohort through my personal experiences growing up as a less fortunate first generation Vietnamese-American raised in the inner city of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. My culturally diverse upbringing helps me to connect with others with ease. With parents too poor to afford schooling past the 9th grade in their homeland of Vietnam, they managed to carve out their very own slice of the American Dream through hard work and an entrepreneurial spirit. In this way, I have developed a unique lens in which I see the world, society, and especially American culture. Having traveled to Vietnam as a teenager for the second time, I met relatives I never knew I had. During our time together, I learned of how it was growing up for them. Having only two outfits each, one for church on Sundays, and the other for the rest of the week. The fact that my own relatives on the other side of the world, made less than a dollar a day working at the very same factories that made the products I coveted so much as an American teenager really had a profound impact on me. I felt troubled realizing the vast importance placed by young people in America on brand names and having the latest Jordans, myself included. This realization would force me into a deep reflection of and fascination on the relationship between brands and culture. This reflection and fascination would only mature over the years and lead me to begin my entrepreneurial journey by motivating me to pursue my childhood dream of one day having my own successful brand. I believe that this program will not only be a career enhancing as well as a potential career changing opportunity, but a life changing opportunity for me. If accepted to Parsons, I will put what I learn to use in the best way possible, helping new generations of creative and motivated people to become entrepreneurs and successful at doing what they are passionate about, leveraging the power of creativity for the stimulation of commerce. My long-term goals include increasing levels of independence, evolving into a successful serial impact entrepreneur, then eventually a mentor and coach, advising/teaching other entrepreneurs. Reflecting back on my undergraduate career at WVU, I realize that lack of focus due to having several jobs to help pay for my expensive out of state tuition while my father was sick, ultimately resulted in academic achievement not being my top priority and regret not getting more out of education. At the same time, after having the opportunity to interact with several faculty members and current students of the Transdisciplinary Design program as well as the Strategic Design and Management program, and being able to sit in on several classes from each program, I realize the type of academic environment I need in order to thrive. Rather than being another face lost in a crowd of several hundred students each class, I needed a more intimate environment where I could learn with my hands and by doing. Which is why I believe that I learned more about the world, life, and most of all myself in the years following my undergraduate career during my entrepreneurial journey. I have since found focus and direction after starting my first business and have continued to develop this focus into what I believe is my life’s calling. To use design and entrepreneurship to solve problems facing our future and drive positive social change on a global scale. Therefore, I sincerely thank you for your considering my application for graduate studies at Parsons based on my true potential and not that of a period of time which I truly believe does not honestly reflect my academic potential.

A young woman from Saudi Arabia devoted to technological and social progress, computers have stood at the center of my world my entire life. Having known for many years that it is this area of studies where my heart lies for the long term, I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science from King Fahad University in 2006. Next, I went to Australia to earn my Master’s Degree in Information Systems at XXXX University (2008-2010). My first choice for PHD study is the particularly outstanding doctoral program in Information Technology at University of XXXX. Since 2012, I have served as a Lecturer in the Information System Department at Taif University in Saudi Arabia. Over the course of this period of time I have been engaged in an enormous amount of research both formal and independent either directly concerned with or closely related to the way in which IT has resulted in a strategic transformation of my country in particular, and the Middle East more generally speaking. Much of my focus has been laboring to accurately assess the readiness of private and public sectors throughout this strategic transformation with especially close attention to the educational system in Saudi Arabia. In less than 15 years, Saudi Arabia has established 24 public universities, 8 private universities, and a total of 494 colleges in 76 cities throughout the country. Such huge expansion created many opportunities and challenges, especially securing the talent to teach and lead in these organizations. Female educators have as yet failed to reach the upper echelons of decision-making as concerns educational policy in Saudi Arabia. This is probably not surprising to most given the fact that we were only given the right to drive a car last month. I accept the special challenge that Saudi Arabia represents, with respect to women’s rights and the difficulty associated with glass-ceiling issues, especially in our government institutions. I am optimistic for progress not only because this is my nature but also because I am a tireless leader who very much enjoys inspiring other women. While few women work in strategic positions in the IT industry, there are more of us every year. I hope to engage in research as a graduate student at the University of Houston and broaden my horizons much further with respect to the special challenges faced by women in IT, particularly in the Middle East, the Developing World more generally speaking, and especially Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia recently announced its Vision 2030 initiative, a long-term economic blueprint designed to limit the country's dependence on oil. Troubled by plunging oil prices, for some time now Saudi Arabia has been turning to the IT industry to help fill the void and further the diversification of our economy. One of the most salient symbols of this mammoth investment is the $500-billion-dollar mega city “NEOM” in the north-west of Saudi Arabia, striving to become a place that brings together many of the world’s top companies and their best minds so as to push the frontiers of standards of excellence, especially in IT. Saudi Arabia also teamed up with SoftBank, a Japanese telecommunications and technology group, to launch a new tech fund that will manage as much as $100bn (KRW 113.9 trillion). In fact, Saudi strategy involves a variety of major players, with major investments being made in the KSA by some of the giants of the Silicon Valley as well as those parts of Europe at the forefront of IT development. Our goal is to create the Silicon Desert. Radical improvement has already been made in our educational system so as to respond to this great need for well-educated people in the workforce beginning at a young age, tailoring education to meet market requirements and ensuring an ample supply of quality graduates to meet the needs of the future. The Saudi government is aspiring for a minimum of five Saudi universities to be ranked among the top 200 internationally by 2030. We have great opportunities yet we also face great challenges. Saudi Arabia depends upon the acceleration of its IT industry to drive economic and social development, promote good governance, and enhance national security. To achieve these outcomes, telecommunication providers will need to provide a highly developed and resilient communications infrastructure, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will need to rapidly embrace ICT solutions and services, and the local IT industry will need to innovate and develop more increasingly sophisticated products and services. The education system will also need to refocus its efforts on nurturing the existing ICT skills base. By obtaining the PHD Degree in Information Technology at the University of XXXX, I will have the opportunity to fully explore how digitization is central to the successful development of Saudi Arabia's economic interests in line with Vision 2030. I look forward to closely studying the development models of other countries in this area and the extent to which they have been successful at implementing their vision. I also want to learn as much as I can about ways to enhance learning and educational experiences for students in remote areas. After completing your program at the University of XXXX, I look forward to spending the balance of my professional lifetime serving as a professor in my country and also a leader for the progressive advancement of our educational system, always sensitive to the need to fully incorporate women in our decision-making processes and helping women of future generations to have greater opportunities. Social change is long overdue in Saudi Arabia. Teachers and political leaders need to be more responsive to the way in which society is changing on global levels, particularly with respect to following the lead of highly developed countries where women have the greatest freedoms. All Saudi Arabians are ultimately responsible for the future of women in education. I have selected teaching as my profession since I wish to play a significant role in the development of my home community; I would like to encourage women to be educated and supportive of each other. I strongly believe in educating students to become life-long learners so that their discoveries are not limited to just their careers or specific fields. I wish to transfer my knowledge and skills to generations to follow, preparing them for the challenges that will develop along their life paths, I could not be more devoted to IT and I have always worked very hard to advance in my field. I have met many challenges, especially doing my Masters in Australia despite raising small children at the time. I also worked in a remote area of Australia for almost 5 years, attesting to my dedication, passion, and commitment. I hope to be accepted to your PHD Program at the University of XXXX because we need more well-educated – especially female – decision-makers in our part of the world. I thank you for considering my application to your PHD Program in Internet Technology at the University of XXXX.

The MA Program in International Affairs at XXXX University’s XXXX School is my first choice for a variety of reasons, especially the fact that your program has an Africa Track, allowing me to focus much of my studies on my continent of origin, Africa. I hope to return to Africa as a professional diplomat at some point after earning my Master’s Degree. I look forward to developing a cutting-edge grasp on the issues that affect Africa and how they are grounded in history. I appreciate the focus of your program on security, as I seek to become not only an expert on the security of African countries but also the many complex ways in which the security of Africa affects the security of the USA – and the rest of the world. Immigration, refugees, and human rights will be my three long-term devotions to which I look forward to giving my all for the balance of my professional life. My mother tongue is Kinyarwanda; I am also a near-native speaker of both French and Swahili. I knew very little English when I came to the USA in 2012, at the age of 21; but I have given it my all. It is not quite as good as my French but continues to improve rapidly. I see my future unfolding in French and Swahili as well as English, since they are the three foremost languages of commerce and interaction in Africa. A Tutsi originally from East Congo, my first memories are of fleeing political violence in the land where I was born. In the events surrounding the genocide in Rwanda of 1994, both of my parents disappeared, one at a time, presumed deceased. The bodies of my two oldest siblings were recovered. We had sought refuge in a refugee camp fleeing violence against Tutsis in the Congo. I subsequently grew up in the refugee camp in Rwanda, reading everything that I could get my hands on. I was resettled to the USA in 2012 along with my two surviving brothers. Now 26 and a US citizen, I hope to serve my country. I am especially excited about the prospect of studying under the direction of professors XXXX and XXXX. Dr. XXXX has written extensively about African conflicts. Since I am especially interested in “Conflict Resolution” as a response to the refugee crisis, I also see the work of Dr. XXXX on the African diaspora to be especially relevant to the research that I hope to undertake in the future. Finally, GWU is also the perfect location as a result of the wide range of internships available. The generosity that the United States has showed to me is a powerful motivating force that drives me to excel as a student of International Affairs, preparing myself for a career with the State Department, the United States Immigration and Citizenship Services, or the United Nations. I thank you for considering my application to the XXXX School.

My dream is to become a Design professor and to promote the sharing of ideas among designers across the Americas, in its three most widely spoken languages Portuguese (native) Spanish (near-native), and English (fluent). I hope to be selected to attend your especially innovative and distinguished Master’s Degree Program at the University of XXXX because of your focus, especially as related to the public good, education, health, and safety. I feel that I am the best fit with your emphasis on the importance of diversity and the sharing of ideas across cultural and language barriers, all of us learning from each other on a planetary level, in design as in other areas. My father was from Chile and my mother from Brazil and I have lived and worked in the USA, thus, I am multicultural as well as multilingual. Granted an opportunity to pursue this master program, I will be able to buttress the knowledge and skills in design obtained from my previous learning and occupational undertakings with expertise in the theoretical and research aspects of design. In addition, your program will orient me into interdisciplinary design development and make me better placed to contribute to strategic design planning and development. My area of foremost engagement and fascination is Visual Communication Design. My extensive professional experience in branding and packaging design over the course of the last 18 years will help me to hit the ground running in your program and distinguish myself as a top-notch student. Currently the Design Director of XXXX Comunicação in Rio de Janeiro. I am responsible for crafting creative solutions to a broad range of branding and packaging challenges. I lead a team of 4 designers and I am involved in every step of the branding process, from strategic development design through the execution of final art through finished on shelf product delivery – ensuring that every aspect of a brand’s equity is properly developed and maintained. What I get particularly excited about, however, are design applications for humanitarian endeavors, both in terms of social justice issues as well as charitable efforts. As a young person, I spent many years helping to provide for the most basic necessities of children in an orphanage and filled leadership roles within our organizations of young Catholics. I will continue to participate until I am gone in solidarity with humanitarian efforts to make the world a better place. As a holistic thinker and designer, my special research interest is in health. I hope to address questions that open a discourse on how visual communication affects the quality of life and well-being of individuals. The healthcare sector requires a unique type of creativity at the intersection of compliance with brand strategy and creative integrity. It is necessary to change our way of thinking so as to promote design professionally on every level. Watching my father die of Alzheimer’s year after year gave me vast opportunity that I took full advantage of to reflect, as a designer, about to ease the stress of disease for its victim and their caretaker as well. Although the statistics are bleak, it is possible for people with Alzheimer’s to live an enjoyable life for years after being diagnosed, if they have access to the right care and support. Therefore there are huge opportunities for designers and creatives to help raise awareness concerning ways to improve daily life for people living with this disease. I want to collaborate with health professionals to come up with solutions that reduce stress and anxiety, increase patient satisfaction, and promote health and healing. I also have a special passion for teaching and one of my central goals in the future is to become a Design Professor, mentoring new generations of designers. I am thankful for the full immersion experience that I had in the USA beginning in 1989 and staying there for twelve years, studying art and working in design, which did wonders for my English that has been of great service over the years. I have worked for global brands and won international recognition and I am now well established in the Brazilian market, I seek to enhance my level of international engagement in the future. Music and art, classical guitar and oil painting are fundamental to my identity as well and help me to stay focused as s designer. I thank you for consideration of my application.