Since my undergraduate years I've been intrigued by information hiding techniques and data privacy. My goal is to be able to design services that are secure, protect user privacy and works as a reliable medium. To achieve this I must gather deeper insight in the field of Information Security and Internet technologies. A masters guided by accomplished professors shall help me narrow down my specific research interests. Looking at the course structure and research at XXXXXXXX, it is clear to me that it satisfies my needs, and is the perfect course for my post graduation in the field of Information Security and Mobile Computing.
My undergraduate courses and work have helped me explore the field in a broad manner and has provided me with prerequisites like computing skills and commitment for research. The undergraduate courses that interested me most were computing and security related: Data Structure, Algorithms, Web Technology, Operating Systems, Compiler Design, Network Security, Information Security, Intrusion Detection. I've excellent grades in these courses. However, I was most intrigued by Information Security and Intrusion Detection which were taken by professor XXXXXX at XXXXXXXX.
In my final year, I did a project titled XXXXX Security XXXXXX, guided by professor XXXXXXX. This involved surveying the field of Steganography, researching different information hiding techniques and reading existing literature. As an implementation of Steganography, I developed an algorithm to hide secret text inside a cover text using White Steg, i.e. white spaces between words inside the text. This project also involved study of shortcomings of existing methods of Steganography and its history. Now, I intend to improve the algorithm and write a paper on the this with my project guide.
Mobile computing was the burgeoning area when I finished my bachelors. I secured a job as a software engineer at XXXXXXXXXX. My experience of 3 years in XXXXX XXXXXX team has provided me a platform to put the concepts learnt in college to practical use in commercial software products. At XXXXXX I had the opportunity to work on Secure Simple Pairing (SSP) implementation, which is a form of public-key cryptography based pairing for Bluetooth. For this, I researched man-in-themiddle-attacks and prepared a report on possible attacks and methodologies to prevent them. Then I went on to implement association model for second stage in SSP authentication, where public keys and nonces are exchanged for link-key generation. This project helped me grasp the standard security services like authentication, authorization and data-integrity. During this project I was also exposed to the limitless scope of Information Security and realized that further academic research will be next logical step in my career.
For me, this masters course shall be a step towards my PhD degree, in which I hope to research the field of information security in the light of user privacy and data security more closely, which in turn shall be another step in the direction of my intended career in Information Security research, either in academia or in industry.
XXXXXXXXX is an excellent blend of culture, education and cutting edge research. Research focus at XXXXX, which deals in user privacy and anonymity, meets my research goal in a wholesome manner. The other aspect of my research goal, which is implementing such services, is a research focus at XXXXXXX. Besides, I've always wanted to travel Europe and a masters from two of the top XXXXXXX universities shall give me an opportunity to have a glimpse into European culture from up close.
I believe I'll be able to do justice to the opportunity given to me as a XXXXXX XXXXX XXXX scholar and add value to it via skills and expertise gained trough my Information Technology undergraduate studies and my R&D work experience at world's leading mobile computing organisation.
I had planned to write a fresh, new SOP for my other applications; longer and with more personal touch. I also wanted to make it unique. I had to write this quickly so I couldn't take better care of language either. Now, whatever I try to write tend to mimic this SOP and if I try too hard I lose my train of thought. Practically I am not able to move forward and I do not have many days left for my application to start.
- It's a generic SOP. The question was - Write a SOP.
- I've to remove these work experiences and add new ones
- Have to change intended field of interest
- I've tried so hard for the last 3-4 weeks but couldn't settle on a "hook". I guess I'll send without one.
- Is my SOP seriously short?
Please critique my SOP and I would appreciate some generic guidelines/comments other than specific ones from inside the SOP itself.
No need.... this is fine. :) But make sure you always have an attractive title which is also relevant for your essay if you are keen on receiving more comments :D
Well... you explain the background well, but I do not find a strong passionate hook in your SOP. Tell them how you became interested in this field and then what you did to pursue it.
Your SOP should not sound like a list of credentials or experiences. You need to display more creativity there. It should speak about your personality and your goals and ambitions and how the program you are going to apply would help you achieve your such aspirations.
It is the same SOP, but a revision and certain contents of this would remain as it is.... isn't it? If so, you can post it here itself. If it's going to be a total new one, you can open a new thread also. But make sure the contents are different, otherwise we moderators would merge the two threads :D
If you open a fresh thread for a different SOP, then have different and meaningful title for that too :)
good chronological flow, but lacks the Why?
if you can answer why: My goal is to be able to design services that are secure, protect user privacy and works as a reliable medium on a personal level than you have a fairly rounded SOP
I suggest you try and play some word-association when thinking of your subject of interest (in the application), and write whatever comes your mind...see if you can connect those together in a story
