I plan to apply to a graduate Tech Management offered by George Mason. The application requirements are to write Goal Statement and Work Description Essay. Below are what they listed from their web site.
- A current resume
- A Goal Statement that relates to post-Technology Management career goals
- Work Description Essay (applicants should address what it is they do with technology)
I still struggle to understand what they want from these two writings and would like to seek your inputs. Please help to explain the below
- Is the Goal Statement an essay? or it is just a formal statement that I write on my intended career goals after I complete the program?
What do they look for in the Work Description Essay? Do they look for the reasons why I select to take the program? and what do I plan to do with the technology after I complete the program?
- What should the Goal Statement length be?
- What should the Work Description Essay length be?
Thanks
Hi Khoivu,
Most admissions committees will provide some kind of guidelines on length for these documents. It wouldn't hurt to ask them (diplomatically and professionally)--or at least explore the website FAQ's. Even for schools that don't stipulate length, they typically have an FAQ section that gives some kind of range.
If you can't find any information, most graduate school statements of purpose are approx. 2 pages long. In your goals statement, I would explore the following:
-Some of your background--what drew you to this field, why you feel passionately about it, etc.
-Academic and Career Experience
-Show how that background has led to your current academic and career goals
-Show how this program will help you realize those goals, and echo what makes your candidacy unique
I'm not familiar with this program, but I would guess the work description is intended to be a more granular discussion of what you do with tech and what you want to do at George Mason. Are there specific tracks or research components? They probably want to know how you will fit in. So, get specific--a faculty member with tech knowledge will very likely take a close look at this one. This essay can probably stand to be shorter, no more than 1 page.
Cheers,
Janson
This is my first draft of Goal Statement. Could you please review? Is it too short?
Thanks a lot for your helps.
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Like many, I paid attention to health care reform debate during and since the 2008 presidential campaign, Will health care costs skyrocket if more people utilize the health care system? What are the determinant factors that one can apply to control cost, increase service quality and maintain healthy profitability for health care providers? Inspired by the challenges and the changes mandated by the newly passed law, I spent time to educate myself about the healthcare industry and its information systems. One of my long-term goals is to obtain a leading position in health care IT department where I can leverage my skills and experience to improve efficiency of the health care IT technology, so that I can help bring down the health care cost, and to increase its service quality. I envision that I will design and develop systems where patients and doctors exchange medical records. I would lead the development of a health care billing and payment system, which requires integration of enterprise networks of all point of service (POS) parties and health insurance companies. My other long-term goal is to collaborate with two of my friends to start a consulting business that will provide IT services to small or medium size health care providers. George Mason MS Technology Management program will help me acquire required skills to achieve these goals. I hope to hone my skills in the area of complex enterprise technologies management, project management, business strategy in resource planning, and organizational skills to manage enterprise resources within planned budget.
In the last 15 years, I worked for variety of companies that include big telecom companies like AT&T or Equant (France Telecom), Federal Consulting Firms, e-commerce and startup companies. I have developed enterprise applications, consumer relationship management (CRM) systems, trouble ticket systems, and e-commerce web sites. Currently, I am working for a Federal Consulting firm in Arlington. My department is responsible for developing a platform and framework based on open web service standards and SOA (Service-Oriented Architecture), which other groups will use in their client projects. With formal education in MS Technology Management, I will be able to combine new learning with my technical experiences to excel as a better internal consultant and software architect. I should enhance and improve analytical skills to select solutions based on technical advantages and client business needs. Moreover, I will become more confident when I would like to seek business opportunities to become entrepreneur in health care business.
I considered other graduate programs such as MBA and Health Care Informatics. I have ruled out MBA because I am more interested in business management of technology than general business administration and planning. GMU Health Information System Management Concentration is very interesting but I believe that MS Technology Management gives me wider latitude of knowledge. I also looked at other schools that offer similar graduate programs on Management of Information Technology (MIT). However, George Mason MS Technology Management is my top choice because of its location close to both my work place and home. Class meetings are on Saturday, which does not interrupt my work schedule. It also provides a very interesting international residency. With its outstanding curriculum, I will gain invaluable insights in management of information technology.
Like many, I paid attention to health care reform debate during and since the 2008 presidential campaign, asking myself, Will health care costs skyrocket if more people utilize the health care system? ------ I like to use italics in a case like this.
Here is my suggestion; it is not the only way, but it is one idea for you:
I spent time to educate myself about the healthcare industry and its information systems. (now add a thesis statement that captures the MAIN TRUTH of your essay -- the point you want the reader to remember)
(then, start a new paragraph)
Paragraph 2 begins: "One of my long-term goals is to obtain ..."
In the last 15 years, I worked for variety of companies that included big...
add a comma to this compound sentence:
I have ruled out MBA, because I am more interested in business management of technology than general business administration and planning.
:-) I am pretty impressed! I think any reader would be impressed by your focus and detailed self-analysis. It would be good to see a little more discussion of your detailed plan for the future.
Kevin,
Thank very much for your suggestions. I will work on your suggestions tonight.
Khoivu
