coolzero
Nov 24, 2010
Graduate / "extensive research in System domain" - SOP for MS in CS [2]
Please provide your valuable suggestion on the content of my SOP. Also if you think that there are any breaks/absurdity in flow of SOP, please point it out also. Additional suggestion regarding material is highly anticipated.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
As a modern theory states that learning is more efficient by doing, likewise my present job with Symantec helped me develop a sound technical base and thorough insight into project handling. But as learning has no end, the desire to encompass a wider circle of my domain comes naturally. Though I possess industry-hardened skills in Computers, but I believe one must sharpen them to undertake cutting-edge research in advanced computing, which would be storage systems in my case. I therefore believe that I must return to the academic world for further growth.
Due to an Army background upbringing, my lifestyle was very organized and disciplined, which was pretty prevalent during my initial years in college. Due to that, I used to become an automatic choice to co-ordinate events in my college. I conducted several events during my academics like game development contest in Solution'06, blood donation and cleanliness/social awareness camps, which not just enhanced my leadership qualities but helped me understand to efficient converse with people.
Another benefit of being from Army background came in the form of joining Army Institute of Technology (A.I.T) in 2007 for Bachelor's in Computer Engineering. Other than an active participant in extra-curricular activities, I gradually developed a strong penchant toward the problem-solving aspect of programming. I got so hooked to it that I started to invest endless hours developing interesting applications which used to emerge as an idea in my head. I started creating software which could be interesting to use amongst my batch-mates like Network chat tool, Linux based make file-system, websites and 2D games. I became proficient in programming languages like C, C++, shell and Web-based scripting. Consequently, I won many programming contests under the hat of Pune University which includes best C programmer award in TeckTalk'04, Texplosion'04 and Solutions'05. Probably that was the time I realized how addictive programming could be as my other academics automatically got a backseat in my head. Later when I could not achieve the desired grades in early years I started judiciously allocating my time and energy and as a result, I saw a steady upsurge in my grades.
In my final year project, I created a prototype of a large scale billing system for Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB) in collaboration with their research team. It provided a LAMP framework for coordinating long running transactional activities over the HTTP network using hierarchical client-server architecture. It also provides an on-line e-payment system for customers under a particular application. Sometimes I spent more than 16 straight hours a day reading detailed manuals, writing code and debugging issues. I am glad to say that the effort paid off in the end as the prototype was later approved by MSEB for future implementation. This experience was invaluable for me since I learned the serviceability and functionality of real world applications.
In the latter part of my academic career, I started exploring other subjects under the umbrella of Computer Science apart from programming. During that period, my interest started growing in core subjects particularly Data-structures, Algorithms, Compilers and Operating System. Soon after graduation, I joined Calsoft which specializes in providing services/consultancy in Storage and Virtualization domains. I worked there for 2 years for Panasas on PanFS. My task was to write patches and wrapper Macros in the layer between Linux Kernel and Panasas for API changes in socket layer, FS and MMU. Besides frequently meeting the deadlines, I also coordinated with other teams to resolve minor bugs in build system, validation subsystem and storage shelves related failures. Aware of my interest in systems, Calsoft gave me an opportunity to mentor a team from PICT for their final year project. To magnify my scope I guided a project Device Mapper's which was the latest feather in my cap. Due to my probing interest in OS and File systems I was frequently asked to conduct seminars on those for new hires.
Although my job at Calsoft was pretty exciting but to centralize my scope at the point which liked the most, I joined Symantec, in its Indian development centre, for Veritas File System (VxFS) team. While working on VxFS, I was impressed by the quality and depth of engineering involved in this product. It gave me the opportunity to debug system panics, hangs, memory leaks and on-disk layout corruptions issues on real time systems. In addition, it helped me to analyze situations like delegation issues from customers with network lock manager, effects of dnlc on performance, behaviour of slave nodes in a cluster when master crashes, and possibility of deadlock from threads running in interrupt context. I also got an insight on complexities like recovery of corrupted meta-data, source/destination page mapping in page cache, and optimization in the transaction handling routines.
I wish to earn a MS degree in Computer Science. My long term career goal is to do applied research in growing areas in System domain. I chose to work in industry for 4 years after graduating to gain useful insight about latest trends in the software industry as well as to partially fund my college studies. The Computer Science and Engineering department website of X University revealed a very strong faculty involved in extensive research in System domain. Interacting with members of the department will give me an invaluable opportunity to broaden my horizons, and will provide me insight in related research areas that I might not anticipate at the moment. My decision to apply at X university is motivated by all these consideration.
I bring along a strong grasp of fundamentals in System and storage domain, an aptitude for working in a team, a zest for challenges and an enthusiastic desire to learn all I can. I would like to take with me, in addition to knowledge of Computer Science, a network of strong and lasting relationships with my teachers and fellow-students. I hope that my background and qualifications are found suitable for an MS in Computer Science at X University.
Please provide your valuable suggestion on the content of my SOP. Also if you think that there are any breaks/absurdity in flow of SOP, please point it out also. Additional suggestion regarding material is highly anticipated.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
As a modern theory states that learning is more efficient by doing, likewise my present job with Symantec helped me develop a sound technical base and thorough insight into project handling. But as learning has no end, the desire to encompass a wider circle of my domain comes naturally. Though I possess industry-hardened skills in Computers, but I believe one must sharpen them to undertake cutting-edge research in advanced computing, which would be storage systems in my case. I therefore believe that I must return to the academic world for further growth.
Due to an Army background upbringing, my lifestyle was very organized and disciplined, which was pretty prevalent during my initial years in college. Due to that, I used to become an automatic choice to co-ordinate events in my college. I conducted several events during my academics like game development contest in Solution'06, blood donation and cleanliness/social awareness camps, which not just enhanced my leadership qualities but helped me understand to efficient converse with people.
Another benefit of being from Army background came in the form of joining Army Institute of Technology (A.I.T) in 2007 for Bachelor's in Computer Engineering. Other than an active participant in extra-curricular activities, I gradually developed a strong penchant toward the problem-solving aspect of programming. I got so hooked to it that I started to invest endless hours developing interesting applications which used to emerge as an idea in my head. I started creating software which could be interesting to use amongst my batch-mates like Network chat tool, Linux based make file-system, websites and 2D games. I became proficient in programming languages like C, C++, shell and Web-based scripting. Consequently, I won many programming contests under the hat of Pune University which includes best C programmer award in TeckTalk'04, Texplosion'04 and Solutions'05. Probably that was the time I realized how addictive programming could be as my other academics automatically got a backseat in my head. Later when I could not achieve the desired grades in early years I started judiciously allocating my time and energy and as a result, I saw a steady upsurge in my grades.
In my final year project, I created a prototype of a large scale billing system for Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB) in collaboration with their research team. It provided a LAMP framework for coordinating long running transactional activities over the HTTP network using hierarchical client-server architecture. It also provides an on-line e-payment system for customers under a particular application. Sometimes I spent more than 16 straight hours a day reading detailed manuals, writing code and debugging issues. I am glad to say that the effort paid off in the end as the prototype was later approved by MSEB for future implementation. This experience was invaluable for me since I learned the serviceability and functionality of real world applications.
In the latter part of my academic career, I started exploring other subjects under the umbrella of Computer Science apart from programming. During that period, my interest started growing in core subjects particularly Data-structures, Algorithms, Compilers and Operating System. Soon after graduation, I joined Calsoft which specializes in providing services/consultancy in Storage and Virtualization domains. I worked there for 2 years for Panasas on PanFS. My task was to write patches and wrapper Macros in the layer between Linux Kernel and Panasas for API changes in socket layer, FS and MMU. Besides frequently meeting the deadlines, I also coordinated with other teams to resolve minor bugs in build system, validation subsystem and storage shelves related failures. Aware of my interest in systems, Calsoft gave me an opportunity to mentor a team from PICT for their final year project. To magnify my scope I guided a project Device Mapper's which was the latest feather in my cap. Due to my probing interest in OS and File systems I was frequently asked to conduct seminars on those for new hires.
Although my job at Calsoft was pretty exciting but to centralize my scope at the point which liked the most, I joined Symantec, in its Indian development centre, for Veritas File System (VxFS) team. While working on VxFS, I was impressed by the quality and depth of engineering involved in this product. It gave me the opportunity to debug system panics, hangs, memory leaks and on-disk layout corruptions issues on real time systems. In addition, it helped me to analyze situations like delegation issues from customers with network lock manager, effects of dnlc on performance, behaviour of slave nodes in a cluster when master crashes, and possibility of deadlock from threads running in interrupt context. I also got an insight on complexities like recovery of corrupted meta-data, source/destination page mapping in page cache, and optimization in the transaction handling routines.
I wish to earn a MS degree in Computer Science. My long term career goal is to do applied research in growing areas in System domain. I chose to work in industry for 4 years after graduating to gain useful insight about latest trends in the software industry as well as to partially fund my college studies. The Computer Science and Engineering department website of X University revealed a very strong faculty involved in extensive research in System domain. Interacting with members of the department will give me an invaluable opportunity to broaden my horizons, and will provide me insight in related research areas that I might not anticipate at the moment. My decision to apply at X university is motivated by all these consideration.
I bring along a strong grasp of fundamentals in System and storage domain, an aptitude for working in a team, a zest for challenges and an enthusiastic desire to learn all I can. I would like to take with me, in addition to knowledge of Computer Science, a network of strong and lasting relationships with my teachers and fellow-students. I hope that my background and qualifications are found suitable for an MS in Computer Science at X University.