compsci
Jul 27, 2011
Undergraduate / Personal essay/ Statement of purpose for MS computer science- a biology undergraduate [NEW]
Hi All,
This is my first draft of SOP for MS in Computer Science. I need to add a paragraph about the university(s) I'm going to apply for- this is the basic structure- Please comment! I 'd appreciate all the help I can get-
_____________________________________________-----
Though many think computer science and biology as two very different and specialized fields, I sometime wonder how much these two sciences are linked together. The sequencing of the human genome, for example, would not have been possible without computers to process and analyze massive amount of genetic data. Several computational tools like pattern recognition, data mining, machine learning algorithms, and visualization are commonly used in biology. Mr. Bill gates once said that he sees biology as a "sister science" to computer science because they fit together so perfectly in today's research world. I also feel that a biology/ computer science duo is one of the best academic combos possible, almost a peanut butter and jelly of academic combos. I am equally fascinated with these two fields and this is one of the reasons I want to pursue the Masters' in Computer Science with a goal to get a PhD in computational biology in future.
My desire to pursue further studies in USA is because of the fact that it has a dynamic atmosphere, which will provide me with an opportunity to improve my skills and education along with a growth of individuality. The flexibility of the curriculum is what interests me the most and will provide me the level and quality of education I need to widen the scope of my knowledge and skills. The diversity of the student body, I believe, will open my mind to new influences, new ideas and new ways of doing things.
I took an unconventional approach towards my educational career. After completing 10th grade I went to a vocational college and spent three years learning about textile technology. Our trips to cotton fields, different dying techniques for proteins, knowledge about protein content in wools and computer aided designs bolstered my interest in application of computer techniques in biology. In my undergraduate studies in biotechnology, I have benefited from the breadth of Maharshi Dayanand University's syllabi content that has given me a comprehensive exposure to the core areas of biology and a strong conceptual understanding of the same. With an interest in computational biology, I took as many relevant courses as possible including biostatistics, calculus, bioinformatics, biochemistry, molecular biology and organic chemistry. In these three years of study, I have strived to maintain an approach of expending independent efforts in all my endeavors. Learning by doing science and sharing my knowledge with others has been most worthwhile, when comprehending a concept. I constantly strived to involve myself in research during summer vacation to learn more about the scientific processes. At a summer course at Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, on "Plant Molecular Biology- Tools and Techniques", I gained additional experience in biological techniques related to tissue culture. Through my internship and summer trainings at Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, I was able to assist in projects which lead me to my first research publication.
In the second year of my undergraduate, I started my first mandatory research project and chose to work on the development of a computational tool for easy access and storage of literature search. It was a challenging topic for someone with limited knowledge in computers. I remember my advisor Dr. words that "If you're not failing every now and then, it's a sign that you're not doing something very innovative, if you already know what you're doing, you're not learning anything new" , during the frustrating initial phase of failures with coming up with the right algorithm. After a month of hardship in coding, I finally created a tool that can directly link to the Pubmed or other search engines and store all the searches for the later use. It was an enriching experience since it helped me to hone my theoretical knowledge with practical experience.
This tool encouraged me to learn more about computer programming. I personally follow the saying "Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already learned, you will never grow". I have always been interested in web designing and took courses in ASP.NET. After the completion of this course, I learned C, C#, .HTM, .NET, VB.NET, JAVA and Ruby on Rails. True satisfaction comes when your hard work pays off. I started developing websites for the companies that helped me earn money to support myself. My teachers recognized my potential and asked me to develop website for the different events during my college years.
Along with my studies, I have always been a keen participant in extracurricular activities. From a young age I have been playing soccer and been a part of my school and college soccer teams. I have also been a part of the organizing team for the cultural festival of my college. Along with participating in web designing competitions, I was the head of the technical committee for two years. Serving on these committees turned out to be a confidence booster. It taught me that the basis for good work is self-reliance and very importantly, time management. I learned to accept both criticism and praise with a positive frame of mind.
My long term interest includes working for a research institution that is a part of a university, industry, or both. I realize that such a position would require more than just research work. It would likely require teaching to university students. I have not been in a direct teaching position myself before, although I have tutored students in math and biology to raise money for my college education. I believe that in the process of earning a masters' degree I would like to have the opportunity to teach students to be able determine whether or not a career in teaching is for me.
I believe that the international education will present me a rare opportunity for a solid foundation for a future career in the field of computer science with personal growth. I look forward to the challenges of graduate school in a foreign country and want to thank you for the consideration of my application.
____________________________________________
Thank you all!
Hi All,
This is my first draft of SOP for MS in Computer Science. I need to add a paragraph about the university(s) I'm going to apply for- this is the basic structure- Please comment! I 'd appreciate all the help I can get-
_____________________________________________-----
Though many think computer science and biology as two very different and specialized fields, I sometime wonder how much these two sciences are linked together. The sequencing of the human genome, for example, would not have been possible without computers to process and analyze massive amount of genetic data. Several computational tools like pattern recognition, data mining, machine learning algorithms, and visualization are commonly used in biology. Mr. Bill gates once said that he sees biology as a "sister science" to computer science because they fit together so perfectly in today's research world. I also feel that a biology/ computer science duo is one of the best academic combos possible, almost a peanut butter and jelly of academic combos. I am equally fascinated with these two fields and this is one of the reasons I want to pursue the Masters' in Computer Science with a goal to get a PhD in computational biology in future.
My desire to pursue further studies in USA is because of the fact that it has a dynamic atmosphere, which will provide me with an opportunity to improve my skills and education along with a growth of individuality. The flexibility of the curriculum is what interests me the most and will provide me the level and quality of education I need to widen the scope of my knowledge and skills. The diversity of the student body, I believe, will open my mind to new influences, new ideas and new ways of doing things.
I took an unconventional approach towards my educational career. After completing 10th grade I went to a vocational college and spent three years learning about textile technology. Our trips to cotton fields, different dying techniques for proteins, knowledge about protein content in wools and computer aided designs bolstered my interest in application of computer techniques in biology. In my undergraduate studies in biotechnology, I have benefited from the breadth of Maharshi Dayanand University's syllabi content that has given me a comprehensive exposure to the core areas of biology and a strong conceptual understanding of the same. With an interest in computational biology, I took as many relevant courses as possible including biostatistics, calculus, bioinformatics, biochemistry, molecular biology and organic chemistry. In these three years of study, I have strived to maintain an approach of expending independent efforts in all my endeavors. Learning by doing science and sharing my knowledge with others has been most worthwhile, when comprehending a concept. I constantly strived to involve myself in research during summer vacation to learn more about the scientific processes. At a summer course at Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, on "Plant Molecular Biology- Tools and Techniques", I gained additional experience in biological techniques related to tissue culture. Through my internship and summer trainings at Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, I was able to assist in projects which lead me to my first research publication.
In the second year of my undergraduate, I started my first mandatory research project and chose to work on the development of a computational tool for easy access and storage of literature search. It was a challenging topic for someone with limited knowledge in computers. I remember my advisor Dr. words that "If you're not failing every now and then, it's a sign that you're not doing something very innovative, if you already know what you're doing, you're not learning anything new" , during the frustrating initial phase of failures with coming up with the right algorithm. After a month of hardship in coding, I finally created a tool that can directly link to the Pubmed or other search engines and store all the searches for the later use. It was an enriching experience since it helped me to hone my theoretical knowledge with practical experience.
This tool encouraged me to learn more about computer programming. I personally follow the saying "Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already learned, you will never grow". I have always been interested in web designing and took courses in ASP.NET. After the completion of this course, I learned C, C#, .HTM, .NET, VB.NET, JAVA and Ruby on Rails. True satisfaction comes when your hard work pays off. I started developing websites for the companies that helped me earn money to support myself. My teachers recognized my potential and asked me to develop website for the different events during my college years.
Along with my studies, I have always been a keen participant in extracurricular activities. From a young age I have been playing soccer and been a part of my school and college soccer teams. I have also been a part of the organizing team for the cultural festival of my college. Along with participating in web designing competitions, I was the head of the technical committee for two years. Serving on these committees turned out to be a confidence booster. It taught me that the basis for good work is self-reliance and very importantly, time management. I learned to accept both criticism and praise with a positive frame of mind.
My long term interest includes working for a research institution that is a part of a university, industry, or both. I realize that such a position would require more than just research work. It would likely require teaching to university students. I have not been in a direct teaching position myself before, although I have tutored students in math and biology to raise money for my college education. I believe that in the process of earning a masters' degree I would like to have the opportunity to teach students to be able determine whether or not a career in teaching is for me.
I believe that the international education will present me a rare opportunity for a solid foundation for a future career in the field of computer science with personal growth. I look forward to the challenges of graduate school in a foreign country and want to thank you for the consideration of my application.
____________________________________________
Thank you all!