LETTER OF INTENT FOR MSc. Computational Social Science

motivation letter for graduate school

Dear Sir/Madam,

LETTER OF INTENT FOR MSc.Computational Social Science

My name is Emmanuel Baah Wiafe and I hold a bachelor's degree in information studies with sociology from the University of Ghana. The purpose of this letter is to express my intentions for applying to the MSc. Computational Social Science program at Linkoping university faculty of Arts and Social Science. I am an international student waiting for a long time to be able to pursue my dreams of furthering my education and career. I find this year suitable to achieve this dream. My reason for choosing this program is explained further.

First of all, the interdisciplinary nature of the program intrigues me. The opportunity to learn from a multifaceted discipline excites me. The combination of IT, Business, and Social sciences best fit my academic and career aspirations. I believe a degree in this field will best shape my thinking and analytical understanding of the world.

My contribution to this program will be something of great importance. I am of the view that diversity stimulates conversation, broadens perspective, and provides a more comprehensive academic understanding. My undergraduate studies in information studies with sociology have prepared me in a very diverse academic manner. I am acquainted with knowledge in data processing, sourcing of information, big data analysis, and a host of more in the field of sociology. I believe when I am admitted to this master's program I represent a good chance of demonstrating my academic background to this diversified faculty and I am prepared to bring in new ethics, skills, thinking, and understanding to this astute faculty through research activities.

The benefits of this innovative program cannot be overlooked. The MSc computational social science has become possible thanks to the digital age. This incorporation of technology into our everyday lives has produced an immense amount of data. The size of this content is so huge that it presents an unparalleled chance to examine complex social behaviors. Therefore I believe when I am admitted to this program, I would benefit tremendously by developing the needed skills and knowledge required for research at the faculty.

The advent of this program presents to me a unique opportunity comes in to contact different people with different backgrounds such as computer science, statisticians, and social scientists to collaborate towards one goal. Also, after the successful completion of the program, I would gain the ability to integrate expertise and interpret, evaluate and cope with dynamic issues, challenges, and circumstances independently and systematically, albeit with limited information. The opportunities this program offers in the future excite me. It will be an advantage after the completion of this master's program as I will be prepared for the job market as either one of the following, market researcher, data analyst, and a couple more. Courses such as Big data: Social processes and ethical issues, Agent-based modeling, and Discrete choice modelling will prepare me for my career aspiration as a Data Analyst.

My four years' stay at the University of Ghana was a very successful journey in my life. There, I majored in information studies with sociology as my minor program. In those years, I studied a host of courses and many more including the following, information society, principles of social organization, diversity of people and cultures, science and technology in our lives, basic concepts in sociology and, many more. In these two programs, the focus on human society how our differences amount to the total wellbeing of society. It also further stresses the importance of data and information to society as it is seen as a commodity for community development. I believe my background is deeply embedded in this MSc computational social science program. I graduated with a second class upper and a GPA of 3.36.

In conclusion, I would like to emphasize how gaining a spot in this program will be of great importance to my career ambitions and society at large. Thank you for taking the time to look into my application. I hope to meet you this autumn.

Yours sincerely
Emmanuel Baah Wiafe

The motivational letter needs to be better focused on your academic and professional needs. You can start by indicating your current professional experience and how best your undergraduate studies apply to your current duties and responsibilities. Now, indicate the shortcomings that you feel you have due to the speed at which Computational Social Science progresses. This will become your academic motivation for your masters course. Be detailed in how you explain the connection of your interest in the course with your academic shortcomings.

Next. explain why you believe that it is important for you to increase your academic knowledge in this field. This should be based on your current professional needs. While you touch on some of these two topics in your essay, the problem is that you are too generalized in your discussion rather than specific. You need to outline everything in as much detail as possible. Remember that this is a written interview. So treat this as you would an oral version. Information regarding the motivation, in clear and understandable written presentation will be key to your admission. Remember, your point of view is one thing, how you will actually apply it to your workplace is another. Just a summary of the possible application within your current duties will suffice.

The final motivation paragraph should relate to your choice of country and university, which was not touched upon in this presentation to a helpful level. It was merely mentioned at the start and not further developed. Try to better explain these choices towards the end. Those are actually the final considerations that the reviewer would want to know about as he reads the motivational letter.