Masters' in Environmental Science and Engineering - Statement of purpose for GKS program.

SOP for Korean University application

The move towards an environmentally sustainable world coupled with unprecedented technological advancement has brought extremely immense opportunities in developing new tools, methodologies, and instruments especially in the field of environmental science and engineering. This has changed the definition of human interaction with the environment and has also significantly paved the way for our current existence. In this very challenging environment in which I plan to contribute by evolving efficient and meaningful solutions that meet today's environmental problems, my goal is to first accomplish a Master's degree in the field of Environmental Science and Engineering, as well as to conduct research where I could further advance in analytical approaches to environmental assessments, natural resource management systems and sustainable development.

My interest to pursue Masters' in Environmental Science and Engineering first took shape in my junior career as a consultant on various EIA projects. For my undergraduate studies at the DEM of LMN University, I was introduced to a wide gamut of subjects but it was EIA and Environmental Standards that enraptured me the most. What encourages me the most to take up this field later, is that in the face of today's deteriorating environment, relentless efforts are to be made to preserve its tranquillity. And nowadays, EIA plays a vital role in the world as the environment is being put under constantly increasing pressure. With increasing awareness of the importance of environmental protection, EIA is developing into an industry with a promising prospect. But, it's only through master's I would be able to specialize in this field. With the desire to delve deeper into this timely important subject, I took up "Ecological Modelling" as an elective course unit during my 4th semester at DEM, which only continued to strengthen my passion to take up this field. This course brought me in close reality with the novel application of available sustainable ecosystem management and other evolving co-existence techniques.

I have been working as an environmental consultant for the past five years since my graduation. My job description entails conducting physical and biological baseline field surveys, assessing project impacts to the environment, engaging with concerned stakeholders, and documenting a follow-up report. This short stint has given me invaluable practical experience in the field of EIA. In the course of my work, I have come across several environmental practitioners, scientists, and engineers specializing in different aspects of the environment. Interacting with them has made me understand the huge influence and/or potential of decision making on different aspects of a particular project. However, on a few occasions there has been a lack of agreement & balance especially between environmental practitioners and engineers in my country, that is; the need for project implementation vis-à-vis conservation priorities. With the pursue of a Masters' degree, I hope to develop skills needed for advanced EIA and to bridge the gap between the two parties by effectively complementing existing environmental assessment systems with new emerging technologies.

The Environmental Science and Engineering courses offered at different Korean Universities are quite similar in curriculum aspects. At one moment I was overwhelmed with the available options to select a specific university with the ultimate course curriculum to meet my interests. But now while entering into a graduate program I wish to continue streamlining my strengths in the fields of EIA with added analytical approaches to wastewater treatment, soil analysis, and air pollution control. I also find the interdisciplinary relationship between solid waste management and economic development to be of great personal interest. South Korea is currently considered to have a sophisticated but efficient waste management system in the world regardless of its urbanization and rapid industrialization. To get a clear glimpse at waste management, I intend to explore the sector by visiting waste companies, corporations, and research centers in Korea. However, as required by the GKS program, I will focus on studying the Korean language and culture in the first year of my graduate program. Without holding back my strengths, I will strive to score a TOPIK Level 5 or 6. The following year, I will then focus on my intended course curriculum studies from which I will select a particular research project. I will discuss with the departmental supervisors about my intended research project for clear guidance on a way forward. My research project will be conducted in the third and final year of my graduate program, and of which I intend to publish a paper in a reputable journal upon completion. Thus the Environmental Engineering graduate program offered at QRS University will provide me with ample resources not solely limited to my field of interest. The same goes for the Environmental Science curriculums offered at IJK University and UVW University are quite equally similar to provide knowledge, tools, and fundamentals necessary to pursue my interests and be a successful environmental consultant in my career. All these graduate programs would still permit me to incorporate my areas of interest in an applied research project under the mentorship of their faculty departments. After all the first-hand work experience and a Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Science, I am convinced that studying in a Master degree under the GKS program in an advanced country such as Korea, will be the best way for me to find the most effective ways to treat environmental issues in the world.

Environmental Science can generate important insights into individual and aggregate behavior and relationships, and help in society's efforts to use scarce resources in a more efficient manner for the sake of sustainability/development. Hence, upon successful completion of my graduate studies in Korea, I will return home to RST and engage with the public, private sector, and/or civil society organizations in the sectors of environmental conservation, management, technical consultants, capacity building, and development so as to increase capacity to project developers about efficient sustainability techniques to apply in project implementation. Furthermore, I hope to contribute to new policy formulations and sensitization of currently existing ones that will in turn create awareness among the RST people. Ultimately I hope to be a game-changer in the environmental consultancy business when I establish my own firm with its own analytical laboratory. In this manner, I believe I can make a significant and purposeful contribution to humanity while gaining a great deal of personal satisfaction.

Although I am almost 30 years old, an age at which a man is expected to have become well-established in his career, I have never felt so young, because my sense of the purpose and meaning of my life has become so much clearer than a few years ago. With a background of formal education in Environmental Science and rich work experience behind me (refer to Curriculum Vitae), and, above all, with an unswerving dedication to Environmental assessment, I shall be able to compete effectively in a graduate program of my chosen field abroad. I am deeply looking forward to a Korean University since it will provide me with a stimulating environment where I will be able to meet and network with new people from different backgrounds and even learn Korean, which I am enthusiastic about as a language. I believe that the GKS Program will have a profound impact on my life, which will hopefully lead me to work as a technical environmental consultant as well as present plenty of opportunities in my future career.

The other half of the paragraph 4 content belongs in the study plan. Remove all references to the study of Hangul, TOPIK, and the focus of your thesis project. Those all belong in the Study Plan rather than the personal statement. The reference to these removed the focus from your motivation, something that could irritate the reviewer as you deviated from the prompt instructions, showing an inability to follow simple directions.

The essay itself needs more strength. Due to the inclusion of irrelevant information, you failed to prove that you have the acumen for research and excellence in your chosen masters course. This could be fixed by discussing your college thesis and how you completed it, garnering any awards of note or publication for your thesis would help increase your profile in the proper manner.

The GKS scholarship does not consider the age of the applicant when handing out the scholarship, Mentioning your age and defending it makes the scholarship sound like it is age discriminatory. Remove that paragraph. Remove that reference in the last paragraph along with instructions for referring to your additional documentation. You make the reviewer sound like he doesn't know how to do his job. Avoid being condescending in these types of essays. Be humble, you are not superior to the reviewer at this point so do not make it sound like you are.