Surat rekomendasi adalah surat yang dikeluarkan dosen, dekan, atasan, pimpinan proyek, dan lainnya, yang isinya

menerangkan kesan atau evaluasi selama kita bekerja dengan mereka. Untuk mendaftar beasiswa, surat ini adalah hal yang wajib. Untuk kasus Amerika, mereka akan meminta 2-3 (biasanya 3) buah dari dosen atau atasan bagi yang sudah bekerja. Surat rekomendasi bisa dibuat dalam format bebas, atau menurut format yang sudah ditetapkan oleh universitas yang akan didaftar. Surat yang dibuat dengan format dari universitas bisa langsung dikirim on line. Dosen atau bos tinggal mengisi form yang sudah disediakan dan langsung klik kirim via internet. Namun untuk fleksibilitas, surat rekomendasi format bebas akan lebih disukai. Apalagi kalo berencana mendaftar lebih dari satu sekolah. Daripada pak dosen bolak-balik ngisi form, mending bikin surat sendiri kemudian diperbanyak sesuai kebutuhan. Isi surat rekomendasi format bebas setidaknya harus mencakup: 1. Posisi dari pemberi rekomendasi (dosen, pembimbing skripsi, atasan, manajer) 2. Lama pemberi rekomendasi mengenal kita 3. Kualifikasi/kelebihan-kelebihan kita, terutama yang menonjol 4. Garansi bahwa kita bisa menyelesaikan kuliah dengan baik 5. Manfaat kita bersekolah untuk masyarakat atau perusahaan 6. Pastikan tercantum kata Highly Recomended to.. 7. Tanda tangan, kontak, dan posisi/jabatan Karena dosen atau bos orang sibuk, tanyakan apa perlu kita membuat draft terlebih dahulu. Ini akan meringankan sekaligus menghemat waktu daripada menunggu mereka meluangkan waktu untuk membuatnya. Setelah draft dikembalikan kita tinggal mengganti poin-poin yang perlu diubah. Jangan lupa bertanya ke kantor TU siapa tahu mereka sudah punya format baku. Ini akan semakin mempermudah semua proses. Terakhir, jangan lupa mengirim ucapan terima kasih kepada pemberi rekomendasi setelah berhasil. Berikut adalah contoh-contoh surat rekomendasi: Contoh 1 Recommending (YOUR NAME), a student of mine for the past two years is a great pleasure for me. I have taught him (NAME OF SUBJECTS) during his

third and fourth year. He is one of the sincere, versatile, and brilliant students. His meticulous, thought provoking nature and ability to do hardwork make him an excellent candidate for research work. His proficiency and dedicated work during lectures and practicals impressed me. He is punctual and perfectionist about his studies and assignments which place him above all. His dependable and trustworthy nature, modesty and tactfulness came forward when he was crewmember in our intercollege festival (NAME OF FESTIVAL). As I tried to know more of him, I found that he was selected in (NAME OF SOME EXAM IN SCHOOL DAYS) during his school days. He has good aptitude and curious mind to be successful in graduate studies. From my heart, I feel he is a worthy candidate for admission to your university. I recommend him with great confidence. Sincerely, NAME OF PROF. Contoh 2 I know (YOUR NAME) for the past two years. He is a sincere and brilliant student. I have taught him subjects of (SUBJECT) and (SUBJECT2) in which his performance has been superlative. He scored (GOOD %) in (SUBJECT) during his semester examination. He is a promising young student with good academic skills and innate talents. While answering his queries and doubts during lectures, I found that he has penchant for research work. The diligence and intellectual ability, which he displays during practicals, are a clear indication of his research potential. His untiring industry and his scientific methodology make him unique form the rest. He is doing his final year project (NAME), under my guidance. I have seen his dedicated work and inquisitive nature, which he portrayed during this project work. Apart from his academic career, he is actively involved in extracurricular activities. He was a member in the inter-college festival (NAME OF FESTIVAL). He has also participated in many college functions and seminars. I am sure, he is a deserving candidate for research work and I sincerely feel, if given a chance (YOUR FIRST NAME) will definitely attain success in his further studies. It gives me great pleasure to recommend him to you. Sincerely, NAME OF PROF.

Contoh 3 (YOUR NAME) has been my student for the last two years. I have taught him subjects like (NAME OF SUBJECT1), (NAME OF SUBJECT2) and (NAME OF SUBJECT3). He is brilliant student who shows spark in his undergraduate studies. Because of his ability to learn subject from grassroots, I rate him as sincere student. I am confident that his concentration, systematic work and great skills in performing practicals will help him to achieve great success. He is a promising young student with a penchant for learning. He is zestful and a versatile student. He takes part in many college functions. His courteous and reliable nature shines in intercollege festival (NAME OF FESTIVAL) I appreciate his work during his undergraduate years and with full confidence I recommend him to you. Sincerely, NAME OF PROF.

Statement of Purpose (SOP) biasanya memiliki panjang 1-2 halaman. Isinya terutama menerangkan tujuan ingin melanjutkan sekolah ke jurusan dan universitas yang kita tuju. Menulis SOP merupakan salah satu persyaratan untuk mendaftar sekolah. Ada beberapa hal yang harus diperhatikan sebelum mulai menulis sebuah SOP. 1. Menentukan Tujuan Tujuan SOP adalah untuk meyakinkan komite profesor bahwa kita adalah pelamar yang layak dipilih. Cara membuat mereka yakin yaitu dengan menunjukkan kemampuan dan motivasi bahwa kita bisa sukses di bidang yang dipilih. Tujuan ini mesti tertulis jelas dalam SOP. 2. Membuat Isi SOP Biasanya SOP dibuat dalam format bebas, tapi dalam kasus tertentu mereka telah menyediakan semacam outline atau daftar pertanyaan yang mesti dijawab. Jika ini yang terjadi, pastikan menjawab pertanyaan secara langsung dan lengkap tanpa berbelit-belit. Isi SOP hendaknya mencakup: - Tujuan kenapa ingin studi lanjut - Spesialisasi atau minat yang dipilih

- Manfaat bagi masyarakat atau perusahaan setelah studi lanjut - Persiapan yang sudah dilakukan (akademik, kegiatan ekstrakurikuler) - Penjelasan jika ada nilai akademik yang naik-turun (mis: ada nilai jelek di satu semester) - Hal khusus lain yang belum terungkap di form pendaftaran - Alasan kenapa tertarik mendaftar ke sekolah bersangkutan Dan yang paling penting, SOP adalah cara kita memperkenalkan diri pada komite profesor. Pastikan hal yang relevan terungkap semua. Berikut adalah contoh SOP: Contoh 1 I suppose if we all knew why we think, feel and act like we do, Psychology wouldnt even exist. It seems next to impossible, t herefore, to try to describe in detail why I have chosen to be a clinical psychologist. All I can possibly tell you is the sort of experiences Ive had that demonstrate how interested I am in clinical psychology. I cant even remember why I chose to major in psychology, but I knew once I enrolled in Psychology 101 that if I just stayed in psychology, I knew I would never be bored with my education or my career. I soon learned how important it was to get research experience, so I enrolled joined Dr. Sensalis lab in September, 1999. While there, I was primarily responsible for entering data from a survey we were conducting of students attitudes toward different types of teaching styles. One of the things I most appreciated about this experience was that I got to interact with other graduate students, and observe firsthand the stresses and joys of graduate school. I also got my first exposure to SPSS that semester, and I am grateful for that because it gave me a bit of a head start in learning how to use a statistical analysis software. In January 2000, I enrolled in Abnormal Psychology. Dr. Richmond taught this class, and it was probably his enthusiasm for the subject matter that eventually converted me to the idea of becoming a clinical psychologist. I did well in the course as I did in most of my courses, but the most important thing about that class was that I had to write a research paper on personality disorders as a course requirement. For whatever reason, I was particularly struck by narcissistic personality disorder, and as I spent hours and hours in the library researching this topic, it became clear very quickly that although psychologists know a lot about this and other disorders, more high-quality research is sorely needed. I remember thinking how frustrated I was as I realized that there were gaps in my paper-no one seemed to have explored this question or that question-and I could only imagine how practitioners felt as they tried to do the best they could for their clients but didnt quite have all the information they needed in order to do so. Good research is crucial to alleviating peoples distress, and I want to be any research that moves toward that goal.

In my final semester of my senior year at XXXXXX, I joined Dr. Raskins lab. There, I was able to run married couples through an interview procedure as part of a study on how marital communication is affected by the death of a child. I appreciated Dr. Raskins trust in me, even if it was scary at times. Later I also assisted as a data enterer and response coder. On a few occasions, I also participated in data analysis sessions with the graduate students. Another important experience I had that semester is that I began volunteering for Crisis services. This was not just an eye-opening experience, it was also a real personal challenge for me, as I was basically forced, with minimal training, to somehow establish common-ground with people who were experiencing acute, severe distress. Some of my lifes scariest experiences took place while I volunteered for Crisis services, but it was so uplifting to be able to know I might have made a tiny difference at just the right moment for a handful of people. After this experience, I knew for certain that I would attend graduate school in Clinical Psychology. Overall I am pleased with my academic record and I believe that it has prepared me very well for graduate school. As you may notice, however, my grades improved over time. I began college as a pre-med major, and as should be evident, most of the damage to my GPA occurred in my freshman-year chemistry and physics classes. I learned important things about the philosophy of science in those classes, but as I learned about a year later, my interests were clearly elsewhere (i.e., in working with people). I assume that my recommenders have adequately addressed my qualifications for your graduate program. I hope you will seriously consider me as a student in your program, because by interest in personality disorders is well-represented by the faculty in your department. I sincerely believe I would make an excellent student in your program, and I am prepared to work and study hard in order to meet the high standards that CWRU is known for. Thank you for your consideration. Contoh 2 A beluga whale helped me first realize my true academic passion. I spent my high school summers and weekends volunteering at the New York Aquarium, first in the education department, and later in the training department. It was there, through casual and research-oriented observations of cetaceans, that I began to wonder about animal and human minds. I later had the opportunity to participate in an observational research project, helping to record data on the behaviors of new whale calves and mothers. My informal and formal observations fed my interest in the phylogenetic and ontogenetic bases of cognition and language.

As a psychology student at [my school], I had numerous opportunities to research and observe human psychology, both in and out of the classroom. As a sophomore, along with a professor and fellow students in a seminar class, I helped design and run a study on categorization and users intentions. Later that year we presented our findings at the annual American Psychological Society meeting. In that same year I also assisted a professor in conducting a study on the effects of familiar and unfamiliar music on reading comprehension. I spent the summer following my sophomore year (1997) as a research assistant in the [my school] Psychology Department, funded by a grant from the Howard Hughes Foundation. I collaborated with a professor, a fellow undergraduate student, and a visiting high school student to research, design, and run a study on attitudes towards germs and illness. This included conducting an extensive literature review, specifying research questions, and designing questionnaires that would help us effectively answer our research questions. In addition to strengthening my research abilities, this experience gave me the invaluable opportunity to interact with fellow researchers as a student, a peer, and a mentor. My extracurricular research experience during my sophomore and junior years of college gave me the tools to independently develop and carry out research projects. During my senior year at [my school], I completed a long term library-based research project on the evolution of the human linguistic ability. As a person who tends to look at the big picture when conducting research, this project was the perfect opportunity for me to integrate research from numerous fields and subfields in order to answer a psychologically based question. Through the study of anthropology, paleoneurology, neuropsychology, linguistics, and psycholinguistics, I explored theories debating the neurological and behavioral bases for language evolution. Although I do not envision the study of language evolution as being my main focus in graduate school or beyond, I still hold an interest in the field. As soon as I complete my graduate school applications, I plan to start preparing peer commentary articles on this topic for the on-line journal Psycholoquy. My current research interests include language acquisition and cognitive development. I would like to study the relationship between language acquisition and the development of other cognitive processes. More specifically, I am interested how the development of metacognition and concepts affects and is effected by semantic and lexical development in toddlers and preschoolers. This research interest has developed over the greater part of the last decade; starting with my observations of behavior development in beluga whales, and shaped by my in depth study of cognition and language as a college undergraduate. I feel that my research interests fit extremely well with the psychology department at [school I am applying to], and in particular with professors [a professor] and [another professor]. I would be elated to have the

opportunity to study in a department where there is such a plethora of researchers who study cognition and development. The breadth of research done at [school I am applying to] would allow me not only to pursue my interests in depth with talented researchers, but would also allow me to eventually pursue some of my secondary interests in other areas of cognitive development. It is because of these fabulous opportunities that [school I am applying to] is my top choice for graduate study. I am confident that graduate study at [school I am applying to] would prepare me well for my long term career goals. I wish to eventually hold a tenured position at a college or university, where I would have the opportunity to do research and to act as a teacher and mentor to undergraduate and graduate students. My undergraduate experiences at [my school] have fostered my love of and dedication to research, and provided the necessary tools to pursue my goals. I know that the opportunity to study at [school I am applying to] would allow me to grow as a student and researcher, and allow me to make significant contributions to the field of developmental psychology. Please note that I have replaced identifying information (my undergraduate institution, and school I wrote this essay for) with [my school] or [school I am applying to]. Also note that the paragraph about my fit with the school was different for each school. And I didnt say that every school was my first choice I only told that to the two school that were at the time my top choices. (I couldnt decide between the two, so I felt justified in telling both of them that they were at the top of my list, since they were.) Paragraph divisions have also been removed.

t is my conviction that the meaning of life does not dwell in the length of time that one can live or the material abundance that one can acquire, but in the richness and the wonderfulness of life itself. With the increase of my age, many things in my life have changed. But one thing remains constant, that is, I will consistently insist on doing what I like to do and hope that my endeavors can be valuable to the life of others. I see this as the only way whereby I can realize the value of my life. My undergraduate study focused on economics and I achieved remarkable scholastic performance in this field. My GPA is 3.44 (my GRE score is 2020 and TOEFL---- ). For four consecutive years of my undergraduate study, I received scholarships for my distinguished academic performance. Due to my equally prominent performance in extracurricular activities I was conferred on the Outstanding Student in Campus Activities. However, honestly speaking, my real interest lies not in economics, but in education. Ever since I was a primary school student, I had cherished a strong desire for a teaching career exemplified by my

teachers. In the actual teaching career that I embarked on upon my graduating from university, I have become increasingly aware that the existing educational conditions in China are far from satisfactory. The backward teaching methodology and the prevailing pedagogical ideology have rendered Chinese education out of place with the modern international development in education. On the macro level, the current education theory and practice in China lag significantly behind advanced countries in the West. For instance, though education via the internet has achieved considerable development in past two years, in practical operation such education has more often than not deteriorated into an extended form of the conventional examination-oriented education instead of a really interactive process. In my personal experience, despite the fact that some of the problems that I have encountered in my teaching career can be solved by consulting relevant technical literature, I have found that the more serious flaws inherent in China's current educational system cannot be worked out easily. Under such circumstances, an advanced program in education becomes necessary. In this age of information, traditional education, both in its ideology and methodology, has met unprecedented challenge like many other aspects of human existence. Meanwhile, the pursuit for higher levels of educational development and of the quality of life has largely transformed the educational value orientation of the general public. The educational model that is centered around the cognitive and intellectual instruction has been seriously questioned. Greater attention has been devoted to the cultivation of well-developed personality and to the ontological status of the individual in education. Such issues as the internal studies of education science, scientific decision-making in education, and meta-education have also been increasingly emphasized upon. There have also been innovations in educational research methodology. The tendency has been to combine modern technology with humanistic research categories and with naturalistic research categories, and to organically integrate qualitative descriptions with quantitative descriptions. It is also important to carry out educational experimentations in which educational predictions are complemented by educational feedbacks. Both the complexity of education and the complexity of human individuals have made the comprehensive application of diverse educational approaches necessary. Those new horizons are what fascinate me. In view of the following qualifications that I have acquired, I believe that I will acquit myself satisfactorily in the prospective Ph.D. program in education that I am currently endeavoring to apply for. First and foremost, as is often claimed, one's interest is one's best director. I believe that I will do well what I am really interested in doing. Secondly, though I majored in economics as an undergraduate, my trainings during that stage helped develop effective modes of thinking and research approaches. In addition, I conscientiously self-studied many works related to education, including A Developmental History of Educational Science in the West, which enabled me to construct a solid groundwork for more advanced studies in this field. Next, it can be safely

asserted that education and economics are not entirely separated. For example, it is necessary to apply many statistical methods in educational psychology and my academic record indicates that statistics is the subject that I am most good at. Last but not the least, my current teaching career and my teaching experience will play a positive role in facilitating my target degree program. The reason why I apply for the University of ------------ is that it is the first state university with a time-honored history. The School of Education in this university is quite prominent among its counterparts in the field. I am particularly attracted by the School's powerful pedagogical resource, vibrant intellectual atmosphere and a comprehensive curriculum. I plan to apply for a degree program in Instructional Technology or Educational Psychology, both of which enjoy unparalleled academic reputation in the world. My application for Instructional Technology is motivated by my strong interest in the application of modern science and technology, especially the information technology represented by the Internet, in the field of education and in the nature of a series of revolutionary changes resulting thereof. Instructional Technology is a new discipline that has emerged as a result of the rapid development of modern communication technology since the late 20th century. It has tremendous potential for development and commercial application. As for my motive in selecting Educational Psychology as another possible area of specialization in my degree program, it is my long-cherished interest that primarily counts. On the other hand, all the accomplished educators since the 1960's have been wellversed in psychology. Almost every important new educational theory is derived psychological findings in one way or another so that educational psychology has subsequently developed into a fundamental subject for the science of education. The tendency in the 21st century is to emphasize on the micro research of educational activities and against this backdrop educational psychology will be attached greater importance. In Instructional Technology, I would like to focus on the following studies: how to improve educational efficiency by applying research results from natural sciences and engineering technology; how to explore the combination and coordination of pedagogical contents and to improve teaching methodology by exploiting the theoretical findings from psychology and educational science concerning the process of teaching and learning. In Educational Psychology, I will concentrate on applied cognition and development, gifted and creative education, genetics and children development, personality structure and individual differences and other related subjects. For me, to shift from economics to education and to pursue an advanced degree in the United States is not so much a challenge as an opportunity. At present, major reforms are being introduced into virtually every important aspect of Chinese society. The field of education especially calls for comprehensive reforms. The United States occupies an absolutely leading position in the present-day world in education. It is my conviction that, in the United States, advanced educational theories, technologies and information will facilitate me immensely in the achievement of remarkable academic progress, fulfilling my aspiration to become an accomplished professional in the field of education. This

will not only bring my patriotic fervor into reality but also make my life more meaningful and rewarding.

Free Sample Personal Statement in Science

My interest in science dates back to my early childhood. I have always excelled in physical sciences and have received numerous awards in mathematics in high school. At age 18, I attended Beijing Normal University, majoring in physics. Four years of extensive study on in physics and my current work in surface science inspire me to undertake a greater challenge in pursuing a doctorate degree in physics. My aspiration to be a research scientist also makes the graduate study an absolute necessity for me. As an undergraduate student, I specialized in physics, mathematics, and computer science. And in my junior year study I studied computational physics in Applied mathematics III, during which I developed a 2-dmensional model with the finite size effect as a course project. in addition to being elated by my computer simulated phase transition phenomena, I was also pleased with the computed values of the critical exponents which closely agree with theoretical values. During the two-year course on the fundamentals of experimental physics, I diligently studied the techniques of operating experimental equipment, such as the epitaxy systems, lithography, and computer controlled data acquisition interfaces. I enjoyed these hand-on experiences. My current duty, as a research assistant, is to set up diamond film growth kinetics experiments which is designed to verify whether the mechanism of H atoms destroying C-H bonds in diamond film growth is the bottleneck reaction to diamond film formation. The results will give valuable insights and better enhance the research efforts of another group here. In the meantime, I am learning about the scanning probe microscopy, charged particle optics, energy analyzers and instruments used in surface science through the seminars held in my group. In order to be knowledgeable in the breadth of physics, I have attended workshop and symposiums in different fields. In the symposium on Symmetries in Subatomic Physics held in 1995 in Beijing, I worked as an interpreter and edited the article "Conceptual Beginnings of Various Symmetries in the Twentieth century Physics" from Prof. C. N. Frank yang�s speech and translated it into Chinese. Not only did I keep an open mind to get experiences in academics, I also actively participated in extracurricular activities in my university years. In the senior year, I was a part-time teaching assistant grading exams and answering questions in the courses, A Journey to Subatomic World and From Quarks to Black Holes. I also had a part-time position as the bulletin board system administrator for the Physical Society of PRC. I am currently constructing their WWW home page to improve information exchange and science education in China.

Accumulating these valuable experiences, I am preparing myself for a career in scientific research. Being exposed to surface science, I am interested in mesoscopic systems and nanostructure materials. I plan to concentrate on condensed matter physics. Having carefully read the content of the graduate studies and on-going research programs at University of Washington at Seattle, I believe that UW is the best place for me to be. I am confident in that my diverse research experiences together with a firm commitment to physics have merited me to be qualified to undertake graduate study at the University of Washington at Seattle

Free Sample Personal Statement in Education

The genesis of my intense interest in education, an interest which has now evolved into an aspiration and a pursuit for a career in the field, happened during my undergraduate studies. A Basic Training Program delivered by the graduates from Yale University (as part of an exchange program) changed my understanding of education and, together with it, the course of my life. Those graduate students were young, vigorous, and highly intelligent, demonstrating impressive teaching expertise. In particular, I was fascinated by their original and unique teaching methodology. I came to realize that education should be dominated by advanced concepts, assisted by effective teaching strategies, both of which are vitally important for bringing out a greater social role from education. Education represents for me a field in which I can achieve satisfying personal development. Out of my love of teaching and with distinguished undergraduate performance, I chose to work, upon graduation, as a teacher at the Department of English of Wuhan University, the most prestigious university in Central China. In my teaching practice, I attach significant importance to modifying the monotonous conventional English teaching strategies widely employed by the generation of my teachers. I introduced original English movies, classroom debates, mini-plays and other forms of teaching into my classroom to change the conventional passivity in the students' acquisition of English knowledge. In addition, I endeavor to gain insights into the student' learning psychology from in-class and off-class communications with them so as to bring something new for each lesson. Frankly, I should attribute all my creativities to the enlightenments that I received from the Basic Training Program and from the self-study of many Western works on education that I read under the influence of the Program. Out of my four-year teaching career, I have developed a heartfelt love for this

profession. For my professional dedication and for my innovative teaching, I have been awarded a succession of honors that endow me with a strong sense of pride and achievement. Those honors include highest prizes for many pedagogical contests of young teachers at the municipal and provincial level. My research results are embodied in the publication of a series of English textbooks like An Introductory Course of English Grammar for College Students and Reading, Writing and Translation Skills for Students of English Majors. I participated in the construction of the "Question Database of National Band IV English Proficiency Test of College Students Majoring in English" and have been invited to mark the English test papers of the National University Entrance Examination and the National Band IV & VI English Proficiency Test of College Students Majoring in English. In addition, I was responsible for organizing the First English Speech Contest for College Students of Hubei Province and the participants from my university won second prize under my direction. Nevertheless, as I delve deeper into my work, I have become increasingly aware that the status quo of Chinese education has much to be desired. The relatively backward education concepts and teaching methodologies have made it inevitable that Chinese education as a whole remains out of pace with the overall international education development. On the macro level, the existing Chinese education theories fall behind those of the United States. Although Internet education has made considerable headway in China, it essentially remains another form of test-oriented education instead of becoming the true Internet education in the Western sense. On the personal level, I have encountered some practical problems in my teaching experience and although I can find ready solutions to some of them by consulting relevant works by Western educators, I am convinced that the most serious problems can be worked out only via a more systematic study program. Under such circumstances, to pursue an advanced degree in education becomes a necessary condition for me if I were to seek further, more fruitful breakthroughs in my future teaching career and in my research in educational methodology. In the rapidly developing 21st century, conventional mode of education, like most other aspects of social life, has come under great impact in terms of its concepts and its strategies. The pursuit for higher levels of educational development has largely transformed the educational value orientation of the general public. The educational model that is centered on the cognitive and intellectual instruction has been seriously questioned. Greater attention has been devoted to the cultivation of well-developed personality and to the ontological status of the individual in education. Such issues as the internal studies of education science, scientific decision-making in education, and metaeducation have also been increasingly emphasized upon. There have also been innovations in educational research methodology. The tendency has been to combine modern technology with humanistic research categories and with naturalistic research categories, and to organically integrate qualitative descriptions with quantitative descriptions. It is also important to carry out educational experimentations in which educational predictions are

complemented by educational feedbacks. Both the complexity of education and the complexity of human individuals have made the comprehensive application of diverse educational approaches necessary. Those new horizons are what fascinate me. The reason why I apply for the University of Massachusetts at Amberst is that it is the first state university with a time-honored history. The School of Education in this university is quite prominent among its counterparts in the field. I am particularly attracted by the School's powerful pedagogical resource, vibrant intellectual atmosphere and a comprehensive curriculum. I plan to apply for a degree program in Instructional Technology or Educational Psychology, both of which enjoy unparalleled academic reputation in the world. My application for Instructional Technology is motivated by my strong interest in the application of modern science and technology, especially the information technology represented by the Internet, in the field of education and in the nature of a series of revolutionary changes resulting thereof. Instructional Technology is a new discipline that has emerged as a result of the rapid development of modern communication technology since the late 20th century. It has tremendous potential for development and commercial application. As for my motive in selecting Educational Psychology as another possible area of specialization in my degree program, it is my long-cherished interest that primarily counts. On the other hand, all the accomplished educators since the 1960's have been well-versed in psychology. Almost every important new educational theory is derived psychological findings in one way or another so that educational psychology has subsequently developed into a fundamental subject for the science of education. The tendency in the 21st century is to emphasize on the micro research of educational activities and against this backdrop educational psychology will be attached greater importance. In Instructional Technology, I would like to focus on the following studies: how to improve educational efficiency by applying research results from natural sciences and engineering technology; how to explore the combination and coordination of pedagogical contents and to improve teaching methodology by exploiting the theoretical findings from psychology and educational science concerning the process of teaching and learning. In Educational Psychology, I will concentrate on applied cognition and development, creative education, personality structure and individual differences and other related subjects. For me, to pursue an advanced degree in education in the United States is not so much a challenge as an opportunity. At present, major reforms are being introduced into virtually every important aspect of Chinese society. The field of education especially calls for comprehensive reforms. The United States occupies an absolutely leading position in the present-day world in education. It is my conviction that, in the United States, advanced educational theories, technologies and information will facilitate me immensely in the achievement of remarkable academic progress, fulfilling my aspiration to become an accomplished professional in the field of education. This will not only bring my

patriotic fervor into reality but also make my life more meaningful and rewarding.

Sample Letter of Recommendation for Teacher

Kay Traester has been my student teacher in my eighth grade English classes during the winter/spring period of the 2004-2005 school year. Kay came well prepared to her student teaching experience. Prior to being my student teacher, she was a tutor for several weeks for some of my needier students after school. In this capacity she was consistent, compassionate and reliable. While student teachers are required to spend one hundred hours for field study, Kay had clocked well over double that amount prior to her student teaching experience with me further evidencing her dedication to the teaching profession. This enthusiasm and philosophy of hard work did not wane after she began her formal student teaching in earnest. When she began her student teaching, it was immediately evident that Kay had a love for the profession and a sincere interest in and concern for the students. She was willing to come up with creative lessons that proved to be interesting and educationally effectiive. Furthermore, she spent many hours with an individual student working on reading strategies on her own time to help one of my less capable readers. Kay has approached any and all aspects of the work involved in teaching my students with eager anticipation. She wrote extremely detailed and well thought out plans in spite of the fact that during this entire student teaching experience she maintained her responsibilities as editor in chief of the Colgate University Maroon News weekly newspaper. In fact, in my thirty years of teaching I have never experienced any student teacher who was better prepared and who worked harder than Kay. Her lessons have been thought out and professional. She was always willing to adjust any parts of her lessons she thought could be improved. Kays classroom management style seemed closer to that of a veteran teacher than to the student teacher she is. Her maturity in dealing with the students was evident and, as a result, commanded real respect from the students. On a practical level, all the papers, quizzes and tests Kay assigned to the students were immediately graded and returned to the students. She maintained a level of efficiency that was fueled by her obvious work ethic and her professional concern for her students progress. No time was wasted in her class. While teaching in my classroom Kay took the initiative to create many colorful, creative and effective bulletin boards relating to the work being done and the units studied in class. She became ever more efficient in her teaching, keeping lists of students who owed work on the board as well as announcing the

homework assigned each day. Overall, as the chairman of our English department, I would not hesitate to offer Kay a teaching position in our district were we to have an opening. Wherever she decides to accept a teaching position, I know with all confidence that she will do an outstanding job and become an asset to the school district fortunate enough to receive her application for employment Should you desire further information, please contact me at SherburneEarlville Central School. Respectfully submitted,

Reinerus M. Korver, English Department Chair Sherburne-Earlville Central School Sherburne, N.Y. 13640

Free Sample Letter of Recommendation in Education

Dear Sir or Madam: Miss Furnival Han has left me a very deep impression for her zeal and earnest in English literature studies. I am very glad to write this letter of recommendation for her because as her teacher and also as director of her foreign studies college, I know very well her change from dislike and unfamiliarity to ardent love for English literature. I remember she was interested in economics when she first entered university because she was highly gifted in mathematics, ranking first in college entrance examination. She was first repulsive to English literature due to lack of understanding. But after just a semester, she soon became greatly interested in the specialty. Though a first-year student, she soon acquired a penetrating comprehension and stood out as one of my best undergraduates in all my years of teaching experience. As a second-year student, guided and encouraged by teachers returning from abroad in our department, she made up her mind to further her studies in the United States and exerted herself for this sake. She attended many professional literature forums and even observed postgraduate curricula. Apart from reading reference books with all earnest, she was well read in relevant Western professional books, immensely substantiating her knowledge. This was clearly visible from her theses and distinctively perceivable from our routine

communication. Miss Han was also a good announcer and journalist with the college broadcasting station. The program she hosted was much to the liking of student audiences. I am proud of her performance and amazed at her literary quality. I backed her up fully when she opted for the pedagogy specialty according to her specialty advantage and personal features and the future trend of development in China. I cherish great hope that such a good student would receive better education because this would expedite the advancement of China's relevant faculty. As a professor I greatly appreciate such an energetic and inquisitive, diligent and clever student. When she told me her desire to study abroad, I expressed full support and encouraged her to work hard for her goal. As college director, I hereby recommend her to you with self-pride and pledge that she will bring your university a new refreshing atmosphere of researches. I hope you will lend her a helping hand with her application.

Free Sample Letter of Recommendation in Science

To whom it may concern, As the Director of the Department of Computer Sciences of Wuhan University of Technology, which is one of the most prestigious engineering universities in China, I deem it a pleasure to recommend Mr. Nathan Wang, one of the outstanding students in our department for admission and assistantship you're your graduate program

Since his enrollment into our department with remarkable entrance scores, Wang has embodied the fine character of strong inquisition and industriousness in learning, which has gained him significant academic success during his college years. I am aware of his distinctive academic performance as reflected in his transcripts. He maintains a very high GPA that places him in the top 5% out of 150 through the past 3 years, winning scholarships of the department almost every year. In the College English Speech Contest organized by the Teaching Committee of Hubei Province, he excelled most of other contestants, winning the first prize in the Region-wide preliminary contest, and the third prize in the final of the provincial level, being the sole participant representing our university. I have also discovered him to be perseverant and enthusiastic in studies and extracurricular activities. During the Military Life Experiencing period, a compulsory training program for all Chinese college freshmen upon their immediate entrance, he was granted the title of Excellent Trainee thanks to his painstaking training efforts, though the training was extraordinarily rigorous and demanding. In the past college years, he has enthusiastically taken part in many students' societies, such as Computer Society, Road to American English and Literature Garden, etc, which has both seen his versatility and organizing ability by serving in quite a few positions. Speaking of his organizing ability, I have to mention two well-known events under his active involvement and organization. One is the College Computer Festival of Hubei Province and the other is the Science and Culture Week of our school. In the first one, he was one of the chief representatives from our

department to undertake this provincial level activity. His enthusiastic involvements in liaison, coordination and the contestants' performance evaluation had won him the honorable title of Active Organizing Participant specially granted by our department for this important occasion. In the second one of Science and Culture Week, organized in our school in 1999, he was a chief organizer. And it was so successful that it attracted more than one thousand students to participate, who were all satisfied with this event for the opportunity of a better understanding of the past and future of science in China. As the Director, I am deeply impressed and moved by his capability of organizing and his sense of involvement, which have been explicitly demonstrated through all his participation in these activities A bright young man, with blazing intelligence, energy, and determination, Mr. Wang deserves my first-rate recommendation. Thus, I would unqualifiedly recommend him for admission into the Ph. D. program at your university and I will appreciate your sincere assistance to his admission.

Sincerely yours,

The following is a shortened sample SOP (with technical details removed.) Expert comments at the end of the paragraphs point out important features. After one year's work experience as a research technician at [redacted], one of the US's leading research institutes, I want to return to academic study and undertake graduate studies in Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics at the University of [redacted]. Stating what you are doing now and what you are applying for is a simple, direct way of starting an SOP. After graduating with a first class degree from [redacted], University of [redacted], I felt I should gain some practical experience working in a research environment to gain first-hand knowledge of what the life of a

research scientist entails. I have loved every minute of my work: especially the opportunity to participate in cutting-edge projects and discuss ideas with senior biologists. I soon realized that, although I enjoy handling the complex equipment and processing the results, I am not going to be satisfied with carrying out routine procedures under the direction of others. I want to be part of the team that directs the course of the project. My senior colleagues have encouraged my ambition and feel that I have the potential for graduate studies. Notice how the student tries to analyze the reasons for her choices. My love of biology started in high school. We had a young and enthusiastic teacher, Mrs [redacted], who took us on field trips and visits. She made sure we did as much practical work as was feasible, and demonstrated experiments that we hadn't the equipment or time to do ourselves. She also encouraged us to read. I remember the impact reading Maynard Smith's The Theory of Evolution had on me: I wanted to be able to explain such important ideas as clearly as he did. Quite naturally my first thoughts about a future career tended towards teaching I wanted to be another Mrs [redacted]. It is good to explain how you became interested in your subject. However, don't go too far back! Notice that a specific example helps create interest. At undergraduate level, my interests became more focused. Although physiology and ecology came easy to me, it was biochemistry and cell biology that really captured my interest. We were fortunate to have good laboratories and excellent professors. I found that cell biology was an interdisciplinary undertaking: today you need a foundation in chemistry, physics and even IT to be at the forefront in this subject. This interdisciplinary aspect of the subject suits my abilities well. I have always performed well in all science subjects and find it challenging to apply the knowledge to practical problems. For this reason I chose to undertake a project in my final year on the behavior of protein molecules in high energy fields at [redacted]. The scientists at [redacted] were impressed with my practical skills and were happy to give me a recommendation that led to my present job. Details of courses and projects help to show focus. (This student went on to describe another important college project. She also gave a full description of her current scientific work.) Many people have asked me why I did not proceed directly to graduate studies after graduating. The answer is that I wanted to make sure that I had chosen the right subject and the right place before embarking on a course of study that would involve many years of my life. The one-year gap has also given me time to work with the local Natural History Society:

we take families on Sunday trips to the nearby National Park to help create awareness about environmental issues. I have also been a member and organizer of the [redacted] Film Society: we watch and discuss films from all over the world. I am looking forward to furthering my interest in film in the [redacted] Film club, at your university, and I also hope to use my passion for teaching in the [redacted] Social Outreach program. Explain the reasons for any unusual features of your career (taking a year out, poor performance, etc.). Include social and extracurricular activities to show balance in your life or because they are relevant to the course. In selecting the University of [redacted] I have been influenced by the way your research program addresses biological questions at the levels of molecule, gene and cell. I am particularly looking forward to such courses as Developmental Biology and Bioinformatics. I am also excited to interact with Professors [redacted] and [redacted] whose work is closest to what I want to pursue for the original research component of the MS degree. I have been corresponding with [redacted], a current student, from whom I have learned about the collaborative environment at [redacted] where I will interact with talented students, teachers and industry professionals. I believe that I will be able to contribute to and learn from the academically challenging environment at the University of [redacted]. Try to show that you are fully familiar with the course you are applying for.

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