japanese university personal statement

• 5) Guidelines for the Statement of Purpose (Personal Statement)

5) Guidelines for the Motivation (Statement of Purpose)

Guidelines for writing your motivation(statement of purpose).

• Why have you chosen to apply to the ILA?
• Which subjects are you most interested in and why?
• How have your current or previous studies related to your interest in studying at the ILA?
• What activities demonstrate your interest in the ILA?
• Details of jobs, placements, work experience or voluntary work, particularly if it is relevant to your future studies at Doshisha University.
• Evidence that you can contribute to the classes and student life at the ILA.

Other possible topics:

• Why do you want to study in Japan?
• Why do you want to go to university?
• Why do you want to study at the Institute for the Liberal Arts at Doshisha University?
• Whether you have any future plans of how you want to use the knowledge and experience that you gain.
• Hobbies, interests and social activities that demonstrate your skills and abilities.
• Any achievements that you are proud of, e.g. piano proficiency, being selected for a sports team, community involvement, or extra-curricular activities.
• Positions of responsibility that you hold/have held both in and out of school, e.g. representative for a local charity.
• Attributes that make you interesting, special or unique.

For speakers of English as a second language:

• How can you show that you are able to complete successfully a higher education course in English?
• Any activities where you have used English outside of your studies.

Tips for preparing your statement:

• Create a list of your ideas before attempting to write the essay.
• Expect to produce several drafts before being satisfied.
• Write in prose(continuous sentences) rather than a list.
• Qualify everything. Say why and how it is important so the reader knows why you have mentioned it.
• Use simple descriptive sentences that are clear and easy to understand.
• Avoid long, confusing sentences with obscure vocabulary.

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Need-to-know tips for applying to Japanese universities

What do Japanese universities look for in a personal essay? What form do interviews take? And what are the admissions rates like for international students? Find out here

Mami Nakanishi

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What are the benefits of studying in Japan?

Five Japanese universities are ranked in the top 200 of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, while more than 150 universities appear in the full ranking.

The tuition costs for international and domestic students are the same, and many students are scholarship recipients. Including admission and tuition fees, the total cost of the first year of study at a Japanese university is about US$5,300 for national universities, $6,000 for public universities and $7,000 for private universities (excluding medical, dental and pharmaceutical programmes).

In comparison, in the UK, tuition fees for international undergraduates vary from US$14,500 to US$48,000.

In the US, public or state universities charge an annual tuition fee ranging from US$8,000 to US$35,000. Private universities in the US charge between US$25,000 and US$55,000 a year, based on the programme and its duration.

In addition, Japan has ranked among the top 10 countries in the Global Peace Index for 14 years, and is at the forefront of cleanliness. It is also one of the largest developed economies in the world. It is a member of the G7 and the G20.

Studying in Japan: some basic information

Course duration:

• Bachelor’s degree: four years
• Master’s degree: two years
• PhD degree: three to four years

Enrolment and intake is in April or September. Most of the English-medium programmes have a September intake.

The application period usually runs from September to February, with places offered by May.

Most well-known universities, whether public or private, run courses taught in English. Popular subjects include computer science, business and social science.

Where to find English-based programmes in Japan:

• Take Me To Japan
• EdYou Japan

The following subjects are not offered in English at undergraduate level: medicine, dentistry and education.

Admissions numbers for international students

Admission to study English-taught STEM subjects is very competitive. This is because not many universities offer STEM subjects in English for undergraduates. Even when universities do offer English-taught STEM courses, the capacity is not as great as it is for humanities subjects.

Here are the maximum numbers for some English-taught undergraduate courses for September 2024, for reference:

The University of Aizu : 15 students admitted to study computer science

Nagoya University : five students admitted to study biological science

Tsukuba University : 10 students admitted to study life environmental science

Personal statement and essay

Japanese universities tend to value an essay and personal statement, not just academic performance. I’ve seen many students fail to secure a place even though they had perfect academic performance (A-level grades all A or A*).

It is particularly important in your personal statement or essay to show how well you are suited to the course you want to study, and how admitting you will be beneficial for the university.

The application process

Students can apply to each university directly. There is also an application platform called The Admissions Office . Check whether or not the university your student is applying to uses it.

Some universities have a form for the certificate of expected graduation and the certificate for English proficiency. Most universities still prefer or ask you to stamp the documents to make them official and formal. It’s also best to seal all documents.

What happens in an interview?

The first screening is based on personal statements , essays and transcripts. After this, students may be invited to an interview with faculty members.

Not all Japanese universities interview applicants – but STEM courses are very likely to. As part of the interview, students may be asked to do some maths questions without using a calculator.

Here is a detailed look at what the interview entails at two universities:

1. Nagoya University

• Online interview
• 45 minutes long
• The applicant and three teachers in related subjects (such as biology, chemistry and maths) will to log on to the same call.
• Between 20 and 30 minutes of the interview will be taken up with maths questions, as well as questions in related subjects (such as biology and chemistry).
• The maths questions are high level, according to the university admissions officer.
• A sample interview video is available for students to prepare and practise their answers.
• The remaining time in the interview is for the students to sell themselves, answering questions such as “What’s your motivation?” or “What do you have to offer to this industry?” But most students will not get the chance to do this, as the maths questions are very hard.

2. Shibaura Institute of Technology

• Students need to do a seven-minute presentation on the content of their application essay.
• Students will be asked maths, physics or chemistry questions, depending on the supervisor’s preference. Students are not allowed to use calculators, PCs or smartphones, although they will be allowed paper and pen.
• This is followed by a general question. This is intended as an opportunity for the students to introduce themselves and describe their relevant experience.
• Then there is a subject question. This will be a problem, usually at AS level. Students should read the question well.
• There will be six easy multiple-choice maths questions, 12 more difficult questions, and one at AS or A level. Students should practise answering these questions without a calculator.

Financial aid and scholarships

• Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship
• Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) Scholarships
• On-campus scholarships and tuition-fee exemption or reduction systems
• Most universities have their own scholarships, which are most likely merit-based.

Japanese Studies

Author: anastasia ulianova, applied in: winter 2013, university offers: soas.

Today, Japan’s position as one of the world’s cultural superpowers makes its language an invaluable skill to possess. As I am fluent in Russian, French and English, exposure to different cultures since an early age has not only developed in me an affinity towards languages, but also cultivated a profound appreciation of other cultures and their literatures. I can see now the influence one’s culture has on relations. And, in light of Japan and Russia’s conflicted affairs, I would love to someday take part in establishing an understanding between these two civilizations, which is why I choose this course. My interest in Japan stems from genuine admiration and curiosity for its culture and language. It is my driving ambition to fully immerse myself in the study of this fascinating world.

The first time I became aware of this passion was through the beauty I witnessed, as an artist, in the depiction of emotions in the eyes of anime characters several years ago. This led me to hearing spoken Japanese for the first time. I didn’t take me long to become completely infatuated with it and determined to learn it. Through self-study books at home, I have achieved a reasonably good level. My goal, of course, is to achieve complete fluency. My strong interest in Japanese culture has also led me to captivating masterpieces such as Murasaki Shikibu’s Genji Monogatari and Yasunari Kawabata’s Yukiguni. I was deeply touched by the central notion of mono no aware and awestruck at the beauty of the descriptions of nature. But despite Edward Seidensticker’s wonderful translations, I couldn't deny the disappointment in myself that I couldn’t read the original versions. This only served to strengthen my determination to study Japanese.

Yet, in all of my reading, one discovery that particularly caught my imagination was that Japan had inherited a multitude of cultural legacies from China, such as Kanji. I was drawn to this new mystery and started watching many cultural documentaries. One I was especially intrigued by, entitled “When the Louvre meets the Forbidden City”, explored Western and Chinese Art, relating these two civilizations, using art and history as a medium to build a bridge between them. From this I learned that, in the future, I want to be the one building bridges by working in and with East Asia. Currently, to gain more perspective on Chinese culture, I am reading Jonathan Spence’s “The Chan’s Greatest Continent – China in Western Minds”. Though the center of my interests is Japan, I would love to expand my knowledge of East Asian cultures.

As a student of the French educational system, specialized in the scientific pathway, I have learned to be analytical and pragmatic. My preference for subjects such as Art and Philosophy has provided me with an open and deliberative mind, which I have demonstrated by continuously acquiring high grades in my art projects. Through my love for literature, I have found that I take great pleasure in writing, having won first prize in a short story writing competition for two consecutive years in 2009-10. Currently I am developing my own novel and I have no doubt that through the study of Japan’s culture I will discover new ideas and notions that will further shape my visions of the world and help my writing evolve accordingly. I also devote myself to art. Having been heavily influenced by my fascination with Japan, I now specialize in Manga Art illustrations. After years of continuous practice, I have now reached a level that has enabled me to win an Art competition in May 2013. I also plan to participate in the 2013 Manga Jiman Competition held by the Embassy of Japan.

I strongly believe that, despite the difficulty presented by my chosen course, my ability to understand the nuances of different languages and pure hearted dedication to my work will help me undertake the fascinating challenges in Japanese studies. I feel prepared to start learning and enthusiastically welcome this new challenge!

Please note UCAS will detect any form of plagiarism. PSE and its contributors do not take any responsibility for the way in which personal statements are used.

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Gre prep online guides and tips, 3 successful graduate school personal statement examples.

Looking for grad school personal statement examples? Look no further! In this total guide to graduate school personal statement examples, we’ll discuss why you need a personal statement for grad school and what makes a good one. Then we’ll provide three graduate school personal statement samples from our grad school experts. After that, we’ll do a deep dive on one of our personal statement for graduate school examples. Finally, we’ll wrap up with a list of other grad school personal statements you can find online.

Why Do You Need a Personal Statement?

A personal statement is a chance for admissions committees to get to know you: your goals and passions, what you’ll bring to the program, and what you’re hoping to get out of the program.  You need to sell the admissions committee on what makes you a worthwhile applicant. The personal statement is a good chance to highlight significant things about you that don’t appear elsewhere on your application.

A personal statement is slightly different from a statement of purpose (also known as a letter of intent). A statement of purpose/letter of intent tends to be more tightly focused on your academic or professional credentials and your future research and/or professional interests.

While a personal statement also addresses your academic experiences and goals, you have more leeway to be a little more, well, personal. In a personal statement, it’s often appropriate to include information on significant life experiences or challenges that aren’t necessarily directly relevant to your field of interest.

Some programs ask for both a personal statement and a statement of purpose/letter of intent. In this case, the personal statement is likely to be much more tightly focused on your life experience and personality assets while the statement of purpose will focus in much more on your academic/research experiences and goals.

However, there’s not always a hard-and-fast demarcation between a personal statement and a statement of purpose. The two statement types should address a lot of the same themes, especially as relates to your future goals and the valuable assets you bring to the program. Some programs will ask for a personal statement but the prompt will be focused primarily on your research and professional experiences and interests. Some will ask for a statement of purpose but the prompt will be more focused on your general life experiences.

When in doubt, give the program what they are asking for in the prompt and don’t get too hung up on whether they call it a personal statement or statement of purpose. You can always call the admissions office to get more clarification on what they want you to address in your admissions essay.

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What Makes a Good Grad School Personal Statement?

A great graduate school personal statement can come in many forms and styles. However, strong grad school personal statement examples all share the same following elements:

A Clear Narrative

Above all, a good personal statement communicates clear messages about what makes you a strong applicant who is likely to have success in graduate school. So to that extent, think about a couple of key points that you want to communicate about yourself and then drill down on how you can best communicate those points. (Your key points should of course be related to what you can bring to the field and to the program specifically).

You can also decide whether to address things like setbacks or gaps in your application as part of your narrative. Have a low GPA for a couple semesters due to a health issue? Been out of a job for a while taking care of a family member? If you do decide to explain an issue like this, make sure that the overall arc is more about demonstrating positive qualities like resilience and diligence than about providing excuses.

Specific Examples

A great statement of purpose uses specific examples to illustrate its key messages. This can include anecdotes that demonstrate particular traits or even references to scholars and works that have influenced your academic trajectory to show that you are familiar and insightful about the relevant literature in your field.

Just saying “I love plants,” is pretty vague. Describing how you worked in a plant lab during undergrad and then went home and carefully cultivated your own greenhouse where you cross-bred new flower colors by hand is much more specific and vivid, which makes for better evidence.

A strong personal statement will describe why you are a good fit for the program, and why the program is a good fit for you. It’s important to identify specific things about the program that appeal to you, and how you’ll take advantage of those opportunities. It’s also a good idea to talk about specific professors you might be interested in working with. This shows that you are informed about and genuinely invested in the program.

Strong Writing

Even quantitative and science disciplines typically require some writing, so it’s important that your personal statement shows strong writing skills. Make sure that you are communicating clearly and that you don’t have any grammar and spelling errors. It’s helpful to get other people to read your statement and provide feedback. Plan on going through multiple drafts.

Another important thing here is to avoid cliches and gimmicks. Don’t deploy overused phrases and openings like “ever since I was a child.” Don’t structure your statement in a gimmicky way (i.e., writing a faux legal brief about yourself for a law school statement of purpose). The first will make your writing banal; the second is likely to make you stand out in a bad way.

Appropriate Boundaries

While you can be more personal in a personal statement than in a statement of purpose, it’s important to maintain appropriate boundaries in your writing. Don’t overshare anything too personal about relationships, bodily functions, or illegal activities. Similarly, don’t share anything that makes it seem like you may be out of control, unstable, or an otherwise risky investment. The personal statement is not a confessional booth. If you share inappropriately, you may seem like you have bad judgment, which is a huge red flag to admissions committees.

You should also be careful with how you deploy humor and jokes. Your statement doesn’t have to be totally joyless and serious, but bear in mind that the person reading the statement may not have the same sense of humor as you do. When in doubt, err towards the side of being as inoffensive as possible.

Just as being too intimate in your statement can hurt you, it’s also important not to be overly formal or staid. You should be professional, but conversational.

Graduate School Personal Statement Examples

Our graduate school experts have been kind enough to provide some successful grad school personal statement examples. We’ll provide three examples here, along with brief analysis of what makes each one successful.

Sample Personal Statement for Graduate School 1

PDF of Sample Personal Statement 1 – Japanese Studies

For this Japanese Studies master’s degree, the applicant had to provide a statement of purpose outlining her academic goals and experience with Japanese and a separate personal statement describing her personal relationship with Japanese Studies and what led her to pursue a master’s degree.

Here’s what’s successful about this personal statement:

• An attention-grabbing beginning: The applicant begins with the statement that Japanese has never come easily to her and that it’s a brutal language to learn. Seeing as how this is an application for a Japanese Studies program, this is an intriguing beginning that makes the reader want to keep going.
• A compelling narrative: From this attention-grabbing beginning, the applicant builds a well-structured and dramatic narrative tracking her engagement with the Japanese language over time. The clear turning point is her experience studying abroad, leading to a resolution in which she has clarity about her plans. Seeing as how the applicant wants to be a translator of Japanese literature, the tight narrative structure here is a great way to show her writing skills.
• Specific examples that show important traits: The applicant clearly communicates both a deep passion for Japanese through examples of her continued engagement with Japanese and her determination and work ethic by highlighting the challenges she’s faced (and overcome) in her study of the language. This gives the impression that she is an engaged and dedicated student.

Overall, this is a very strong statement both in terms of style and content. It flows well, is memorable, and communicates that the applicant would make the most of the graduate school experience.

Sample Personal Statement for Graduate School 2

PDF of Sample Graduate School Personal Statement 2 – Musical Composition

This personal statement for a Music Composition master’s degree discusses the factors that motivate the applicant to pursue graduate study.

Here’s what works well in this statement:

• The applicant provides two clear reasons motivating the student to pursue graduate study: her experiences with music growing up, and her family’s musical history. She then supports those two reasons with examples and analysis.
• The description of her ancestors’ engagement with music is very compelling and memorable. The applicant paints her own involvement with music as almost inevitable based on her family’s long history with musical pursuits.
• The applicant gives thoughtful analysis of the advantages she has been afforded that have allowed her to study music so extensively. We get the sense that she is insightful and empathetic—qualities that would add greatly to any academic community.

This is a strong, serviceable personal statement. And in truth, given that this for a masters in music composition, other elements of the application (like work samples) are probably the most important.  However, here are two small changes I would make to improve it:

• I would probably to split the massive second paragraph into 2-3 separate paragraphs. I might use one paragraph to orient the reader to the family’s musical history, one paragraph to discuss Giacomo and Antonio, and one paragraph to discuss how the family has influenced the applicant. As it stands, it’s a little unwieldy and the second paragraph doesn’t have a super-clear focus even though it’s all loosely related to the applicant’s family history with music.
• I would also slightly shorten the anecdote about the applicant’s ancestors and expand more on how this family history has motivated the applicant’s interest in music. In what specific ways has her ancestors’ perseverance inspired her? Did she think about them during hard practice sessions? Is she interested in composing music in a style they might have played? More specific examples here would lend greater depth and clarity to the statement.

Sample Personal Statement for Graduate School 3

PDF of Sample Graduate School Personal Statement 3 – Public Health

This is my successful personal statement for Columbia’s Master’s program in Public Health. We’ll do a deep dive on this statement paragraph-by-paragraph in the next section, but I’ll highlight a couple of things that work in this statement here:

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• This statement is clearly organized. Almost every paragraph has a distinct focus and message, and when I move on to a new idea, I move on to a new paragraph with a logical transitions.
• This statement covers a lot of ground in a pretty short space. I discuss my family history, my goals, my educational background, and my professional background. But because the paragraphs are organized and I use specific examples, it doesn’t feel too vague or scattered.
• In addition to including information about my personal motivations, like my family, I also include some analysis about tailoring health interventions with my example of the Zande. This is a good way to show off what kinds of insights I might bring to the program based on my academic background.

Grad School Personal Statement Example: Deep Dive

Now let’s do a deep dive, paragraph-by-paragraph, on one of these sample graduate school personal statements. We’ll use my personal statement that I used when I applied to Columbia’s public health program.

Paragraph One: For twenty-three years, my grandmother (a Veterinarian and an Epidemiologist) ran the Communicable Disease Department of a mid-sized urban public health department. The stories of Grandma Betty doggedly tracking down the named sexual partners of the infected are part of our family lore. Grandma Betty would persuade people to be tested for sexually transmitted diseases, encourage safer sexual practices, document the spread of infection and strive to contain and prevent it. Indeed, due to the large gay population in the city where she worked, Grandma Betty was at the forefront of the AIDS crises, and her analysis contributed greatly towards understanding how the disease was contracted and spread. My grandmother has always been a huge inspiration to me, and the reason why a career in public health was always on my radar.

This is an attention-grabbing opening anecdote that avoids most of the usual cliches about childhood dreams and proclivities. This story also subtly shows that I have a sense of public health history, given the significance of the AIDs crisis for public health as a field.

It’s good that I connect this family history to my own interests. However, if I were to revise this paragraph again, I might cut down on some of the detail because when it comes down to it, this story isn’t really about me. It’s important that even (sparingly used) anecdotes about other people ultimately reveal something about you in a personal statement.

Paragraph Two: Recent years have cemented that interest. In January 2012, my parents adopted my little brother Fred from China. Doctors in America subsequently diagnosed Fred with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). My parents were told that if Fred’s condition had been discovered in China, the (very poor) orphanage in which he spent the first 8+ years of his life would have recognized his DMD as a death sentence and denied him sustenance to hasten his demise.

Here’s another compelling anecdote to help explain my interest in public health. This is an appropriately personal detail for a personal statement—it’s a serious thing about my immediate family, but it doesn’t disclose anything that the admissions committee might find concerning or inappropriate.

If I were to take another pass through this paragraph, the main thing I would change is the last phrase. “Denied him sustenance to hasten his demise” is a little flowery. “Denied him food to hasten his death” is actually more powerful because it’s clearer and more direct.

Paragraph Three: It is not right that some people have access to the best doctors and treatment while others have no medical care. I want to pursue an MPH in Sociomedical Sciences at Columbia because studying social factors in health, with a particular focus on socio-health inequities, will prepare me to address these inequities. The interdisciplinary approach of the program appeals to me greatly as I believe interdisciplinary approaches are the most effective way to develop meaningful solutions to complex problems.

In this paragraph I make a neat and clear transition from discussing what sparked my interest in public health and health equity to what I am interested in about Columbia specifically: the interdisciplinary focus of the program, and how that focus will prepare me to solve complex health problems. This paragraph also serves as a good pivot point to start discussing my academic and professional background.

Paragraph Four: My undergraduate education has prepared me well for my chosen career. Understanding the underlying structure of a group’s culture is essential to successfully communicating with the group. In studying folklore and mythology, I’ve learned how to parse the unspoken structures of folk groups, and how those structures can be used to build bridges of understanding. For example, in a culture where most illnesses are believed to be caused by witchcraft, as is the case for the Zande people of central Africa, any successful health intervention or education program would of necessity take into account their very real belief in witchcraft.

In this paragraph, I link my undergraduate education and the skills I learned there to public health. The (very brief) analysis of tailoring health interventions to the Zande is a good way to show insight and show off the competencies I would bring to the program.

Paragraph Five: I now work in the healthcare industry for one of the largest providers of health benefits in the world. In addition to reigniting my passion for data and quantitative analytics, working for this company has immersed me in the business side of healthcare, a critical component of public health.

This brief paragraph highlights my relevant work experience in the healthcare industry. It also allows me to mention my work with data and quantitative analytics, which isn’t necessarily obvious from my academic background, which was primarily based in the social sciences.

Paragraph Six: I intend to pursue a PhD in order to become an expert in how social factors affect health, particularly as related to gender and sexuality. I intend to pursue a certificate in Sexuality, Sexual Health, and Reproduction. Working together with other experts to create effective interventions across cultures and societies, I want to help transform health landscapes both in America and abroad.

This final paragraph is about my future plans and intentions. Unfortunately, it’s a little disjointed, primarily because I discuss goals of pursuing a PhD before I talk about what certificate I want to pursue within the MPH program! Switching those two sentences and discussing my certificate goals within the MPH and then mentioning my PhD plans would make a lot more sense.

I also start two sentences in a row with “I intend,” which is repetitive.

The final sentence is a little bit generic; I might tailor it to specifically discuss a gender and sexual health issue, since that is the primary area of interest I’ve identified.

This was a successful personal statement; I got into (and attended!) the program. It has strong examples, clear organization, and outlines what interests me about the program (its interdisciplinary focus) and what competencies I would bring (a background in cultural analysis and experience with the business side of healthcare). However, a few slight tweaks would elevate this statement to the next level.

Graduate School Personal Statement Examples You Can Find Online

So you need more samples for your personal statement for graduate school? Examples are everywhere on the internet, but they aren’t all of equal quality.

Most of examples are posted as part of writing guides published online by educational institutions. We’ve rounded up some of the best ones here if you are looking for more personal statement examples for graduate school.

Penn State Personal Statement Examples for Graduate School

This selection of ten short personal statements for graduate school and fellowship programs offers an interesting mix of approaches. Some focus more on personal adversity while others focus more closely on professional work within the field.

The writing in some of these statements is a little dry, and most deploy at least a few cliches. However, these are generally strong, serviceable statements that communicate clearly why the student is interested in the field, their skills and competencies, and what about the specific program appeals to them.

Cal State Sample Graduate School Personal Statements

These are good examples of personal statements for graduate school where students deploy lots of very vivid imagery and illustrative anecdotes of life experiences. There are also helpful comments about what works in each of these essays.

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However, all of these statements are definitely pushing the boundaries of acceptable length, as all are above 1000 and one is almost 1500 words! Many programs limit you to 500 words; if you don’t have a limit, you should try to keep it to two single-spaced pages at most (which is about 1000 words).

University of Chicago Personal Statement for Graduate School Examples

These examples of successful essays to the University of Chicago law school cover a wide range of life experiences and topics. The writing in all is very vivid, and all communicate clear messages about the students’ strengths and competencies.

Note, however, that these are all essays that specifically worked for University of Chicago law school. That does not mean that they would work everywhere. In fact, one major thing to note is that many of these responses, while well-written and vivid, barely address the students’ interest in law school at all! This is something that might not work well for most graduate programs.

Wheaton College Personal Statement for Graduate School Sample 10

This successful essay for law school from a Wheaton College undergraduate does a great job tracking the student’s interest in the law in a compelling and personal way. Wheaton offers other graduate school personal statement examples, but this one offers the most persuasive case for the students’ competencies. The student accomplishes this by using clear, well-elaborated examples, showing strong and vivid writing, and highlighting positive qualities like an interest in justice and empathy without seeming grandiose or out of touch.

Wheaton College Personal Statement for Graduate School Sample 1

Based on the background information provided at the bottom of the essay, this essay was apparently successful for this applicant. However, I’ve actually included this essay because it demonstrates an extremely risky approach. While this personal statement is strikingly written and the story is very memorable, it could definitely communicate the wrong message to some admissions committees. The student’s decision not to report the drill sergeant may read incredibly poorly to some admissions committees. They may wonder if the student’s failure to report the sergeant’s violence will ultimately expose more soldiers-in-training to the same kinds of abuses. This incident perhaps reads especially poorly in light of the fact that the military has such a notable problem with violence against women being covered up and otherwise mishandled

It’s actually hard to get a complete picture of the student’s true motivations from this essay, and what we have might raise real questions about the student’s character to some admissions committees. This student took a risk and it paid off, but it could have just as easily backfired spectacularly.

Key Takeaways: Graduate School Personal Statement Examples

In this guide, we discussed why you need a personal statement and how it differs from a statement of purpose. (It’s more personal!)

We also discussed what you’ll find in a strong sample personal statement for graduate school:

• A clear narrative about the applicant and why they are qualified for graduate study.
• Specific examples to support that narrative.
• Compelling reasons why the applicant and the program are a good fit for each other.
• Strong writing, including clear organization and error-free, cliche-free language.
• Appropriate boundaries—sharing without over-sharing.

Then, we provided three strong graduate school personal statement examples for different fields, along with analysis. We did a deep-dive on the third statement.

Finally, we provided a list of other sample grad school personal statements online.

What’s Next?

Want more advice on writing a personal statement ? See our guide.

Writing a graduate school statement of purpose? See our statement of purpose samples  and a nine-step process for writing the best statement of purpose possible .

If you’re writing a graduate school CV or resume, see our how-to guide to writing a CV , a how-to guide to writing a resume , our list of sample resumes and CVs , resume and CV templates , and a special guide for writing resume objectives .

Need stellar graduate school recommendation letters ? See our guide.

See our 29 tips for successfully applying to graduate school .

Ready to improve your GRE score by 7 points?

Author: Ellen McCammon

Ellen is a public health graduate student and education expert. She has extensive experience mentoring students of all ages to reach their goals and in-depth knowledge on a variety of health topics. View all posts by Ellen McCammon

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Japan Personal Statements Samples For Students

8 samples of this type

Do you feel the need to examine some previously written Personal Statements on Japan before you get down to writing an own piece? In this free database of Japan Personal Statement examples, you are given a fascinating opportunity to explore meaningful topics, content structuring techniques, text flow, formatting styles, and other academically acclaimed writing practices. Implementing them while composing your own Japan Personal Statement will surely allow you to complete the piece faster.

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Free About My Major Personal Statement Sample

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The UCEAP Program Personal Statement Example

Good study in korea personal statement example, ma program comparative business economics personal statements example.

As a child growing up in a family interested in business, I developed a passion to learning mathematical numbers and how they relate to the bottom line income, earnings, and profits. From the days of my High School, I envisioned bigger and better times and profits if and when I started my own business. Globalization and technological advances made me realize that I could play a pivotal role in converting small family businesses into a national or even international powerhouse.

Personal Statement On Getting a PhD in Marketing

Good example of personal statement on namename of professor, admission statement.

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Studying japanese at university, example course modules.

• Japanese language and linguistics
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Average hours for this subject: 13 (Low N/A - High N/A). Average hours for all subjects: 14.

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• Mature : 27% School leaver : 73%
• Full-time : 95% Part-time : 5%

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Your personal statement is a core part of your university application, and getting it just right takes time. Before you start work on yours, take a look at our five quick tips on writing a personal statement. We'll help you past that writer's block!

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Language and literature degrees can provide students with a range of subject-specific skills, including an understanding of the language and culture of the countries under study; the way that literature and language interacts with society and, of course, how to communicate effectively in the chosen languages. Students on these courses often take a year abroad in the country of study. Students of languages can also learn a number of useful transferable skills including communication, time management, research and critical thinking and project management, and these skills are in demand from employers, including schools, translation services, accountants and advertising agencies.

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Writing a Personal Statement

Preparing to Write

Brainstorming, don't forget, sample prompts.

A personal statement is a narrative essay that connects your background, experiences, and goals to the mission, requirements, and desired outcomes of the specific opportunity you are seeking. It is a critical component in the selection process, whether the essay is for a competitive internship, a graduate fellowship, or admittance to a graduate school program. It gives the selection committee the best opportunity to get to know you, how you think and make decisions, ways in which past experiences have been significant or formative, and how you envision your future. Personal statements can be varied in form; some are given a specific prompt, while others are less structured. However, in general a personal statement should answer the following questions:

• Who are you?
• What are your goals?
• How does this specific program/opportunity help you achieve your goals?
• What is in the future?

A personal statement is not:

• A variation of your college admissions essay
• An academic/research paper
• A narrative version of your resume
• A creative writing piece (it can be creative, though)
• An essay about somebody else

Keep in mind that your statement is only a portion of the application and should be written with this in mind. Your entire application package will include some, possibly all, of the materials listed below. You will want to consider what these pieces of the application communicate about you. Your personal statement should aim to tie everything together and fill in or address any gaps. There will likely be some overlap but be sure not to be too repetitive.

• Personal Statement(s)
• Transcripts
• Letters of recommendations
• Sample of written work
• Research proposal

For a quick overview of personal statements, you might begin by watching this "5 Minute Fellowships" video!

If you are writing your first personal statement or working to improve upon an existing personal statement, the video below is a helpful, in-depth resource.

A large portion of your work towards completing a personal statement begins well before your first draft or even an outline. It is incredibly important to be sure you understand all of the rules and regulations around the statement. Things to consider before you begin writing:

• How many prompts? And what are they? It is important to know the basics so you can get your ideas in order. Some programs will require a general statement of interest and a focused supplementary or secondary statement closely aligned with the institution's goals.
• Are there formatting guidelines? Single or double spaced, margins, fonts, text sizes, etc. Our general guideline is to keep it simple.
• How do I submit my statement(s)? If uploading a document we highly suggest using a PDF as it will minimize the chances of accidental changes to formatting. Some programs may event ask you to copy and paste into a text box.
• When do I have to submit my statement(s)? Most are due at the time of application but some programs, especially medical schools, will ask for secondary statements a few months after you apply. In these instances be sure to complete them within two weeks, any longer is an indication that you aren't that interested in the institution.

Below is a second 5 Minute Fellowships video that can help you get started!

Before you start writing, take some time to reflect on your experiences and motivations as they relate to the programs to which you are applying. This will offer you a chance to organize your thoughts which will make the writing process much easier. Below are a list of questions to help you get started:

• What individuals, experiences or events have shaped your interest in this particular field?
• What has influenced your decision to apply to graduate school?
• How does this field align with your interests, strengths, and values?
• What distinguishes you from other applicants?
• What would you bring to this program/profession?
• What has prepared you for graduate study in this field? Consider your classes at Wellesley, research and work experience, including internships, summer jobs and volunteer work.
• Why are you interested in this particular institution or degree program?
• How is this program distinct from others?
• What do you hope to gain?
• What is motivating you to seek an advanced degree now?
• Where do you see yourself headed and how will this degree program help you get there?

For those applying to Medical School, if you need a committee letter for your application and are using the Medical Professions Advisory Committee you have already done a lot of heavy lifting through the 2017-2018 Applicant Information Form . Even if you aren't using MPAC the applicant information form is a great place to start.

Another great place to start is through talking out your ideas. You have a number of options both on and off campus, such as: Career Education advisors and mentors ( you can set up an appointment here ), major advisor, family, friends. If you are applying to a graduate program it is especially important to talk with a faculty member in the field. Remember to take good notes so you can refer to them later.

When you begin writing keep in mind that your essay is one of many in the application pool. This is not to say you should exaggerate your experiences to “stand out” but that you should focus on clear, concise writing. Also keep in mind that the readers are considering you not just as a potential student but a future colleague. Be sure to show them examples and experiences which demonstrate you are ready to begin their program.

It is important to remember that your personal statement will take time and energy to complete, so plan accordingly. Every application and statement should be seen as different from one another, even if they are all the same type of program. Each institution may teach you the same material but their delivery or focus will be slightly different.

In addition, remember:

• Be yourself: You aren’t good at being someone else
• Tragedy is not a requirement, reflection and depth are
• Research the institution or organization
• Proofread, proofread, proofread
• How to have your personal statement reviewed

The prompts below are from actual applications to a several types of programs. As you will notice many of them are VERY general in nature. This is why it is so important to do your research and reflect on your motivations. Although the prompts are similar in nature the resulting statements would be very different depending on the discipline and type of program, as well as your particular background and reasons for wanting to pursue this graduate degree.

• This statement should illustrate your academic background and experiences and explain why you would excel in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (UMass Amherst - M.S. in Civil Engineering).
• Describe your academic and career objectives and how the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies can help you achieve them. Include other considerations that explain why you seek admissions to the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and your interests in the environmental field (Yale - Master of Environmental Management).  
• Please discuss your academic interests and goals. Include your current professional and research interests, as well as your long-range professional objectives. Please be as specific as possible about how your objectives can be met at Clark and do not exceed 800 words (Clark University - M.A. in International Development and Social Change).
• Write a 500- to 700-word statement that describes your work or research. Discuss how you came to focus on the medium, body of work, or academic area you wish to pursue at the graduate level. Also discuss future directions or goals for your work, and describe how the Master of Fine Arts in Studio (Printmedia) is particularly suited to your professional goals (School of the Art Institute of Chicago - MFA in Studio, Printmaking).
• Your statement should explain why you want to study economics at the graduate level. The statement is particularly important if there is something unusual about your background and preparation that you would like us to know about you (University of Texas at Austin - Ph.D in Economics).
• Your personal goal statement is an important part of the review process for our faculty members as they consider your application. They want to know about your background, work experience, plans for graduate study and professional career, qualifications that make you a strong candidate for the program, and any other relevant information (Indiana University Bloomington - M.S.Ed. in Secondary Education).
• Your autobiographical essay/personal statement is a narrative that outlines significant experiences in your life, including childhood experiences, study and work, your strengths and aspirations in the field of architecture, and why you want to come to the University of Oregon (University of Oregon - Master of Architecture).
• Personal history and diversity statement, in which you describe how your personal background informs your decision to pursue a graduate degree. You may refer to any educational, familial, cultural, economic or social experiences, challenges, community service, outreach activities, residency and citizenship, first-generation college status, or opportunities relevant to your academic journey; how your life experiences contribute to the social, intellectual or cultural diversity within a campus community and your chosen field; or how you might serve educationally underrepresented and underserved segments of society with your graduate education (U.C. Davis - M.A. in Linguistics).
• A Personal Statement specifying your past experiences, reasons for applying, and your areas of interest. It should explain your intellectual and personal goals, why you are interested in pursuing an interdisciplinary degree rather than a more traditional disciplinary one, and how this degree fits into your intellectual and personal future (Rutgers University - Ph.D in Women’s and Gender Studies).
• Your application requires a written statement to uploaded into your application and is a critical component of your application for admission. This is your opportunity to tell us what excites you about the field of library and information science, and what problems you want to help solve in this field. Please also tell us how your prior experiences have prepared you for this next step toward your career goals and how this program will help you achieve them (University of North Carolina Chapel Hill - Master of Science in Library Science).
• After watching the video, please describe what strengths and preferences as a learner you have that will facilitate your success in this innovative curriculum. What challenges in our curriculum do you anticipate and what strategies might you use to address these challenges? (MGH Institute of Health Professions PT - They recently redesigned their curriculum)
• Your personal goal statement should briefly describe how you view the future of the field, what your goals are to be part of that future, and what brought you to pursue an advanced education degree in your chosen field. You may include any other information that you feel might be useful. (Northeastern PT)
• Personal Statement: In 500 words or less, describe a meaningful educational experience that affected your professional goals and growth and explain how it impacted you. The educational experience does not need to be related to this degree. Focus on the educational experience and not why you think you would be a good professional in this field. (Simmons PT)
• Personal Statement (500 word minimum): State your reasons for seeking admission to this program at this institution. Include your professional goals, why you want to pursue a career in this field and how admission to this program will assist you in accomplishing those goals. (Regis College Nursing)
• “Use the space provided to explain why you want to go to this type of program.” (AMCAS)
• Address the following three questions(Though there is no set limit, most statements are 1–2 pages, single-spaced.): What are your reasons for pursuing this degree? Why do you wish to pursue your degree at this institution? How do you intend to leverage your degree in a career of this field? (Boston University MPH)
• Please submit a personal statement/statement of purpose of no more than 500 words for the department/degree of choice. Professional degree essays require a clear understanding of the _______ field and how you hope to work within the field. Be sure to proofread your personal statement carefully for spelling and grammar. In your statement, be sure to address the following: what interests you in the field of _____ what interests you in a specific degree program and department at this institution and what interests you in a particular certificate (if applicable). Please also describe how you hope to use your ________ training to help you achieve your career goals. (Columbia PhD in Public Health - Epidemiology)
• Because each Home Program requires significant original research activities in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree, we are interested in obtaining as much information as possible about your previous research experiences. Those who already have such experience are in a better position to know whether they are truly interested in performing ______ research as part of a graduate program. Please include specific information about your research experience in your Statement of Purpose. You may also use the Statement to amplify your comments about your choice of Home Program(s), and how your past experiences and current interests are related to your choice. Personal Statements should not exceed two pages in length (single spaced). Make sure to set your computer to Western European or other English-language setting. We cannot guarantee the ability to access your statement if it is submitted in other fonts. (Stanford Biosciences PhD)
• Your statement of purpose should describe succinctly your reasons for applying to the Department of ____ at ___ University. It would be helpful to include what you have done to prepare for this degree program. Please describe your research interests, past research experience, future career plans and other details of your background and interests that will allow us to evaluate your ability to thrive in our program. If you have interests that align with a specific faculty member, you may state this in your application. Your statement of purpose should not exceed two pages in length (single spaced). (Stanford Bioengineering PhD)
• Statement of purpose (Up to one page or 1,000 words): Rather than a research proposal, you should provide a statement of purpose. Your statement should be written in English and explain your motivation for applying for the course at this institution and your relevant experience and education. Please provide an indication of the area of your proposed research and supervisor(s) in your statement. This will be assessed for the coherence of the statement; evidence of motivation for and understanding of the proposed area of study; the ability to present a reasoned case in English; and commitment to the subject. (Oxford Inorganic Chemistry - DPhil)

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Columbus data breach: important information for ohio state employees.

On July 18, the city of Columbus experienced a significant data breach that compromised a wide range of sensitive information, including names, addresses, driver’s license information, Social Security numbers and/or financial data of city employees, visitors and other affiliates. In response, municipal systems and services were immediately taken offline to contain the exposure and limit further damage. However, as of August 20, investigators have not fully recovered all compromised data, leaving some uncertainty regarding the overall impact of the breach.

As the situation unfolds, it is important to recognize that while the breach itself may be beyond control, the response to it is not. Read on to learn about proactive measures to protect Ohio State data from ransomware or other cyberattacks and how to safeguard your information from identity theft.

Protect Yourself and Ohio State from Cyberattacks

The Columbus data breach underscores the critical importance of data security, retention policies and proper data purging practices. Just as preventive measures like regular physicals and exercise maintain physical health, cyber hygiene best practices are essential for digital well-being. Below are some steps you can take today to help protect your information and the university’s institutional data from cyberattacks.

Learn to Spot Phishing Attempts

Learning how to identify and avoid falling for a phishing attempt is one of the most important steps you can take in protecting personal and institutional data. Phishing is a type of cyberattack where scammers use email, phone calls or text messages to deceive individuals into revealing sensitive information. Scammers will often send malicious links or attachments that can infect your computer with malware or will bring you to a legitimate-looking webpage in an attempt to steal your log-in credentials.

If you ever suspect an email to be a phishing attempt, please report it immediately by clicking the "Report Phishing" button in Outlook or forward the message to [email protected] .

Phishing attempts targeting your university credentials that come through text message or phone calls should be reported to the Office of Technology and Digital Innovation’s Digital Security and Trust (DST) team at [email protected] .

Data Security and the Importance of Backups

It is critical to adhere to university protocols for data security to shield information from potential cyber threats. Employees are encouraged to review the university's Institutional Data Policy to understand the best practices for securing university data.

In addition to properly securing data, backing up data acts as an insurance policy for your essential files and serves as a defense against cyber threats. In the event that your files are compromised, having backups enables you to restore your data without acquiescing to ransom demands or forfeiting the data.

If you have questions on securing institutional data, reach out to your unit’s Security Coordinator or the DST team at [email protected] .

Records Retention

Proper records retention is a crucial component of data security and plays a significant role in mitigating the impact of data breaches. The City of Columbus had 20 years’ worth of visitor log data stolen and leaked. Based on recommended retention from the State Archives of Ohio, they only needed to retain this data for one year. This means an additional 19 years’ worth of personal information, that the City should no longer have had, was leaked.

By following university data retention and destruction policies, you can minimize the amount of data that can be compromised or exposed in the event of a cyberattack.

Learn more about the university’s data retention schedule and how to destroy records that are no longer needed on the University Libraries’ Records Management website .

Employees can also gain knowledge on records retention by enrolling in the “Bits and Bytes: Best Practices and Practical Tips for Managing Electronic Records and Email at OSU” course on BuckeyeLearn. The upcoming live session of this course is scheduled for September 25, and registration can be completed by looking up the course title in BuckeyeLearn.

Learn to be Cyber-Secure on C4U

For further education on cybersecurity best practices, the Cybersecurity For You awareness platform offers valuable resources on topics such as social engineering , phishing , phishing consequences , password breaches and password management .

Tips to Prevent Identity Theft

To protect yourself from identity theft, the following best practices are recommended:

• Limit Data Sharing : Be selective about sharing personal data with businesses and organizations.
• Caution with Phone Numbers : Exercise care when sharing mobile phone numbers and safeguard personal documents.
• Inquire Before Sharing SSNs : Always verify the need before sharing Social Security Numbers.
• Beware of Scammers : Protect information from online and phone scammers.
• Review Bills and Bank Statements : Regularly check bills and bank statements for any discrepancies or suspicious activity.
• Monitor Credit Reports : Obtain and review credit reports periodically.
• Use Strong Passwords : Create unique, strong passwords for each account. Consider using a password manager to track and help you generate strong passwords.
• Delete Unused Accounts : Remove unused user accounts whenever possible.

Employees are encouraged to monitor any suspicious activity related to their personal information. The FTC Identity Theft Checklist is recommended as a step-by-step guide for responding to potential identity theft.

For those who may be affected by the breach, either personally or through a family member, the university offers resources through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP):

• EAP Overview
• Phone: 800-678-6265
• Online Access

The EAP portal also provides valuable articles and resources on recovering from identity theft, which may be particularly useful following this breach.

Thank you to University Libraries, who contributed content and information to this article.

China leans into using AI − even as the US leads in developing it

Dean's Fellow at the Division of Global Affairs, Rutgers University - Newark

Disclosure statement

Shaoyu Yuan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Rutgers University - Newark provides funding as a founding partner of The Conversation US.

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In the competitive arena of global technology, China’s ambitions in artificial intelligence stand out – not just for their scale but for their distinct strategic approach .

In 2017, the Chinese Communist Party declared its intent to surpass the United States to become the world leader in AI by 2030 . This plan, however, is less about pioneering novel technologies and more about strategically adapting existing ones to serve state economic, political and social objectives.

While both China and the United States are actively pursuing AI technologies, their approaches differ significantly. The U.S. has traditionally led in fundamental AI research and innovation , with institutions such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford and tech giants such as Google and Microsoft driving breakthroughs in machine learning. This innovation-first approach contrasts with China’s focus on adaptation and application of existing technologies for specific state objectives.

The United States’ AI development is primarily driven by a decentralized network of academic institutions, private companies and government agencies, often with competing interests and a focus on commercial applications. In contrast, China’s AI strategy is more centralized and state directed, with a clear focus on supporting government initiatives such as social control and economic planning.

AI for ideological control

At the heart of China’s AI strategy lies its effort to embed the technology in the machinery of the government’s ideological control. A prime example is the Xue Xi chatbot developed by researchers at China’s top-ranked university , Tsinghua University. Unlike Western AI models designed to foster open-ended dialogue, Xue Xi was trained in part on “ Xi Jinping Thought ” to indoctrinate users – likely initially to be party members in government – with Communist Party ideology.

This isn’t just a singular initiative but part of a broader trend. AI-driven surveillance systems, like the facial recognition technology deployed across the Xinjiang region of China, enable the government to maintain tight control over the area’s minority Muslim Uyghur population.

These technologies are not groundbreaking. They build on existing innovations but are finely tuned to serve the Communist Party’s efforts to maintain social order and prevent dissent. China’s AI prowess comes not by creating the newest technology but by mastering and deploying AI in ways that align with its ideological imperatives.

AI for economic control

China’s AI strategy is also deeply intertwined with its economic ambitions. Faced with slowing growth , the Communist Party views technology as the essential tool for pulling the country out of its economic slowdown. This is particularly evident in sectors such as manufacturing and logistics, where AI is used to drive efficiencies and maintain China’s competitive edge in global supply chains. For example, companies such as online retail giant Alibaba have developed AI-driven logistics platforms that optimize delivery routes and manage warehouse operations , ensuring that China remains the factory of the world.

Additionally, China’s social credit system , which rates citizens on their civic and financial behavior, represents a significant strategic initiative where AI plays an increasingly crucial role. China’s system is designed to monitor and influence citizen behavior on a massive scale. Although AI is not yet fully implemented across the entire social credit system, it is being integrated to track and analyze vast amounts of data, such as financial transactions, online interactions and social relationships in real time.

This data is then used to assign scores that can affect various aspects of life, from loan approvals to travel permissions . As AI becomes increasingly embedded in the system, it is likely, I believe, to further reinforce state control and ensure societal compliance, prioritizing government oversight over personal autonomy.

Strategic exports

On the international stage, China is exporting its AI technologies to expand its influence, particularly in developing nations. Through the Belt and Road Initiative, Chinese tech giants such as Huawei and ZTE are providing AI-driven surveillance systems to governments in Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America. These systems, often framed as tools for improving public safety , are part of a larger strategy to export China’s governance model.

For instance, in Zimbabwe, Chinese firms have helped implement a nationwide facial recognition system under the guise of combating crime. Political activists in Zimbabwe fear that technology is being used to monitor political opponents and activists , mirroring its use in China. By exporting AI technologies that are tightly integrated with state control, China is not only expanding its market share but also promoting its authoritarian model as a viable alternative to Western democracy.

AI for strategic military advantage

China’s military ambitions are also tightly linked to its AI strategy . The People’s Liberation Army, China’s military, is investing heavily in AI-driven autonomous systems , including drones and robotic platforms. These technologies are not necessarily the most advanced in the world, but China is adapting them to fit its strategic needs.

China is developing AI systems to support its naval operations in the South China Sea, a region of significant geopolitical tension . China is deploying autonomous submarines and surveillance drones to monitor and potentially disrupt foreign military activities in the region. This strategic use of AI in military applications highlights China’s focus on using existing technologies to achieve specific geopolitical objectives, rather than seeking innovation for its own sake.

Calculated strategy

China’s approach to AI is a calculated strategy of adaptation and application, rather than raw innovation. By mastering the use of existing technologies and aligning them with state objectives, China is not only bolstering its domestic control but also reshaping global power dynamics.

Whether through ideological indoctrination, economic control, strategic exports or military advancements, China’s AI playbook is a powerful reminder that in the realm of technology, how tools are used can be just as transformative as the tools themselves.

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Japanese personal statement example 1.

My initial contact with Japanese came through literature. When I first read the short stories of Ryunosuke Akutagawa I was moved, since even when translated, the picture of Japanese society was remarkable in its richness and diversity. As was the portrayal of the Japanese people themselves; the vivid works with both moral and psychological themes, against the backdrop of Akutagawa's vision of feudal Japan. Inspired by this experience, I began to read the books of Haruki Murakami. Now, no matter what part of the society I look at; language, arts, history, I feel drawn to this remarkable culture. Thus, I have chosen a Japanese degree as it will give me the opportunity to study further a subject to which I have become a devotee. I have begun teaching myself both the language and script, and I am now at the point where I wish to take my self-motivated study much further. Learning the Japanese language in an academic environment would enable me to gain a more in-depth understanding of the society as a whole, thus giving me the grounding required to work in Japan. After graduating, I would hope to be accepted onto the JET scheme and pursue a professional career in Japan. I have thoroughly enjoyed all my A Level subjects. During my first year, I have developed a wealth of generic skills which I can apply to my graduate studies. Chemistry is an intellectually challenging subject that requires a rigorously analytical approach which demands constant application of core knowledge in relation to interpreting data and information. In contrast, Critical Thinking has provided me with a chance to construct reasoned arguments both in a written form and in the more challenging environment of debate. At college, I am completing the Extended Project Qualification which will allow me to combine my academic studies with my main extra-curricular interest, Buddhism. As a practitioner, I have come to learn a great deal about the history of the numerous traditions and my reading has led me to the prevalent philosophical schools in Japan. Having attended classes for over a year now my understanding and appreciation for Japan's rich, diverse religious traditions has increased dramatically. My involvement in and genuine passion for this way of life made it an obvious choice for my provisional dissertation title of 'Buddhism and the West'. I hope to gain from this a more individual approach to study and research that I can carry through with me into university and the world of work, not to mention a much more thorough understanding of my topic of choice. Aside from my interest in literature and studies at college, my time is occupied by social work, combat sports and reading. I have been volunteering once-a-week at the local hospice which has provided me with a wealth of new and demanding experiences, requiring empathy alongside clear thinking. Within the hospice, the ability to communicate clearly is of the utmost importance. Having developed these valuable life skills they will undoubtedly assist in the learning of a new language, in a new environment. My chosen course will enable me to fulfil my ambition to live and study in Japan, and allow me to immerse myself in a culture which I love, as well as learning a new language. I recognise the demanding nature of this subject but as a hard working, conscientious student I enjoy the challenge of academic study. I am committed to reaching my full potential in my future endeavours and look forward to taking advantage of the vast opportunities university life provides.

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This personal statement was written by chanologykilled/b/ for application in 2010.

chanologykilled/b/'s Comments

I remeber how hard it was writing my statement, and there is extra difficulty with doing a subject as 'out there' as Japanese, so I thought I'd do my bit to help any budding Japanologists with theirs. I was never keen on this statement, and it is very 'me' orientated so you'll have to reinterpret it quite a bit if you think it will help. Saying that though, this got me into Oxford, so I hope you can gain something from it! Remember; DON'T COPY, and it's meant to be PERSONAL. Peace and love dudes, good luck.

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Health Sciences

Questioning restrictions on physical activity for those at risk of preterm birth

Two undergraduates conducting research this summer gathering data from patients for a study by penn medicine physician beth leong pineles..

Restrictions on physical activity and even complete bedrest are frequently prescribed for pregnant patients by doctors or suggested by others to prevent preterm birth, even though both practices have been proven ineffective and in some cases even harmful.

Beth Leong Pineles , a maternal-medicine doctor at Pennsylvania Hospital and an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Perelman School of Medicine , is conducting a study of activity restriction during pregnancy with the goal of “deimplementation” in the Penn Medicine system and ultimately nationwide. The long-term goal is to use exercise as a tool to reduce preterm birth and improve the overall health of pregnant women.

Penn undergraduates Ellie Mayers and Gladys Smith were involved in the first stage of the study's research with Pineles during the summer. The goal is to determine the prevalence of bedrest and activity restriction, starting with the patient population at Penn Med, through an in-person survey of pregnant patients.

Smith, a second-year from Williamsburg, Virginia, is a student in the College of Arts and Sciences who plans to go to medical school. Mayers, a third-year from Beachwood, Ohio, is in the School of Nursing with plans to become a midwife and is also pursuing a minor in the history of health and humanities, a collaboration between Nursing and the College.

The research opportunity, which provides a $5,000 award for each student, is through the Penn Undergraduate Research Mentoring Program , a 10-week summer program supported by the Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships (CURF).

In-person research

Mayers and Smith were assigned to work at Penn Maternal Fetal Medicine Washington Square and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. They read patient charts to determine who was considered at high risk for preterm labor, including those who previously delivered preterm, are pregnant with more than one baby, have certain conditions affecting their cervix, or who have had preterm contractions.

They then asked those patients to complete the survey. For the best response rate, face-to-face is better than phone calls, texts, or emails, Pineles says, noting that her goal is to get at least 300 survey responses. “It’s a better experience for the students. It’s more engaging. They like to talk to the patients and be involved in the clinic, and they get some exposure to medicine,” she says. “And they’re helping. They’re doing a great job getting a lot of survey responses.”

Mayers and Smith are planning to continue the research next semester and into the future, invited by Pineles to stay with the project. Pineles says she expects the entire deimplementation project to take about three more years.

“There’s a wealth of data that we can look at in a multitude of different ways,” Pineles says. “So, if Ellie and Gladys want to continue to be involved, that would be great. We can continue to work together, answer new questions, and publish more papers.”

Mayers says she’s seen a “different view of health care” doing research versus clinical work as a nursing student. “It’s been super interesting to see a snapshot of time when the ultimate goal of the research is to solve these problems,” informing actions “that nurses and doctors are going to implement,” she says. “And I love science. I love talking to people. I'm very social, and I just want to help people. I feel like that all culminated in my interest in nursing.”

Smith says asking the research questions and being in the clinic has steered her towards pursuing a “more social science-based way of thinking regarding medicine.” She says working with Pineles “has cemented my desire to go to medical school. Being in the clinic with her has made it seem more immediate and achievable.”

Understanding activity restrictions

The survey asks patients to describe their high-risk conditions, what advice they were given about physical activity during their pregnancy, and who gave that advice, among other questions about their health. “We don't know what women are being told. We don't know who's telling them. And I think it’s important to know that if we're going tackle the problem and understand it better,” Pineles says.

Physical activity restriction can include limits on walking, working, sexual activity, exercising. Bedrest can mean the patient doesn’t even get up to go to the bathroom. Some negative complications can include muscle atrophy, deep vein thrombosis, mental and emotional stress, boredom and loss of social connections, and potential financial losses.

Studies have shown that pregnant women who were given activity restrictions “actually had worse outcomes in their pregnancy and were more likely to deliver prematurely,” Pineles says. “We really don't see any benefit of activity restriction. We have several national guidelines about exercise and physical activity and pregnancy, and all recommend against bedrest and recommend against routine activity restriction.”

Pineles is deploying her study survey nationally “to get a national prevalence of activity restriction during pregnancy, which has not been done,” she says. They received the expected 1,500 responses on the national survey, distributed by a marketing service through social media, she says.

Mayers and Smith used the national survey data for the research posters they will present at the CURF Research Expo on Sept. 16, and for abstracts they each submitted to the Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine national conference.

Interest in medical care

Mayers says she wanted to be a nurse as long as she can remember, coming from a long line of nurses, including her grandmother and great-grandmothers. Also, Mayers spent much of her early years in hospitals surrounded by medical professionals because her younger sister needed treatment as an infant. “Doctors are amazing, but it was always nurses that were with my family constantly and are the ones that I really have memories of,” Mayers says, adding that her sister will be a first-year at Penn this fall.

Mayers says she previously wasn’t interested in research, but at Penn she learned about various possibilities, including a Ph.D. in nursing. “I've been lucky in that the Nursing School has prepared me really well to do a lot of aspects of this research. I am very comfortable interacting with patients in a variety of ways,” Mayers says, noting that she was on an OB/GYN rotation last semester. “I was quick in understanding different conditions and in understanding how to read the chart and look at the overall patient profile.”

Specifically, Mayers says she is interested in reproductive health, both the clinical and political aspects. She’s the co-president of Penn’s chapter of Nurses for Sexual and Reproductive Health and also is a member of Penn Hillel and the Kite and Key Society . Ultimately Mayers says she wants a career as a midwife or a women's health nurse practitioner.

The research is interesting to Smith because she may want to pursue OB/GYN in her medical career. She once visited her mother’s friend when she was pregnant on bed rest, who lost her baby shortly thereafter. “That specific memory was jarring to me and is what made me particularly interested in this research opportunity,” Smith says, “because every mom is trying their hardest to maximize the chances that their baby will be healthy.”

She also wanted a summer experience that would allow her to directly interact with patients, seeking a position in which she could “understand what providers are doing, actually get to see the influence of the research being done.”

Smith also works at the Center for Autism Research at the Roberts Center for Pediatric Research at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia .

Smith says that conducting the patient survey was “extremely daunting” initially; she worried that the way she was speaking with the patients was inhibiting them from participating, and so she adjusted her script and her approach throughout the summer.

“Ellie is outspoken and very comfortable working with patients. Using her as a role model during the first few weeks was really helpful because I could model my attitude and my body language to be more like hers,” Smith says.

Pineles started her own research when she was an undergraduate at University of California, Irvine, so she wanted to provide the opportunity for Penn undergraduates. Mayers and Smith are the first undergraduate research assistants she has recruited since joining Penn Medicine two years ago from University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston. Pineles was at the University of Maryland for residency and the University of Southern California for her M.D. and Ph.D.

“The young students are so eager and interested, and it's a good way to get them involved and get started on something of their own,” Pineles says. “I always ask them to come up with their own project. What question can you ask with the data that we have that seems interesting? What do you want to know?”

Personal research interests

Mayers’ project is focused on who is giving the advice and how likely it is that patients will follow the advice depending on who is giving it. “Are we seeing a statistical difference in the wellbeing of the patient if it's a health care professional who prescribed it or if it's someone else?” Mayers says.

Smith’s project is looking into health equity, specifically regarding variance between different racial and ethnic groups’ agreement with and adherence to their prescribed activity recommendations. “My question is also social science-based,” Smith says. “I’m curious as to why these disparities might exist and how we might go about eliminating them.”

Both Mayers and Smith also have shadowed Pineles during her workday in the hospital, which has had an impact on them both. “I can’t imagine a more formative experience after my freshman year of college,” Smith says. “I've learned so much, especially shadowing and actually seeing patients in Labor and Delivery,” Smith says.

Mayers says that Pineles has been a “really excellent mentor” as an attending physician at Penn Med. “That's a connection that I hope I’m going to have for a really long time, and I hope to continue to build on,” Mayers says, “She’s someone that when I enter the workforce will look out for me and already is providing me with professional development opportunities.”

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• Linguistics personal statements

Personal Statement:Linguistics with Japanese 1

Language is an undeniable force; it surrounds us, it moves us, it passes information from generation to generation and without language human civilisation would stop in its tracks. However, what interests me more than anything about language is that it can personify who you are and the society you live in, and so by learning a language you are exposed to different viewpoints, which therefore exposes you to new ways of thinking and challenges you to adapt to different ideas. However, the Japanese language and society have always interested me in particular. One of the reasons for this is that modernity and tradition live side by side in Japan, as exampled by a Japanese woman I talked to on Skype. She believed in Shinto, the native Japanese religion which states that kami of living and non living beings live side by side by humans. This surprised and interested me because it was completely different to what I had learnt about other religions at school. However, it turns out that many different traditional practices are common in Japan, for example the festival Shichi-Go-San and sets of traditional social practices (such as bowing). I hope that by learning the language, I will be able to learn more about practices such as these and continue to challenge the social norms that I have learnt by living in the UK, and in doing so learn about Japan's. This will also help me to understand some of the cultural references in anime and manga that I take an interest in as a hobby.

Despite the differences between Japan and the UK, there are also similarities that also interest me because I did not even know they existed, and never knew that they would have existed before reading about them. This brings a sense of familiarity about the Japanese people, when all too often people emphasise the differences between the Japanese and the rest of the world. One example of this is the fact that immigrants of Indian origin live in Japan due to the up rise of the car industry in Japan, when people transferred there for work. This lead to the promotion of Indian culture in Japan and lead to the opening of Indian restaurants which is similar to what happened in the UK after World War Two.

Linguistics also seems a natural pairing to Japanese, especially seen as it can help me more fully understand their language and social customs and therefore enhance my Japanese learning. An example I found of this is that salarymen in Japan are often paid to go to hostess clubs by their companies (as reported by Allison, 1994). This allows them to talk informally about the hostesses and therefore open up to one another in a non hierarchical environment, which would just not be present in the workplace. This also reinforces their sense of being in a group by adhering to heteronormity, as within the clubs they are dominant over the women (although this is not to say that is the everyday practice of Japanese men). This helped me understand how the society of the workplace in Japan is different to ours and how this affects language. It also helped me understand that society is important in determining ways in which language is used, and so I would like to take this further at university. More generally, linguistics would also challenge me answer questions which have no straight forward answer such as; 'Is there a gay language?' or 'Does language influence the way we think, or does the way we think influence our language?'. Ambiguous questions like these were explored in my psychology classes and I enjoyed them because they helped me develop skills of critical argument, and dismiss that common explanations of behaviour should be accepted.

Overall, by completing a degree in Japanese and linguistics I hope to be in a position where I have challenged my own views on the world. I also hope to have developed language skills that I can then use for the benefit of other people, such as in a teaching career.

Universities Applied to:

• University of Newcastle (Linguistics with Japanese) - Offer (ABC or BBB)  Firm
• University of Manchester (Japanese Studies) - Offer (ABB)  Rejected offer
• University of Leeds (Japanese and Linguistics) - Rejection
• University of Sheffield (Japanese Studies) - Rejection

Grades Achieved:

• Geography (A2): A
• Biology (A2): B
• Psychology (A2): B
• Extended Project (AS): B
• Chemistry (AS): C

Originally when I started college I had my eyes set on a medical career, however after getting a bad grade in A-level Chemistry and a bit of research I decided I wanted to take Japanese with Linguistics as I had been interested in Japan since Y9, and Linguistics seemed to be an 'open subject', (in that it has no specific career attached to it) that would tie to a language nicely. I never thought my statement was perfect, though I think it communicated the interest I showed in Japanese as best as I could without having studied the subject before. I feel as though I was under prepared to write about Linguistics. If you're going to take a degree subject which isn't taught at A-level, I would advise that you read extensively around the subject, and then use this knowledge somewhere in your statement.

In my A2 year I also took an intensive 1 year course in GCSE Spanish (achieved grade A). I took this as Manchester requested I get a B in a modern foreign language GCSE as an entry requirement, and I didn't take a language GCSE before A-levels.

I only chose 4 universities as these were in close proximity to where I lived, and there are a limited number of universities which offer Japanese. If this is the case for you, I would recommend that you choose 2 courses at your favourite university which offers your language, putting the one with the highest grades as firm, and the second highest as insurance (if this is even possible).

General Comments:

Comments on the statement:.

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The congenital multiple organ malformation syndrome, Ritscher-Schinzel syndrome is an endosomal recyclinopathy

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Ritscher-Schinzel syndrome (RSS) is a congenital malformation syndrome characterized by cerebellar, cardiac, and craniofacial malformations and phenotypes associated with liver, skeletal and kidney dysfunction. The genetic cause of RSS remains to be fully defined, and limited information is available regarding the root cause of the multiple tissue phenotypes. Here, we combine genetic and clinical analysis in patient cohorts with in-cellulo analysis and in vivo phenotypic analysis of a mouse model of RSS, to identify novel causative genes for RSS within the Commander endosomal recycling pathway. We reveal how perturbed endosomal recycling reduces tissue-specific presentation of cell surface integral membrane proteins essential for kidney, bone and brain development and how this leads to major RSS-associated clinical phenotypes including proteinuria, skeletal malformation, and neurological impairment. Our data establishes RSS as a ‘recyclinopathy’ that arises from a dysfunction in the Commander endosomal recycling pathway.

Competing Interest Statement

The authors have declared no competing interest.

Funding Statement

FACS Facility, Wolfson Bioimaging Facility and Proteomics Facility funded by the Wellcome Trust (202904/Z/16/Z and 206181/Z/17/Z) and BBSRC (BB/R000484/1) at the University of Bristol. P.J.C. is supported by the Wellcome Trust (104568/Z/14/Z and 220260/Z/20/Z), the MRC (MR/L007363/1 and MR/P018807/1), the Lister Institute of Preventive Medicine, and the Royal Society Noreen Murray Research Professorship (RSRP/R1/211004). K.K is supported by JSPS KAKENHI (JP20K16897/JP23KJ1817/ JP23K14945/JP23KK0284), Japan Intractable Diseases (Nanbyo) Research Foundation, and Takeda Science Foundation. S.S. is supported by JSPS KAKENHI (JP20K21583), AMED under Grant Number (JP24ek0109646). I.H. is supported by the Platform Project for Supporting Drug Discovery and Life Science Research (Basis for Supporting Innovative Drug Discovery and Life Science Research (BINDS)) from AMED under Grant Number JP21am0101120 (Support No. 2754). K.A.F. is supported by Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) - NPRP11S-0110-180250. K.S is supported by JSPS KAKENHI (JP20H05700).

Author Declarations

I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained.

The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below:

Genetic and functional analysis using samples from study participants was approved by the institutional review boards at Nagoya City University (Approval Number: 70-00-0200), Sidra Medicine (Approval Number: IRB 1636872), and National Research Centre, Egypt (Approval Number: 20105).

I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals.

I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance).

I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable.

Data Availability

All data produced in the present study are available upon reasonable request to the authors.

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