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Sample Personal Statement for East Asian Studies
“What is the essential role of economics in a given country’s
social life? Why many proven theories of economics have failed to
apply to China’s economic conditions?” Those are just some of the
questions that I constantly pose to myself during the past few years
of my undergraduate program in economics at XX University of China.
Economics, as a rigorous system of generalized models that aim to be
universally applicable, has repeatedly proved its efficacy in
explaining general issues in economic life. But when applied to the
specific economic issues in a particular country or region, its value
becomes seriously undermined due to the distortions and interventions
resulting from such factors as historical tradition, social
conventions and political system. As a Chinese student, I have an
especially strong feeling about this situation.
In the special and complicated social environment which is China, the
lack of an in-depth understanding of the non-economic factors that
affect the present social and economic life of the country makes it
difficult for me to devote to the study of economics as my lifelong
career, even though my academic training is designed to prepare me for
such a career. I simply do not see much realistic significance or feel
any true motivation. Such a dilemma has led me to considerable
confusion, because my initial intention in choosing economics as my
major was to gain insights into many fundamental problems of China by
applying analysis of economics. It is such a delight for me to find
that the University of XX offers Master’s program in East Asian
Studies, which is characterized by a wide coverage of research
subjects and practical applicability of research findings. I believe
this is the very solution to my present dilemma and frustration, hence
my determined application for this Master’s program.
As early as my middle school education, I have developed a strong
interest in social studies and have demonstrated a correspondingly
outstanding academic performance in the relevant subjects — history,
political science, and philosophy. When I entered the senior middle
school, I chose to concentrate on humanities and with due efforts I
succeeded in becoming the top student in my grade. By the time I
graduated from the school, I was given the special privilege to enter
XX University of China, arguable the best university in China in
social sciences, with the exemption from the otherwise requisite
national university entrance examination. I chose to major in
economics, a subject that I then thought could enable me to make
direct contributions to the improvement of social welfare.
In the heavy and competitive coursework, I relied on diligent efforts
and effective study strategies to achieve a high overall GPA
(4.4)，with particularly satisfactory performance in the
specialty-related courses, which can be indicated by the scores in my
academic transcript. My solid academic foundation I have laid in
economics will definitely serve as a useful stepping stone leading me
to an equally outstanding performance in my proposed degree program in
East Asian Studies.
While concentrating on economics, I continued with my special love for
other subjects of social science and have tried, through
self-education, attending optional courses and even auditing, to
broaden my overall academic horizon by venturing into sociology, Asian
history and philosophy. I also learned how to search for useful
information out of a bewildering wealth of technical materials in the
library and to make full use of the library resources to carry out
some tentative research. In addition, I volunteered to take part in
research projects headed by some of my teachers as a way to maintain
my persistent interest in broad sociological issues and to improve my
ability to perform standard academic research.
Under such circumstances, it is easy to comprehend how excited I am
when I discover that the program of East Asian Studies will allow me
to combine my professional knowledge of economics with my research
interest in broad sociological issues in East Asia. As a student from
China, I have a deep understanding of China’s thousands of years of
historical and cultural traditions. I have a relatively deep
understanding about the social and economic realities of other East
Asian countries. My knowledge about the East Asia as a whole will be
my unique asset in undertaking this program in East Asian Studies.
While feeling very proud of the rapid social and economic development
of China over the past two decades, I am also deeply concerned about
some inherent social and economic issues of China such as
unemployment, the rich-poor polarity, the failure to fully implement
the rule of law, the slow progress in political reform, the unbalanced
social and economic development between the eastern and the western
regions of the country, the status of ethnic minorities, and loss of
traditional values and moral standards, etc. Underneath the increasing
material prosperity lie some alarming social problems. I would also
like to explore the successes and failures of traditional Eastern
Asian culture in the modernization campaigns. I am convinced that it
is pointless being simply worried about the existing problems and
blame people for those problems. It is more important for me to
acquire the necessary academic foundation whereby to search for
effective solutions to those problems.
I have long admired your esteemed university for its significant
achievements in the teaching and research of East Asian Studies. I
believe that in the academic environment of your university, which is
at once liberal and rigorous, and under the effective guidance of my
prospective supervisor, my interest and research potential will be
given the fullest development. In addition, your instructive teaching
will allow me to perform creative research concerning the subjects I
am interested in. My Oriental background, my experience of the social
and economic development of China—the largest East Asian country—over
the past decade, and my academic foundation across a diversity of
academic fields will all render me a competitive applicant for your
well-respected program. My only wish is that my application will be
seriously and favorably considered.
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