《留学申请书优秀8篇》

准备出国留学的申请，大家要特别重视起申请书的作用，一定确认自己的优势，进行阐述。学而不思则罔，思而不学则殆，下面是敬业的小编飞白帮大家收集整理的8篇留学申请书的相关文章，希望对大家有所启发。

留学申请书 篇1

1、仔细阅读说明书

很多小伙伴都说鼓起勇气开始动笔是写申请书最难的部分。你可能

如果你不遵守申请书的指导方针，招生官员可能 页数和字数限制也需要了解清楚，你必须要能够按照要求提交。

在你阅读了几遍说明并收集了笔记之后，你就可以开始创建一个大纲来组织你的申请书内容，并决定你想要传达什么信息。现在你可以准备开始写初稿了。

2、从引人注目的开头开始

伟大的作品是很难实现的，但如果你聪明的话，这是可能的。任何从事新闻工作的人都会告诉你，只要你做一个精彩的开头，你就能吸引任何读者的注意力。

招生官只会花很短的时间来查看你的申请书，所以你需要从一个生动的段落开始，让他们保持专注。导言必须向读者揭示你的文章是关于什么的，并引起他们的注意。你可以用一个轶事或一个有趣的故事开场，展示你的个性和性格中最优秀的部分，提供有助于招生官了解你的见解。

3、遵循自己内心的声音

大学致力于寻找真实并且独特的见解能力，所以不要试图围绕人们以前用过很多次的短语或想法来塑造你的文章，而要建立在你真正的信念之上。

申请论文是让招生官对你所选学科的决心和现有知识印象深刻的机会。确保它反映了你所有的技能和抱负，并显示出你选择的课程将如何帮助你实现未来的目标。

4、避免陈词滥调

当你开始仔细研究你的申请论文时，你可以多去看看一些优秀论文的例子并从中获得灵感。虽然这是一个很好的练习，但许多学生为了能够打动招生官员，让自己受到了过多的例子的影响，并使用了他们的内容，使得申请书变得陈词滥调。

记住，有成千上万的学生申请你所期望的大学，你需要让自己与他们区分开来。多次阅读你的文章，删除所有听起来像陈词滥调的句子，试着从一个更新颖的角度出发。

招生官员一年要处理数千份申请，所以他们会注意到那些给生活带来独特个性的申请是合乎逻辑的。尽情的让他们发现你的独特之处吧！

5、通过举例子来支撑你的想法和观点

一篇大学申请论文基本上是对你的思想如何运作以及你如何看待世界的一种微观缩影。如果你想让你的文章有说服力，你需要确保你写的每一段文字都是围绕这个观点展开的。花点时间弄清楚申请书和你的个人素质有什么关联，然后从一个特定的角度来写。

这意味着，每次你想表达一个想法时，你不只是简单地陈述一个事实，还包括具体的细节和例子来发展你的想法。你可以从你的个人经历中举出例子，写出真正激励你的因素，以及你是如何形成某种信念的。

6、坚持清晰合理的文章结构

创造力是写作中非常受赞赏的一个方面，但不要认为一篇有创意的文章不是一篇有组织的文章。显然，你不想写一大堆没有意义的词，所以一定要一次只写一个主题。

申请书的写作是有字数限制的，所以不要试图把一切都展现在你的文章中。在你真正开始写作之前制定一个文章的结构图，把你的文章分为三个部分（引言、正文和结论），并决定你想表达的主要观点。

7、找人校对你的申请书

你想写出一篇完美的大学申请书，所以你可能会读一遍又一遍，以确保没有拼写错误和语法错误。但过一段时间，你可能需要一个新的视角。最好让还没看过的人看看，因为他们很可能会发现你忽略掉的错误。

如果你让老师或家长校对你的文章，他们不仅能发现错误，而且还能检查文章是否像你的风格。在阅读了这么多的例子并遵循了所有的说明之后，很难判断你刚才写的是不是一个关于你到底是谁的陈述。争取别人的帮助，确保你的文章完美无缺。

留学申请书 篇2

I live in Pakistan-a country destroying itself with bombs,guns and governments blabber to find justifications for what it is going through;a country where a former president is murdered in public,where the nations constitution and parliament are suspended at the same time,and where the voice of a common man is unheard.

Since the last few years, I had aspired to become a doctor.The idea of "scalpels," "opened chests" and "sutures" had always intrigued me.And then it happened!The recent unprecedented events in my country wiped off the dust of disillusionment from my eyes;I lost my will to become a doctor.However,the turmoil in the country led me towards newspapers and news channels,and hence Politics.

As I involved myself into politics,I realized that it is all-embracive-wielding its way over social and economic life-it is the omnipotent of Pakistan.It can mobilize public opinion,gear up propaganda machinery,make or repeal laws and what not.Backed up by public opinion,supported by the majority of the legislators,armed with the means to keep the people in a state of ignorance,political power crosses the limits of dictatorial powers.Political power,like the most powerful intoxicant,makes the persons in power to forget social ethics,political morality and obligations.

Most of the learned youth in this country consider Politics to be "a refuge for the scoundrels" and this derogatory remark may be true if we look at the deceptive and degenerated type of politicians indulging in a dirty game.All these political parties are votaries of democracy,but the way they conduct themselves inside their own parties is nothing but senseless authoritarianism.Therefore a very few students choose to pursue Politics as a profession,but what they dont realize is that if we dont take a stand the system can never be changed.Thus,I want to study Politics so I can come back to my country and contribute what little I can do for my homeland and its people.If I can inspire even a single person,it would be worth it.The world today is growing global.We are now not only to think of our own nation but as and when we think of it,we have to keep the international perception in mind;consequently,I chose Politics with International Relations as one of my courses.

Studying in UK will breed a sense of individuality and self reliance.I would be able to interact with people from everywhere and get to know about their culture.This would not only open new horizons for me,but would also clear some preconceived notions one has about the other.I have always been an active participant of debates.I have participated in 3 Model UN conferences out of which I was awarded with the Best Delegate award in two. I was also one of the two students to be selected from my school to participate in the English Speaking Union ， Ive taken part in Parliamentary style debates too.Therefore I believe I can communicate effectively in public and language will not be a barrier in my education.Furthermore, I have worked as an internee at Al-Shifa Eye Hospital for a month in summers.Here I learnt how to deal with patients,use the Auto Ref, handle files and punctuality.We also campaigned to a remote area near Murree where we helped the doctors in examining the patients free of cost.Another experience which taught me a lot was when me and my fellow colleagues volunteered to paint walls for the SOS Childrens Village.In addition,I worked with SUNGI (NGO) where a group of 5 of us had to organize an event to pay tribute to 1000 Women for the Nobel Peace Prize.

I enjoy Literature,especially the works of Shakespeare,Tennessee Williams,Thomas Hardy and Andrew Marvell.Id be delighted to study in a challenging atmosphere where I can focus on my studies.I commit to my work and my ability to think out of the box,keenness for Politics and my perception of things,I understand,gives me an edge over others.I believe in myself,and if provided with an opportunity,Id make the university proud.

出国留学申请书 篇3

xx大学的各位领导：

您们好！

首先感谢你们能在百忙之中审阅我的个人留学申请书。

我叫xxx，是来自xxx中学的一名高三的理科生，即将面临高考，我期望透过贵校来实现我在xx大学学习的梦想。一向以来，xx大学对我都有很大的吸引力，有着悠久的历史，深厚的文化底蕴，丰富的教学资源，良好的学术氛围，强烈的时代气息，xx大学历经沧桑，饱经风雨，为祖国培养了许多优秀人才，取得了丰硕的科研成果，� 我十分渴望能在20xx年7月拿到贵校的录取通知书，成为贵校的一名学生，成为一名对社会、对祖国有用的人才。

进入高中以来，我不断为实现这一理想而努力学习文化知识，勤学善思。英语、理化是我的强势科目，英语成绩个性优异。我参加了今年的全国中学生英语创新大赛，并有幸进入复赛，虽然由于种。种原因和最后的大奖擦肩而过，但参加竞赛的这种过程使我的潜力得到了很大的提升。

除了学习成绩优秀以外，我还有多方面的特长，我参加了校园的乐队，业余时间我喜欢拉二胡，学习二胡，不仅仅丰富了我的课余生活，而且升华了我对音乐的见解，在二胡的世界中，有奔腾豪放的《赛马》，有坚定有力，追溯光明的《光明行》，也有悲愤哀怨的《江河水》，我用心参与文体活动。初中时博兴县的才艺表演大赛中获得优秀节目奖。

我不仅仅爱好计算机，在业余时间，我参加了教育部组织的计算机等级考试并取得了一级B证，而且经常用心参与体育锻炼，强健体魄，增强毅力。除此之外，我热情、开朗，乐于助人，阳光、向上，所以高中以来，我年年被评为为"三好学生"。

但是，这些成绩只能代表我的过去，梦在心中，路在脚下，站在人生的十字路口，我选取了xx大学，我期望xx大学能敞开怀抱，给我带给一个大发展的平台，期望各位领导和老师能理解我的申请，衷心的感谢！

此致

敬礼！

申请人：xx

20xx年xx月xx日

留学申请书 篇4

尊敬的先生/女士：

你好，我叫xx，是xx大学的老师。也是xx学生的班主任，我非常高兴地向你推荐我的学生xx，并且相信它能够出色的完成在贵校硕士课程的学习。

自从他进入大学以来， 常常表现出与年纪不相符的成熟和稳重。由于班上的大部分同学都来自其他省市，这第一次的出门离家的经历使得他们需要一个相当长的过程适应这个完全陌生的新环境。但我注意到，相比之下，xx同学很快的调整好了心态，积极主动地融入到这个新环境之中。

大学的课程与中学有很大不同，偏重在自学能力，而且专业课程的学习要求另一种思维方式。因此，在大一、大二，很多同学都表现出了不同程度的不适应，不知道该如何学习大学的课程。但是，xx同学适应能力很强，很快摸清了工商管理课程的关键，在很短的时间里就掌握了学习方法，而且其他任课老师都表示他对于新知识的接受能力很强，新学的知识他马上就能消化，当堂就能理解掌握。

可以这么说，班里的部分学生是拿着极其出色的高考成绩走进了我们学校，而xx同学凭借的则是他极强的自学能力和良好的学习方法。这一点，在每学期的期末考试上得到了很好地体现，尤其是在专业英语的期末考试中取得极其优秀的成绩，也是班里少数顺利通过英语四六级考试的同学。他对学习英语的热情和毅力是最让我感动的。

除了学习，xx同学还校里足球队的主力队员，积极的参加校里组织的各项活动，有极强的组织和领导才能。他经常到我办公室或给我打电话，一起讨论他学习和生活中所遇到的问题，希望取得更好的学习成绩。概括的说xx同学是一个好学生。

我希望贵校能给他一个机会，让他在贵校严谨的学风和良好的学习环境中继续发挥他的特长，进一步提高专业知识，拓宽视野。望贵校考虑它的申请。

留学申请书 篇5

尊敬的领导：

您好！

我是一个天资聪颖，活泼可爱，知书达礼，善解人意，爱好广泛，才华横溢的有教养的女孩。步入成年的我即将告别我难忘骄傲的母校——辽宁省台安县高级中学（省级示范性高中），奔赴我心仪已久的X大学。此时此刻，我的心情异常激动。面对梦想学校的领导们，我郑重地向您介绍一下我的个人情况：

我自幼成长在一个书香门第。在这个大家庭中，我受到了良好的教育启蒙，养成了高度的自立自强，奋发向上的生活习惯。从祖辈到父辈，书香之气，一代胜于一代，在台安地区小有名气。父辈哥们成为X网的“董氏三杰”。继承父辈的基因，我 有数十篇文章发表于X等网络刊物上，常常受到文联作家协会的作家们的好评。

由于家父是辽宁省特级教师，所以，相对而言，我的启蒙大学转学手续教育就比其他同龄人优越得多。从上小学开始，爸爸就对我实施了科学训练。我曾是班级的班长，中队的中队长，少先大队的大队长，环保协会的会长，小记者站站长。虽说身兼数职，但丝毫没有影响我的学业，相反却极大地促进了我的学业。我的各科成绩均名列前茅，而且爱好广泛，体音美全面发展，萨克斯、葫芦丝都曾是我的拿手绝活，电子报刊获省级一等奖。多次获得国家、省、市级书画作品一、二等奖。值得称道的是，在小学毕业生升学考试中，我以全县第一名的好成绩升入县重点中学。在中学期间，历任班级团书记兼班长，主管班级全面工作，成为班主任的得力助手。升入高中后，三年来一直担任班级想去国外上大学的团书记，全面领导学生开展工作，出版报，给同学授课，学生家长会议，和国际交流学生联谊等诸多事宜我都成为其中的主角。用老师和同学的话说：“董婷婷，你真是当年的穆桂英，阵阵少不下呀！”在学生及其家长心目中都占有瞩目的地位，一举一动具有广泛的影响力。可以说是一位不可多得的才女能人。

在我心中，一直有着这样的梦想——那就是有一天能成为爸爸的学生，聆听他的教诲，像他的学生那样，步入理想的高校，走出国门，为台安争光。那些师哥师姐们常常在国外为爸爸发来问候，也常常过问我的情况。这对于我来说，是巨大的鞭策和鼓励。我一定会尽百倍千倍的。努力，实现我的理想。X大学就是我目前最近的理想。

一流的心态造就一流的人生，理想的大学铸就祖国的未来。我坚信，选择我是您的明智。我会让X大学 因为未来会有一个出色的科学家董婷婷在北京理工诞生。那时，尊敬的各位领导，您就是伯乐，您就是共和国的功臣！你的选择不会错，我的未来不是梦！

有着深厚的文学底蕴的我，会利用我的速读速记的本领，轻松地驾驭键盘，用我超常的智慧谱写我辉煌的青春序曲。科学在发展，人才靠竞争。我愿以我的充足的个人实力挺进我心仪的X大学，让我们地区的更多的拨尖人才涌入X大学，成为X大学的后续力量，把延安精神发扬光大，让北京理大大学成为共和国的脊梁支撑。

哪里有追求，哪里就有我；哪里有发展，哪里就有董婷婷！

综上所述，我郑重地向X大学的各位英明决策的领导推荐自己，一个卓越的具有非凡潜能的董婷婷在向您招手。她会让您看到X大学美好的未来，她会让X大学校园焕发青春的风采，更会让X大学展示自强不息，奋发有为的新一代。

鸿志万里投理工，

谋求发展抒豪情。

巾帼莫让须眉志，

振兴中华扬美名。

XXX

20XX年XX月XX日

出国留学的申请书 篇6

Personal Statement

Program:20th Century American Literature

“The apparition of these faces in the crowds:/Petals on a wet,black bough.”My first reaction on reading Ezra Pounds 1916 poem In a Station of the Metrowas that of outrage. Is it a poem by any definition? If it is a poem,how is itto be interpreted and understood? And finally,what are the implications thatthis poem has produced for the twentieth- century American literature?

My initial bewilderment subsided as I realized that there must a raisondetre behind this apparently bizarre literary phenomenon. What I should do isto put this poem into the context of the American literary evolution andliterary history. At least,the poem raises an important challenge. It requiresme to understand some of the crucial changes that must be happening around theturn of the last century.

My subsequent studies indicate that this poem represents part of the largerliterary movement known as Imagism,which included such theorists andpractitioners as T. E. Hume,Hilda Doolittle,Amy Lowell,Ezra Pound,etc. Themovement was a direct reaction to the late Victorian poetry,which had becomeextremely artificial,emptily “rhetorical” and “ornamental”。 To address suchproblems,it was necessary to loosen the metrical pattern and bring it backcloser to the rhythms of ordinary speech. Consequently,the “imagist” movementhad a great deal to do with promoting experiments with free verse,advocatingamong many creeds the need “to allow absolute freedom in the choice of subject”and “to produce poetry that is hard and clear,never blurred nor indefinite.”When Archibald MacLeish said in his Ars Poetica (1926) that “A poem should notmean / But be”,he had similar concerns in his mind. Imagism,minor as it is asa literary movement,triggered important changes in literary criticism,introducing the notion of internal studies as embodied by New Criticism tosubstitute the conventional critical practices.

The foregoing incident is but one instance that happened in my study ofliterature. For a Chinese student like me,it has at least two importantimplications. First,a literary work must not be treated in isolation. Itinteracts with what is written before it and after it and this historicalperspective is one way in which we may add to our interpretation. Second,it isimportant to be acquainted with relevant literary theories when interpreting agiven literary work.

A student majoring in English (& International Trade) at the EnglishDepartment of x University,I grew increasingly interested in literature duringthe second half of my undergraduate program. Of course,I was trained to be astudent of English language in the first place and as such I received thestandard academic training typical of a student of English major. For the firsttwo years,I primarily had intensive trainings in basic English language skillsby attending courses in advanced listening,writing,reading and oralcommunication. My distinguished academic performance is demonstrated by the fourconsecutive first-class and second-class scholarships I won from 1999 to 2003.In 2001,I was awarded the second prize in the campus-wide English compositioncontest and in 2002 the first prize in the translation contest. Anotherindicator of my scholastic achievements is the honor of Outstanding Graduate ofxProvince that I received by the time I completed my undergraduate program.

I started reading English novels as soon as I began my undergraduate program.But I primarily used it as a way to increase my vocabulary and to improve myreading comprehension. Since the second year in my undergraduate program,ourcurriculum included five major courses related to Anglo-American literature andculture:Selected Readings in English Literature,Selected Readings in AmericanLiterature,Introduction to European Culture,The History of English andAmerican Literature,Selected Readings in English & American Fictions. Thosecourses provided me with a cultural and historical framework with which tounderstand Anglo-American literature and to know their interrelationships. Igrew familiar with major authors and works in British and American literatureand gained tentative knowledge of western critical approaches. Books likeLiterary Theory-An Introduction by Terry Eagleton and 20th Literary Criticismedited by David Lodge proved somewhat esoteric to me,but they allowed me torealize that there are important critical approaches very different from thosein Chinese literature and different from conventional ones in western literatureitself.

My defining interest in British and American Literature led me to write aboutT. S. Eliot and his poetry in my thesis Dull Roots Stirred by the SpringRain-Meaning Through Imagery in T. S. Eliots “Waste Land”(available uponrequest). In this thesis,I examined different groups of imagery that T. S.Eliot employed to externalize his central ideas and emotions. I also analyzedthe theoretical justifications for his virtually excessive use of imagery bytracing it to his theory of “Objective Correlative” that he proposed in Hamletand His Problems,a critical essay contained in The Sacred Wood (1920).

In an extracurricular event,students in our department put on Shakespearesdrama Romeo and Juliet and I was the performer-director. Based on my ownunderstanding of the play,I changed its tragic ending and made it a happy oneby allowing the hero and the heroine to be resurrected and reunited. I believethat a love of such intensity should be fulfilled,otherwise it would be toopathetic.

In the last semester of my undergraduate program,I was recruited by myuniversity to teach the course Appreciation of American Literature to studentsof non-English major. By applying my computer skills,I developed a series ofcourseware,covering different periods of American literature and illustrated bygraphics and diagrams to make an otherwise difficult course interesting and easyto understand.

Nevertheless I am fully aware that my knowledge of American literature is farfrom sufficient. I need to receive more advanced education for the sake of abetter career development. Therefore I plan to apply for a Graduate program inEnglish at the University of x,concentrating on modern and contemporaryAmerican literature. Your program is nationally recognized (listed as among thetop 10 in x according to x) and it attacks me for its quality,small size andclose mentorship. I am interested in your well-designed curriculum whoseContemporary American Literature,American Literary History,Special Topics inAmerican Literature,American Literature 1865-1914,1914-1960. Among your 13professors,I would like to receive instructions from x,x,x. x,and x. Ibelieve I am well-prepared and genuinely motivated for your program,which willteach me the knowledge and expertise nowhere to be sought in my own country.

留学申请书 篇7

尊敬的X领导：

您好！我叫XX，是一名来自山西的高三学生。很感激您能在百忙之中来阅读我的自荐信。

小的时候就听大人们谈起过“X”这个被当时的我赋予了很丰富的联想的名字。年龄还小的我只是觉得这个名字给人一种很威风、大气的感觉，渴望着有朝一日也能成为它的一分子。随着年龄的增长，我对X有了更多的认识：不同于其他的学校，X始终保持一种严谨治学的态度；无论何时，X都能为学子提供最清静、最不受丝毫干扰的学习环境。X坐落于素有“人间天堂”美誉的杭州，与北京上海等地的高校相比，有着不相伯仲乃至更高一筹的教学水平，却比他们少一份喧嚣，多一份宁静。

看到“X”的X校训时，心底的触动让我更加坚定了“我要成为X人”的决心。X坚持着思想教育和专业知识培养兼顾、理论与实践相结合的理念，注重培养学生的求知创新精神。所

当然，选择X并不仅仅是由于X无可比拟的优越性，还有一个原因便是自身的性格因素。我是一个活泼开朗、阳光率直的女孩，对于新鲜的事物总是充满了好奇，喜欢在各种各样的挑战中不断超越自己。我爱音乐从黑白琴键下淙淙流出的写意，也爱篮球场上行云流水的酣畅淋漓。所以在高中时，我担任班中的文艺委员、学校的音乐社社长以及女子篮球队队长。虽然我是女生，但我对电脑也有着非同寻常的喜爱，在初中毕业后的暑假，我特意去了电脑学校学习了VisualBasic编程语言。在很小的时候，我就能掌握比同龄人多很多的字词。凭借着语言天赋，我又在假期中学习了大学韩语教材的第一册。对我来说学习永远是件快乐的事，因为我总能在其中体味到那种不断充实自己、超越自己的满足感。

我是一个很爱玩也很会玩的女孩。但无论在玩的时候多么无拘无束，一到了学习时，会马上静下心来，心无旁骛地投入到学习中，从小学到高中，一直成绩优异，从不偏科。而在所有的学科中，我最倾心的是数学。我喜欢在数字、符号、字幕之间寻找那些微小的规律；喜欢在各种各样的图形中搜寻出各个部分的关系；我喜欢遇到难题时的棋逢对手之感；喜欢攻克难题后“百万军中取上将首级”的豪迈之感。虽然从未学习过奥数，但我仍在初中时获得了“希望杯”数学邀请赛的三等奖，以及高中时全国数学联赛的二等奖。

我喜欢钻研问题时那种专注、纯净的感觉。我相信，只有X才是能让求知之鹰自由翱翔的朗朗晴空。

同时，我也对自己的能力充满信心。我曾多次在班级、学校的活动中担任主持人；还曾在假期中做过家教，定期地组织社团活动等。踏踏实实地在一次又一次的实践活动中不断提升自己的能力。

当然，想要成为一名X人，思想品德是更重要的一方面。妈妈从小就教导我：无论怎样，首先要学会做一个纯粹的人。学习生活中，我会尽自己的力量热情地帮助周围的同学，认真负责地为集体做好本职工作，积极地在歌咏比赛、运动会上为班争光；在家时，我会在学习之余帮助妈妈洗衣做饭，做各种各样的家务；假期里，我还会组织同学一起去福利院开展志愿活动……“求实创新”是我的座右铭。并将伴随我一生。

所以我热切地盼望这有朝一日胸前能佩戴起那枚意蕴深厚的X校徽，抱着书本漫步在X优美的校园内，庄严地对自己说“我是X人”！

希望您能通过我的申请。如果我的申请未被通过，我会认真地找出自己的不足并虚心改正，努力在明年的高考中考出理想的成绩，步入X的校园。

出国留学的申请书 篇8

Dear x,I was the only sixteen-year-old in my first university classroom. It wasone of those defining moments where I was painfully aware of how different I wasfrom the people around me. I had not yet graduated from high school, and yetthere I sat in a class on personal and social adjustment, feeling an oddcombination of excitement and anxiety. I distinctly recall my heart pounding andmy irrational fear that, at any moment, someone would inform me that I did notbelong there. I was considered an oddity at my high school as the only studentin the history of the school to attend secondary and postsecondary institutionssimultaneously as a fulltime student. I was reminded of the fact not throughvast support from my schools faculty, but through blatant vocaldiscouragement.

In an environment where a large majority of residents live below thepoverty level, it must have seemed strange that I would attend university earlyinstead of applying for employment. The initial hardships of my first year incollege did anything but deter me from wanting to study anthropology. Indeed,the adversity I experienced only succeeded in intensifying it. My high schoolclasses were rather cold and clinical in their teachings, maintaining a firmadherence to stating and memorizing facts with little or no attempt to havestudents engage with the material. My interest in culture and my naturalresponse to analyze, question, and participate was stifled behind statestandards. In contrast, my fascination with culture was able to proliferate inpostsecondary schooling as a result of a liberal arts education and my ownproposed course of study.

My early education in anthropology started with a historical glance atcultural theory through works of influential pioneers like Malinowski and Mead.I became fascinated by the theoretical framework involved in culturalexploration, especially how cultural beliefs and values play a role in the everyday lives of individuals. During a class on ritual and spectacle, I droveheadlong and enthusiastically into ideas of ritual importance and its impact onsocieties. The subjects ranged from the roles of wedding rites to funerals, andI analyzed certain ceremonies and assessed the meaning of their variouscomponents. Another class taught by the same professor took ritual metaphor andapplied it to narrative. The course addressed European stories from ananalytical perspective, and I examined well-known folktales to yield theirritual symbology. I found myself impassioned by the idea of exploring beyond thesuperficial guise of narrative and seeing it as a meaningful way of expressing asocietys basic beliefs and ideologies. Immersing myself in the works of otherinspiring anthropologists, I examined texts on narrative form and nature, ritualmetaphor and the importance of storytelling in culture.

My interest in storytelling resulted in the subject of my undergraduatethesis. I decided to focus on American narration, specifically concentrating onexpressions of masculinity in mens magazines. It discussed dialogue inmagazines as well as in teen male group settings, focusing on theconceptualization and presentation of gender in both circumstances. Myoverarching approach examined how masculine identity in the media has evolvedover the last century. I further presented how manly behavior was glamorized inthe text from three contemporary mens magazines, and juxtaposed it with anethnographic work about how young men communicate and assert their genderroles.

My thesis topic is slightly removed from what I would like to study ingraduate school, but the process familiarized me with the prerequisites requiredfor social research. These included a delay in progress by routine realities,such as gaining IRB approval to interview and observe minors, as well as beingforced to dig through the vast sea of material on womens magazines just toyield the limited data done on mens publications. The college that I attendedalso emphasized the importance of organizing ones own curriculum during juniorand senior years. It was an unrestricted program in which the student consultswith sponsors and plans his or her own course of study. This program approachedthe undergraduate thesis with the same level of intensity and professionalism asa graduate dissertation.

For my thesis, I assessed my topic and its requirements, efficientlyplanning my eventual course of study. I organized tutorials with my sponsors andestablished necessary reading lists that would contribute to my progress.Tutorial discussions allowed me to gain a broad scope of the research processand solidify my thesis into working theoretical, cultural and ethnographicpapers. I earned permission to conduct fieldwork at a local Boys and Girlsclub, and was approved to interview and observe the interaction between teenagemales at the club. For six months, I listened to the things they considered tobe important aspects of masculinity and used my time there as one example ofteenage suburban expression of larger societal gender roles. I was able tofurther gain a taste of the graduate dissertation process when I successfullydefended my undergraduate thesis during an oral presentation to my sponsors andan outside examiner.

The liberal arts education I received has given me the means to approachsocial anthropology in a perceptive manner and to consider the variousintricacies that influence and shape certain aspects of culture. These wereabilities that grew and thrived in an educational environment that allowed me tothink critically about topics in anthropology and choose my own course of study.I emerged from college not with textbook facts floating around in my psyche, butwith questions, thoughts and theories. I believe it is my undergraduate liberalarts background that provides me with an aberrant and perceptive approach tocultural anthropology.

During my hiatus between undergraduate and graduate education, I was ableto step back from the research that captivated me for two years in order toreevaluate my goals in anthropology. While my break did not include leavingschool for an extended period, I used the time to once again study broadly inthe social sciences. By taking courses in psychology and other areas ofanthropology separate from my undergraduate focus, I challenged myself furtherthrough exposure to different material and contrasting teaching styles, therebygaining an educated and informed understanding of my intended course of studyfor graduate school. My extensive consideration of anthropology and thecombination of both my undergraduate and post-baccalaureate education has givenme the means to approach graduate school in a thoughtful and perceptive manner.Additionally, this hiatus gave me the ability to devote necessary attention tochoosing graduate schools that will both challenge my views of cultural identityand allow me to excel in anthropology.

Yours sincerely,