Comment Form - v1

My decision to apply for a Ph.D. program at University of Utah is driven by my aspirations to pursue a research career in the field of Computer Science. This field interests me because of its formal and rigorous mathematical nature and it’s wide-ranging applications. I believe that a strong and thorough background as well as complete awareness of recent developments is essential for an intellectually stimulating and satisfying research career. Towards realizing this objective at an esteemed department such as yours, I am applying to your university. An objective analysis of my background, interests, strengths and weaknesses lead me to believe that I will be successful both as a Ph.D. candidate and later as a researcher in an academic milieu.

Academics have always been my stronghold. My inquisitive nature and a strong desire to ingrain the fundamental principles as well as techniques of any subject of study have enabled me to achieve an excellent academic record. More importantly, it has inculcated in me the methodology of scientific inquiry as reflected in my rigorous and analytic approach to problem solving. This is further evident from my performance at higher-secondary school level and at ****. The excellent course structure at **** has given me a sound and broad conceptual basis, which, I believe, is essential for a research career. Through many projects I have undertaken in a stimulating academic environment at **** where learning and research go hand-in-hand, I have found that I have a deep interest in research work, a strong motivation and an aptitude for the type of problem solving it involves.

Over the past two years at ****, I have cultivated a keen interest in the field of Asynchronous Circuits, Formal Design Methods in VLSI. I have furthered my knowledge in this field by reading various related articles and am actively involved in research in this area. I have also opted for a graduate level course IC Design Technology in Spring 96. I am currently working on Asynchronous Communication between Synchronous Finite State Machines for my B.Tech. Thesis under the guidance of Prof. yyy. I am working towards implementing communication primitives such as rendezvous, probe etc. at gate level in VLSI circuits. I am investigating different interconnect design methodologies which can be implemented as delay-insensitive asynchronous circuits. In the first stage of this work, we have proposed a new protocol to implement asynchronous rendezvous communication and a method to implement this protocol using asynchronous circuits. I firmly believe that this project is a sufficient demonstration of my ability to conduct original and independent research.

I have strong reasons to believe that I possess the temperament for teaching, a good power of speech and a thorough and extensive knowledge of my field: traits required for a successful teaching career. I have worked as a teaching assistant in a Nation-wide teaching program for two years. I have also been lecturer and tutor for three UNIX workshops conducted by CSEA, **** which were attended by more than 250 people every time. This experience developed and honed my skills of organizing and communicating my thoughts in front of a responsive and critical audience.

I have always attempted to gain insight into the problem at hand and tackle it from different angles. I am well aware that a career in research calls for personal commitment and personal sacrifice of time, leisure and immediate reward. However, my desire to realize my full potential and to make an original contribution to the field of Computer Science drive me to pursue a research career, which, I believe, will give me intellectual satisfaction, gratification of becoming a contributor to knowledge and personal rewards of learning and discovery. I not only possess the intellectual ability, sound preparation and the strong motivation for research but also consider myself mature, friendly to work with and open to criticism: qualities essential for group research.

I believe that a symbiotic relationship between the student and his department is of utmost importance for a successful graduate program. Considering the pioneering work going on at your department in the field of my interest, your department is an ideal choice for an exciting research career. At the same time, I am confident of contributing originally to the ongoing work at your department. By working under the guidance of distinguished faculty at your department, I am sure; I will be able to exploit my potential to the fullest.

Keeping this in mind, I look forward to joining University of Utah.

Statement Of Purpose

A Statement Of Purpose written by a student hoping to be admitted in University of Utah

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A Statement of Purpose written by a student applying for admission to the Phd program at the University of Utah.

SOP PhD, University of Utah

SOP or statement of purpose is an essay required by the admissions committee of the universities along with your application describing your personal story and the reasons for your interest in the program.

What is SOP?

Here’s how you can start - ‘My decision to apply for a Ph.D. program at University of Utah is driven by my aspirations to pursue a research career in the field of Computer Science. This field interests me because of its formal and rigorous mathematical nature and it’s wide-ranging applications. I believe that a strong and thorough background as well as complete awareness of recent developments is essential for an intellectually stimulating and satisfying research career. Towards realizing this objective at an esteemed department such as yours, I am applying to your university. An objective analysis of my background, interests, strengths and weaknesses lead me to believe that I will be successful both as a Ph.D. candidate and later as a researcher in an academic milieu.’

What is a good sop for a PhD in computer science?

I was first introduced to computers through the elementary programming courses in my school days. In my high school I took Computer Science as an additional subject. This fascination for computers lead me to the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the ****, one of India’s foremost educational institutes. The course structure, a good balance of theory and programming laboratories, and excellent faculty introduced me to the stimulating field of research. I got a complete exposure to the core fields of Computer Science and Mathematics. I started to enjoy the problem solving techniques and appreciate the pleasure of success after endless hours of frustrating work. All this has lead me to decide on a career of research and academics.

Ten years from now I envisage myself doing active academic research in a good university. I believe that teaching a subject is the best way of learning the subject. Hence my immediate goal is to enter the Ph. D. program at {Indiana University}. My main fields of interest are Distributed Systems, Real Time Systems and Concurrent Programming Languages}. Presently I am doing my B. Tech project under Dr. yyy on implementation of the Communicating Reactive Processes (CRP) model. In the first stage of the project I have studied the various distributed algorithms for Communicating Sequential Processes implementation and other related fairness issues. An impossibility result regarding the problem has been proved and an algorithm has been proposed. I am planning to shape this into a journal paper.

As part of the Operating Systems course I did a study of the Group Communication protocols in the Amoeba Distributed Operating System. Next semester I am crediting a post-graduate elective—Foundations of Parallel Computation. I am a student member of the IEEE computer society. I am also interested in Computer Architecture and had presented a home paper on the 6811 Motorola microcontroller.

My decision to apply to Indiana University is based on a careful examination of the department brochure, World Wide Web information and talking to my guide Dr. yyy. Indiana has a strong faculty in Programming Language Design. Entering the Ph. D. program here will be ideal for me.
My academic record reflects that I have always been a consistent performer. In school I was always in the top five of the class and in the Secondary Certificate Examination I stood second in my school. I secured 126th rank in the All India Joint Entrance Examination for ****. At the end of my first year I was ranked 10th in the institute. After seven semesters I have a CGPA of 8.83/10.00 and I am in the top ten of my class.

I have been a tutor for a first year introductory course in Computers. This involved guidance of the students in the programming assignments and correction of papers. I enjoyed the experience and would love to teach. I also have been an organizer in UNIX workshops held in our department. I am a hardworking, steady and quiet person. My final aim is to be blissfully involved in Distributed Systems and Programming Languages. I hope I can join Indiana University and achieve my dream.

A Statement Of Purpose written by a student hoping to be admitted in Indiana University

A Statement of Purpose written by a student applying for admission to the Phd program at Indiana University

SOP PhD, Indiana University

Here’s how you can start - ‘I was first introduced to computers through the elementary programming courses in my school days. In my high school I took Computer Science as an additional subject. This fascination for computers lead me to the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the ****, one of India’s foremost educational institutes. The course structure, a good balance of theory and programming laboratories, and excellent faculty introduced me to the stimulating field of research. I got a complete exposure to the core fields of Computer Science and Mathematics. I started to enjoy the problem solving techniques and appreciate the pleasure of success after endless hours of frustrating work. All this has lead me to decide on a career of research and academics.’

**GOALS** 
I am applying to Princeton University for admission to the Ph.D. program in (Computer Science}. My research interests lie in the field of Theoretical Computer Science. More specifically, I am interested in the Design and Analysis of Algebraic, Combinatorial and Number Theoretic Algorithms as well as their applications. Other areas that interest me are Theory of Computation, Complexity Theory and Geometric Algorithms.
My long-term goal is to be actively involved with research and teaching in an area that I love. I look forward to such an involvement as a faculty member at a reputed university. A Ph.D. in one of the aforementioned areas would be the crucial first step towards this goal.

**PERSONAL-BACKGROUND** 
Both my parents have done their Ph.D.’s in Mathematics and my father is an active researcher in Applied Mathematics. This had inculcated in me a love for Mathematics right from my school days. On the other hand, I entered school in the same year in which the “personal computer revolution” began in India; therefore I have, in some sense, “grown up with computers”. My interest in Theoretical Computer Science is the combined result of these two influences.

**MATHS-BACKGROUND** 
While in high school, I was involved with the Mathematical Olympiad program and this culminated in my being awarded a silver medal at the 34th International Mathematical Olympiad. As a result of this involvement, I was exposed to basic Combinatory, Graph Theory and Number Theory at an early age. Moreover, the intensive training-cum-selection program I underwent has honed my skills and bolstered my confidence in problem solving. It has also whetted my appetite for problem solving and made me a regular reader of the Problem sections of periodicals like American Mathematical Monthly and Mathematics Magazine.

I was chosen, by the National Board of Higher Mathematics, as one of 18 undergraduates all over India to participate in their nurture program, in parallel with my formal undergraduate training. The resulting three-year-long interaction with the School of Mathematics of the prestigious Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), has given me a substantial background in advanced mathematics (including Group, Ring and Field Theory, Linear Algebra, Real and Complex Analysis, Measure Theory and Topology). As part of this year’s program, I am studying Commutative Algebra, Algebraic Number Theory and Functional Analysis.
I hope to put my mathematical background to good use in my research work.

**CS-BACKGROUND** 
I am currently a senior undergraduate student of the **** majoring in Computer Science and Engineering. I had chosen this department for its academically stimulating atmosphere, excellent faculty and broad spectrum of courses, many of which have a strong mathematical flavor.
Now, having acquired a firm foundation in the various areas of Computer Science, I am sure that my forte is Theoretical Computer Science. I find that my motivation, as well as my aptitude, is the strongest in this field: I have secured the highest possible grade (AA) in all the five theory courses that I have taken at **** namely, Discrete Structures, Data Structures and Algorithms, Design and Analysis of Algorithms, Theory of Computation} and Operations Research.

I have further enhanced my Theory background by opting for theoretical topics in my
{Seminar} (junior thesis) and my {B.Tech.\Project} (senior thesis). The former involved studies in Commutative Algebra and Computational Algebra, while the latter has involved Combinatorial Algorithms, Graph Theory and Randomized Algorithms and will soon involve Approximation Algorithms and applications of graph partitioning to VLSI design.

**RESEARCH-PLANS** 
I find Algorithms and Complexity theory the most appealing areas of Computer Science because of their many beautiful results together with their numerous applications to real-life problems in Databases, Operating Systems, Graphics, Compilers and so on. I am fascinated with the enormous potential for research in these areas which has been revealed to me in my {Seminar} and {B.Tech\project} and that is what I envisage myself doing a decade from now.
Since problem solving is the most enjoyable and rewarding experience I have ever known, and since it is an integral part of a career in research and teaching in Theoretical Computer Science, I am convinced that such a career is the right choice for me. I am eager to contribute something to a subject that has given me so much joy. I am also enthusiastic about being involved in its teaching, as teaching a subject enhances one’s own understanding of it.

**WHY-THIS-UNIV** 
Princeton University has one of the world’s very best Theoretical Computer Science groups. An opportunity to interact with this group would be a golden one for any budding theoretician.
From a careful study of the department’s brochures and the advice of the faculty at ****, I have realized that Princeton can provide me with a perfect environment for directing my mental resources towards independent research. I am confident of meeting the high standards of Princeton; my active involvement and enthusiasm in my undergraduate studies, which is amply reflected in my being ranked {first in the institute}, should serve as proof of my possessing the necessary qualities.

**CONCLUDING** 
Keeping in mind my long-term goals, my immediate objective is to work towards a Ph.D. in Computer Science. I am aware of the kind of dedication, perseverance and resolve I need to have for a fruitful career in research and teaching. I believe my background has not only qualified me technically but also given me the right mind-set for such a career.

I look forward to joining as a graduate student in your department and having a long and mutually profitable association with Princeton University.

A Statement Of Purpose written by a student hoping to be admitted in Princeton University

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A Statement of Purpose written by a student applying for admission to the Phd program at Princeton University

SOP PhD, Princeton University

Here’s how you can start - ‘I am applying to Princeton University for admission to the Ph.D. program in (Computer Science}. My research interests lie in the field of Theoretical Computer Science. More specifically, I am interested in the Design and Analysis of Algebraic, Combinatorial and Number Theoretic Algorithms as well as their applications. Other areas that interest me are Theory of Computation, Complexity Theory and Geometric Algorithms. My long-term goal is to be actively involved with research and teaching in an area that I love. I look forward to such an involvement as a faculty member at a reputed university. A Ph.D. in one of the aforementioned areas would be the crucial first step towards this goal.’

**Statement of long-term goals** 
After carefully considering my aptitude, interests, the nature of my training and my ultimate professional ambition, I have decided to pursue a {Doctoral degree} in Computer Science, in my fields of interest {Computer Graphics} and {Computational Geometry}, ultimately leading to a career in teaching and research. As a Statement of purpose of my graduate study, I describe here my academic background, research interests and career goals.

**Academic achievements** 
I have excelled in academics at every stage of my education. In the twelve years of my schooling, I have always been ranked first or second in my class. I stood $111th out of 100,000 candidates in the highly competitive examination for admission to the undergraduate program at the ****. In the Regional Mathematics Olympiad 1990, I was ranked 6th in my home state of Maharashtra.

**Brief description of field of study** 
The excellent undergraduate program at the *** not only provided me with a strong foundation of Computer Science fundamentals, but also exposed me to various fields of Computer Science. I have always been interested in problems involving visualization. At ***, this led to an inclination towards Computer Graphics and Computational Geometry. I substantiated my knowledge in these areas by choosing graduate level electives in Advanced Computer Graphics and Geometric Algorithms. I am currently working on my yearlong B.Tech Project (senior thesis) titled { Triangulations in 3 Dimensions}, under the guidance of Dr. yyy. In this thesis we are looking at decompositions of polyhedral into surplices with an emphasis on obtaining well shaped tetrahedral.

**Seminar** 
I am also interested in Multimedia technology. In my third year, I presented a home paper titled {Multimedia Databases} under the guidance of Dr. yyy. In this paper, our study was focused on issues involved in the storage and real time retrieval of multimedia objects in a multi-user environment.

**Teaching and work experience** 
My years at **** have given me substantial teaching experience. I have delivered lectures at Workshops on Unix conducted by the department and have been a teaching assistant for an introductory course in programming. This has built in me a lot of
Confidence that is required to excel as a teacher.

**Experience in field of study** 
Though my experiences in **** have provided me with a strong foundation in my fields of interest, a good graduate program is necessary not only to increase my knowledge in these fields but also to mould me into a good researcher. I am fully aware of the hard work and perseverance required for a successful career in research and I believe that I have the aptitude and drive to meet the challenge.

**University paragraph** 
The Graduate program at SUNY, Stony Brook is fully suited to my goals. Graphics and Computational Geometry are strong areas of research at Stony Brook. I have found the faculty and the research work to be quite impressive. I feel that to be associated with this group would stand me in good stead throughout my research career. I have also been impressed by the computing facilities available at Stony Brook for research and education. My B.Tech Project advisor has also strongly encouraged me to apply to your program. I am confident that given the opportunity, I will be able to make significant

Contributions to the on going research at Stony Brook. I corresponded with Prof.yyy whose encouraging reply reinforced my decision to apply to Stony Brook.

I look forward to joining SUNY, Stony Brook as a graduate student at your esteemed department.

A Statement Of Purpose written by a student hoping to be admitted in Stony Brook University

A Statement of Purpose written by a student applying for admission to the Phd program at Stony Brook University

SOP PhD, Stony Brook University

Here’s how you can start - ‘After carefully considering my aptitude, interests, the nature of my training and my ultimate professional ambition, I have decided to pursue a {Doctoral degree} in Computer Science, in my fields of interest {Computer Graphics} and {Computational Geometry}, ultimately leading to a career in teaching and research. As a Statement of purpose of my graduate study, I describe here my academic background, research interests and career goals.’

**My goals** 
I am applying to the PhD program in Computer Science at Brown University. After considering my aptitude and the type of work that I enjoy most, I am convinced that I want to take up a career in research in Computer Science. A PhD is just one step towards realizing this goal.

**My preparation for the same** 
My formal introduction to Computer Science began at ***. Under its excellent faculty, I got exposed to the entire spectrum of Computer Science. In an environment that is intensely competitive, and where research goes hand-in-hand with learning, I also got a lot of drill in both theoretical research work and implementation, thus laying a sound foundation for graduate study.
My academic and co-curricular record has been consistently good. Throughout school as well as now, I have been at or near the top of my class. I have listed some of my achievements, on the attached resume. What I would like to stress most however is the fact that I have been consistent in all academic or co-curricular (and even Extracurricular) tasks that I have undertaken.

**My primary interests** 
I have always loved problems that involve plenty of visualization. At ***, this resulted in an inclination towards Computer Graphics and Computational Geometry, and also Algorithms. These are the subjects that I want to pursue in my graduate study.
I chose the elective Computer Graphics and a graduate level course Algorithms and Complexity this semester, in line with these interests. My B.Tech. Project (home paper), under Dr. yyy, is on Visible Surface Determination (hidden surface removal), a very popular topic in Computational Geometry.

**Why Brown University?** 
It would be a cliché to say that all fields in Computer Science are highly interlinked. I have experienced this myself, since frequently, while working on a problem in one field, I have (through abstraction/ reduction/analogy) landed up looking at another problem, that one would normally put under a different field altogether.

Hence, two criteria that I considered while selecting a university for my Ph.D. were the university must be very strong in Computational Geometry and/or Computer Graphics my primary interests, and it must be fairly good, if not exceptional, in other fields of Computer Science too (especially, algorithms and combinatory).

Brown University more than satisfies these criteria. My B.Tech. Project guide, Dr. yyy also strongly recommended it. An added attraction is its participation in the Science and Technology Center for Computer Graphics and Scientific Visualization.

There is one more and the most compelling reason. In my B.Tech. Project, my guide and I are concentrating on developing better methods for the moving/ multiple viewpoint case of hidden surface removal. The preliminary ideas that have emerged out of this effort use a result on Dynamic planar point location by Prof. yyy. The line sweep technique is the other major component in these ideas, and it was from Prof. Yyy book on Computational Geometry, that I first learnt it. The fact that both are from Brown University convinced me that Brown University is the natural choice in realizing my graduate goals. Subsequently I corresponded with Prof. yyy, and his encouraging reply reinforced my decision to apply to Brown.

It would be a pleasure to continue my current research focus at Brown under their supervision. At the same time, I am sure that many other problems, which the Brown CS department is currently focusing on, would be equally interesting to work on.

**What I plan to do at Brown** 
I plan to carry on advanced study of Computer Graphics and Computational Geometry, as well as related fields (e.g. algorithms); not only through coursework but also by {participating in one of the several ongoing projects}. This will also give me the opportunity to contribute my bit to the understanding of the fields, which interest me so much.
I am keen that the output of my PhD (and in fact any PhD) be well worth the time and effort spent on it. For the reasons mentioned above, I am sure that Brown University Will provides me the right environment for this.

Financial Aid
I would be fully dependent on aid to finance my graduate studies. If I were granted an assistantship, then given my long-term goals, a research assistantship would be an ideal experience for me. I also have some experience as a teaching assistant. Not only have I enjoyed it, but the students have also appreciated it. This makes me confident that I will be a good teacher also.

In conclusion…
I am aware that Brown University expects very high standards from its students. On my part, I can assure you of hard work. I believe that my enthusiasm will enable me to meet those expectations. My consistency in all previous academic and co-curricular activities is what gives me confidence when I say this.

Eagerly looking forward to a long and mutually profitable association with the Computer Science Department of Brown University.

A Statement Of Purpose written by a student hoping to be admitted in Brown University

A Statement of Purpose written by a student applying for admission to the Phd program at Brown University

SOP PhD, Brown University

Here’s how you can start - I am applying to the PhD program in Computer Science at Brown University. After considering my aptitude and the type of work that I enjoy most, I am convinced that I want to take up a career in research in Computer Science. A PhD is just one step towards realizing this goal.’

I am applying to Stanford for admission to the Ph.D. program in Computer Science. I am interested in Theoretical Computer Science, particularly in the Design and Analysis of Approximation Algorithms, Combinatory and Complexity Theory.

My interest in Mathematics goes back to the time I was at school. This interest has only grown through my years in school and high school, as I have learnt more and more about the subject. Having represented India at the International Mathematical Olympiads on two occasions, I have been exposed to elements of Discrete Mathematics, particularly Combinatory and Graph Theory, outside the regular school curriculum at an early stage. The intensive training programs we were put through for the Olympiads have given me a lot of confidence in dealing with abstract mathematical problems.

My exposure to Computer Science began after I entered the ****. The excellent facilities, courses and faculty have given me a firm background of the fundamentals in Computer Science. Having been exposed to the various facets of Computer Science in the course of my undergraduate studies, I have found Theoretical Computer Science most intellectually satisfying and stimulating. Courses like `Discrete Structures’, `Data Structures and Algorithms’, Theory of Computation’ and Algorithms and Complexity’ have been my firm favorites. I find the problems in Theoretical Computer Science particularly appealing because of the flavor of abstract mathematics that I love so much. At the same time, the problems in this field have a concrete basis, originating from practical problems in Computer Science. This adds to their appeal.

Recently, a lot of exciting developments have taken place in the field of approximation algorithms. The Markov chain approach and the primal/dual approach have emerged as powerful techniques for the development of approximation algorithms. More recently, semi-definite programming has been used to obtain approximation algorithms for Optimization problems. An interesting connection with results in Interactive Proof Systems has yielded lower bounds on the approximability of various problems. I believe that these methods have a lot of potential. Members of the faculty at Stanford have done a lot of the pioneering work in these areas. Prof.YYY has been involved in the work on Interactive Proof Systems and semi-definite programming. I have read about these results in the course of my seminar (Junior Thesis), my summer training at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Bombay, and my B.Tech. Project (Senior Thesis). I find them very fascinating and intend to work with problems of a similar flavor.

I am convinced that I should pursue a career in research and teaching. For me, problem solving is an exhilarating experience, unequaled by anything else. It would be immensely gratifying for me to be able to contribute something to the understanding of a subject that has given me so much pleasure and joy. It would also be wonderful to have the opportunity to share with others that feeling of pleasure and joy, through teaching. My few experiences with teaching, as a tutor for an undergraduate course and as a lecturer in student workshops, have evoked favorable responses and have been thoroughly enjoyable. I believe that I have the capacity to make the commitment and accept the challenges that a career in research involves. I am confident that I have the requisite aptitude, exposure and motivation to make a meaningful contribution to my chosen field.

My summer training at TIFR has given me the experience of working in an organization oriented towards research. In the course of the two months I spent there, my interaction with the Theoretical Computer Science group has taught me a lot of things and also whets my appetite for more knowledge. I realize how important it is, as a researcher, to interact with other people working in the same field, and at the same time, am able to work individually.

A good research career can only be built above the firm foundation of a good education. With my long-term goal in mind, my immediate objective is to work towards a Ph.D. in Computer Science. Having done my undergraduate studies at undoubtedly one of the best undergraduate institutions in India, I would consider it my privilege to be able to pursue my doctoral studies at Stanford and avail of the excellent infrastructure facilities and research opportunities it has to offer. I am sure that the stimulating academic environment and interaction with the distinguished faculty at Stanford will prove immensely fruitful and facilitate my development as an individual Researcher in my field. I feel that Stanford has a lot to offer me, and at the same time, I am confident that I would be able to make a positive contribution to on going research work at Stanford University.

Having decided that I will engage in the pursuit of a career in research, I am fully aware of the implications. I am aware of the kind of dedication, resilience and resolve that it calls for. I feel that I am adequately prepared, both in having the technical qualifications, and in having the right mind-set for doctoral level Research work. I look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship with Stanford University.

A Statement Of Purpose written by a student hoping to be admitted in Stanford University

A Statement of Purpose written by a student applying for admission to the Phd program at Stanford University

SOP PhD, Stanford University

Here’s how you can start - ‘I am applying to Stanford for admission to the Ph.D. program in Computer Science. I am interested in Theoretical Computer Science, particularly in the Design and Analysis of Approximation Algorithms, Combinatory and Complexity Theory. My interest in Mathematics goes back to the time I was at school. This interest has only grown through my years in school and high school, as I have learnt more and more about the subject. Having represented India at the International Mathematical Olympiads on two occasions, I have been exposed to elements of Discrete Mathematics, particularly Combinatorial and Graph Theory, outside the regular school curriculum at an early stage. The intensive training programs we were put through for the Olympiads have given me a lot of confidence in dealing with abstract mathematical problems.’

**My goals** 
I am applying to the University of California, Santa Barbara for admission to the Ph.D. program in Computer Science. My goal is to pursue a career in research, either in industry or in academia. Ten years from now, I envisage myself as a full-fledged research professional in an organization, or a faculty member at one of the leading universities. A Ph.D. is an important first step in achieving this objective.

**My background** 
Though I was exposed to some aspects of Computer Science in my last two years of school, a comprehensive foundation in all the fields of Computer Science began after I entered ****. The Computer Science department at **** is indisputably among the best in the country. Its excellent courses, faculty and learning environment have given me a firm grounding in all the fields of Computer Science.

My academic and co-curricular record has been consistently good. Throughout school as well as now, I have been at or near the top of my class. My class at **** consists of 36 students, chosen from an All India exam involving 100,000 students. I myself was 9th in that exam. I have listed some of my achievements on the attached resume. I am of the opinion that research requires a firm grounding in theory backed up by an in-depth knowledge of systems and implementation. The important courses of Discrete Structures, Data Structures & Algorithms, and Theory of Computation have given me a good knowledge of theory. In addition, I am doing the course Design\Analysis of Algorithms this semester and Parallel Algorithms next semester, in order to further firm up my foundations. My performance in lab courses attests to my knowledge of systems and programming.

My strengths are my consistency, capacity for hard work, and my ability to work in a team. I have been involved in many course projects, which involved a group of students, and I have been the team leader in quite a few of these. I believe that research involves new ideas, as well as consistent effort to back them up, both of which I am capable of.

**My primary interests** 
I prefer research problems to be an ideal mix of theory and practice. The field of {Databases} interests me because of the scope for breaking new ground, as well as the vast applications possible. I believe that {Distributed Databases}, in particular, is an area with a lot of potential. My grounding in this field is solid, which is reflected in my obtaining the best possible grade in both the courses involving Databases, namely, Business Information Systems and Database Management Systems, and in their respective labs too. Currently, I am working on my Senior Thesis under Dr. yyy, in which we are looking at the problem of Garbage Collection in Persistent Object Stores We plan to submit it for publication after running some performance tests, which we are designing. I have included details in my resume.

**Why California-Santa Barbara?** 
Since all fields in Computer Science are highly interlinked, I want to pursue graduate studies at a University that is strong in all fields of Computer Science. I am aware that the department of Computer Science at the University of California, Santa Barbara is one of the best in the world, being particularly strong in Databases (my primary interest). Dr. yyy also recommends it highly. These facts have led me to apply to California-Santa Barbara.

There is one more and the most compelling reason. In the course of my Senior Thesis, I have come across related work by Dr. yyy. His work has interested me immensely, and I would like to participate in some of the projects he is undertaking. Subsequently I corresponded with Dr. yyy, and his encouraging reply and description of the work at the department reinforced my decision to apply.

**Financial Aid** 
I would be fully dependent on aid to finance my graduate studies. If I were granted an assistantship, then given my long-term goals, a research assistantship would be an ideal experience for me. I have already mentioned my interest in research. I also have some experience in teaching. I have been a lecturer & demonstrator in student workshops held in various colleges in the region. I was also involved in a nationwide program, which involved teaching school children. The good response to my efforts, coupled with my prowess in dramatics, elocution & debating gives me the confidence to handle any teaching assignment.

**My plans if admitted** 
I plan to carry on advanced study of Databases, as well as related fields e.g. Algorithms, not only through coursework but also by participating in one of the several ongoing projects. This will also give me the opportunity to contribute my bit to the understanding of the fields, which interest me so much. I am aware that the University of California, Santa Barbara expects very high standards from its students. My track record gives me the confidence that I will be able to meet those expectations. I believe that my association with the Computer Science department will be a mutually profitable one.

Statement of Purpose written by a student applying to the Phd program at University of California, Santa Barbara

SOP PhD, University of California, Santa Barbara

Here’s how you can start - ‘I am applying to the University of California, Santa Barbara for admission to the Ph.D. program in Computer Science. My goal is to pursue a career in research, either in industry or in academia. Ten years from now, I envisage myself as a full-fledged research professional in an organization, or a faculty member at one of the leading universities. A Ph.D. is an important first step in achieving this objective.’