学生范文 - Personal Statement (Electrical Engineering)

Personal Statement

(Electrical Engineering)

When I was young, I felt that electronic devices like cellphones and televisions were mysterious and magical. Years of dedicated study have not weakened my awe towards these amazing technologies—they have only strengthened my desire to join it as an engineer, to contribute to and leave my mark on the field as it continues to develop. That desire was my motivation to major in Microelectronics at Fudan University. As a senior, I can proudly say that majoring in Microelectronics was one of the best choices I have ever made.

During my time at Fudan, I took a great many courses that reinforced my understanding of EE and led me deeper into the world of electronics. As one of the most competitive majors at Fudan, Microelectronics was extremely demanding. In this environment, I mastered the IC manufacturing process, circuit analysis, and the fundamentals of computer science. The course Software Design Methods and Development, in particular, increased my interest regarding EE. In the class, I volunteered as group leader for our final project, a game set called “Memories of Childhood Video Games”. With the help of QtCreater, a GUI app development framework based on C++, I created a typing trainer similar to Frogger, and a welcome page to integrate the whole game package. Besides increasing my programming skills, my learning and leadership abilities also improved through this course. However, I knew I would have to go deeper on my own.

Therefore, in November of my junior year, I joined the State Key Lab of ASIC & Systems at Fudan, in an effort to develop my research skills as an RA. My experience in the lab taught me lessons about persistence, efficiency, and responsibility. My first project was a team investigation into the Field Programmable Gate Array packing algorithm. As a team leader, I searched, and collected over 80 papers, and commented on the most influential ones. During the project, I allocated tasks, reported feedback, and organized presentations, in addition to becoming intimately familiar with the FPGA itself. Ultimately, the project strengthened my document research abilities, just as I had hoped. I became more skilled in innovation, developing an original methodology for paper investigation. Most significantly, I grew more competent in leadership. My laboratory debut filled me with confidence, and prepared me better for future challenges.

Besides my academic experience, I try to be observant and contemplative regarding everyday events. When the idea of the “Omnipotent Key App” struck me during the iShamrock Software Competition at Fudan, I decided to develop an app with the help of the iPhone5s’ fingerprint sensor. The basic principle of this app was to use a smartphone as a key capable of opening many special locks. Password authentication could be secured via fingerprints, and the application area should range from doors, cars, and lockers to virtual files and server permissions. From my perspective, everyday life is the best originator of ideas, and one chance observation can bring about unexpected achievement.

Despite my accomplishments, I was still hesitant to undertake graduate studies in the US. Fortunately, my exchange experience at Yale University last summer helped me decide to pursue my dreams in America. The novel teaching methods, free discussions, and intensely studious atmosphere were what I enjoyed most. The ease with which I learned in a new culture proved to be my adaptability to life abroad. The program not only brought me new friends and new knowledge, but showed me a new paradigm of academics. My desire to study abroad in the US has only intensified since then.

After graduate studies, I plan to work as an engineer in electronics in the US, and enrich my knowledge of the industry’s cutting edge. In the long run, I intend to build my own business based on the knowledge and experience I have accumulated in my career, and to develop the next generation of electronics for everyday life. Yale University always been my dream school. Based on my passion for EE, the Department of Electrical Engineering is the optimal platform for me to launch my future career. Yale University holds a unique position in the field of EE, and your MS program provides the ideal climate to develop my research interests, such as Electronic Devices and Circuit Design. Especially, courses like Physics of Semiconductor Device and VLSI Architectures and Design Methodologies intrigue me greatly. A Yale University Master’s Degree would give me the best possible foundation on which to build my deeper understanding of Electrical Engineering, thus helping me to realize my dreams. In return, I look forward to contributing my passion for innovation, leadership skills, and desire to improve everyday life to the Yale University conversation.