Students

Personal Statement Sample: Graduate School

My interest in science spans as far back as I can remember. As a child, I played with my father's magnifying glass, inspecting leaves, grass, bugs, and anything else I could find in my backyard. My love of investigation increased further in high school. I enrolled, and excelled, in honors science courses, with a particular fondness for biology.

I continued my biology studies at California State University Northridge, where I was exposed to a wide range of courses. While I enjoyed these courses, I still wasn't sure on what I wanted to focus my studies. It wasn't until my semester abroad in Ecuador, where I studied the ecosystems and plant communities, that I discovered my true passion. I was fascinated with the experiments I conducted on the ecosystems. I focused my studies on ecology and plant life, excelling in these courses, and will graduate this May with a B.S. in Environmental Biology.

In my last semester as an undergraduate, I am working on an honors project on tropical plant life. I am also a Research Assistant for the Biology department, aiding Professor X on his project on Ecuadorian ecosystems. As his assistant, I am conducting experiments on plant life and contributing research theories for his book. Professor X has been so impressed with my work that he has offered me a summer assistant position.

I hope to continue my studies in plant life and believe that Cornell's Graduate Field of Horticulture can best help me excel and follow my dreams. By continuing my education in a graduate program, I can gain more hands-on experience alongside esteemed professors before venturing out into the real world. I hope to emphasize my studies in Horticultural Biology and specifically study tropical ecosystems. After I earn my Ph.D. in Horticultural Biology, I intend on working in the area of research for a private industry. Utilizing the skills I have learned during my undergraduate courses and as a Research Assistant, it is at Cornell that I believe I can make the greatest contribution to current and future studies in ecology.