Admissions: Statement of Purpose Essay

Personal Interests

The world is fast becoming a global village. Today, unlike was the case a few decades ago, regional boundaries that hindered mutually beneficial relations between countries no longer exist. It is with this in mind that I seek to further enhance my knowledge of contemporary international issues -- with my key interests being China and other Asian countries. I believe that the Master's degree in International Area Studies (Asia), for which I am seeking admission, will not only immerse, but also enrich me in both the language and culture of China and the entire region. It would be important to note, at this point, that given the considerable period I have spent away from my home country (as will be pointed out elsewhere in this text), I believe I already have a well developed and unique perspective of world culture which I will makes use of as a launch pad for my future professional endeavors.

To tell you a little bit about myself, I'm Korean but have been in the U.S. For the last 10 years -- from middle school to college. My stay in the U.S. has been an immensely useful experience, especially when it comes to appreciating, understanding, and embracing diversity. It was while undertaking my undergraduate studies that I developed keen interest in world affairs and geopolitics. I happen to be a keen follower of global politics and it is for this reason that I seek to develop specialized understanding of regional issues. My other key interests include, but they are not limited to, business and commerce, foreign languages, economics, and history.Now that I'm back in Korea, I would want to focus my studies on areas near Korea. It is for this reason that my bias will be China, Southeast Asia and India -- countries that are emerging as big markets. Growth in these countries is likely to be driven by infrastructure investment and domestic demand. This is particularly the case for countries like Philippines and Indonesia whose real GDP growth projections continue to be rather impressive. It is, however, important to note that the success of these economies will largely be dependent on how they address specific challenges. In this case, it is imperative that the concerned countries develop and implement structural policies so as to further enhance their ability to reap maximum capital flows benefits. The said countries and economies will also be left with no choice but to embrace closer regional economic integration and cooperation. My desire to pursue a Master's Degree of International Area Studies (Asia) is largely founded on my desire to be a key player in the formulation and implementation of the structural policy recommendations highlighted above.

Educational Background

On graduating from Kent, CT, I joined Washington University in St. Louis, from where I pursued a B.A. In Economics from the year 2009 to 2012. At St. Louis, I managed a cumulative GPA of 3.6/4.0. Some of the most relevant courses I took during my undergraduate studies included but….....