Personal Statement
Program Applied: Comparative Social Policy / Human Resource Management

Although Peking University and Oxford University (Cambridge University, The London School of Economics) enjoy different academic status within the international framework and that they demonstrate different campus cultures, I believe both share an essential quality—the underlying spirit of being a university, to develop the elites of tomorrow’s society. For nearly 4 years in the past, Peking University has allowed me to savor the infinite charm of a prestigious university, to experience its serious academic atmosphere as well as its liberal thinking and open-mindedness. When I now come to yet another major decision-making concerning my academic development, I have chosen your esteemed university because my education in such an internationally prestigious university will expose me to the most advanced concepts in my proposed area of study, allow me to meet knowledgeable professors, and develop me into one of social elites in the future world.

It is Peking University that has made me realize the meaning of a university education to the real world. For over 100 years, concern for social realities has been the deep-entrenched tradition of this university and of its students. I have willingly surrendered myself to its democratic, liberal and restless academic climate. At its Department of History, my study of both Chinese and World History has put my understanding of the contemporary society of China into profound perspective. My intellectual inquiries into China’s past history from the perspective of a history student have led me to contemplate on China’s present and future roles in this rapidly changing world, and on its cultural and political development under the impact of both international influences and internal dynamic transformations. As it has happened, I find myself growing interested in those subjects outside the province of history, in particular, the disciplines of sociology and politics. Therefore, Comparative Social Policy and Human Resource Management become the concentrations in the future degree program that I am here applying for.

My undergraduate historical inquiries concentrate on two realms: the history of Ming and Qing Dynasties within the entire spectrum of Chinese history and sociohistory. In this regard, three important courses played a decisive role—Seminar on the History of Ming & Qing Dynasties, Economic and Sociological Studies of Ming and Qing Dynasties, and Historical Scholarship and Sociology. Being the last two dynasties immediately preceding modern China, the historical and social realities of those two dynasties produced shaping impacts on modern China. A close understanding of modern Chinese society is only possible with a reference to those two crucial dynasties. On the other hand, my advisor has imparted me important edifications, being a specialist in economic history and social history himself. Those factors have combined to intensify my yearning to learn and to apply sociology.

Once I became interested in sociology, I purposely attended a series of optional courses and self-studies major classics in sociology. Though not majoring in sociology, I m solidly founded in sociological principles and methodologies and what I have done surpasses that of an average sociology student. Based on my self-education in sociology, I have undertaken some serious scholarly research. My research paper entitled Development and Exploitation of Human Resource under the Modern Enterprise System has been published in the Journal of Jinzhou Normal University. Thoughts on the Reform of China’s Medical System and Thoughts on the Re-employment Laid-off Workers in China’s State-owned Enterprises have been accepted for publication by Higher Education Review and Social Science Collections respectively. In doing those researches, I have improved my ability to perform logical analysis and carry out sound judgment. I feel proud of myself because my research efforts as an undergraduate have been specially commended by my Department authorities on a number of occasions.

Serious studies of sociological theories and social policy are very advanced in Western countries while in China they are rather immature. But the social transformations of China have given rise to unprecedented issues and problems that await explanation and solution. However, some problems are characteristically Chinese and any uncritical transplantation of foreign sociological framework is doomed to failure. It is imperative that China develop its own sociology that partially capitalizes on western heritage yet is partially independent. In the envisioned future, Chinese sociology academia has a lot to do to develop the discipline. As part of the effort to learn from western sociology, I apply for admission into your highly respected program. In learning western sociological principles and methodologies, I would always have China in my mind. As a matter of fact, going to a British university can allow me to examine China from a distance as an “outsider.” Sometimes distance can bring a clearer perspective. A detached understanding of China’s strengths and its weaknesses will make me a better political scientist.

Academically, I am fully prepared for your program. So far, I have enjoyed two important privileges—admitted into Peking University nearly 4 years ago waived of entrance exam as the top student in the Experimental Middle School of LiaoNing Province, the best key middle school in the province. Now, toward the end of my undergraduate program, I have again been accorded the right to embark on a direct Master’s program at Peking University, a privilege that I have decided to relinquish for the pursuit of a higher academic ideal. My undergraduate performance has been characterized by steady ascendancy in my GPA and the winning of scholarships for three years successively. My undergraduate life, short as it is, has transformed me from a na?ve high school student into a student-scholar with relatively mature thoughts.

Even within my own realm of historical inquiries, I have focused on those aspects of the past that are still meaningful for the current realities of Chinese society. I have sought to represent history as it was by independent research without sacrificing the originality of my own perspectives. In an annual treatise contest of my Department, I submitted a paper entitled The Flow of Profit of Salt Dealers during the Reign of QianRong Emperor in the Qing Dynasty and its Social Consequences. In this paper I examined the historical trajectory of salt dealers and established the fact that those salt dealers actually formed an inordinately wealthy class through an alliance of businessmen and government officials. The huge profits of salt transactions actually originated from monopoly and political corruption rather than from the supply-demand rule of market economy. My conclusion is that it was precisely this monopoly and political corruption that caused the demise of this alliance. Winning first prize in the contest, my paper has achieved important breakthroughs in the study on this subject and a large quantity of firsthand information, statistics and bibliographies that I have uncovered will provide important materials to others in their future research.

Understanding of society comes not merely from theoretical speculations but also from practice. The world outside the ivory tower is also what I aim at. As a sophomore, I became the editor-in-chief of the New Youth Magazine of Peking University, which is the most widely circulated magazine on the campus. As Rainbow Volunteer, I worked for the 2000 Universiade in Beijing as an interpreter for foreign athletes with my fluent oral English. During summer and winter vacations, my classmates and I conducted surveys concerning the country’s reform in medical system and worked as interns at Beijing Municipal Government on some social reform projects. All those enhanced my social awareness and sense of social responsibility. I believe that as an individual I have a role to play in the larger society.

During my one-year program at Oxford University, I plan to develop an overall understanding of my specialty by laying a solid theoretical groundwork and mastering scholarly procedures of sociological study. As I delve deeper, I will try to focus on the subjects I am most interested in to undertake in-depth study. I will also be interested in doing some projects or internships in which I can apply my theoretical knowledge. Finally I will try to submit a well-written dissertation based on creative and thorough research. By the time I complete the program, I will consider either proceeding onto a Ph.D. degree or come back to China to enter politics.

My study of history shows me that true elites in human history are those who are concerned with society and can contribute to social progress. Although I cannot predict to what extent I can contribute to the perfection of social and political systems of my country, I believe that only by deeply understanding the society in the first place will it be possible for me to find a position in this society that can bring my potential talents into full play. Based on this consideration, I will remain committed to my objective.