Personal Statement
 Program: Multimedia Technology

Over the past two decades, computer science and technology have achieved unprecedented development. Computer technical application has penetrated into every domain of social life and, combined with the research findings from other disciplines, are dramatically revolutionizing the conventional patterns. In this age of information, people can evolve totally refreshing experiences through computer and its network. As an accomplished student majoring in computer science and engineering, while experiencing the joy of learning computer knowledge and applying computer technology, I have come to ferret out the specialized areas I am interested in—Multimedia Technology.

I believe that, apart from inspirations, any academic breakthroughs and innovations can only derive from a substantial theoretical buildup. China has the largest number of potential Internet users and the largest demand for computer professionals, yet an immense gap exists between it and the advanced countries in the west in terms of teaching and research. For this reason, I have decided that upon the completion of my undergraduate program in the summer of 2004, I would like to embark on a Mphil program in Multimedia Technology at the Department of Computer Science, the University of XX. I wish that, as one of the most prestigious universities in the XX and in the world, the University of XX may educate me in the most updated theory and enhance my research capacity, ultimately helping me make important achievements in my proposed fields.

The 4-year rigorous and systematic undergraduate education at the University of XX, arguably the best polytechnic university in China’s western region, has equipped me with a comprehensive academic foundation in computer science and engineering, which qualifies me for more advanced academic pursuit. My study of the specialty is as systematic as it is wide-ranged. I started with the basic courses in electric circuit, principles and design of electronic components, through computer hardware, system structure, and finally to principles of operating systems, programming, software technology, as well as multimedia technology and computer network. Of course, I am also well-grounded in mathematics and C++, both of which are strongly recommended as prerequisite conditions for your program.

One special advantage of my undergraduate program is that 80% of our curriculum is bilingual; the textbooks for Computer Operating Systems, Object-Oriented Technology and Software Engineering are directly imported from the XX and XX. In this bilingual environment, I not only have been exposed to the most updated information that my XX and XX counterparts are learning but also improved my English proficiency remarkably. This unique advantage will be vital in that it will increase my adaptability to your all-English academic environment by eradicating most, if not all, language barriers characteristic of most Chinese students.

As is evidenced by my academic transcript, I achieved an overall GPA of 88.4 on a 100-point grading system and 91.2 in the specialty courses, which places me in a consistent top ranking among a total of 607 students in my grade throughout the years. This unrivalled academic performance has brought me first-class scholarships at the university-level for three consecutive years. But achieving academic excellence is not my sole purpose as I realize that the improvement of hands-on abilities should be an equally important responsibility of an engineering student. For two semesters as a junior student, I served as a teaching assistant at XX and, as such, I completed the analysis and modification of the inner core of Linux, including producing analytical reports, source codes, the sectional drawing of the debugging results. I also participated in the development of hotel management system of the Guest House at the University of XX, in which I was responsible for demands analysis, specification formulation, and the design of data flow chart. On the strength of my mathematics talents, I took part in the national mathematical modeling contest in which I won the second prize.

My research potential can be demonstrated by the graduation project that I am undertaking at present. The topic that I have chosen is XX, which focuses on the special features of the Ethernet and the technical requirements of real-time network and other related technical issues. I plan to design a system of protocols with which to realize the real-time data transmission on the Ethernet. I will base my thesis on the research findings from this project and the success of my design will generate considerable commercial profits and will significantly enhance proficiency.

I plan to concentrate on a specific area of research during my proposed program at your esteemed university—Multimedia Technology. As an independent discipline, multimedia technology developed as a result of the integration between computer technology, communication network technology and mass communications technology. By combining voice, video, images and text within messages, the technology involves the processing of information most directly connected with the daily life of ordinary people. In China, with the increased opening of its telecommunications industry, multimedia communications business dominated by Internet and data transmission is bound to become the mainstream sector in information service. It is beyond doubt that China has the largest potential market in the world in terms of multimedia technology, but technically China has a lot to learn from advanced western countries. As a student majoring in computer science and engineering, I have always been interested in multimedia technology and have acquired considerable specialized knowledge in this field. In addition, I have some practical research and development experiences. I wish that, through your program, I can acquire systematic knowledge and practical experience in multimedia technology, grasping its theories, methodology, and techniques. In this way, I can develop into a well-trained specialist on multimedia technology.

The Department of Computer Science at the University of XX will provide an ideal environment for me to grow into a successful specialist on multimedia technology because my belief is that “the best way to learn is to learn from the best.” Although established only in 2001 from XX, your department is already ranked among the top 4 XX computer departments, with a distinctive academic style and emphasizing on the application of knowledge to useful ends. Catering to a wide range of research interests, your program offers three broadly-organized concentrations—Mathematical Foundation & Application, Human-Computer Interaction, and Media Technology. I am particularly interested in the latter two fields. Your program is perfectly integrated to my research interests and for this very reason can offer me the best education that can be sought nowhere else.

As your program is jointly run with the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, I have formulated a special study plan. I am relatively strong in computer science and technology but comparatively weak in EE, therefore I will make extra efforts to learn specialized courses in EE, with special emphasis on digital communications and digital audio-video technology. Then, having grasped relevant theories and technical skills, I will narrow down to three specific areas—Human-Computer Interaction, Virtual Reality and Multimedia. Finally, I will endeavor to choose a meaningful topic and participate in a project on this topic leading to a dissertation.

If admitted by your esteemed university, I will contribute my diversified extracurricular talents. I am the main avant-garde of our university’s championship-winning basketball team and the vice editor-in-chief of our university’s student journal. As head of XX, I once led a 20-person team to visit XX TOP Software Park and organized serial lectures on computer on campus. Finally, I have been an actor in two English plays The Singer and The Millionaire in which I played the protagonist during the art festivals.
 
To become an IT elite in China has always been my long-cherished aspiration. Toward this ideal, I will keep pursuing with a young and passionate heart, whether in my own country China or in the beautiful University of XX of an equally great nation.