PERSONAL STATEMENT

I am applying for acceptance into your graduate program for a Doctor’s degree in statistics. I plan to begin my studies in the fall of 1998. Nature is full of mysteries, one of which seems to be its apparent readiness to conform with mathematical principles. Such mysteries have fascinated me since my childhood, prompting me to avidly read scientific writings by Hua Lougeng, China’s most celebrated mathematician in the modern era, even while I was still in primary school. Unable to fully understand Hua’s books as I must have been, I learned that mathematics was itself wrapped with mysteries.

My intense interest, coupled with my hard work, in mathematics paid off. During my third year in senior middle school, I took part in the National Mathematics Contest for students in secondary education, and succeeded in winning the tenth spot in a lineup of some two hundred thousand selected participants. It was at that time that I made up my mind to pursue a career in mathematics. In 1985, I entered into the East China Normal University to major in mathematics. The mandatory courses ware concentrated mainly in two areas: statistics and application technologies. There were also many elective courses. In addition to courses of statistics and mathematics, I spent a lot of time and energy learning such practical skills as computer programming and the application of some new software systems in statistics. After graduation in 1990, I taught statistics for four years at another university until I decided that I had to satisfy my curiosity further and learn more. In 1994, I joined a graduate program at the Beijing Polytechnic University, where I concentrated my studies in the area of artificial intelligence.

Never a bookworm, I presided over a sampling survey of the middle schools in Shanghai, and published my findings in the ECNU journal. The topic for my graduation paper, the problem of slow server, was actually culled from an article published in pursuing more advanced studies in a technologically more advanced country such as the United States. These journals provided me the necessary quality and amount of reference materials t keep me informed of the cutting edge of the field. The new method that I used in my research and my smooth answers at my defense of the paper could all trace their origin back to the journals that I had read. On the basis of my strong defense, the supervising committee decided unanimously t grant me an unequivocal A for my graduation paper. During the period of my graduate studies, I learned more about the realization technology (not sure what you are trying to say) by using computer programming. In image processing, I used the multianalysis and category theory in statistics, and I helped to institute a recognition system for major fingerprint characteristics. I have been working as a lecturer at the Beijing Polytechnic University since I obtained my Master’s degree. Besides teaching, I have been conducting market analysis as part of several research teams.

I have basically two main reasons to wish for further studies abroad. First, the rapid development of the statistical science fascinates me, and I would like to stand firmly on the cutting edge of the field by having myself grounded in more advanced theories. Second, the market research that I am now involved in is pushing me to master newer and better methodologies, I believe that graduate studies with your department is one of the best ways for me to attain both purposes.

I am convinced that the academic foundation I have laid in both theoretical frameworks and practical skills will help me make a competent student in my proposed studies. I am looking forward to the day when I shall return to China with a Doctor’s degree to make more contribution to the development of the science of statistics in this country.