In which I apply to FSP's graduate program

Application to University of ABC
Jyde Hekyll

Some people know that they want to go to graduate school from a very young age. My route has been more circuitous. For the past several years, I have been planning to join the high rollers of the financial industry. I was driven by great curiosity about the mechanisms of complex finance, as well as about the salaries.

But after a series of disheartening rejections on the finance job market, I decided to reconsider my plans. I spent a while thinking about my life until I came across a newspaper article about a recent Nobel Prize winner. His work was so thrilling that I knew immediately that I wanted to be a scientist myself, and have the opportunity to make exciting discoveries like that one every day. And as my roommate so wisely pointed out, with the economy in the shape it's in, there has never been a better time to try graduate school.

Although I have no lab experience, I am confident that I will be a significant asset to my chosen graduate laboratory. I enjoy nothing better than sitting and thinking for hours, often without budging a muscle (except when I get a text). As a scientist, I will have the chance to do this all the time, which will be perfect for my focused personality. And I look forward to the security of science and tenure after the rollercoaster of the financial industry!

The other part of the application asked about my specific research interests. If you read my college transcript, it should be clear that I consider myself a scientist of broad pursuits. I majored in economics, but I made sure to find time for my deep and abiding interest in science, whether it is about the wonders of motion (Physics for Poets), the miracle of the universe (Introductory Astronomy for Non-Majors) or the fascinations of the cell (Remedial Biology I). In this respect I strive to model myself after Sir Isaac Newton, who as I'm sure you know contributed to numerous branches of science, and also ran the Mint. This is my goal as well.

In summary, DEF University will be a perfect match for me. The bucolic urban areas, the vibrant night-life, and the wide selection of Thai restaurants are just what I'm looking for. I look forward to your response.