Writing a Graduate School Essay Sample

During the time that I was pursuing my undergraduate education, I decided early on that I would make it my goal to continue my studies after receiving my bachelor’s degree. Though, a bachelor’s degree can often suffice, I realized that I must keep striving towards my goal. That being, gaining adequate knowledge in my desired field and applying myself. To be able to apply myself accordingly, I must push myself towards future objectives, despite some already being fulfilled. I made a promise to myself that directly after finishing my undergraduate degree, I would thoroughly research graduate schools and gather all the material necessary to apply. Before applying I also wanted to not just simply finish my last semester of college but maintain all A’s and not let up. Considering it is not only imperative that you finish your senior year strong, but also that you apply yourself so that you’re used to working hard before sending an application to any graduate school.

When sending an application to a graduate school one must have future goals and objectives in mind. Since I will be entering this program with a differing undergraduate degree, I also want to study extensively outside of the program itself. The only way to truly apply myself, is to practice on my own time. I have learned in previous online classes that you cannot simply learn by reading and listening to lectures, you must practice essential skills on your own time. To gain the most out of my education, I must also finish assignments in a timely manner, and setout daily plans to study diligently. This means, creating ordered lists and making it a priority to cross off all the key items. Since the program itself is rigorous and concentrated, I cannot fall behind at any point in the program. Which brings me to my next point, which will be to recognize some of my weaknesses early on and account for them. It is natural for individuals to understand some aspects of a course better than others. The key is to identify the areas in which you are lacking, and to spend more time learning how to improve. Since the required courses will be data structures and discrete mathematics, I want to buy additional books that can act as a guide while I am actively learning. Having extra resources in this class will aid in completing my other goals and objectives. Lastly, it is essential that I not only communicate with the professors involved in the program, but actively build professional relationships with them. Even if I were to finish the program with all A’s, it still would be lacking if I did not try to learn from and communicate with professors regularly. After applying to the Post-Baccalaureate Computer Science with MS program at Tufts, I want to finish the program with exceptional grades and be eligible to enter the master’s in computer science program at Tufts. If I were to be accepted into the master’s program, I would then want to apply myself accordingly throughout the entire time I am there and make sure I am keeping up with course content. There is also a choice to meet with professors during their office hours, and I want to make sure I am using that option during my time within the program. It is important that my objectives carry on into the master’s program itself. I must make sure to not forget the fundamental objectives that I have in mind. After graduating I will most likely begin with an entry-level job, since education and job experience is a factor in most senior level positions, I could possibly have to work my way up. Gaining work experience is imperative in the field of computer science, and higher education can help to prepare individuals to be efficient at their jobs. Since my goal is a senior level position, I believe the knowledge that I gain at Tufts will prepare me for this position, though it might not be acquired right out of college. An entry-level job still requires proficient knowledge, and the learning experiences that I gain at Tufts School of Engineering will prepare me for several jobs within the field.

 After graduating with a bachelor’s in psychology, it was clear to me that my options weren’t just limited to the social sciences field. I specifically remember enjoying my statistics research courses that were included within my psychology degree and wondered if I should research more math related degrees after graduating. I started researching Computer Science and became heavily interested in the field the more I learned. It became apparent that a bachelor’s in psychology does not include the necessary prerequisites to pursue higher education within computer science. Without the correct programming proficiency and knowledge, it would prove to be difficult for a student to succeed in any Masters in CS program. Thus, I started to look for programs that were available for individuals who wanted to enter a master’s in computer science program with a differing undergraduate degree. I started to narrow down programs when I added in the factor that I wanted to focus on an online degree. Since I have had previous experience in taking online classes in undergraduate, I believed it was best for me to look for an online based program if applicable. I enjoyed learning through online courses, and frequently felt comfortable watching lecture videos and attending zoom sessions. These online classes required students to study on their own time and have a greater sense of self-sufficiency. Being able to follow required deadlines and research topics for yourself was very important within these courses. As a result of these conditions, I became accustomed to online learning. Though I also enjoy in person learning, I find that online learning can aid in studying concepts on your own. Taking all of this into account, I actively searched for a program that was online, and curated for individuals who did not have much background in computer science. Thus, I was able to find the Post-Baccalaureate Computer Science with MS program at Tufts. I quickly recognized that it was a professional program that would prepare me for the computer science master’s program at Tufts. Instead of just jumping into the MS program, I wanted to make sure I was not only prepared but had gained extensive knowledge in computer science.

I thoroughly believe that I would gain that knowledge through the Post-Baccalaureate Computer Science with MS program. After viewing the course descriptions and reading the information provided on the webpage, I am confident that a years’ worth of studying will help me to enter the master’s program with an adequate amount of information. Not only would I be more prepared for the master’s program, but I would also be able to look back on previous notes and utilize them. Since I will be studying frequently, I will be able to refer to my notes from the Post-Baccalaureate Computer Science with MS program. I can also complete my present and future objectives through this program. I would be able to learn extensively, communicate with professors, gain the required knowledge for a job in the field, and thoroughly understand computer science. The Post-Baccalaureate Computer Science with MS program at Tufts is a solid professional option that I believe will overall help me to build a strong foundational knowledge of computer science. This foundational knowledge will be frequently referred to and used throughout the masters program, as well as my future career.