In this blog post, we’ve neatly organized and edited the personal statement of a student who applied to Korea University’s Department of Political Science and International Relations, addressing each question individually, while preserving the strengths and efforts evident in each response.
Efforts Devoted to Academics and Learning Experiences
Developing Essay-Writing Skills Through Regular Reading and Newspaper Review I recognized early on the importance of preparing for essay exams alongside maintaining my GPA, and I have consistently worked toward this goal. While I have maintained stable grades, I assessed that my essay-writing skills were relatively weak and sought to address this shortcoming. Thanks to my deep interest in social phenomena and the habit of reading books and newspapers, I had already established a solid foundation for understanding social issues, and writing about them came relatively easily to me. However, I realized that to write essays that reflected my own logic and unique perspective, I needed not only better expression skills but also a more robust knowledge base. Therefore, I set a goal to read a set amount of books on the humanities and philosophy each week. In essay writing, the ability to accurately grasp the text and connect it with appropriate logical expressions is crucial. I aimed to cultivate my reading comprehension and use expressions that aligned with the text’s purpose, while also incorporating humanistic sensibilities and philosophical logic to showcase my unique perspective. Since reading books and newspapers had already become a habit, reading did not feel like a burden, and by consistently engaging with philosophy and humanities texts, I became able to explain and express my reasoning regarding social phenomena more clearly. Through philosophy books, I also came to understand how my thoughts connected to philosophical logic, and I was able to organize even ideas that had previously felt vague into a philosophical perspective and express them in writing.
Meaningful Extracurricular Activities (up to 3)
Honing My Skills Through Peer Reviews with Friends in the Essay Club Through my participation in the essay club, I tried my hand at writing various types of essays and received practical help by repeatedly practicing writing and conducting peer reviews within the club. At first, I was embarrassed to show my writing to others, and receiving criticism hurt my pride. However, as I developed my own logic and improved my expressive skills through consistent reading of philosophy and humanities texts, I became willing to accept my shortcomings and work to improve them. By carefully reflecting on what needed correction based on my friends’ feedback and repeatedly rewriting essays on the same topics, my essay-writing skills improved noticeably.
Always Taking on a Leadership Role and Demonstrating Communicative Leadership I’ve been the “ringleader” since I was young, and in high school, after serving as class president and participating in student council activities, I served as student council president during my sophomore year. As student council president, I needed a different kind of leadership than before, and I was often required to make sacrifices while handling various responsibilities. I felt that rather than pushing people around, I needed a gentle leadership style that acted as a mediator between the school and the students, bringing everyone together. Rather than emphasizing sacrifice, I sought to guide everyone toward working together. Instead of merely projecting strength, I made it a point to listen carefully and empathize first, and then propose better solutions and improvements. With this attitude, my peers even described me as having “gentle charisma.” I did not view the role of a leader as a sacrifice but rather as an opportunity for collaboration, and I enjoyed serving as a mediator who brought together the efforts of many people. As a result, the friends I worked with cooperated with me sincerely.
Examples of Consideration, Sharing, Cooperation, and Conflict Management
Helping a Friend Who Shared My Dream of Studying Political Science and International Relations A friend who had shared my dream of majoring in political science and international relations told me they were going to give up on that dream because their grades had dropped due to sudden family circumstances. After learning about my friend’s situation, I decided that what they needed most—rather than financial support—was for me to understand their feelings, empathize with them, and offer comfort.
I told them to feel free to open up to me anytime and conveyed my sincere desire to be there for them. Upon hearing this, my friend burst into tears and poured out their heart. I was grateful just that they had confided in me, and I wanted to help as much as I could. I gathered and shared information on college admissions and their high school grades, studied with them, and stood by their side to keep them from losing their resolve. At first, my friend felt guilty, but I reassured her that gathering this information was something I needed to do as well, which helped ease her burden. Gradually, my friend’s grades improved, and she regained the strength to move forward toward her dreams. Helping my friend also became an opportunity for me to solidify my own dreams, and I realized that sincere consideration not only benefits the other person but also deeply moves me. Through this experience, I came to understand that consideration is not merely a sacrifice but a path that benefits everyone.
Reasons for Applying to This Program and Why Korea University Should Admit Me
Having consistently worked to address social issues, I have continuously taken action—as a teenager and a student—to help solve the various social problems emerging in South Korea. Through diverse activities such as volunteering at local children’s centers, participating in environmental organizations, and engaging in political debates, I have broadened my understanding of social issues and strived to contribute, however modestly, to their resolution. Rather than remaining passive simply because I am a student, I have spoken out and taken action in ways that are appropriate for a student. However, I felt limited in the direct influence I could exert as a teenager, and I resolved to build a solid academic foundation to develop greater capabilities. That is why I chose the Department of Political Science and International Relations. By broadly studying the history and ideas of political science, as well as political philosophy, I aim to form my own values and, based on those values, propose and implement practical solutions to social issues. I am passionate about solving social issues using the knowledge and skills I gain through my studies in Political Science and International Relations, and I hope to turn that dream into reality through my studies and activities in this department. To this end, I have consistently maintained my academic performance and focused on essay writing and related activities. I have happily and enthusiastically maintained the academic diligence and active engagement required by the Department of Political Science and International Relations, allowing me to build my capabilities without significant stress. This passion and preparation will serve as the foundation for me to cultivate my abilities as a student in the Department of Political Science and International Relations and to excel as a talented individual.
