In this blog post, based on the original personal statement of a student applying to the Department of Business Information Systems at Korea University, I have refined the flow and grammar to organize the student’s academic experiences, campus activities, examples of empathy and conflict management, as well as their motivation for applying and preparation process.
Academic Efforts and Learning Experiences During High School
I set a clear career path when I enrolled in E-Business High School. Since I had aimed to start a venture company since middle school, I entered a specialized high school to achieve that dream and studied the entire process of business management—including e-commerce, accounting, and marketing—in the main curriculum. I focused on two main areas of study. One was the technical aspect, ensuring I had no gaps in my proficiency in English and information technology. The other was cultivating entrepreneurial skills, which is the essence of business management. While I was fascinated by business activities from the perspective of “efficient resource management,” I was still learning the methodologies for how to manage resources efficiently. Therefore, I made efforts to clearly understand the purpose of accounting, the significance of marketing, and the implications of digital media in commerce. When it comes to entrepreneurship, I believed that the most important factors were why I was starting a business with this particular idea and what I hoped to gain through running the business.
In terms of technical skills, I was able to build a solid foundation solely through my school courses. Since my university required the E-Commerce Operator certification, I began studying for it in my first year and also obtained computer certifications at the same time. In my sophomore year, building on my basic office automation and Excel skills, I studied for the Computerized Accounting Certification and the Internet Information Management Certification. Since these two certifications involved a large volume of material and difficult sections, I formed a study group with friends. Additionally, I studied separately for related certifications to improve my English and presentation skills. Ultimately, I executed an academic plan that allowed me to obtain certifications in various fields while ensuring they were all relevant to business management.
Campus Activities I Found Meaningful and Dedicated Myself To
With the goal of establishing an internet venture company, I methodically practiced preparing for entrepreneurship. I believed that to become a future entrepreneur, I needed to understand competition and competitiveness, and I viewed my competitors not only as classmates but also as students studying business across the country. In particular, I saw myself competing against classmates who had set their career paths early on and those gaining experience through economic competitions and club activities.
I concluded that I needed my own unique competitive edge to stay ahead in this competition, and I defined that as a strong commitment to my career path and expertise in practical business management. While some friends dreaming of starting a business first study technology and then conceptualize business ideas based on that, I highly valued the competitiveness of a professional manager focused on management itself. I believed that in today’s world, there is often a greater demand for the management skills of professional managers within companies than for those of technicians.
Therefore, I resolved to become a professional manager capable of demonstrating sound management skills regardless of the company I joined, and I prepared for a startup competition to develop the necessary practical skills and understanding of corporate management. I submitted a business idea and a personal statement to participate in the “Become a CEO Startup Competition” for vocational high school students, focusing my personal statement on my competitive edge and my determination to pursue my career path. I believed this would determine the success potential of my business idea.
The specific business idea was a new type of online mall I had been conceptualizing. I aimed to address the shortcomings of current online grocery store operations—such as price and freshness degradation during distribution, and the use of lower-quality ingredients to keep prices down. I envisioned a “Healing Mall” that goes beyond mere profit-seeking to consider society and its members. As a brand that heals customers’ hearts, the Healing Mall does not aim solely to sell products but also seeks to improve lifestyle habits. This strategy involves offering slow food and slow fashion, combining dishes made with seasonal ingredients and healthy recipes to provide customers with the opportunity to transform their lifestyles on their own. I was able to gradually flesh out this idea while preparing for the startup competition.
Examples of Consideration, Sharing, Collaboration, and Conflict Management
My senior year of high school was a busy time for everyone. Many of my friends were striving toward different goals—preparing for startups, job hunting, or college admissions—while we also had to finish our classes together. Our presentation group consisted of friends with different circumstances and goals. Even amidst our hectic exam schedules, we made time to hold group meetings and complete our assignments.
The assignment was to compile the ideas we had been brainstorming and create a business plan, but the process of consolidating ideas was not easy. Some classmates insisted on their own ideas, while others advocated for completely new concepts. Disagreements kept arising, and time was running out. Realizing that tensions were rising and stress was building among the group members, I stepped forward with the mindset of taking the lead. I persuaded them that it would be better to cooperate for each other’s sake now rather than let the conflict go unresolved, risking failure to receive a grade on the assignment and potentially being unable to graduate.
Specifically, we selected the idea that received the most votes from among the existing proposals by majority rule, and gathered and incorporated improvements to further develop that concept. I emphasized that this was the time to focus on efficiency and our goals rather than reacting emotionally to one another. The final assignment we completed was praised for its efficiency, and I felt a sense of fulfillment for having resolved the conflict.
Reasons for Application and Preparation Process
I applied to the Department of Business Information Systems at Korea University through the school principal’s recommendation track. Due to the quota limits of the Regional Excellence Talent Program, the school selected students based on objective criteria. Since I had a clear career plan during high school, I managed my school grades meticulously while simultaneously preparing for the CSAT. To maintain my academic performance, I diligently completed assignments and actively participated in specialized practical courses. For my college entrance exam preparation, I studied the curriculum during self-study periods and used online lectures to fill in any gaps in my progress, ensuring I met the required grade standards. As a result, I was included in the list of recommended candidates and was able to apply to my desired department.
My motivation for applying to the Department of Business Information Systems stems from my goal of becoming a professional manager, a dream I’ve held since middle school. I have a particular interest in e-commerce and anticipated an increase in startups operating in the virtual space; as this is a venture-oriented field, I conducted extensive research and studied diligently. Although I lack specialized technical skills, I believe ideas can emerge from everyday life. I conceived an online mall that offers innovative products capable of transforming customers’ lifestyles and even participated in a startup competition.
Through this process, I realized that the goal of becoming a professional manager cannot be achieved through expertise in a single field alone. Simply excelling in business administration does not guarantee success in running a company; one must also possess a well-rounded set of skills, including the ability to generate ideas, manage profits, and handle accounting, marketing, and information technology. Therefore, I worked hard to fill these gaps by obtaining numerous IT-related certifications and made the most of my high school years.
