In this blog post, we have 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 Study I recognized early on the importance of preparing for essay exams alongside managing my school grades, and I have consistently worked toward this goal. While I maintained stable grades, I judged my essay writing skills to be relatively weak and sought to address this shortcoming. Thanks to my habitual reading of books and newspapers—driven by a keen interest in social phenomena—I had already established a solid foundation for understanding social issues, and writing about them came relatively easily. However, I realized that to write essays imbued with 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 humanities and philosophy books 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 align with the text’s purpose, while also incorporating humanistic sensibilities and philosophical logic to reveal my unique appeal. Since reading books and newspapers had already become a habit, reading did not feel like a burden. By consistently engaging with philosophy and humanities texts, I became able to explain and express my own logic regarding social phenomena more clearly. Through philosophy books, I also came to understand how my thoughts connect 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 in the Essay Club Through my participation in the essay club, I wrote a variety of essays and received practical help by repeatedly practicing writing and conducting peer reviews within the club. At first, I felt 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 books, I became open to accepting my shortcomings and striving to improve them. By carefully reflecting on what needed correction based on my friends’ feedback and repeatedly rewriting on the same topics, my essay-writing skills improved noticeably.
Always taking on a leadership role and demonstrating communicative leadership I have been a natural leader since childhood. In high school, I served as class president and participated in student council activities, eventually becoming student council president in my sophomore year. As student council president, I realized 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. Instead of emphasizing sacrifice, I sought to guide everyone toward working together. Rather than focusing solely on appearing strong, I made a point of listening carefully and showing empathy first, before proposing better solutions and improvements. Thanks to this approach, my peers described me as having “gentle charisma.” I did not view the role of a leader as a sacrifice but as an opportunity for collaboration, and I enjoyed serving as a mediator who brings together the efforts of many people. As a result, the friends I worked with cooperated with genuine sincerity.
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 studying political science and international relations told me they were giving up on that dream because their grades had dropped due to sudden family issues. After learning about my friend’s situation, I decided that what was needed was not financial support, but rather understanding, empathy, and comfort.
I told them 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 for the fact that they confided in me, and I wanted to help as much as I could. I gathered and shared information on college admissions and school records, studied with them, and stood by their side to keep them from wavering. At first, my friend felt guilty, but I reassured them that gathering this information was something I needed to do as well, which helped ease their burden. Gradually, my friend’s grades improved, and they regained the strength to move forward toward their 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 brings great fulfillment to myself. Through this experience, I came to understand that consideration is not merely a sacrifice but a path that benefits everyone.
Motivation for Applying to This Department and Why Korea University Should Select Me
While consistently doing what I could to address social issues, I have steadily practiced actions that I, as a youth and a student, can take to resolve 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 awareness of social issues and strived to contribute even a small part toward their resolution. Rather than remaining passive simply because I am a student, I have raised my voice and taken action in ways 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 ideology 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 using the knowledge and skills gained through Political Science and International Relations to solve social problems, and I wish 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 maintained the academic diligence and active engagement required by the Department of Political Science and International Relations with joy and enthusiasm, allowing me to build my capabilities without undue 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.
