You’ve spent months researching and identifying the best engineering schools, studying for and completing the SATs, GRE, or other standardized tests, and filling out tedious college applications. You are on the verge of burnout when it hits you: you have to write a personal statement.
The personal statement is not just an essay. It has to be smart, engaging, typo-free, and capable of convincing exhausted admissions reviewers that you are a better fit for their program than the other thousands of applicants they are reviewing. Fret not. With lots of research and preparation, you can submit a college essay that reflects your passion and capabilities.
Civil Engineering Personal Statement Example
For as long as I can remember, I have been immersed in a world defined by civil engineering and construction. Ever since childhood, I have been determined to follow my father’s path into the civil engineering field. Growing up in a family whose business is construction, I have seen the incredible things that can be achieved by a well-conceived and effectively executed engineering project. I am absolutely determined to make a positive contribution to the world through civil engineering; to achieve my considerable ambitions it is essential that I gain the very best engineering training available.
I am continually searching for new opportunities to learn more about civil engineering. I am an active student member of the Institute of Civil Engineers, the conferences and talks of which I attend whenever possible. Doing so has placed me in the fortunate position of gaining insights into the profession from established civil engineers. Through participation in such events and through my own studies, I have developed interests in many different aspects of civil engineering. For example, at present I am particularly fascinated by the area of the materials used in civil engineering projects, in particular with regard to the way in which materials are often chosen based on cost considerations alone. Learning more about this inspires me towards the possibility of being involved in the future in engineering projects in which innovative and environmentally friendly alternatives are used. Such challenges convince me that a career as a civil engineer would be highly rewarding.
Academically, science has always been my main interest and is the area in which I am most able. I enjoyed biology, in particular learning about human impact on the environment.
However, during my A levels I realised that my interests lay deeper in maths and physics. I enjoyed the problem solving involved within my subjects and the way a real life situation could be expressed and manipulated mathematically.
What I found particularly interesting was relating what had been learnt in the classroom to real life situations, which is what gave me more interest in civil engineering – the appeal of a challenging career where I would have the opportunity to theoretically solve problems and practically apply solutions to have a beneficial effect on the world around me.
During my gap year I have had several work experience placements in various skilled trades such as building and joinery.
Through joinery I gained an appreciation of the need for accurate design and construction, as well as a knowledge of the uses of wood as a building material. Though much of the building work I have undertaken was in construction, I found it to be invaluable experience.
For example, whilst helping to build a garage I learnt about the importance of good design and planning by having to interpret the designs in order to determine how many bricks would be needed. During its constuction I noticed how important it was to build accurately, particularly at the corners of the building which supported most of the weight of the roof.
Civil engineering personal statement example 2
“Our society would not be able to function as it does without the work of civil engineers. The infrastructure that they help to build and maintain can benefit communities and individuals for generations. For me this simple statement sums up what it is to be a civil engineer, a professional who has the opportunity to work on projects that not only change our physical surroundings but also at the same time improve the lives of literally millions of people.
Engineers more than anyone else have the opportunity to shape and manipulate the world we live in. I aspire to become one of these people and work on large scale technically demanding projects that build the ‘life support systems’ of modern communities. As I have always been interested in environmental sustainability issues I would ideally like to be able to use my experience and professionalism as a qualified engineer to safely deliver carbon neutral, sustainable, high quality construction projects on time and within budget.
Ever since I was a teenager I have always been fascinated with buildings and putting things together, although this is not the only reason for my wanting to become a engineer. Unlike other professions as a civil engineer I will get the opportunity to be intimately involved in construction projects. Added to this is the intense feeling of satisfaction I will get from firstly being able to physically see the fruits of my labour and secondly from leaving behind a legacy that really benefits society.
In addition to studying at college I recently finished a summer job as a administrative assistant to a Civil Engineer who specialised in the analysis, design and assessment of high-density developments across both rural and industrialized regions. He was involved in working with a number of companies and assisting them with taking their R&D projects through from initial concept to commercialisation. I as his assistant got first hand experience of being involved in the planning, development and construction of bridges, shopping centres, airports, roads, ports and tunnels.
This experience more than anything made me realise that even after graduating with a degree there will always be new things to learn; new techniques; new materials, and new problems to apply them to.
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