Letter of Motivation for University

[Aimz]

I have decided to do my Bachelor of Arts degree through CSU as it is located where I live. I will be doing the course via distance education therefore I don't need to sit the STAT or apply through the UAC.

However, I do need to complete a letter of motivation and explain why they should offer me a place in the course. I need to combine this with my resume and any courses I have completed, whether relevant or not to the course.

I have worked in a university library, a call center, a real estate agency and in my current job as an executive assistant. None of these occupations relate to me wanting to study a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Sociology with minors in English and History. The only courses I have completed are work related computer courses such as excel and word.

I did kick a$$ in school at ancient history and I topped my class in english and social studies. But that was five years ago!

I am finding it difficult to put down in words why I deserve a place as I haven't done anything which relates to the course I so desperately want to study.

How do I sell myself? What sorts of things should I include?

Please help!!

[Amethyst]

Definitely focus on the kick a$$ grades in school - they look at everything done in the past 10 years so its very very relevant! Especially as those subjects are relevant to your uni course.

With your work history, I would focus on the skills you have gained and developed in each job - organisational, prioritisation, discipline, attention to detail, communication skills - both verbal and written, researching skills, juggling differing priorities, ability to focus on a task for long periods of time, project management, problem solving, computing skills, numerical skills - I think these are all very very relevant to studying! The work content may not be relevant but those skills are vital to being a successful student in any study.

Plus any work courses you attended shows a willingness to learn and an ability to study. They are all great indicators that you would be an excellent student for their uni....

Then end it by being honest and say why you want to study this course, show how passionate you are for this area of study, that will sell you I reckon.

HTH - Good luck!

[Aimz]

Thanks heaps Amethyst!

That is everything I need!!

[Aimz]

OK so here is my letter of motivation. It is by no means finished - but I think I have all the content. It spans over 2 pages so I'm not sure if it's a bit long. Any critisisms, feedback, comments or changes would be very much appreciated!! Be tough on me!!

Letter of Motivation for Admission into Bachelor of Arts Degree

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to apply for the Undergraduate Bachelor of Arts degree, offered by distance education at ************* University. My intention is to major in Sociology and incorporate subjects in English, History, Anthropology, Global Studies and Writing into my study program.

I completed my HSC at ************* where I excelled in Family and Community Studies, Ancient History and English. I was top of my class in each of these subjects and achieved a Band 4 from the Board of Studies. My performance reflects my interest, passion and drive for knowledge in these subject areas.

It has been five years since I completed year 12. My late decision to pursue an academic education is the result of a long and careful reassessment of my career goals. I have come to the point where my professional activity in the field of business administration does not meet my personal ambitions.

I have always had a strong interest in the ways in which people live together under various social and cultural conditions. Having a core focus in sociology would help me to better understand the human experience and condition on a global scale.

My passion for history, particularly ancient societies, began during my senior years of high school. My love for ancient Greece even took me there in 2007 where I climbed the Acropolis and stood before the Parthenon, which I consider one of my greatest lifetime achievements.

Ever since I could write, I have been a writer. Even when I have no time to put pen to paper (or finger to keyboard) I always have ideas floating around my head. I love lacing words together into meaningful stories. I remember writing stories and poems when I was younger, and my frustrated primary school teacher would always argue with me over whether my creative writing assignments were "appropriate to my age". Writing is my greatest passion, and it has always been such a large part of my life.

In my quest for knowledge I have become more aware of how little I actually know. This understanding has contributed to my determination to learn as much as I can. I believe that studying at Charles Sturt University will provide me with a solid understanding of different perspectives and concepts in sociology before choosing my own areas of special interest to focus on for my future career plans.

I look forward to the many career opportunities that would become available to me on completion of this degree.

My professional background provides me with a variety of skills that will be beneficial to my academic studies. I am required to be organised, work independently, be able to handle pressure and meet deadlines as well as posses a high level of written and verbal communication skills.

I am confident that I would make a suitable candidate for the School of Humanities and Social Sciences and I am certain that I can make a successful contribution to this course as I am a free-thinker and full of original ideas.

I believe that excellence is a journey, not a destination and Charles Sturt University is the best place for me to put this belief into practice. I envisage a career in sociology and anthropology as a culmination of my varied interests and would appreciate the opportunity to pursue this at Charles Sturt University.

Thank you very much for your time in considering my application, I look forward to your reply.

Your truly,

Amy *****

[Amethyst]

I think its brilliant Amy!

I have a couple of suggestions - feel free to ignore or use as you feel comfortable.

I'd move the sentence about your professional background higher up, after the Acropolis bit and I'd change the tense in that sentence from "provides me" to "has provided me with" to keep tenses all the same. Then all the experience bits are kept together and the more in conclusion sentences are underneath it.

If you are pushed for space, I'd remove the para about your writing, I honestly dont think it adds anything to your app and your whole letter shows your beautiful writing skills and creative thought anyway.

Id also move the "i look forward to the many career opportuniies" down to before the "Thank you very much" sentence - this is a great conclusion and its strong I reckon

Otherwise I think its perfect!!! Well done!

[Aimz]

Thanks Amethyst - have made some changes that you suggested.

Still not happy with it overall though. I might start again from scratch today and chop up that one.

THIS IS SO HARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[luna moth]

This is just an idea, and if it's not the truth, then don't use it. But if you want to major in Sociology, then weave in some stuff about how you enjoy learning about it in your personal life, and maybe name-drop some of the big names in pop sociological texts, like Fast Food Nation, Affluenza, Dirt Cheap, No Logo etc.
Maybe do it even if you haven't read them. Then go and get them, and read them. I read each of those in less than a week (except No Logo, which took a bit longer)
Or don't include it, and read them anyway. It'll get you in a good brain space.

[Aimz]

Wow snuggly that is just brilliant!!!!

You've given me a whole new angle to write this thing! Will head off to the library this arvo. Thanks heaps!

[luna moth]

Good luck at the library! It took me 2 years to get No Logo!
If I lived a bit closer I'd lend you my copies of some of them! I have lent Affluenza out so much that I have thought about buying a 2nd copy so I can lend it to 2 people at once!

[Aimz]

I just reserved copies of No Logo, Fast Food Nation and Affluenza at the library and will pick them up tonight - not so hard after all!!

There are some docos I will mention as well. Thanks heaps for suggesting this!

[luna moth]

Brilliant! They are the best three! Read Affluenza first. It's the lightest reading of the three, and will give you the necessary "socio-thirst" to get through the other two!

[Aimz]

A bit unsure of how to word this paragraph.

I don't want to harp on too much because it's not meant to be the length of an essay but I feel like I've just name dropped for the sake of name dropping KWIM??

This is what I put down but I'm still working on it - so it's not finished. But any suggestions would be great. I've used Fast Food Nation as a doco because we have that at home and I really enjoyed it. Should I replace it and just mention it as a text???? AHHHH no idea... this is so so so hard.

....I have always had a strong interest in pop sociology in my everyday life, and enjoy watching documentaries such as Fast Food Nation and Zeitgeist as well as reading texts such as No Logo and Affluenza. Zeitgeist, in particular, gave me a very insightful view of the way people, on a global scale, can be manipulated by large institutions, governments and economic powers. This is something I would like to explore further and studying sociology would give me this opportunity.

[AnyDream]

Amy, I love your letter and think it contains quite enough as it is. The only thing I'd be doing now is chopping it down, editing for brevity. You'd be surprised how many extra words you've used. eg

This understanding has contributed to my determination to learn as much as I can.

could be cut to
"This understanding has made me determined to learn as much as I can."

Less wordy = more likely to be read through to the end.

I'm sure your application will be accepted, first round !

[luna moth]

....I have always had a strong interest in pop sociology in my everyday life, and enjoy watching documentaries such as Fast Food Nation and Zeitgeist as well as reading texts such as No Logo and Affluenza. Zeitgeist, in particular, gave me a very insightful view of the way people, on a global scale, can be manipulated by large institutions, governments and economic powers. This is something I would like to explore further and studying sociology would give me this opportunity.

I would use FFN as a text, because it is a reasonably heavy text, and will demonstrate that you're capable of the hardcore reading req'd for Sociology. It is a prescribed text for a lot of first year sociology courses in the US.
If you want an additional doco, maybe go for The Corporation...?