Achieving Excellence in Computer Science: Master’s Computer Science Sample Statement of Purpose

I have been working hard in numerous ways both in school and outside of school to prepare myself to excel as a Computer Science major. Firstly, and most importantly, I am working hard to acquire, practice and reinforce the computer science skills and knowledge required of me in the lower-division courses to excel rather than to merely succeed. I have also constructed a challenging but realistic timetable for private study to which I strictly adhere. This provides an excellent exercise in self-discipline and reinforces what I have learned in classes. I am determined to continue to apply this in my future studies as a computer science major and in my career but retain an awareness of the need for proper rest and recreation.

To prepare myself for excellence as a computer science major, I took programming courses online, learning a great deal about basic programming, data structures, and algorithms. These courses help me to apply computer skills to real obstacles, not merely academic/theoretical assignments. I do programming projects through Project Euler and Leet code to reinforce my programming fundamentals. I believe “practice makes perfect”. I also strengthen my math skills through books and online resources because fundamental math skills are essential to producing excellent and efficient programming codes. I have attended several computer science events in which speakers from various information technology companies talk about how computer science and machine learning apply to different fields. To be ready and succeed in my upper-division courses, I have borrowed textbooks relating to upper division studies and so have some awareness of the challenges that lie ahead and that I shall need to familiarize myself with new concepts and acquire new skills at a rate and to a depth exceeding that to date. I am not deterred by this awareness which has only increased my determination to apply all my diligence and enthusiasm.

I had no experience of C++ programming until I was introduced to it during my course study last year. I was aware that it is the most popular language and that it has many advantages over others. I was excited and extremely interested that I was beginning to learn the language. My initial impression was that this particularly important subject was an easy one, but I failed to appreciate that I was acquiring only a superficial understanding of it. I started to fall behind my classmates because I was ‘coasting’. I was not going deeply enough into the new concepts being taught to me. I became stuck at a stage of understanding the theory of a function without grasping its purpose and scope properly. This came home to me during group discussions where my superficial understanding was exposed to others and, more importantly, to myself.

At this point, I resolved to remedy the situation. I realized that I had some serious catching up to do. My confidence was slightly shaken but I reassured myself with the knowledge that if I excelled in mathematics, as I did, then this vital area of study was certainly not beyond me. I went back over topics already covered and reviewed all the latest information very carefully. I was re-reading material and watching video lessons online from other institutions until I was sure that I had grasped both theory and the practical applications of each of the concepts covered. I also went to my professor’s office frequently, asking for help and advice. Besides this, I found some practice questions to strengthen the concepts. After taking my final examination, I have a grade of A in the class. I was enormously proud of myself because all the hard work had paid off. This has taught me that understanding theory is essential, but it is equally important to grasp practical implications and applications. I always review class materials and work on additional practice problems during my free time. I am confident that this will help me to succeed academically in preparation for my career.

Master’s Computer Science Sample Statement of Purpose