Statement of Intent Appling for MA in Philosophy and Literature

Hope someone could evaluate my Statement of Intent, its appropriateness to the subject. Thank you very much.

MA in Philosophy and Literature. Academic interest and purpose of study.
Describe your special academic interests and your purpose and objectives in undertaking graduate study.

English Language always intrigued me as well as English culture. And though for a long time I had a rather rough idea of this country soon I was given an opportunity to learn more about this wonderful land though its literary heritage. Still for the time being the interest that would turn into a dream developed its own story.

As a child I remember once reading a fancy 'winter rhyme'. It impressed me much. With its intricate phrases and whimsical pictures it gave me an impression of an absolutely new though vague and mysterious world of winter. It showed me a door to a new world. Since that time I used to sink into imaginable world of literature many times with childish foretaste.

With time interest towards books did not decrease though it took another direction. I became interested not only in literature, I was keen in other cultures, their traditions, history, mentality, language - everything that could reveal me the way Art and Literature can create.

At the time finishing school study came with difficulty to me. Afterwards it was discovered that I was taken ill with diabetes. Those days a thought of further education let alone university one seemed to be a transcendental dream. I felt lost. I felt losing something essential. Despite the troubles caused by the desease and bankruptcy I felt inside I promised myself to get further education and pave my way to my future. It took me two years to manage the desease. During that period I took several short-term courses just to join to study process and simultaneously learned English by myself. As in my heart of hearts I still kept the dream of childhood. I wished to join to an Art path.

Persistence developed after a number of years and strong desire to succeed with which I prepared for study allowed me to enter a college, afterwards a university.

At college I had several relevant to the course subjects such as: Home Reading, Foreign Literature, Childrens' Literature, and Fundamentals of Philosophy that shaped my view upon Literature as a whole since those subjects gave me mainly extensive and rather shallow knowledge. I felt I needed more profound knowledge than I could get there. At the university I learned Literature of the Studied Language, Home Reading, Text Analysis and Interpretation. All these and particularly the latter gave me an opportunity to observe Literature from another viewpoint. It showed me that literary text can be analyzed, interpreted and even traced back to the author's original invention. It showed me that Literature being a source of delight is at the same time is a source of knowledge when treated upon Philosophy.

At both educational institutions I was also prepared to teach English to children and did my practical work at schools which was primarily focused on methodology of teaching foreign languages. Later though I realized that both my teaching experience and knowledge suffered from lack of understanding and experiencing English culture and as far as language could be transmitted by a teacher and a teacher is the bearer of language and culture in the absence thereof other sources I felt a greater responsibility for what and how I was teaching. The idea of learning culture through literature inspired me. Now I could link both: theory and practice; my imagination and real situation; my past in the form of revived childhood dream, and future in the form of future professional occupation.

Gleaning knowledge crumb by crumb I approached to my wish and simultaneously cognized my inner world, reassumed myself gradually. It resembles a situation when awakening at night in a dark room you start recognizing the old-hat things when dawn draws the familiar silhouettes of the room and you realize you are at home. Now I feel integrity. And I want to succeed.

I always knew I can get what I want even if following a roundabout way. This way showed me that a dream and personal persistence is one of the paths leading to success.

I apply for this MA program and hope to get the best knowledge in the sphere of Philosophy and Literature, continue enriching my knowledge through research work and contribute my country sharing my knowledge by teaching.

what do you mean English culture? the culture of the language? or American culture? After reading your first paragraph I'm not sure what country/land you're referring to? England? Australia? Canada?


As a child, I remember once being very impressed after reading a fancy 'winter rhyme'. It impressed me much.
At the time finishing school study came with difficulty to me . Afterwards, it was discovered that I was taken ill withhad diabetes. Those days,athe thought of further education let alone university one seemed to be a transcendental dream.

I want my advice to be as helpful as possible, you could benefit from sitting down with a native English speaker and going sentence by sentence through this statement. Be as basic as possible. It sounds now like you are trying to hard to use big words and is a little confusing. Also you share some very personal stories about things you had to overcome. If you could condense that, and be a little less emotional but still get the point across I think it would be stronger.

Look up rules on how to use commas, they will improve your writing.

In terms of content, I am missing what attracts you to this particular program.


What is an art path and why is it capitalized?

Frame your story around your strengths, not your weaknesses.

Also, what are your career goals?

Keep it up, with a little more feedback and some solid, focused effort and this essay will shine I'm sure!

Good luck :)

Thank you for your advice. I'll follow it.