Nowadays, it is very common that
European, American and Australian universities that offer different
international Master’s degree programs and ask applicants to send a number of
important documents like: C.V, transcript of records, Bachelor's degree, language certificate like GRE, IELTS etc. but one of the key documents
required that might make the difference and secure you a place in your desired
Master’s program is the Motivation Letter.
The motivation letter contains your experience, knowledge, skills and the your will power or interest in this field in which you try to study. Motivation letter is a document which works to impress the university personalities through which you can get the scholarship for your further study. The motivation letter is the most personalized document of your application By requiring a
motivation letter, the Master's recruiting committee offers you the chance to
prove yourself in a short document shaped as a letter in which you are supposed
to give some relevant and interesting insights about yourself, prove that you
are the right and most motivated person to be chosen for participating in the
program.
Writing such a letter can prove
to be sometimes tricky and challenging for some applicants who often find
themselves wondering how the letter should look like, what it should contain
and how to convince coordinators that they are the right ones to be chosen for
the program.
Where to find Sample Letters for Motivation Letter?
The internet is packed with
different websites that offer tips and tricks on such letters. By simply typing
motivation letter on any of the consecrated search engines you will find a vast
number of examples of different motivation letters with structural and content
details.
Motivation Letter : Do your homework!
This article will focus on a few
key points drawn from personal experiences that proved effective in my case and
will hopefully be useful in helping you write a good cover letter:
1. List out the Universities
Before starting on your
motivation letter it is best you find out as much as possible about the
university that is offering the Master’s program and about the program itself.
Usually, the universities' website is pretty clear and informative about their
requirements, expectations and about what qualifications and qualities they
hope their candidates have.
2. List out their requirements
Knowing a little bit about their
requirements, about their main projects, activities personal philosophy and
interests will help you get an idea on what your letter should contain.
Relating with the main activities and interests of the university will
definitely help start a positive cooperation.
3. How to write perfect
To get the perfect motivation
letter you will also need to have great English writing skills. You need to
improve your English speaking, There are several institutes near to you in which you can build your English language.
Ideas and main points
You can start with writing down some of the
main ideas, important points you would like to approach in your letter and
later build around them, refine their content, first try roughly and then finalize with stirring and proficient content.
Why do you think that the
university and the Master's program are interesting and suitable for you? Focus on some of your strongest
qualifications, past experiences (international experiences are always
relevant) and qualities; organize the middle paragraphs in terms of the
qualifications most relevant for the program, you can also refer to your CV for
more details; conclude by restating your
interest and show appreciation for the chance to prove yourself in the letter
(in some cases you can ask for a personal interview)
Personal & original
Give your readers some insight
into you as an individual. Remember this is a very personal document in which
you are expected to prove that you are different from the rest of the
applicants and that your qualities, skills and qualifications make you suitable
for participating in the program. Although it might be sometimes helpful to
have other examples, do not copy other letters you have seen and try to be
original, it will help a lot! Also, avoid bragging too much about yourself. You
are not expected to present yourself as a superhero but rather be objective and
realistic.
First impression
Whether it is the way your letter
looks, the way it is organized and structured in paragraphs, the font size, the
length of the letter or even the first paragraph, first impression always
counts!
Be professional and consistent
Present your letter in a
professional format, style and grammar. Have it checked for spelling mistakes
and be consistent (e.g. use the same font, the same abbreviations throughout
the letter etc.).
Other opinions and advice
It is always a good idea to ask
your friends, a teacher or someone who has already done such an application for
advice. Usually, you can get in touch with students who are already doing the Master's program you
are applying for and they can give good advice not only on what to encompass in
your motivation letter. However, as already stated before remember to be
original and avoid copying other letters!
All these presented key points
can prove efficacious and help you write successful motivation letters but, in
the end, your personal touch and knowledge is what matters and makes
the difference. A good motivation letter will always be successful if the
applicant is really interested and willing to get the desired place in the
Master's program of his/her choice. What you really need is to trust in
yourself and try it and if you are not successful the first time keep on trying
because you will make it for sure.
Good luck Applicants !!
