Application for Study Abroad, Application Essay Example

I come from Chinese ethnic background but have lived my whole life in the United States. I am fortunate to have parents who have cultivated in me cosmopolitan values. My family has always encouraged me to embrace American ideals while maintaining connections with my Chinese roots. This is why I have extensively studied both American and Chinese histories and also learnt to speak Chinese at home. American and Chinese histories could not have been more different from each other and this is what it made such a productive learning exercise for me. Studying history helped me understand many aspects of American and Chinese cultures I could not have learnt otherwise. In addition, I attained knowledge of various important events that have contributed towards the historical evolution of both countries. I believe that knowing a country’s past makes you better understand the present and enable you to conduct more objective analysis of current affairs.

Like most Chinese, my parents have also pushed me to excel in studies but at the same time they have also emphasized participation in non-academic activities in order to have more balanced personal growth. Luckily, my family has also given me the freedom to choose my own major and career goals. As a result, I have not only excelled in my academic career but have also developed strong people and cross-cultural skills due to my non-academic activities. I love to meet people from different backgrounds because I enjoy discovering new experiences. In addition, I also know that cross-cultural skills will give me competitive advantage in my career because individual societies will only become more diverse with time due to globalization. From my personal and family experience, I am aware of the vast differences between western and eastern cultures and my familiarity with both cultures will give me an edge in this program. In addition, I will also be able to assist my fellow students in the program and help them understand local traditions and way of thinking. The United States and China are the two biggest economies in the world and China is also becoming more involved in global political affairs. I believe that trade and politics are not zero sum games and both countries will gain more by adopting cooperative attitudes. In this regard, individuals like me with both American and Chinese background can play an important role in bringing the two countries closer.

My upbringing as well as my regular interaction with international Chinese students means I have considerable knowledge of the country but nothing equals real life experience. There is a huge difference between learning about something and actually experiencing that thing. This is why I want to study abroad in China so that I am actually able to live in the Chinese society and experience the culture as it is. It will also help me indentify any external bias in my current understanding of China and Chinese people. People act the most natural in their native societies. Just as Americans are expected to modify their behavior in other countries, I expect the Chinese to do the same in the United States as well. I want to work for an American company that is involved in trading partnership with Chinese companies. Having an understanding of both countries will enable me to be a valuable asset to my employer and help him improves his chances of success in China. As someone with Chinese roots, I will also have the opportunity to change Chinese perceptions about the United States.