SOP Sample for MS in Computer Science AI - US Fresh Graduate

Statement of Purpose

With current advances in technology, it is my strong belief that humans should put their efforts primarily into exploring the universe we live in and into leveraging technology to better the lives of everyone around us. However, the majority of humans are entangled working at hazardous places affecting their lives. Artificial Intelligence has the potential to save lives and help humanity discover the meaning of existence on this planet. Achieving this aim has long been a dream of mine, and it has the power to alter the world's future. As a next step for my future, in addition to my professional experience as a Data Analyst working with AI and ML, I want to pursue a master's in computer science to get a more advanced academic understanding of Artificial Intelligence and its applications.

Since my childhood, I've always been intrigued by electronic gadgets, and always had the knack of opening them up to understand their working better, which usually ended up with me breaking the gadget before piecing it back together. My passion in hard sciences prompted me to compete in many events during my school years, including the Australian National Chemistry Quiz and the International Math Olympiad, where I received a state ranking in 2012. Later, when I was exposed to how signals work on cell phones, I got more interested in the communication of the devices. Owing to my curiosity in electronics, satellite communication, signal transmissions, and a growing passion to become proficient in the field, I decided to pursue Electronics and Communication Engineering at [UNIVERSITY].

With my enthusiasm for electronics and my keenness to build robots, I took up projects under the guidance of professors who encouraged me and helped me assimilate the technical know-how needed for executing these projects successfully. C, Java, HTML & CSS, MATLAB, and Arduino were among the programming languages I honed during my undergraduate studies. I've completed a number of projects, including a Line Follower Robot and a remote-controlled car using a smartphone, among others. These projects taught me how to combine semiconductor devices with coding in order to control machines with my instructions better.

Further, during my undergraduate internship at [COMPANY], I was able to apply these skills to build a Smart Irrigation System from scratch. This project was part of a green initiative at [COMPANY] to assist agricultural practices in neighboring villages. I broke down the complexity of this problem using design thinking principles to analytically solve them. During the project's execution, I was also able to incorporate best practices I had previously learned from industrial visits to [COMPANY] in Chandigarh.

With a newfound interest in AI, I attended a one-week session at my college on "Machine Learning Fundamentals for Engineering Applications" and a two-day workshop on Data Science at [UNIVERSITY]. I pushed myself to learn Python and machine learning concepts. Later, I took various machine learning courses and worked on internships in the field. Image Classification, Airline Delay, and Instagram Reach Analysis are examples of real-time projects in which I participated. Taking part in these projects helped me realize that I am fascinated with these topics, and this is where my true passion lies. In addition, I constructed a drone with a camera to capture real-time video. A carbon fiber body, electronic speed control, DC motors, and a variety of other components were employed. My involvement in these interesting projects has allowed me to develop the right skill set and gain in-depth knowledge about this field.

Practical projects at college not only allowed me to put my skills to the test, but they also strengthened my resolve to continue learning. For my major engineering project, Video Stabilization using MATLAB, I developed a code that stabilized a given video input. The code was based on row and column compensation along with calculation of MSEs. In another project, Image Classification using Support Vector Classifier was hugely successful. The idea was to extract 20 samples of image data of four different objects from Bing Image Downloader, resize and store the pixel data of each image to ultimately split and segregate them as per input. Two of my other projects were Controlling Home Appliances using IoT Technology and Obstacle Avoider Robot.

I opted to work in the analytics sector after benefiting from courses, internships, and preserving my interest in computing. I joined [COMPANY] as a Data Analyst after completing my undergraduate degree. Working in this role, I handled two key projects. In [COMPANY], I curated and synced raw data to the cloud for analysis. The process included creating a balance sheet and Profit & Loss Statement for the company using Power BI and SQL from the curated data. In the second project on Mixed Reality, I used Unity Hub to create a user interface platform that could be accessed through Microsoft HoloLens. The features included animations and movable parts using hands similar to the one being used at the metaverse for a real-time experience.

The US is the top country for students interested in studying Computer Science with a focus on Artificial Intelligence and Data Science. Small class sizes and a broad range of research opportunities will encourage me to forge healthy relationships with professors and actively participate in research. Industry internships, interaction with experts, opportunities to work as a Graduate Assistant, exposure to experiential learning, and cutting-edge research in purpose-built, contemporary labs would help my computing skills to flourish.

After finishing this course, with international credentials under my belt, I would focus on becoming an integral part of the AI and automation industry. In the long term, I see myself leading a segment of research where we build robots that can aid humans during natural calamities and, hence, impact humankind significantly. This degree will give my career the boost it needs, allowing me to get a position in the industry where I will pursue my research interests with greater autonomy and power. I am confident that my decision to attend your university will drive me to be my best self and to build a name for myself in the tech world in the years to come. Please examine my application and allow me permission to pursue this Master's degree at your esteemed institution.