I was born and raised in Cyprus. I was awarded my bachelor degree in Psychology by XXXX University in the UK and have recently completed a Master’s in ‘Psychological Approaches to Health’ at the University of XXXX, also in the UK. My goal now is to pursue a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology and then to apply the skills and knowledge acquired in helping children who have suffered emotional or physical abuse as a Clinical Psychologist working in my home country. I regard this as more a vocation than a career choice, obviously I seek to ‘make a living’ but it is more important to me that I ‘make a difference’ during my working life.
I was a sensitive child from a secure and loving home but became aware that some of my friends had not been as fortunate as I had been. I longed to be able to help them in some positive way to achieve the security, balance and happiness, with which I had been blessed, in their own lives. As I grew older, I recognized that Psychology offered a way to fulfill my life’s ambition to help unhappy children and young people. It was for this reason that I chose to study for a bachelor degree in Psychology and this provided me with an excellent theoretical foundation in the subject. I went on to obtain a Master’s degree in ‘Psychological Approaches to Health’ which included the study of the following modules: Understanding, Predicting and Changing Health Behaviors; Stress Coping and Health; Psychology and Patient Safety; Theory and Interventions in Health Psychology; and Food and Health. I believe that these studies have provided me with insights that will enhance my ability to benefit from the program for which I am applying.
Throughout my academic career, I have been privileged to have had the opportunity to undertake volunteer work relevant to my studies during the long vacations. This activity was undertaken in Cyprus and included assisting staff in the Child and Adolescent Department at the Mental Health Centre of a large general hospital and working in a Rehabilitation Centre. I gained experience of working with mentally ill patients, children, adolescents and liaising with the relatives of patients. All this activity was undertaken under the direct supervision of Clinical Psychologists several of whom recognized in me an ability to communicate well with young patients and suggested that I pursue a career that involved with children and adolescents.
I possess intuitive skills in ‘reading between the lines’ and especially in interpreting non-verbal signals provided by distressed children and I look forward to developing and applying this in my future work. All my voluntary work experiences were extremely rewarding in terms both of gaining practical experience and insights and in the enormous satisfaction when seeing patients make tangible progress in facing and overcoming the issues in their lives.
I am currently employed as a Mental Health Support Worker in Manchester in the north of England working in a low and medium secure mental health care facility. I work with a range of patient types and ages. This work is providing excellent practical foundation to complement my voluntary work and theoretical knowledge. I am involved in providing advocacy, practical help and support to patients and those who usually care for them.
I have carefully researched various programs in Clinical Psychology that are available and I am attracted to studying in the US because of the pioneering and innovative work being done there. Your own program interests me in particular because of its emphasis on the review and analysis of the very latest advances and research findings in the field. Studying in the US would also expose me to an exceptionally varied population.
I am aware of the research undertaken by several of your faculty members and have taken particular interest in the work of Dr. XXXX relating to depression and mood disorders and of Dr. XXXX in child psychology and developmental psychopathology. As I have already undertaken successful postgraduate studies, I do have some research experience and am aware of the skill set necessary to undertake successful research such as determination, an analytical approach, statistical interpretation and records maintenance which I have demonstrated during my earlier postgraduate work. I would hope to be involved in assisting with research into depression and mood disorders, schizophrenia and abuse as they affect children and adolescents.
I am aware that cultural sensitivity and awareness is extremely important in the provision of psychological services in order to properly understand the patient’s perspectives. I have happily studied, worked and socialized with people from a variety of cultural and social backgrounds and am exposed to a wide variety of patient types in my current work.
I know that the program will attract many well qualified applicants but I regard myself as being an excellent candidate. I have the firm theoretical and practical background in psychology that will enable me to profit from the program and to ‘add value’ to my class through the insights that I have gained. I have research experience and skills. However, my main recommendation is a passionate desire to help children and young people to face and overcome the issues and obstacles that may prevent them fulfilling their potential and in leading happy and productive lives.
XXXX University is my first choice for graduate school in applied psychology for a variety of reasons, most of which have to do with the fact that I live nearby and I love my home, being near my family. I have an 8 year old son who lost his father not long ago. His grandfather will be watching him while I attend your program. Fortunately, I am economically independent and I do not need to work; thus, I am in a position to give my all to your program. Furthermore, I very much appreciate XXXX’s singular emphasis on the importance of international education, getting a feel for another culture and its history. I also see this as an integral part of a well rounded education and I am most enthused about the prospect of studying psychological issues among the ex-patriot community of Costa Rica, a delightful nation that I am adopting as a second home.
