Before and After Samples:
All of these samples garnered the author admission to their program of choice or a job offer that they chose to accept.

Graphic Design Resume
Cover Letter
Resume Example 1
Resume Example 2
Personal Statement

Before

Hi Ms. Wang,

                  I remember talking to your company at the XYZ career fair recently, and I am interested in the entry level position of a software engineer.  The courses I have focused on are all highly relevant to the position.  Additionally, my professional experience is in RTOS network and embedded systems.

                  At the [university], I have taken many courses, but I have most specifically focused on computer infrastructure.  When I was taking Operating Systems, I had to create code my own interrupts, semaphores, virtual memory system, file system and other, lesser projects.  For networking, I learned to use tools like Wireshark to analyze network.  Additionally, I programmed my own servers.  Lastly, every bit of programming I did for those two classes was in C on a vanilla linux kernel. 

                  In addition to my coursework, since this past summer I have worked at the [location] as a Robotics Engineer.   I have set up a real time Linux Kernel by patching a vanilla kernel with the appropriate RT Preempt patch in order to control the robot in hard real time.  Additionally, I am using EtherCAT to communicate with the each joint simultaneously, and CANopen to control the joints.  The end result is that I am creating middleware that will allow any control algorithm to control multiple joints simultaneously from a central location.

                  The attached resume contains an overview of my professional and educational experience.  May I please meet with you to discuss my qualifications for this position.  Please contact me at [phone number] or by responding to this email.

I look forward to hearing from you,

[First name] [Last name]

After

[candidate address] 

[date]

[employer address]

Dear Ms. Wang: 

Last week at the [university] career fair I discussed the possibility of a full time software engineering position with John Smith. I will graduate in May with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering. My interest in satellite communications, military technology and a fast paced work style lead me to contact you about this opportunity. 

At the [university], my area of interest is computer infrastructure. My coursework has included Computer and Network Security, Cryptography, Digital Computer Design, Microprocessor Architecture, Computer Networks, and Operating Systems. My Computer Networks and Operating Systems classes’ topics included manipulating virtual memory and file systems, OS synchronization techniques, creating clients and servers, forwarding tables using the Distance-Vector Routing Algorithm, and analyzing networks using Wireshark. 

As a Robotics Engineer at the [location] I write code that reads sensory information from the joints of a robotic arm and transfers outside input to individual motors within the arm. During implementation of this program I utilized CANopen for motor control and EtherCAT for real time communication. My responsibilities include installing an Ubuntu operating system with an RT-Preempt patch, downloading programs to servos and functionality testing. 

I believe that my technical skills and experience in a classified military environment make me a good candidate for this position. I am eager to further discuss this opportunity. I can be reached at [phone number] and by email to [email address]. Thank you for your time and consideration. 

Sincerely, 
[First name] [Last name]

Enclosure 

Before

After

Before

After

Before

The United States policies on homeland security as well as policies on terrorism have always been an interest of mine. In the past enemies could be seen easily, with canons or large planes dropping bombs on the United States, now enemies are more likely to look like a cyber attack crippling the United States banking system or a biological agent being introduced into the water supply.  With the policies shifting to focus on new methods to protect the country with new technology I believe it is important for individuals a part of this ever-evolving field to understand how the decisions are made.  

I am pursuing a Masters degree in Public Policy at the [university] because I know the [university] has the professors and reputable Public Policy program that will provide the best holistic education.  Professors in Public Policy have real world experience in their field of expertise or are experts on their subject matter. At many universities majority of the professors are simply academics, which is fine but I have come to recognize the benefit of having professors with both real world experience and a strong academic record. Being educated by professors who are the leading scholars on the federal budget process or who have worked as the Undersecretary of Defense is an invaluable opportunity. The wealth of knowledge offered by the faculty and staff in the Public Policy program at the [university] is unmatched in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. 

The Public Policy program not only offers amazing faculty, but offers several specializations and allows students to create their own specialization for the Master of Public Policy, as long as a professor approves it.  If I were to be accepted into the [university] Master of Public Policy program I would like to create my own specialization. I have been trying to understand for many years the policies and theories that are a part of the “war on terror.” If given the opportunity I would create a specialization focused on Global Terrorism and Homeland Security Policy.  The specialization would incorporate courses such as International Security Policy, Intelligence and National Security, Homeland Security, Intelligence Policy, U.S. Defense Policy and Planning, Forecasting and Analyzing Political Violence, Arms Control and Nonproliferation, Civil Conflict, Intelligence Policy and Organization, and/or Current Issues in Federal Acquisitions. While not all of these courses would be a part of the specialization they are just the courses I found that would be ideal for the Global Terrorism and Homeland Security Policy specialization.    Each course would provide a piece to the puzzle in understanding terrorism at home, and abroad.  

Currently I am working as a Analyst at the [location].  As an Analyst I prepare threat assessments regarding events that take place in and around the [location] on a regular basis. While these threat assessments focus mostly on potential crowd issues, the assessments have become more focused on the threat for an act of terrorism to occur following the Boston Marathon bombing.  There have been several incidents of either attempted acts of terror or successful acts of terrorism since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the U.S.   Following each attack there are policy changes at every level of law enforcement and security measures increase at the federal level.  Homeland security measures and research on ways to combat homegrown and international acts of terrorism are doubled.  The policies developed to allow the Department of Defense, the Central Intelligence Agency, the Federal Bureau of Information, the Department of Homeland Security and several others, the ability to modify their agenda and refocus their efforts on the new threats are critical to the future of intelligence.  Terrorists are able to modify their plans and be successful even after their first or second attempt was thwarted.  In order to be successful, defense policies must provide the governmental agencies involved in protecting United States citizens as much flexibility as possible while still being able to hold them accountable for their actions.  Courses such as Intelligence Policy and U.S. Defense Policy and Planning would provide me a better grasp of what goes into the decision making process when policies are being created that affect the safety and security of the nation. 

I became more focused on global terrorism and homeland security issues while studying at the [university] for my Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Studies.  During my four year's of attending the [university] I received my BA.  I was fortunate enough to be one of a few chosen to be a part of the cohort for Z offered through the M.  Throughout that two-year program I learned about the variety of terrorism threats facing the United States and what is being done to prepare and prevent future attacks.  With a Master of Public Policy I would be able to see the theoretical aspect of how to prevent/prepare for a terrorist attack in a different way.  Currently I am only knowledgeable on how historical events influence preparation for potential new attacks. With an understanding of how policies and theories approach situations like a terrorist attack I will be able to perform analysis that will be more advantageous to the federal government.  My intention is that after receiving my Master’s Degree I will pursue a career working for the federal government as an Intelligence Analyst or some type of Policy Analyst.  I want to be able to help protect the United States from threats of terror as well as aid in expanding and developing the intelligence community.  I recognize that these goals are quite grand but protecting citizens does not necessarily mean I will stop a terrorist attack, it can mean I help start change in how a project is being approached would could eventually lead to some larger positive result.  I hope to gain a great deal of knowledge on how public policy can positively affect citizens of the U.S. with respect to their security.  

After

The United States policies on homeland security and terrorism have interested me for many years. In the past, enemies could be easily identified. After all, it is not hard to spot an enemy when they fire a cannon at you or drop a bomb on your city. Now, enemies are embodied by a hacker executing a cyber-attack intended to cripple the United States banking system or a scientist introducing a biological agent into the water supply. Methods of attack and warfare are shifting away from face-to-face combat and towards more technologically advanced attacks. Thus, I believe that it is crucial for individuals involved in the defense against this new type of warfare to understand how policy decisions are made. Crucial decisions are made each day about whether to continue monitoring a suspected terrorist or launching a drone attack on an individual in a country halfway around the world. The future of defense policy decision making will require skilled policy analysts who can find solutions to problems using data analysis and drawing on knowledge from a variety of areas including economics, finance and management.

In order to gain these policy analysis skills, I would like to pursue a master’s degree in Public Policy (MPP) at the [university]. I am particularly interested in the program because of the option to create a faculty-approved specialization as part of the master’s program. If accepted into the MPP program I would like to create my own specialization on Global Terrorism and Homeland Security Policy. The specialization would incorporate courses such as International Security Policy, Intelligence and National Security, Homeland Security, Intelligence Policy, U.S. Defense Policy and Planning, Arms Control and Nonproliferation, and/or Intelligence Policy and Organization. While I unfortunately would not have the opportunity to take all of these courses during my MPP coursework I would be excited to take any combination of them to complete my specialty. I believe that the core policy courses would provide a strong foundation for my Global Terrorism and Homeland Security Policy specialization. Coursework including Quantitative Aspects of Public Policy, Public Management & Leadership, and Finance would provide skills and information needed to understand the connections between terrorist organizations. Specifically, coursework in Quantitative Aspects of Public Policy is essential to understanding how to analyze large sets of data about terrorist organizations and their activities. Statistical methodology is vital in both evaluating policy options and decision making in an uncertain environment. Defense policy decisions are sometimes made when not all the facts are available, requiring the statistical methodology used to make a decision to be accurate.

Additionally, I have been interested in for many years the policies and theories that are a part of the “war on terror.” Current research being conducted at the Center for International and Security Studies at Maryland (CISSM) including the Advanced Methods of Cooperative Security Program, the Civil Violence Project, the Controlling Dangerous Pathogens Project, and the Emerging Issues in Cooperative Security project, all indicate that there needs to be a change in the focus of security policies. These projects focus on various aspects of the global security field and what steps or policies can be enacted to help prevent any catastrophic event from occurring. If I am admitted to pursue a MPP I would hope to become further educated on the goals and processes being used by the researchers in these projects.

This specialization and the core public policy education would build on the knowledge I have developed through my undergraduate career and work experience. While studying at the [university] to receive my Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Studies, I became involved with the [organization] when I was admitted into the cohort for X. Throughout this two-year program I learned about the variety of terrorism threats facing the United States and what is being done to prepare for and prevent future attacks. Learning in a cohort of a diverse population of students and faculty helped further my understanding of how decisions are made in government agencies since the government is composed of a diverse workforce. The different outlooks in the courses I took at [university] enriched my education by forcing me to think about situations from a variety of different perspectives.  The ability to examine a situation from a multitude of perspectives is an important skill when making U.S. policy decisions since the United States is a mixing bowl of people and cultures, including foreign nationals. I was able to graduate [] with my BA from [university] by taking as many courses as I could during the fall and spring semesters as well as coursework during the winter and summer sessions. I was able to take advantage of the [university]'s seek out academically challenging coursework is part of the reason I am pursuing the MPP at the [university].

After graduation, I traveled to Israel as a part of Taglit Birthright Israel, a program that takes young American Jews to Israel to encourage people to discover how they can be a part of the larger Jewish community and develop their own connection to Jewish values and tradition. While in Israel I was able to see a culture that is quite different from the U.S. In the news there is always some new threat or concern regarding the Middle East but in Israel the people do not live in fear, they simply go about their lives. It was a humbling experience to know that children walking to school in some parts of Israel, especially areas that are near the Gaza Strip, could die from a mortar attack, while children in the U.S. have never really had to fear for their safety when going to school.  Having the opportunity to see the different approach to life in Israel gave me a new perspective on how to approach problems that happen in the U.S.

Soon after returning from Israel, I began working at the [organization] in [location]. I am still employed at the [organization] as an analyst. On a regular basis, I prepare threat assessments regarding special events that are held at the [location] or in the surrounding community. While these threat assessments focus primarily on potential crowd issues, the assessments have become more focused on terror threats in light of the recent Boston Marathon bombing. There have been several incidents of either attempted or successful acts of terror since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the U.S. Following each attack there are policy changes and increased security measures throughout every level of law enforcement. These policy changes provide agencies with the ability to modify their agenda and refocus their efforts on the new threats are critical to the future of intelligence. Terrorists are able to modify their plans even after their first or second attempt was thwarted. In order to be successful, defense policies must provide relevant government agencies similar flexibility, within the confines of the United States Constitution. Courses such as Intelligence Policy and U.S. Defense Policy and Planning would provide me with a better grasp of what goes into creation process for such policies.

In the future I would like to pursue a career as an Intelligence Analyst working for a federal government agency.  As an Intelligence Analyst I would hope to use the skills I would gain from the MPP to aid in the analysis of data used in the decision making process. Specifically I would be interested in working on assignments that deal with terrorist organizations and what connection those organizations have with crime in their regions. One area of research I have always been interested in is the connection between a terrorist organization and crime, due to the fact that crime is in some cases the way a terrorist organization funds its operations.  Identifying the source of funding can lead to the key people involved in a terrorist organization.  With the skills and policy theoretical concepts I would learn in the MPP program I believe I could benefit the homeland security process.

If given the opportunity to pursue a master’s of Public Policy I will learn how to make effective policy improvements that will make the U.S. a more secure place for all citizens to live. I believe that policy is the key to enacting change and adaptability. Thus, I am excited at the potential of pursuing a master’s of Public Policy at the [university] with outstanding faculty and close proximity to the nation’s capital.