Hydrology by once technology-disbeliever1Edward Frederick“Despite knowing the remedy, I could not do anything for the dying in front of me
in Africa,” a pathologist told me, depriving as I was then a sixteen-year old girl ofa dream to be a pharmacist.2 Contrary to my expectation that only new medicalor technological inventions could help them, what I found more needed werecommodities such as vaccines, food, water, and fundamental infrastructures which
we had already had. While this conversation was the start of my interest in CivilEngineering, I almost lost my interest in technology development at that time.
During my undergraduate period at the University of Tokyo, however, I havewitnessed serious problems around the world and learned about many innovative
solutions put to use through extracurricular activities, and I am now convincedthat there are many more challenges which technology should and can address,
and that if supplemented with an sufficient understanding of societies andproblems, I would be able to design an appropriate technology to serve people inbasic human needs.3
My postgraduate research interest is Hydrology and Hydroclimatology.4
In this globally unstable climate, water is the most powerful resource withpotential both to threaten and benefit human lives. I have especially growninterested in the surface and underground water because they remain under theveil in many parts despite a significant potential to be utilized more effectively.
The main reason for selecting the program at MIT is simply that it has someresearch projects of my very interest, in addition to its attitude to focus on realworld problems and its strong sense of mission to serve people’s need. Professor

1

タイトルはあったほうがよいと思う。ただし、タイトルをつけるのれあれば、”Statement of Purpose”

や”Interest in Hydrology”など、情報を全く付加しないものは使用しない。
2

はじめの Hook が大事。”I became interested in Civil Engineering because…” で始めるのではつまらない。
3

このイントロの部分は、いろいろな感情の変遷が含まれていて、モチベーションを説明するのに初期のドラフトではこの３倍くらい場所を使っていた。でも、実際教授陣が興味あるのはこの部分じゃないよね、ということでかなり短くなった。
4

モチベーション→今までの経験→大学院でやりたいこと、と時系列でいくのがスムーズで一般的なのかも。私の場合、学部時代の経験が大学院でやりたいことと離れてることもあって、大学院でやりたいこと（メイン？）にたどり着く前に長く書くと、読み手の集中が途切れてしまうんではないかと思い、あえて大学院でやりたいことを先に持ってきた。

1

AAA’s 5 research on “AIUEO” is one of them. In addition to developing morecredible numerical models, the research takes unique approach to put focus on
tangible variables such as vegetation and paddles.6 Although hydroclimatologicalconditions are not easily manipulated by humans, such variables can be moreeasily managed in human activities. The research would hereby aid people in
Africa to take practical measures for themselves; such an advanced knowledge
from this research would be the technology development that I believe is truly
needed. 7 “AKASATANA” by Professor BBB is another research project of myinterest. I have recognized the significant potential of the SMAP (Soil Moisture
Active and Passive) mission especially in flood prediction and improvement ofdrought monitoring capability. In addition, I would like to join the program of Dlab in order to develop appropriate technologies and to find sustainable solutions
based on both technical knowledge and apprehension of the society.8
In my undergraduate study, I have placed emphasis on understanding social
structures and problems in preparation for learning technology. As for my thesis
titled “XYZ,” I started the research even before my senior year started consulting
Professor CCC, and have diligently carried out considerable literature surveys andinterview surveys in Sweden and Japan with another expected early 2010 inSingapore. Thanks to many people involved in this study, including former IBM
vice-president, I was able to examine9 how Company DDD brought success to thissocial innovation enterprise integrating technology into the society. Moreover,based on this case-study, I gave two-hour long presentation to Company EEE.
Although this research is not related to hydrology, I have developed the skill of socalled “systems thinking” by this intensive and interdisciplinary research. I
believe this skill is important in examining the ecosystem made further

5

教授の名前は２，３入れるのがよいと言われている。多すぎると関心が定まっていないと思われる。

逆に１人だけに絞るのは、自分がいかに優秀でも、その１人がたまたま生徒をとらない年であることもあるのでリスキー。
6

具体的に、自分のその研究への Familiarity を示す。

7

イントロとの一貫性。

8

この１文はなかったほうがよかった。自分が書きたい、ぜひ伝えたい内容だったが、読み手が知りたい内容ではなかった。教授にしたら、自分の生徒が研究以外に時間を費やすって聞くのはあまりポジティブではない。
9

Active verb の活用。具体的な功績も続ける。

2complicated by human activities in hydrology.10 Other technical research skills
have been practiced at an intensive seminar on water-cycle-informatics withProfessor FFF and Associate Professor GGG. I analyzed 11 the cause and thedamage of the 2010 Pakistan Flood using DIAS (Data Integration and AnalysisSystem)12 as well as the data from PALSAR13. All these accomplishments would
also show my hardworking nature and how eagerly I can open up a new vista while
making the most of any opportunity around me.14
After gaining my Ph.D. and relevant job experiences, I would like to pursue
my career as a water management specialist at the World Bank. After acquiringexpertise, what I, once a technology-disbeliever wants to do is to understand thefield and to solve the problems with technology I believe in. 15 Though such a
position is highly demanding and requires all the professional expertise,
understanding of societies, sense of mission and leadership, I am just fascinatedto meet the challenges.
While I do not believe that the technology is the only way to solve problems,
the importance of the technology is undeniable. In order to learn the best
innovative technology to serve people’s need, MIT is undoubtedly my primary
choice.
＊全体的を通しての補足
この文章の筆者は学部卒で留学しているうえに、学部時代と分野を変えているため、具体的に述べられる経験、スキルが足りませんでした。もし同じ境遇でなければ、みなさんはもっと自分の学部、大学院時代の経験等を具体的に記述し、押すべきです。そうでない方も、この例のようにどうにかして今までで得られたスキルを文章化し、次に役立ちそうな形にもっていきましょう。
SOP のストラクチャーは、モチベーション→今までの経験→大学院でやりたいこと、と時系列で書くのが書きやすく一般的かもしれません。ただし、かならずそうでなければいけないわけではありません。Writer-centered でなく、Reader-centered になって、読み手が読んでいてどう思う10

一貫性の強調。関係のないようなスキルでも、見せよう、活かしようがある。

11

Active verb の活用。具体的な経験も続ける。

12

DIAS はあまり有名でないと思われるため、カッコ書きを必要と考えた。

13

逆に PALSAR はこの分野にいれば十分有名であると思われるため、カッコ書きは必要ないと考えた。その分野にいれば当然わかるであろう abbreviation にわざわざ役をつけるのは、その分野に精通していないんだと思われてしまうかもしてないので注意。
14

段落のしめ、まとめ。Paragraph writing を意識。

15

一貫性の強調。今までのストーリーがすべて繋がるように。

3

か考えましょう。時系列なら、読みやすいというメリットがあります。ただし、そうするとほん
SOP の場合、学部時代の経験が大学院でやりたいこと（読み手の教授が関心のあること）と離れているので、大学院でやりたいこと（メイン？）にたどり着く前に、読み手が関心を失い、読むのをやめてしまうかもしれません。そういうわけで、あえて大学院でやりたいことを先に持ってきました。
SOP を書くにあたり、興味のある研究室の研究内容はしっかりと調査しておきましょう。それによって「自分が留学先の大学院でやりたいこと」として書くべき内容も、「自分のこれまでの経験やスキル」の中から強調すべき内容も異なってくるはずです。

4