In this blog post, I’ve refined the sentences and flow of a personal statement submitted to the Department of Real Estate in the School of Regional Development at Kongju National University, and organized it so that the applicant’s academic tendencies, campus activities, collaborative experiences, and career plans are easily visible at a glance.

Writing About Academic Experience and Reflections

The Importance of Focusing on and Developing Academic Strengths While studying a variety of subjects in high school, I realized that I couldn’t excel at every single one. Therefore, I decided it would be more efficient to cultivate my strengths in the subjects I was good at and improve my grades in those areas. Rather than forcing myself to find something I liked, I aimed to grow professionally by specializing in the fields where I actually excelled.
During my freshman year of high school, while studying foundational subjects, I explored which fields I had a natural talent for. As a result, I discovered that I was well-suited for subjects requiring logical and analytical thinking. The subjects that interested me the most and in which I performed best were those in the mathematics track, and I also did relatively well in related economics and law courses.
I decided to reduce the time I spent on other subjects and focus primarily on these areas, turning them into both my strengths and my career path. When studying math, I focused on accurately solving basic calculation problems and those involving the application of formulas, and I made a special effort to build a solid foundation in calculus and statistics. Rather than spending too much time on difficult topics, I chose a strategy of minimizing mistakes in the areas where I felt confident. Despite this focused approach, having strong areas helped stabilize or even improve my overall scores.
I generally enjoyed studying law, politics, and economics, so I devoted a significant portion of my self-study time to them. The fact that the number of elective social studies subjects on the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) was reduced to two also worked in my favor regarding my focused study approach. As a result, I concentrated most of my study time on math and social studies; although I invested relatively less time in language arts and English, I was able to maintain a high average grade across all subjects.

Major School Activities and Reflections

Studying Entrepreneurship Through the Venture Management Club My school had a venture management club for high school students. Through this club, I was able to learn entrepreneurship theory, participate in startup camps, and gain practical experience. The club was run by students interested in entrepreneurship and those hoping to major in economics or business administration, and I participated consistently starting in my freshman year of high school, striving to build the foundational knowledge needed to manage an office as a future appraiser.
The club was organized into three departments—Management, Finance, and Marketing—and I was active in the Finance and Marketing Department. This department researched corporate financial management and marketing strategies and conducted simulated activities. I ran various simulations that tied into my future career path, as I will eventually be directly handling financial management and marketing strategies while running an office in the real estate sector.
The most notable activity was the startup camp, and nearly all members participated in the startup idea competition held during the camp. Participants proposed startup ideas they had been considering, ran booths, and gained hands-on experience by directly interacting with fellow students as customers. With my major in real estate in mind, I proposed a “new-concept shared house” idea.
I pointed out that existing share houses often claim to be affordable but are actually more expensive than studio apartments, and that they fail to provide differentiated value because common and private spaces aren’t clearly separated. To address this, I proposed a layout that secures a spacious central common area, surrounded by private spaces arranged in a circular pattern to expand the living room and relaxation areas. I also suggested minimizing move-in costs by reducing the size of private spaces and offering more affordable options.
I also developed a promotional strategy to encourage high school students living on their own to choose affordable shared housing—similar to a dormitory—instead of boarding houses or expensive studio apartments. As a result, my project placed third overall and received an award. Through this experience, I learned the importance of collaboration and persuasion in the process of developing and presenting practical ideas.

Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation, and My Reflections

Real Estate Brokerage: Is an Office Really Necessary? My interest in the real estate field was largely influenced by my mother, who worked in the industry. After obtaining her real estate broker’s license, she worked in the same neighborhood for over 10 years, and thanks to her, I naturally became familiar with basic information such as apartment market prices and monthly rents for studio apartments.
Since my school was somewhat far from the city center, there were many students who transferred from distant areas or lived on their own. Although there was a dormitory, its capacity was limited, so most students lived in studio apartments. Faculty members assigned to distant locations also frequently sought housing nearby, and my mother often helped them with their real estate transactions. Through my mother, I gathered various pieces of information—such as newly available rooms, homes with favorable terms, properties with desirable features, and residences in safe neighborhoods—and shared them with friends who needed them and their parents.
While serving as a source of information, I learned the importance of sharing valuable insights. When I provided useful information, the friends who benefited would help me in return when the situation arose, fostering a relationship of mutual cooperation. Witnessing firsthand the local network centered around my mother, I resolved that if I became a real estate appraiser in the future, I would become a business leader who values local connections and networks.

Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans

I plan to become a real estate appraiser and run my own private practice. My motivation for applying to the Department of Real Estate in the School of Regional Development at Kongju National University stemmed from having a clear career goal: to become a real estate appraiser. I learned about the profession through my mother’s experience in real estate brokerage and determined that it aligns well with my academic aptitudes. Based on my experience maintaining good grades in law, politics, economics, and mathematics during high school, I am confident that I will face no major difficulties preparing for the real estate appraiser exam subjects.
The real estate appraiser exam consists of four subjects: Civil Law, Economics, Accounting, and Real Estate-Related Laws and Regulations. I believe that to prepare effectively for these, a solid foundation in law and mathematics, along with the ability to apply this knowledge to real-world cases, is essential. Once I enter college, I plan to diligently complete the relevant coursework and begin preparing for the exam early on.
The department I applied to offers courses such as Real Estate Appraisal Theory, Introduction to Accounting, General Provisions of Civil Law, and Real Estate Public Disclosure Theory—all of which will aid my exam preparation—so I believe it is well-suited for me to prepare while pursuing my studies. Additionally, I believe practical courses like Real Estate Appraisal Practice will be of great help in developing my professional skills through internship experiences.
My specific plan is to consistently take the real estate appraiser exam starting in my first year of college and continue preparing until I graduate. My goal is to obtain the certification immediately upon graduation and then open and operate my own private practice. I plan to develop the skills necessary for leadership through various on-campus activities during my college years, and I intend to work as a professional by leveraging my connections and network within the local community.