In this blog post, I’ll present an actual sample personal statement for applying to the Department of Civil Engineering at Kwandong University, along with guidance on how to answer each section, details of my extracurricular experiences, and my future academic and career plans.
Writing About Academic Experience and Reflections
While attending an industrial high school, I majored in Construction Information. My family has run a company specializing in outdoor interior construction since I was young, and I developed an interest in architecture while helping my parents with their work. I chose to major in Construction Information to assist my parents, and it was particularly beneficial because I was able to gain a great deal of IT knowledge relevant to the smart construction industry. During my three years of study, I primarily focused on acquiring foundational knowledge related to construction, studying physics-related subjects, and designing through hands-on surveying practice. I found both theoretical and practical studies enjoyable and consistently engaging. Through this experience, I realized that the field of architecture is not merely about construction itself; rather, to carry out construction properly, a solid foundation of knowledge from the basics is essential. Materials form the foundation of everything. Through the Civil Engineering Materials course, I developed the ability to select economical and safe materials for construction. I enjoyed discovering new things as I learned about the types of wood and how to work with them, as well as the structure and raw materials of concrete. The courses in Surveying and Mechanics were essential prerequisites for learning design. In Mechanics, I primarily learned how forces applied to a structure affect the structure itself. Whereas I used to design models by considering only the outer surface, after studying Mechanics, I was able to create detailed designs that took loads into account. In Surveying, I learned not only basic surveying and control point surveying but also applied surveying and photogrammetry, becoming proficient in utilizing topographic information. After completing the courses in mechanics and surveying, I began studying drafting in earnest. This was because I needed to practice understanding and creating drawings before actually designing. In particular, I used computers to expand my IT knowledge and applied it to civil engineering design. I progressed to the point where I could complete models through designs that considered reinforced concrete and steel structures, as well as the design of structural members and structures.
Description of Major Campus Activities and Reflections
Within the Construction Information Department where I studied, there was a major-specific club called the Geospatial Information Research Club. Through this club, I gained diverse experience participating in field surveys, model-making, and map-building activities. While the major curriculum covered design and surveying, there weren’t many hands-on classes; therefore, I joined the Geospatial Information Research Club because its practice-oriented activities helped me develop a deeper understanding of the subject. Club activities included projects using topographic maps, creating aerial maps, and building bridge models. These activities were planned in advance through a systematic curriculum, allowing us to carry out a series of tasks with clear learning objectives. Twice per semester, we conducted field surveys to examine bridge structures, broadening our experience by seeing in person what we had previously only viewed as computer drawings. I organized the surveying data collected during these field trips into a portfolio. The information gathered over three years of club activities, along with the maps I created and the surveying data I collected, became key components of my portfolio. When I first joined the club, I started with the basics to understand civil engineering structures. I used bridge structural analysis software to examine internal design drawings and zoomed in on maps to explore numerical surveying data. I used the V-World program—the national open spatial information platform—to survey topographic data, focusing particularly on the terrain around the school. To visualize the survey results, I first created a 3D aerial map using Google SketchUp. When producing the aerial map, I used the Central Park in Suwon’s Gwanggyo District as a model to create CAD drawings based on digital topographic maps, and before building the physical model, I transferred the design drawings to the computer using bridge design software. After a year of club activities, I became proficient in collecting and analyzing topographic data, as well as in map production and drawing design. After completing the digital map, I personally built a model of the Gwanggyo District using plastic, wood, and paper. Bringing the designed structures to life was complex even when viewed solely through computer drawings, but thanks to my teammates, we supported one another and successfully completed the project. I improved my skills by working with my teammates on the SketchUp modeling assignment and collaborating to gather the necessary data for the bridge model using advanced surveying equipment.
Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation, and My Reflections
The Topographic Information Research Club undertook a new project as our club’s graduation project. Since this was a project carried out by third-year students nearing graduation, we wanted to choose our own topic freely. In the past, we had typically decided on topics in consultation with professors or upperclassmen, but as senior students about to graduate, we decided to undertake our final project based on what we truly wanted to do. The project we chose involved surveying and analyzing school buildings to create maps and models. Most of the facilities we had previously surveyed and mapped were social infrastructure located outside the school grounds. We launched a small-scale project focused on the school’s facilities to express our affection for the school through architecture. First, we recruited project members and proceeded with the project by assembling a team to help each of us complete our individual portfolios. After assembling the team, we collected data by researching the construction years of the school’s facilities and surveying their current conditions. Some information was available on the school’s website or in internal documents, while we used the surveying techniques we had learned to supplement the data ourselves for parts that were difficult to determine. We used photogrammetry to determine the location and scale of the school buildings and employed state-of-the-art surveying equipment to measure the dimensions of the dormitories and other school facilities. By utilizing both V-World and Google SketchUp, we collected 3D data of the industrial high school and compiled the collected data into a 3D map, which served as the foundation for model creation. When creating the model, I used AutoCAD to produce 3D drawings, and the final completed model was displayed in the school lobby, serving as both my final graduation project and a meaningful addition to my portfolio.
Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans
I grew up in a family environment that fostered a deep interest in architecture from a young age. My parents ran a specialty store for outdoor interior design, which allowed me to naturally become familiar with building materials and construction environments. I considered majoring in architecture to support my family, and since my parents also hoped that I, as their eldest daughter, would take over the family business, I enrolled in the Construction Information Department at an industrial high school. During high school, I set my career path on becoming a specialist in civil engineering construction and devoted myself passionately to my academic studies and club activities. As a result, I applied to the Department of Civil Engineering, and I am currently preparing to work as a specialized civil engineering construction technician after obtaining my civil engineering technician certification. In fact, managing construction on-site according to blueprints may seem dangerous for a woman. However, construction sites are becoming increasingly sophisticated and specialized, and research that integrates professional surveying techniques and safety engineering—starting from the foundation phase—will be essential. To achieve this, we need professionals with in-depth knowledge of the field. I believe that individuals with diverse knowledge, regardless of gender, will be able to demonstrate their capabilities on-site. To grow into a standout professional on-site, one must have a thorough understanding of the entire civil and environmental engineering field. I have been acquiring foundational knowledge in mechanics and surveying since high school, and in college, I plan to build on this foundation to study structural mechanics, surveying, and reinforced concrete engineering in depth. Ultimately, my goal is to reach a level where I can independently understand and design the entire process in comprehensive civil engineering design. To achieve this, I will thoroughly study core subjects such as soil mechanics, geospatial information science, and water and wastewater engineering, while simultaneously gaining field experience in specialized areas like pipeline engineering, hydrology, and river design to ensure I have no gaps in my knowledge. Ultimately, I aspire to become a hands-on professional equipped with both the theoretical knowledge and practical experience necessary to oversee construction sites.
