In this blog post, we’ll examine how to describe your academic efforts, club activities, and volunteer experiences during high school, using a sample personal statement for applying to Kwangwoon University.
Describing Academic Experiences and Reflections
Kwangwoon University’s College of Electronic and Information Engineering seeks IT-oriented talent. IT-oriented talent refers to individuals who pursue a broad and deep understanding of their field, and I believe I fit this profile because I strove to study the core subjects of English and mathematics both broadly and deeply during my high school years. Looking around me, I noticed that many friends preparing for engineering school often chose their majors based solely on job prospects, and some did not consider English to be important. However, I believe that engineering is the epitome of modern science and a field that epitomizes the era of convergence; therefore, I concluded that I needed to acquire a broad command of English as a tool alongside in-depth knowledge of my major.
Having heard that an understanding of technical English is essential in the engineering field and that specialized terminology must be learned separately, I studied English through the TOEFL. Since the TOEFL features a high level of vocabulary difficulty and includes many long passages and complex sentences in the reading section, preparing for it allowed me to develop the ability to handle specialized terminology and lengthy texts. Considering that the difficulty level of the English section on the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) has recently risen to that of an official English proficiency test, I feel my choice was a reasonable one.
For math, I went beyond the high school textbooks and studied advanced theories using college-level math textbooks. Since my older brother is currently majoring in mathematics, I was able to refer to his introductory textbooks; studying these while comparing them to high school math made it much easier to understand the theories. Since the example problems in college-level math are similar in difficulty to the application-based problems on the CSAT, I was able to prepare effectively for the exam by thoroughly analyzing these college-level examples.
Description of Major School Activities and Reflections
In high school, I was active in the computer club. Our club had won numerous awards in programming competitions, and I joined having already acquired relevant certifications through my regular use of computers and study of several programming languages. One of the club’s strengths was the opportunity to stay in constant contact with senior members currently attending college, receiving their support and guidance.
After joining the club, I met with senior mentors, reviewed their projects and ongoing programs, and then proposed an idea of my own. My proposal was for a messenger program capable of video and voice recognition—a chat system that would allow multiple people to see each other’s faces and converse simultaneously from a distance. At first, I doubted whether it was feasible given my skill level, but the seniors responded positively to my idea and advised that I would need help from a college senior, particularly for the voice recognition component.
I decided to design the algorithms and implement the core features using the programming languages I knew, while seeking help from upperclassmen and college seniors for the more challenging parts. Referencing existing video conferencing development examples, I applied communication protocols and P2P technology. After consulting with a college senior, I decided to use a centralized P2P technique for video and audio transmission and the RTP protocol for establishing connections.
From designing the video chat window to creating command buttons and checking the communication status, the work was time-consuming and labor-intensive since I was working alone, but I didn’t give up and worked hard to complete it for my portfolio. Three months later, the system’s framework was in place, and I successfully implemented a program that allowed six people to chat while seeing each other’s faces simultaneously; with the help of a senior, I also added a file-sharing feature. I felt a great sense of accomplishment when I tested the program with my club friends and saw people in different locations conversing simultaneously.
Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation, and My Reflections
While participating in club activities, I often became so immersed in programming that I used the computer for long periods. At the suggestion of my seniors, I visited the Seoul Energy Dream Center, a youth experience program run by the Korea Energy Management Corporation, where I participated in hands-on activities related to the energy production process and a blackout simulation.
I had always kept my electronic devices turned on, so I hadn’t deeply felt the need to conserve energy. However, during the blackout simulation—where I experienced firsthand what it was like inside a subway car model with all power shut off and the train coming to a halt—I truly realized how important energy conservation is. It was striking to learn that a major power outage can go beyond mere inconvenience and even pose a physical threat.
After the tour, we created promotional materials to raise awareness about energy conservation. While designing a poster, I learned for the first time exactly how much power everyday electronic devices—such as PCs, laptops, and smartphones—consume, and I discovered that simply turning off devices when not in use can lead to significant energy savings. Through this experience, I realized that while the convenience offered by science and technology—such as programming and development—is important, we must not overlook the importance of energy conservation, which is necessary to sustain these advancements.
Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans
My motivation for applying to the Department of Electrical Engineering is my desire to plan and develop engineering programs on various topics in the field of digital media. My goal is to become an electronic systems designer in the field of digital engineering, and my upbringing—growing up surrounded by computers and electronic devices from a young age—was the catalyst for choosing this career path. My parents allowed me to use a variety of devices, giving me access to electronic equipment, and thanks to that, I was able to cultivate an interest in engineering.
While in high school, I gained practical experience by attending a programming academy and implementing programs I had designed myself in the computer club. Through my experiences creating a video chat program and a digital watch, I gained hands-on experience in preparing materials and tools and solving problems, and with my parents’ support, I was able to secure the resources needed for experimentation and fabrication.
After entering college, I plan to join the Digital Media Research Lab within my department to conduct specialized research on recognition systems such as object detection and tracking, as well as facial recognition. Facial recognition, in particular, is the area I’m most interested in, and my goal is to become a researcher specializing in the development of biometric security systems. Although fingerprint recognition is currently widespread, research into iris and facial recognition—which address the limitations of fingerprints—is expected to intensify, and the demand for specialized professionals in this field is also projected to increase.
To this end, I plan to clearly define my research focus during my undergraduate studies and conduct consistent research with an eye toward pursuing graduate school. While I have not yet settled on a specific career path, my career goal of making a lasting contribution as a researcher in the field of recognition system development is clear.
