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@Humanomics, yep it seems there are a few differences in SOPs and PhD applications between there in the US and here. I reckon there is more variability in Oz. @whatdoido, I sent the draft to my prospective supervisor and he was very pleased with it. Still, as his first language is not English -just like in my case-, and anyway he's only one person of the many who'll decide on my application, I thought I may need to post the essay online to see how it is rated by native speakers who are applying to similar degrees. Cheers

That's a very good point. I was actually going to write the SOP entirely as a ug one, with background story and everything, but just in time run into an article that helped me change the perspective. As they already have my research proposal with all the technical data, the idea was to finish up telling them a bit more about the person behind the application pack.

Hi guys, thanks for your comments. @Marshall, they already have my research proposal, several pages with juicy, focused, academic stuff. I intended this essay (the SOP) to be more personal. Also, consulting could also be done from a university or associated research centre, that's what I had in mind. It's a good idea to include more about possible projects in the 2 countries. @ Humanomics, the degree is indeed a very multidisciplinary one, even though its called Economics, it requires -as importantly- Geostatistics, Geology, Maths, Programming, Finance. That was actually the rationale behind my first paragraph, I did feel I had to state that I have many interests (which I do), and it may have several adjectives but it's actually as it is, it's not my fault to be so good (kidding... :cool:) Cheers

Thanks for your contribution, Humanomics. Someone else may also have some other ideas? Cheers

Hi everyone, thanks a lot in advance for commenting on my essay: I am, by nature, extremely curious and inquisitive. I feel very fortunate to have a broad collection of interests, and to have had parents who always instilled uncompromising personal values, love for learning, and well-rounded personal advancement. I wholeheartedly believe my entire background makes me an ideal applicant for the PhD in Mineral Economics at ABC University. Growing up in a mining town, I was inducted into the mining industry, and its lifestyle and particularities, from birth. I am in fact a third generation miner, and count my father, a former Fulbright scholar and senior engineering executive in the iron ore sector, as my main source of inspiration. Thanks to him I was exposed to advanced science and engineering literature and concepts from an early age, and loved to delve in abstract thinking and find solutions to complex problems ever since. With his example, my evident early aptitudes at exact sciences, and the fast and impressive technological developments of our era, I chose to embark in an engineering career. At DEF University -which has one of the two most prestigious and sought after engineering schools in my country of origin- I acquired very rigorous and comprehensive education in subjects including mathematical analysis, statistics, programming, among others. I thoroughly enjoyed the challenge, the access to seemingly endless amounts of knowledge, the academic and personal day-to-day growth. A few years following my graduation and while working for a major American telecommunications multinational in GHI, I realised that my main intellectual focus had shifted. Still avidly interested in the technical aspects of my career, I had become more intrigued towards questions such as 'with a given amount of resources, what makes some organisations more successful than others?', 'how can the use of these resources be improved?', 'how can key indicators such as revenue or return on investment be optimised?'. Aware of the long and well-deserved worldwide predominance of the United Kingdom in the fields of economics and finance, I decided to pursue postgraduate studies at JKL University, famed throughout Europe for its research-intensive Economics Department. Studying with some of the leading scholars in their respective branches of economics, I concentrated in the international and managerial aspects of this science, while at the same time establishing a solid grounding in its mathematical methods and econometrics. After returning to GHI, and as a complement to my economics degree, I attended MNO University -highly-regarded locally for its business school- to obtain a postgraduate degree in Corporate Finances, in which I equipped myself as best as I could with tools such as company and project valuation, investments and value creation in a corporate environment, international investment instruments, and portfolio theory and management. Some of these topics would prove useful during my work at a mining exploration startup, where I got acquainted first hand with the financial issues and tribulations of this area of the mining industry. A major concern is how to ensure steady financing. In particular, even though junior exploration companies usually account for a significant share of the greenfield discoveries -as opposed to brownfield ones- they are invariably too dependant on equity investment, a situation sometimes not fully contemplated in local legislations. Furthermore, exploration costs keep rising around the clock as finding new large deposits is getting increasingly more difficult. Some subsectors -such as gold mining- may even face a shortage of supply in the medium to long run due to not enough proven reserves being inventoried in the last decades. Recently I have been researching and commenting on these and other industry-related topics on my blog www dot miningAMZ dot com. All in all, the current predicaments of the mining exploration sector are as pressing as fascinating. Several key factors make ABC University one of the most outstanding places in the world for me to undertake the PhD in Mineral Economics. Of utmost importance is the very-high caliber of human capital in the department, reflected in its solid reputation in Australia and abroad. Likewise essential is the great affinity in research interests with some faculty members, especially Doctor PQR, with whom I have exchanged ideas and opinions in the last months; we have many similar views on what the priorities are in mining exploration research, and I will be delighted and honoured to work with him. Strongly appealing as well are the school's broad academic focus -with emphasis in the resources sector- and diverse student body, together with its advantageous centric location and close ties with industry and other reknowned academic centres such as STU, VWX, and YZ. The preeminence of Australia in the international mining and resources arena is also crucial to my decision. Apart from working as academic researcher upon completing my doctoral studies, I plan to become a university professor. Through my stints as private maths tutor, I have realised in recent years that one of my core passions is the transmission of knowledge, the enlightening of others' minds and lives. From my finest teachers I have learned to instill curiosity and zest for learning, to concentrate on key concepts and develop them clearly, to be organised, to be relaxed but firm with the objectives, and to connect and be personally involved with my students' advancement. Besides, I also aim to do consulting work as it would be a gateway to a variety of projects and environments where I could both enrich my experience and broaden my contribution in the industry; to that end I plan to capitalise on the numerous large mining ventures as well as my professional contacts in Australia and my country of origin. I am confident my current personal and academic background, together with the exhaustive, world-class research work at ABC, will allow me to become a distinguished expert in the ever-exciting field of Mineral Economics.

Resident, not citizen yet.

Thank you for your reply Humanomics. How about explaining the non optimal work switch to carpentry, why that long, etc? How about justifying the choice of other careers (electronics, econ/finance) before getting into mining - instead of doing it straight from the undergraduate? To me, apart from the very interesting nature of my intended research (multidisciplinary as it requires statistics, geology, programming, and of course economics), is the realisation that my largest and most meaningful personal network is in the mining industry. All in all, it's a matter of leveraging my academic and personal background. The thing is, what angle would be best to explain it? (choice instead of obligation, etc) Cheers

First of all, thank you for taking the time to read this thread. I'm applying to a PhD in Mineral Economics at an Australian University. I've got everything sorted out, except for the personal statement. I've read many samples online, quite impressive but not very helpful as my personal circumstances are rather unique: * Even though I have an overall average of A in my undergraduate and 2 postgraduate degrees (strength), I've been working as carpenter in Australia for the last 5 years (weakness) as my work exp before migrating was in a smaller mining company without presence in this region, etc and the money from carpentry was indeed good and steady. However, the love for learning and academic improvement was always there (strength), so earlier this year I contacted a few departments and one professor in particular is very keen to recommend my admission. He is well impressed with my research proposal as well (strength), which is within Australia's key strategic research areas and also very related to my mining work exp (strength) and his research interests (strength). * My ug is in Electronic Engineering and my pgs are in Economics and Corporate Finance. My initial work exp was in telecommunications (5 ys) (weakness) and switched to mining (2 ys) after the pgs. (strength) * The mineral economics department is within the (large) business school, which to me is very appealing (large and diverse student body, with varied professional objectives). (strength) * I grew up in a mining town; I've been acquainted with this industry and its way of life since birth; many people in my family and circle of friends work there. (strength) * By all means I would be an older applicant. I'm 38 (weakness), with partner but no kids. However, I've lived in England and the US, travelled a fair bit, and regard myself as someone broad minded, well rounded and experienced. (strength) * Shortly after deciding to go for the phd I created a blog on mining. The audience is minimal yet but I reckon it's a good way to showcase my interest in the field and research and writing skills. (strength) The main hurdle in my personal statement is how to demonstrate that I indeed want to pursue this degree (why I didn't do it earlier, etc). Please advice on the best angle from which to tackle this essay. Thanks very much in advance

Please help me out with this one: This data will be real-time available to geologists anywhere in the world, and allow them to refine their geological models while drilling is in progress. OR This data will be real-time available to geologists anywhere in the world, allowing them to refine their geological models while drilling is in progress. Thank you!!

Hello everyone, I'm looking for a partner to practice IELTS's Speaking and Writing Parts. Currently I reckon I'd get a 7, I'm aiming at 8+, and look for someone in a similar situation. I'm uni educated and easygoing. All nationalities welcomed :D Cheers

Hi, I am also interested in a partner for the IELTS speaking part. I'd grade my current level at 6.5-7 but need 8+ so I'm very motivated to raise my performance and will also give you a hand with your own study. Please do not hesitate to contact me to start practicing! Cheers PD: I don't mind whether you male or female, senior or very young, from whichever path in life, as long as you are also seriously committed to a high score.