Rationale Statement for Concordia University of Chicago
My name is ____________________, seeking admission to the PhD Educational Leadership at Concordia University of Chicago. This pursuit is a continuation of my academic journey in the field of education as well as a springboard to enhance my career growth. I completed my Master’s in Educational Administration at the University of Missouri, and am occupying the role of a lecturer at the University of _____________in my home country, ___________. I believe that the next rational step in my academic and professional career is the completion of my doctoral degree. The University of _______________has also sent me for further studies in the United States in order to gain knowledge and skills from the best educators in the academic leadership field. Therefore, I am applying to this esteemed educational institution that is recognized for its top-caliber professors in education and high-quality curriculum in educational leadership.
My personal goal for applying for admission to the program is to contribute to improving the profession of education in my country. Right now, there are limited professional development opportunities for teachers and other staff if they wish to move up the career ladder, assume bigger or more complex leadership roles, or diversify or expand their skill sets. I am keen to help create programs and initiatives that would develop the competencies of educators and other education professionals in ______________. It is for this reason that I would like to conduct a study on the development of university staff members as part of my thesis requirement at Concordia University of Chicago, if granted admission. I aspire to learn, train from education experts, and obtain my PhD in order to advance in my teaching career as a lecturer at the University of ____________ and apply the leadership techniques and administrative strategies I would learn to improve student outcomes. More importantly, I aspire to become an invaluable and influential member of the academic community and have the voice and credibility to improve the professional pathways for teachers and other staff in the university in which I work.
Aside from professional experience, I possess qualities that make me an ideal candidate to the PhD program. I have demonstrated leadership skills as an education practitioner at the University of _____________. I attended workshops at the prestigious _________________ to continuously hone my leadership potential. My colleagues and supervisors have recognized my ability to lead and influence students. I was assigned to the role of academic advisor at the Faculty of Education last year – a task that I found interesting, enjoyable, and productive because I got to know students more personally and was instrumental in leading them toward academic and career paths that were aligned with their goals. Moreover, I gained the opportunity to enhance my ability to deal with students with different personalities, know their strengths and weaknesses, and address problems that I encountered in my administrative work. The head of the Education Department was pleased with my performance as both teacher and academic advisor that she nominated me to assume the position of Coordinator of the Department of Education.
Aside from leadership skills, I possess significant research experience. During my Master’s studies, I conducted a study on the effect of class size on students’ academic performance in which I found that the student-to-teacher ratio significantly affects academic performance because teachers often fail to manage class or deliver educational materials effectively. Moreover, I received a certificate of appreciation from the Dean of Student Affairs at the [name of University] for supervising a research paper by a high school student who won first place in the Kingdom last year.
I believe that my personal and professional goals and my experience and qualifications merit a consideration for admission to the doctoral program in Educational Leadership. I hope to join your cohort and apply everything that I would learn from the program in order to improve the practice of education in my homeland.