July 7, 2019

SAMPLE SOP FOR CHICAGO HARRIS SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY-Selected Candidate

SAMPLE SOP FOR CHICAGO HARRIS SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY-Selected Candidate

A  staggering  3  million  people,  including  me,  commute  daily  in  Mumbai’s  suburban  trains,  yet  conditions  in  these  trains  are  hardly  humane.  Every  day  I  pass  through  Asia’s  largest  slum,  where  living  conditions  are  worst.  During  monsoons  I  see  water  flooding  in  homes,  where  basic  hygiene  is  a  distant  dream.  Farmers  commit  suicide  due  to  debts  as  small  as  $50  and  deaths  by  starvation  are  not  uncommon  even  today.  The  question  that  I  often  ask  myself  is  why?  Why  is  India  unable  to  provide  the  basic  necessities  of  life  to  its  citizens?  What  role  does  policy  play  in  eradicating  poverty?  My  first-hand  experience  of  understanding  of  policy  issues  happened  in  2005,  when  I  witnessed  the  living  conditions  of  a  slum  where  my  domestic  help  Anita  lives.  I  was  appalled  by  her  standard  of  living  and  her  husband  who  was  not  allotted  a  bed  even  in  a  government  hospital  suffering  from  kidney  ailment.  Since,  liberalization  of  India’s  economy,  tremendous  wealth  has  been  created;  however,  it  has  yet  to  reach  people  like  Anita.  What  surprises  me  is  that  these  people  constitute  the  majority  of  democracy  and  yet  such  apathy  continues  where  they  are  trapped  in  vicious  circle  of  socio-economic  backwardness  inspired  by  vote  bank  politics.

Based on 2008 World Bank data, the poverty headcount ratio is alarmingly high in various regions: 47.5% in Sub-Saharan Africa, 36% in South Asia, 14.3% in East Asia and the Pacific, compared to a mere 0.5% in Europe and Central Asia. This stark contrast serves as my primary motivation to take proactive steps. I am driven to establish my own long-term policy think tank aimed at addressing these pressing issues. Currently, I’m spearheading a campaign focused on objectively analyzing the policies of past governments at different levels in India. What sets this campaign apart is its reliance solely on factual information, allowing readers to form their own opinions based on an unbiased understanding of the facts. As part of this initiative, I plan to traverse the entirety of India, working closely with locals to grasp the intricacies of local issues. This approach not only fosters greater collaboration between different states but also enables the adoption of finer policy points. My team has already made significant progress in producing reports on Population, Education, and Awareness in India. I’m presently seeking a sponsor to join forces with us for a two-month road campaign starting this March. The timing is crucial as India will be heading into elections in 2014, offering a strategic opportunity to make a meaningful impact. My ultimate goal is to expand this initiative to the point where we consult governments on critical policy matters. Lyndon B. Johnson’s emphasis on education could prove instrumental in achieving this ambition. The resources available, including a distinguished faculty and a robust alumni network, position this institution as an ideal platform for realizing my aspirations. I’d like to specifically acknowledge Professor Catherine Weaver, whose work deeply resonates with me. It would be an honor to collaborate with her on her research endeavors. Her publication, “Hypocrisy Trap: The World Bank and the Poverty of Reform,” provided invaluable insights. Looking ahead, my career ambition propels me towards completing graduate studies and working closely with organizations like the World Bank and United Nations. This path offers a global perspective on policy frameworks in action, setting the stage for the pursuit of my professional aspirations

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The  decision  to  pursue  post-graduation  in  public  policy  has  been  taken  after  considerable  self  evaluation  of  my  professional  ambitions.  I  chose  Birla  Institute  of  Technology  and  Science,  Pilani  for  my  undergraduate  studies,  one  of  the  most  reputed  engineering  colleges  in  the  country.  Not  the  one  to  be  easily  swayed  by  mass  opinion  I  chose  to  enrol  in  Msc.  (Tech)  Finance  rather  than  conventional  engineering.  The  program  not  only  offered  right  blend  of  analytical  engineering  tools  with  strong  foundation  in  principles  of  Economics  and  Finance  but  also  allowed  flexibility  of  electives  across  departments.  Along  with  sound  statistical  and  financial  background,  I  got  adequate  exposure  in  Public  Administration  and  Politics  through  coursework.

As my junior year in college drew to a close, I was presented with the opportunity to take on the role of External Finance Chair for a research project at Chemnitz Technical University in Germany, focusing on International Trade and Finance. However, I chose to volunteer with Samarthan, a non-profit organization based in Bhopal, India. During my time at Samarthan, my responsibilities ranged from teaching to analyzing income data and identifying trends in unemployment. Through my research, I uncovered a significant finding: the level of education directly correlated with employment prospects, yet migrants received lower wages compared to local workers in similar positions. Moreover, locals had a higher likelihood of securing employment compared to migrants, who also faced social marginalization. This eye-opening experience underscored the profound consequences of policy shortcomings in the long run. Persistently neglecting a specific demographic would inevitably lead to the emergence of a dissatisfied populace, potentially disrupting the delicate social equilibrium. This realization reinforced the importance of inclusive and well-considered policies to foster a more equitable and harmonious society.

To  further  my  understanding  of  economics  and  finance,  I  joined  Credit  Suisse  as  an  Investment  Banking  analyst.  Here,  I  developed  a  deeper  perspective  on  functioning  of  global  markets  and  impact  of  policies  not  only  on  industries  but  the  whole  nation  and  its  stakeholder.  It  also  gave  me  an  opportunity  to  interact  with  industry  stalwarts,  during  one  of  my  training  in  London.  My  job  has  taught  me  to  identify  root  causes  and  given  me  confidence  to  take  decisive  actions  within  tight  deadlines.  I  believe  these  two  takeaways  from  my  work  experience  would  come  in  really  handy  for  my  policy  think  tank.  Lot  of  efforts  and  resources  are  wasted  tackling  sideline  issues  without  identifying  the  main  problem  and  delay  in  execution  of  policy  initiatives.

I  strongly  believe  my  real  life  experiences  and  diverse  work  stints  would  add  lot  of  diversity  to  the  incoming  class.  Given  opportunity  I  will  leverage  the  Lyndon  B.  Johnson’s  program  to  increase  the  circle  of  positive  impact,  continuously  challenge  myself  to  take  up  additional  responsibilities  and  utilize  my  skills  to  innovate  and  reach  out  to  bring  a  measurable,  change  in  society.

 

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