My name is Ivan Petrov, I am a 19 years old.

I was born in Barnaul, Altay region, Russia and later

lived in Kazakhstan. When I was 4 years old my family moved to Kaliningrad, Russia, where I am
still living. In the age of 5 I was enrolled in Kaliningrad Lyceum #18. In 2005 Ive finished the lyceum
with physics-mathematics specialization. My average school graduation mark is 4.4 (5.0 is maximum
possible). I was accepted to Russian State Immanuel Kant Universitys mathematical faculty the
same year. Ive chosen Applied Mathematics and Computer Science specialization, as it conformed
to my interests in programming and computer security most of all. My choice of specialization was
greatly influenced by my fathers profession (hes a systems administrator, running his own
business) and the computer boom, experienced in Russia.
Right now I am a 4th year, high achiever student of Russian State I. Kant University and will be
graduating next year. Upon graduation I will receive a Specialist degree, which is not recognized by
foreign universities due to differences in my countrys educational system. But I want to continue my
education in one of European universities.
Classical Russian education has its advantages and disadvantages, compared to European.
Russian education is very broad and thorough. But this also means that it is very hard or sometimes
impossible to concentrate on some particular interesting topic and become a professional in the
chosen area. I believe that European education, focused on practical usage and development of
skills required by employers, is more competitive in this situation.
Dutch universities provide European education and are focused on practical side of things. They are
also known world-wide for their international education. And this is great, because this allows to
study in an international environment, to meet people from around the world, who came to study just
like you and to exchange experience and ideas with these people, to learn and understand from
inside differences, weaknesses and keys of success of IT companies world-wide, to get knowledge,
skills and education, which is actually competitive in conditions of globalization.
I believe that enrollment to MSc Computer Science program in University of Twente is a right step in
reaching my goal of becoming a good IT specialist. University of Twente is widely-known for its high
level of technical education and leading positions among Dutch technical universities and this is why
I have chosen this university and hope to be accepted to it.
Computer science is not just my future profession, it is also my main hobby and I see no profession
for me, other than one related to Computer Sciences. This also makes me a good candidate for
enrollment as studying computer science and related sciences is an integral part of my hobby.
I have big plans for my future career. Obtaining a quality of master of science from your university
will not only strengthen my knowledge in the field to cope up with the fast advancement in the
technology but will also help me to in my plans of extending my fathers IT outsourcing business

after I finish my education. We are planning to drive family business to a new level by creating a
number of new departments. I am sure that Dutch technical education will help me in accomplish my
plans and choose right strategies and goals for this.
I also find scientific and research work very interesting and attractive. I find mathematics interesting
and beautiful in a way. And dedicate a lot of time to self-education mainly in mathematics and
computer science. This allowed me to write a research paper, which is now in a process of
publication. I am thinking about connecting my future life to science one way or another. And I hope
to combine scientific work with my main job or to make scientific work my main job.
Russia may seem to a mature country, but I believe that it still has a lot to change in order to become
one. My countrys main source of income is trade of natural resources like oil and gaz. And Hi-Tech,
scientific research, educational and small business spheres remain undeveloped. I am confident,
that if I get a chance to earn master degree in your University, then I will be able to contribute a lot to
my countrys development of at least some listed spheres.
I get on with people well, am responsible and have good problem solving skills. I have only excellent
marks for all years of education. I am captain of a leading regions ACM programming team, an
organizer of a student programming club. I am a holder of President of Russia Scholarship (only two
scholarships are given per university). I know 3 foreign languages.
With my strong academic background and desire to study, I am confident that I am qualified and able
to perform well in this program. I also believe that I can make significant contribution to this program.
Thank you very much for considering my application. I look forward to your positive response.
Yours sincerely,
Ivan Petrov.