Statements of Purpose - 2020-2024 & 2025

In mid-late 2024, I started talking to a professor and taking seriously the idea of going for a PhD. I resinate with the idea that I could still be a legit "Research Scientist", despite the winding road I've taken through education thus far.

I also decided that 2024 wasn't going to be THE year.

It's already mid-March which means I now have ~2 months, (till JUNE!) to decide if 2025 is going to be the year of Dr. Kylin. June is the CSGrad4US grant deadline. Most graduate programs that I looked at previously had application deadlines in Oct, Nov, Dec, and Jan.

So far, I've started out 2025 at a run in the accessibility sphere: 2 speaking engagements, and a conference. I've also accepted a UX lead position with the non-profit I volunteer for. The conference has forced me to overcome the block to redesign my resume and my portfolio website.

One page of my portfolio site was a statement of purpose from 2020 when I applied to UCI for a Masters in Human-Computer Interaction and Design. The statement of purpose that I wish to work on in 2025 is the one that I outlined in Nov. 2024, based on guidance by S.B. professor from UCI Disabilities Lab (name/link) and mentor for the CSGrad4US grant.

In catching up with my November self, I found a number of statements of purpose that I'd written between 2020 and Nov'24. I thought I'd put them together and see what happens.

• 2020 - UCI MHCID Application

• 2021

• 2022

• 2023

• 2024

• 2025 - PhD Application

Not sure yet if this is going to stay in the blog (e.g. be transferred over to separate blog posts) or set up as CMS for dynamic content.

UPDATE: Yep went with CMS list and pdfs for now.

Go to Purpose Page >