Department of Industrial Engineering 1287 Grissom Hall Purdue University

Paris, December 30th

Dear Sirs, Statement of Purpose I would like to introduce what has led to my taking the decision to study at Purdue University next year. I will do so by presenting myself and my assets, and then by explaining why the master’s degree in Industrial Engineering meets my educational and professional objectives. I am a French student whose heritage -having Belgian, Hungarian, Dutch and French grand parents– and educational background, have given way to an open minded and rich personality. In addition to my scientific excellence, I can point out a humanist education. It is due to both my numerous trips abroad and to the French educational system, which, for example, enabled me to study humanities, history or even ancient Greek before focusing on sciences. I believe that such an open aspect of my educational background is a great asset for an engineer, with broad career flexibility in mind. My education stresses great abilities to succeed in a demanding program like the IE graduate program since I have managed in each step of a very selective scholarship. Thanks to my outstanding results in secondary school, I could enter the highly competitive “Classes Préparatoires” with emphasis on mathematics, theoretical physics, and chemistry. I passed the competitive nationwide exams and entered the ENSTA, which ranks among the five best engineering schools in France. During my first year, I studied general engineering with topics like computer science and optimization, mechanics, mathematics and automatics, electronics, economics and humanities. I really feel this year was a very positive one. Actually, it was then that I discovered a new way of studying - I had to carry out projects, to work in groups or to develop inductive reasoning - and I managed to rank among the top 3% of my 99 schoolmates. This current year will enable me to strengthen my abilities in general engineering as well as in a special field, which is Game Theory: I have decided to complete a research project in this domain since I am fond of strategic and board games (see attached letter). In fact, I mainly wish to carry on developing economic and decision-making skills that I judge compulsory, as I plan to swing gently from pure engineering towards management. After having been the editor of the students’ newspaper last year, I was recently elected president of the investment club of my engineering school. These two functions provide me with tremendous experience for my future life: leadership abilities combined with human contacts. In order to conclude about my assets for an American graduate program, I would like to mention some significant work experiences, which highlight my ability to work in English and abroad. I had the great opportunity of working in a London software engineering company two years ago. This year, I returned there when I was chosen among my schoolmates to complete a one -month internship, as a web designer and system operator.

Gaspar LAMOUREUX – 132, Avenue Félix Faure – 75015 Paris – France [email protected]

Applying for the IE master’s degree is first a short-term project: I wish to switch from a high level of pure sciences and theoretical engineering as studied in France towards a more technical and industrial approach. I am convinced that my French scientific background, combined with an Industrial Engineering master’s degree at Purdue will lead to the best engineering training possible. I also wish to develop a longer-term goal: trying to combine engineering and management skills. Through my schoolwork and my hobbies I have combined scientific excellence with a deep interest and good capacities for humanities and communication. For example, I was one of the few French students to be admitted to both the best commercial and scientific “Classes Préparatoires” after secondary school. Having succeeded in sciences, I now want to develop other skills and learn about management. The courses of the IE master’s degree program seem to allow me to do so. The professional purpose of this long-term goal is as follows. I plan to start working in consulting after getting a French engineering diploma and an American master’s degree. I expect this job to teach me even more about management, strategy and industrial analysis so as to apply for a managing and decision making position in a major company. Once more, I regard the IE master as a compulsory step in doing so, since it will provide me with two great assets for consulting: valuable American experience and strong knowledge in Industrial Engineering. However demanding it may be, I am determined to achieve this long-term goal. I therefore hope you will give me the opportunity to carry out studies at Purdue University.

Please note that this Statement of Purpose is somewhat personal, I wrote it in fall 1999 when I applied to Purdue University. The tone might be slightly pretentious but it seems to be « part of the game » when applying to Grad School… Please let me know if you plan to use part of this statement and/or if you have any questions regarding it or the application process to Grad school. Gaspar Lamoureux

Gaspar LAMOUREUX – 132, Avenue Félix Faure – 75015 Paris – France [email protected]