文书指南：哥伦比亚大学MBA申请文书

Although my experience in the United States has been challenging and rewarding, it is in Brazil that I aspire to make my greatest personal and professional contributions. Regretfully, the Brazilian political and economic situation has been characterized by a state of national crisis and disorder. The country’s need for economic development and foreign investment is tremendous.

While many attempts have been made to promote foreign investment in Brazil, the current volatile situation has been a strong deterrent. It is within this convoluted environment that I intend to apply my business skills and knowledge. My career goal is to create and run my own business consulting firm in Brazil, providing international firms and investors with the leadership, guidance, and partnership required to thrive in the Brazilian business environment. As a Brazilian, I do not see any other role I can play with more passion or desire.

While Brazil offers opportunities in many industries, I intend to focus in the construction and real state development industry. Brazil already has many large and competitive construction companies, but there are still substantial opportunities for growth and development. With a population that exceeds 150 million people, Brazil represents the seventh largest market in the world and the largest economy in South America. Not surprisingly, Brazil’s biggest business partner is the United States. Yet American companies have yet to recognize the country’s full potential. The markets for automobiles, personal computers, and pharmaceuticals are far from saturated and benefit from an ever-growing demand for such goods.

I plan to operate within this niche by extending the knowledge I have acquired in the United States -- leading projects and identifying opportunities -- to Brazil. My firm will guide international firms and investors from the initial stages of market identification through site selection, construction, and start-up with partnership, knowledge, and confidence.

The broad and well-grounded knowledge of the engineering and construction industry I have acquired during my five years of experience with Fluor Daniel forms the foundation for my enterprise in Brazil. Through Columbia's MBA program, I plan to further build on this foundation by leveraging the experience in engineering and international management I have accumulated both in Brazil and in the United States.

I have performed the design of several massive industrial and chemical process structures, such as a $430 MM chemical plant for Wellman in Mississippi and the rebuilding of a $350 MM Milliken carpet plant in Georgia. I have always been in the forefront of my profession, searching for innovative ways to solve engineering problems by integrating knowledge and technology, reducing cost, and increasing design serviceability.

Over the past two and a half years, my passion for this industry has deepened substantially. I have been involved with the execution of several large construction projects. I have led the $410 MM General Motors project in Brazil and, currently, the $450 MM Aladdin Hotel and Casino project in Las Vegas. Brazil proved particularly exciting, since there I took on the dual role of lead contractor and cultural ombudsman. Decisions and discussions took on greater importance as I integrated opposing interests, developed common values, pushed cooperative continuity, and attained the objective -- project completion with collective success -- while interpreting language nuances and cultural disparities. Experiencing the first-hand impact that a project of that magnitude has on the local community was one of the most fascinating aspects of the experience. It was exciting to witness the changes that the new plant was already promoting in the area.

New businesses were flourishing on a daily basis. This is precisely the type of impact that encourages me to further grow, develop in my career, and pursue my goals.

The Aladdin Hotel and Casino Project in Las Vegas has also been a unique experience. Cost overruns, schedule delays, low morale, and management disrespect had been rampant over the previous year. It has been up to me to change the status quo, secure project stability, and achieve project success. Leading the changes on the Aladdin Project has served to reinforce my belief that values such as honesty, integrity, consistency of purpose and actions, accountability, and respect form the basis for one’s position as a leader. These values have provided me with a strong and solid foundation to perform my work. The results to this point have been very encouraging: a 40-story hotel tower, completed on time, within budget, and exceeding the industry safety records.

While I am certain that my professional experiences so far will prove extremely valuable in achieving my goal, I seek an MBA in order to acquire the knowledge of the commercial aspects of real estate business, develop acute marketing and finance skills, and refine my management abilities. I have selected Columbia's program for several reasons: curriculum, location, global environment, and reputation. Columbia’s curriculum specifically addresses and focuses on the knowledge and skills that I need to acquire in order to achieve my goals in Brazil. The school's real state development track (which I intent to pursue) is second to none. I also plan to take electives in international business in order to obtain the skills I need to launch my business.

Finally, I will take advantage of the numerous elective courses in finance and economics.

Columbia’s teaching method is equally important for me. I believe that, while certain subjects can be better illustrated utilizing case studies, other concepts are best mastered through lectures. At the same time, cross-discipline group projects are ideal in simulating an actual business environment. Columbia's program features all three of these methods. I believe this approach will provide me with a holistic perspective of business, maximize my learning experience, and allow me to contribute the most as a student, as a professional, and as an individual.

Columbia’s location plays a very important role in my program selection. New York City's plethora of resources is unparalleled, and the proximity to great firms and institutions offers unmatched opportunities for me to forge professional contacts. Having lived in Las Vegas for over a year, I am used to a complex, dynamic city, and I know from experience that I thrive in such environments.

The international focus of Columbia’s environment reflects the type of environment that I have worked in. Throughout my career, I have worked with an international and diverse group of brilliant individuals. Starting in college, at the Construction and Automation and Robotics Laboratory, I worked with individuals from China, Korea, India, Equator, Jordan, and Egypt. There I developed an appreciation for the synergy that a diverse group of individuals can generate. At Fluor Daniel, I continued to work with an international body of professionals. I have no doubt that Columbia will be a perfect match for my abilities and desires.

My career aspirations are ambitious, but I am certain that I will attain them and thereby become a driving force in Brazil’s business economy. I turn to Columbia not just for its reputed excellence, but also for the key qualities of its pivotal environment: global, strategic, driving, challenging, and interactive. This is precisely the type of environment in which I have worked and succeeded; it is in this type of environment that I will continue to thrive.

点评：

这是一篇申请MBA的小ESSAY，全文共13段，可以分为2个部分：为什么要读MBA；为什么要读哥伦比亚的MBA。其中还加插了自己的一些工作经验，自己的职业目标和前景的展望等。整篇文章条理清晰，例证充足。先说自己读MBA的原因，描述了一些自己以往的工作经验，自己的职业目标要通过掌握一些商业知识才可以实现，所以萌生了去读MBA的想法。接着再用5段解释了一下选择哥伦比亚MBA的原因，注意结合了自己的实际，不是空泛地列举一些学校好，排名前之类的无用信息。这是本文的一个亮点，从自己的过去推导到要读MBA的这一想法，举一些实际的例子，使读者对于作者产生这样的想法有一个直观而且符合一般逻辑性的认识。

作者通过例子向读者，尤其是想向招生委员们展现了自己的领导能力和合作精神。作者巧妙地将自己合作精神强的例子安插在解释为什么选择哥伦比亚MBA课程里，既让学校知道这个申请者是认真研究过学校的特点，也展现了自己具备MBA申请者必须具备的因素之一——合作精神。

译文：

尽管我在美国的经历是充满挑战性和收获颇丰的，但我却想将我最好的个人和职业发展贡献给巴西。遗憾的是，巴西的政治和经济状况特点却是一系列的危机和社会混乱。这个国家急切需要发展经济和国外的资金注入。但很多因素阻碍了巴西吸引外资，最近的暴乱就是一个很大的阻碍。我正是想把自己的商业技巧和知识运用到这种动荡的环境中。我的职业目标就是在巴西成立和经营我自己的商业咨询公司，为国际公司和个人投资者提供领导决策力，指引和合作，而这些也是巴西商业环境繁荣发展所需的。作为一个巴西人，我看不到还有什么比这个更能让我投入热忱和渴望了。

巴西给很多行业提供了发展的机会，我打算将公司发展的重点集中在建筑和地产发展行业。巴西已经有很多大型和竞争力强的建筑公司了，但一家公司要成长和发展还是大有机会的，因为拥有超过1.5亿人口的巴西是世界第七大市场，同时也是南非最大的经济体系。毫无疑问，巴西最大的商业合作伙伴就是美国。然而美国的公司还没有完全发现这个国家的全部潜力。汽车，电脑和药品的市场尚未饱和，而且市场的需求量还在不断增长。

我打算在巴西增加我在美国所获得的——带领项目和把握机会方面的知识，让我在这个领域可以有所发展。我的公司会给国际集团和个人投资者以指导，从最初的市场定位到位置确定再到构建，也会在开始时给予合作，知识和信心方面的支持。

在福陆丹尼尔公司工作的那5年让我在工程和建筑产业方面有了广阔而且扎实的知识，而这些知识就是我在巴西开展自己事业的基础。选择哥伦比亚的MBA课程，在巴西和美国，我都累积了一些在工程和国际公司管理方面的经验，我打算通过运用这些经验，进一步扩大我的知识基础。

我参加过许多大型的工业和化工过程结构的设计，例如为威尔曼在密西西比建一个桩柱每毫米430美元的化工工厂；为美丽肯在乔治亚州重建一个桩柱每毫米350美元的地毯工厂。在我自己的工作岗位上，我也常常是身先士卒，想要寻找一种有效的新方法去解决在工程上遇到的问题，于是我将知识和技术有效地结合，降低成本和增强设计的可用性。

在过去的2年半时间里，我对这个行业的热情持续高涨。我曾经参与执行过几个大型的建筑项目。由我指挥的项目有：为通用汽车在巴西建的一个桩柱每毫米410美元的工程，还有最近，为阿拉丁酒店娱乐城在拉斯维加斯建的一个桩柱每毫米450美元的工程。既是首要承包人也是文化的调查者，这种双重的身份让我体会到了巴西带来的独特兴奋。处在这种语言不同文化又有差异的环境中，当我要顾及对方的利益，扩大共同的利益，维持合作的连续性和达到最终目标——以共赢的方式完成项目时，果断和讨论显得尤为重要。体验一个大型的工程给当地的社区带来的那种直接影响就是这项工程最大的魅力所在。能亲眼看到新工厂在那个地区发展起来，我很激动。

新产业日益繁荣。正是这种迹象鼓励我成长，发展我的事业和实现我的目标。

在拉斯维加斯建阿拉丁酒店娱乐城是一次独特的经历。预算超支，工程延期，士气低落和管理不当等现象自从去年以来一直很猖獗。要由我来改变这种现状，维持项目的稳定性和完成项目。带领阿拉丁这个项目增强了我的信念：诚实，正直，目标和行动的一致性，责任心和对他人的尊重这些价值观构成了一个领导者所必需具备的素质。这些价值观让我在工作中有一个坚实和巩固的基础 。最后的结果很鼓舞人心：40层的高楼，按时完成，没有超出预算，建筑的安全指数也打破了纪录。

我肯定我的专业经验会帮助我实现目标，选择MBA的课程是为了能获得房地产方面的商业知识，培养一种敏锐的市场和金融技能以及使我的管理能力更精炼。我选择哥伦比亚的MBA课程有几个原因：课程设置，地理位置，国际化的氛围以及良好的声誉。哥伦比亚MBA的课程设置着重点在于知识和技能，而这些正是我在巴西发展我自己事业所必需的。这所学校的房地产发展方向（就是我想申请的专业方向）是首屈一指的。我也打算选修国际商业以便获得在创立我自己公司时所需的一些技能。

最后，我会合理利用众多的金融和经济方面选修课的资源。

哥伦比亚的教学方式对我同样重要。我相信通过案例学习能更好地抓住一些主题，通过讲座能更好地理解一些概念。同时，跨学科的小组讨论能很好地模拟一个真实的商业环境。哥伦比亚的MBA课程有上述的3个优点。我相信这些课程可以帮助我构建一个整体的商业前景，使我获得最佳的学习经历，也使得我能以一个学生，一个专家和个人的身份去作最大的贡献。

哥伦比亚的地理位置在我选校的时候也起了一个很重要的作用。纽约市的丰富资源是无与伦比的，与大公司和企业毗邻，给我提供一个极好的机会去接触专业人士。在拉斯维加斯住了一年多以后，我已经习惯了复杂和动感十足的大城市生活了，从以往的经历可以得知，我在这样的环境下会发展良好。

哥伦比亚的学术氛围倾向于国际化，而我之前一直在这种环境中工作的。我的整个职业生涯中，我一直都在一个国际化和多样化的团队中，和一群优秀的人合作。这种经历大学时代就有了，那时我在建筑，自动化和机械实验室里，和来自中国，韩国，印度，赤道，约旦和埃及的同学一起做研究。在那里，我学会了欣赏一个组员多背景的团队里的合作。在福陆丹尼尔公司，我继续和一支由国际专家组成的团队合作。毫无疑问，哥伦比亚的国际化环境将与我的能力与要求相吻合。

我的职业前景是宏大而且充满野心的，但我肯定我会实现我的目标并且成为巴西商业经济发展的一个动力。我之所以选择哥伦比亚不仅因为它的名气，也因为它学术氛围中所包含的一些关键特质：全球化的，战略性的，精力旺盛的，富有挑战性的和交互性。我正是在这样的环境中工作和成功的；我也将会在这样的环境中继续成长。