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Academic essay (200-400 word limit): Why does your requested major fit best with your current
interests? What are your aspirations and goals, and how would you like to develop
professionally?
1. What sparked your interest in this particular major? Was it a particular experience or
course that you took, or did you have a long-standing interest in the subject matter?
1. Was interested in how supply chain and operations worked due to:
1. As a kid: Seeing different shipping companies (UPS, FedEx, Amazon,
DHL) and trucking companies come to my door sparked my interest in
how these packages move from point A to point B, also logistics in war
when I learned about wars in history.
2. As a teenager/now: Youtuber named Wendover productions really got me
interested in the field, with his detailed videos on how freight companies,
airlines, and military utilize different supply chains and logistics for an
optimal process for how our world works. Seeing how global events like
the Ukraine conflict, Covid-19, and the Suez canal blockage affected
global supply chains through air, sea, and land really sparked my interest
in this career path, as I want to design more effective supply chains
throughout the globe.
2. How do you see your major fitting in with your long-term career goals? Do you have a
specific career path in mind, or are you exploring different possibilities?
1. Through operations management, I can pursue my interests in global supply
chains as well as learn about data analytics as well through courses like BADM
374 and 375. I want to pursue a career in global supply chain operations,
preferably in freight/cargo, so that I can change how the world receives
everything they need for the better.
3. Are there any specific skills or knowledge areas that you hope to develop through your
major? How do you see these skills and knowledge areas contributing to your future
career or personal goals?
1. I hope to obtain professional problem solving abilities from this major. Many of
the classes required for operations management put a giant emphasis on problem
solving in business, and with these abilities optimized, I believe I can tackle most
challenges in operations/supply chain management
4. Are there any particular faculty members, research opportunities, or extracurricular
activities associated with your major that you are particularly excited about? How do you
see these opportunities contributing to your overall academic and professional
development?
1. I am very excited about the multitude of opportunities that Gies provides before
graduation. In operations management, I can further my professional development
through the career immersion program for transfer students such as myself, and
the career exploration and optimization program. If I follow through with my plan
to transfer to supply chain management, I believe I will have even more tools to
prepare me for my career. The hands-on experience, such as the required projects
for companies and the required internship for the major itself will allow me to be
a leader in the field before I enter the workforce.
Actual essay:
My interest in the field of operations management sprung relatively early in my
life, as I’d take notice of different shipping companies such as FedEx and UPS delivering
packages to my house and wonder how the system for shipping worked. As a teenager, I
witnessed many turbulent events around the world, such as the Covid-19 pandemic,
Ukraine and Afghanistan conflicts, and the Suez Canal blockage all impact and hinder
global supply chains. This led me to ponder a potential career within the field of
operations management, as I believe I can be a global leader in the field and help solve
problems that affect everyone across the world. As globalization increases every year,
logistics has never been more crucial to how our world runs, and as I am a man who
wants to change the world for the better, my ambitions lie within operations management,
with a further plan to transfer into supply chain management.
Both operations and supply chain management rely on one ability: problemsolving. During my time at Illinois, I have solved many minute problems that I believed
were big enough to make a difference. This can be seen through the changes I made as
the president of my hall council. New water fountains, cleaner lounges, and more
accessible and inclusive events are just some of the problems that I’ve solved within that
role.
I can pursue my interests in global supply chains as well as learn about data
analytics through courses like BADM 374: Management decision models and 375:
Operations Strategy. I want to pursue a career in global supply chain operations,
preferably in freight or cargo, so that I can change how the world receives everything
they need for the better. If I follow through with my plan to transfer to supply chain
management, I believe I will have even more tools to prepare me for my career. The
hands-on experience, such as the required projects for select corporations and the
required internship for the major itself will allow me to be a leader in the field before I
enter the workforce.