Last spring, I worked for Special Olympics New York as an office volunteer. My primary duties were to assist with outreach to potential volunteers and supporters. When examining volunteer information, I found it impressive, seeing numerous companies in the New York State register as volunteer groups and many had participated in similar events for years. Companies considered such behavior an effective strategy to not only build employee solidarity, but also address their involvement in caring about people with mental disabilities. This finding stimulated my interests in the idea of corporate social responsibility and the often ongoing relationships between for-profit corporations and non-profit organizations. Building on this experience, I decided …show more content…
I currently hold a GPA of 3.834 and a class rank of 36 out of 509, but this is not because of my innate intelligence. I attribute my academic success far more to hard work and a love of learning. During this time I have grown as a student and learned that I enjoy exploring the rigorous scholarship concerning social problems and organization. This experience has influenced my decision to pursue sociology. I love this major because it blends abstract theories with real world applications. For every sociological model I have studied, I have also learned to apply it to a social issue in contemporary society. Similarly, the study of management requires a particular type of abstract theory while still being firmly rooted in reality. It is challenging, but knowledge within this field can be a valuable tool in facilitating positive change in both private and public sectors. The classes I have taken prepared me with skills of conducting research. Statistical Methods in Psychology, Research Method in Psychology, and Quantitative Social Research Methods have provided me with a thorough understanding of statistics and research methods. I have acquainted myself with research design, data collection, and analysis. Additionally, the mathematics courses I have taken enabled me to master strong calculus skills and improved my ability of logical …show more content…
But the self-knowledge I have gained over the past three years makes it clear that pursuing a Ph.D. in Management is the right choice for me. The doctoral program provided by the Smeal Business School is a good fit for my research interest in corporate social responsibility. The associate professor, Forrest Briscoe, examines new practices related to corporate social responsibility and has an article exploring the connections between organizational political ideology and corporate social responsibility. His specialty in firm’s adoption of new practices complements my interest in corporate’s motivations in engaging in socially responsible strategies. Moreover, the program not only includes professors that match with my research interest, but also designs to prepare students for future research and teaching careers. It offers coursework in business fundamentals and research methods, as well as seminar-format courses within the field of strategy, organizational theory and organizational behavior, which can facilitate study by involving helpful discussions and intensive paper assignments. Additionally, communication skill, which is necessary for teaching, will be trained through rigorous coursework and specific programs like Teacher Training Mini Camp and Smeal Scholars Seminar. Students are also provided chances to initiate projects driven by their interests and to conduct research geared toward conference