Please review my statement of purpose and give me your constructive criticism

on anything that jumps out and is in need of fine-tuning. I would really appreciate
your help. Thank you in advance!

Hieu

Dear Admissions Committee,

Please accept my application to attend University of Washingtons MS in

Computational Finance and Risk Management (MS-CFRM) in the autumn quarter
of 2016.

I am interested in attending the MS-CFRM program to broaden my capabilities in

the science of investing by adding advanced mathematics and programing skills
and competencies to my existing knowledge base acquired through academia
and working experience. I find the MS-CFRM curriculum comprehensive and
challenging and believe I possess the necessary knowledge and skill set to
successfully complete the program.

My extensive academic background includes completing the MBA Finance

program at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) with a GPA of 3.78 in
2007. In 2009, I passed Level 3 of the CFA exam, and was awarded the CFA
Charter in 2010 after meeting the required four years of working experience in
the finance industry. The skills and concepts learned through these rigorous
educational programs constitute the foundation of my theoretical knowledge
base in finance and investment management. In reviewing the MS-CFRM
program curriculum, I found many overlaps in concepts taught in the MS-CFRM
required courses with the material I learned from the elective MBA Finance
courses and the CFA curriculum.

My academic achievements go hand-in-hand with my real world working

experience. During the past nine years working at First American Financial
Corporation (FAFC), one of the largest title insurance companies in the nation, I
have taken on various roles and responsibilities related to the management of
the companys $4 billion investment portfolio. In 2009, after acquiring the CFA
designation I assumed the portfolio manager position covering credit and equity
sectors of the portfolio.

I am thrilled at the prospect of acquiring new skills and competencies taught via
the MS-CFRM courses. In particular, I look forward to learning numerical
optimization methods, the development of systematic trading strategies,
advanced data analysis, risk management, and alternative asset class investing.
In the short-term, my goal is to introduce a risk-based optimization process at
FAFC to aid portfolio asset allocation decisions. After graduation I plan to start an
investment management company with focus on factor-based investing in
emerging and frontier markets. I strongly believe the excellence of your MSCFRM program will equip me with invaluable skills and competencies essential to
realizing my career goals.

As part of the application, please accept my petition for a waiver of the Graduate
Record Examination (GRE) requirement based on my extensive academic
background outlined above and nine years of working experience in the finance
industry. A waiver of the GRE will allow me focus on the refresher courses prior to
the start of the autumn quarter in 2016.

I regard my admission to the MS-CFRM program at University of Washington as

an honor and success and look forward to joining your premier academic
community.