<p>I am a fourth year student rounding up my MA in English at Leyden University in The Netherlands. </p>
<p>22, white, female, Dutch</p>
<p>I am also applying for a paid PhD position in a sociohistorical linguistics research group, the project leader had asked me to come talk to her about ‘this opportunity’ before I even knew about the project, I see this as a good sign that they might want me to join. I have good contact with a few professors and teachers.</p>
<p>My grades compare to a 3,5 unweighted GPA, but Dutch grades are hardly comparable to USA grades (we don’t have honours prgrammes etc. and especially no curved grading. It’s absolute scoring and a lot of essay marks that hardly go beyond 9,0, most people are thrilled with a 7,5). I am certainly one of the best students currently in the English department, hardly ever scoring below 9,0 out of 10.</p>
<p>I have taught classes to first and second year students (english proficiency), I have also been assistant to a resident lecturer. I am a member of the advisory committee on the apointment of a new professor of american literature.
I have been tutor to an international student for English proficiency per request of her teacher (A university tutor)
I have had a side job since I was 16, in shops and at the bank and in offices.
I have been on a committee that organised the activites of my students choir in the general introduction week for leyden Students (promotion committee).
I speak English at a near native level, French and German, i have passve knowledge of Latin and i am currently taking courses in Italian.
I am in the students theatre group of the English Department.
I received my first year diploma (we have those in university) with honors* (only one other person had honors, only 40% managed to complete all fist year subjects within the actual first year).
I sing in the students choir (hey, this required an audition, which scared the hell outta me 
)
I nearly (bummer) got a paper published that i wrote as a third year…it would be if i had time to rewrite it, lol…</p>
<p>*to show how relatively low dutch grades are: honors means you have a B or higher in every subject if i convert this to USA 4 point/letter scale</p>
<p>My MA concentration and thesis are in philology/historical linguistics and socio(historical) linguistics, special interest in the codification of 18th century English, MA thesis focusing on the language of Horace Walpole.</p>
<p>Penn would by my absolute dream programme because of its very strong sociolinguistics programme.</p>