To whom it concerned,

I want to start this letter by mentioning a major and transformative turning point that I had in my bachelor journey.

I initially felt disengaged from university; I couldn’t find a good reason to study well and trying hard to get high grades.
So I decided to gradually transition into the industry. Then the sudden onset of the COVID-19 pandemic prompted a
constructive shift in my perspective. During the lockdown period, I dedicated myself to acquiring skills for the industry.

My first exposure to AI occurred through the ChillinWars 2019 AI challenge at IUST, where I achieved remarkable
results and got 3rd place. This experience sparked a deep interest in AI and Machine Learning in me, leading me
to independently study these subjects from zero. I even retook some courses, such as Probability and Statistics, to
strengthen my foundational knowledge.

Recognizing my passion for research, I set a goal to become a Deep Learning Researcher by the following year.
In the summer before my 7th semester, I made a pivotal decision to leave the industry and refocus entirely on my
studies. Subsequently, I was able to attain exceptional GPAs of 18.07 and 18.35 out of 20 in the last two
semesters.

Building on this momentum, I embraced TA positions, established connections with professors and students
globally, and actively engaged in research. One of these collaborations led to the writing and submission of a paper
titled “Trainable Parametric Activation Functions for Implicit Neural Representation” for CVPR2024.

This turning point not only defined my commitment to academia but also served as a catalyst for rejuvenating my
academic path.
In essence, I found my reason—a driving force propelling me towards continued excellence in the current
semester and beyond.

ETH Zurich, being one of the world's top research institutes, stands out as an ideal institution for my aspirations.
Outstanding faculty members along with state-of-the-art labs like CV Lab and AIT Lab, makes ETH Zurich a
compelling choice.
I have been also inspired by the experiences of my friends who applied to this program; all of whom gained an
inexpressible amount of knowledge during their time at ETH and regard their time there as a remarkable period in
their professional paths.

Upon acceptance, my primary goal will be to engage in impactful research with my supervisor and gain valuable
insights to address deep learning problems. Moreover, connecting with aspiring students like myself and brilliant
professors there will enrich my academic journey.

I am very excited about the prospect of joining ETH Zurich and contributing to its vibrant academic community.

Thank you for your time. I hope to be one of the top candidates!

Sincerely yours,

Hossein Soltani