When applying to graduate schools, it can be difficult to predict what admissions committees want to see.
Our editors have therefore prepared these useful writing guides for your benefit. Our editors have beaten the toughest admissions cycles in each of these fields, so you can be sure they used these principles in their successful applications.
Our editors have therefore prepared these useful writing guides for your benefit. Our editors have beaten the toughest admissions cycles in each of these fields, so you can be sure they used these principles in their successful applications.
- Tips
- Graduate
When writing your essays, always put yourself in the position of the admissions officer. It's 1AM, you've already read 50 applications in the past week, and you have 10 more to make a deadline. Sustaining yourself with coffee, you give each essay only five minutes to impress you before making your decision. What is going to make you say yes to that student?
There are many answers to this question, but this kind of thinking is important when you write your essay. Think to yourself - is my essay unique? Will many other students write the same thing, or am I truly the only person who can write this essay? Is my essay interesting? Does it have too much unnecessary technical detail? Write the kinds of essays that you think would attract the tired admissions officer.
A major goal in applications of any type is to show that you are well-rounded - not only do you have great work experience, but you are also an interesting person and would be a unique addition to the school. If your application has multiple essays, you may therefore want to spend one on non-professional activities. This may include community service, clubs, or hobbies.
Other Advice
Why do you want to pursue this profession/graduate training?
The major pitfall here is to avoid having an idealistic view of the profession. If you want to be a doctor, you need to have a better reason than just wanting to help people. If you're applying for a PhD in the sciences, you should not talk about curing cancer or winning the Nobel prize. You need to convey mature ideas that are both realistic and ambitious. This shows that you have the experience to have developed these ideas, and that you know what to expect in your profession.
For example, If you apply to graduate school, discuss a research topic that really interests you and propose your own ideas about how to tackle the problem. For MBA programs, discuss your specific short-term career goals and how MBA training will help you achieve those goals.
Why do you want to attend our school?
Most applicants are going to write the obvious - if the school is big, they'll say they like a diverse student body. If the school is small, they'll say they like a warm, personal atmosphere. If the school is known for any particular feature - for instance, Columbia MBA has "Master Classes" - they'll say they're good for career development. They'll say they like the location - if it's a big city, it'll have many opportunities; if it's a small city, it's safe and personable.
You need to be more specific than these simple statements. How impressive is a statement that says, "your school 's stellar faculty and emphasis on teamwork attract me to your school"? Not at all.
Research the special focuses of the school - Wharton business school has a good reputation for training in finance, but not as much for management. Find any courses that suit your specific interests and are not available at most other schools. Find faculty that you are sincerely interested in, and discuss the chance of working and learning from them. Find school activities that relate to your own interests - if you were active in acting in college, then you can say you really want to participate in the student body's annual show. These features need to be unique - you cannot tell a school you want to attend it for a feature that 20 other schools have.
Above all, apply these features to yourself. Explain why the school is best for your specific goals, and why you would better use the school's resources than any other student.
There are many answers to this question, but this kind of thinking is important when you write your essay. Think to yourself - is my essay unique? Will many other students write the same thing, or am I truly the only person who can write this essay? Is my essay interesting? Does it have too much unnecessary technical detail? Write the kinds of essays that you think would attract the tired admissions officer.
A major goal in applications of any type is to show that you are well-rounded - not only do you have great work experience, but you are also an interesting person and would be a unique addition to the school. If your application has multiple essays, you may therefore want to spend one on non-professional activities. This may include community service, clubs, or hobbies.
Other Advice
- Think deeply about your most compelling experiences and how they affected them. They should be meaningful experiences that can showcase your maturity and depth of experience. A strong experience is the foundation to most good essays.
- Perfect, well-written English is a must. You want to leave as few obstacles as possible between your reader and your intended meaning.
- Other qualities you should consider are uniqueness of the experience and a sense of humor.
- Seek advice wherever you can - from friends, teachers, and admissions editors/consultants. The most useful sources are those who have already applied to competitive programs themselves since they understand better what admissions readers want to read.
- It will be painful to read criticism of your essays, but it will be for the best. Do not be afraid to completely abandon an essay topic. Often you can write a better essay than the first idea you think of.
Why do you want to pursue this profession/graduate training?
The major pitfall here is to avoid having an idealistic view of the profession. If you want to be a doctor, you need to have a better reason than just wanting to help people. If you're applying for a PhD in the sciences, you should not talk about curing cancer or winning the Nobel prize. You need to convey mature ideas that are both realistic and ambitious. This shows that you have the experience to have developed these ideas, and that you know what to expect in your profession.
For example, If you apply to graduate school, discuss a research topic that really interests you and propose your own ideas about how to tackle the problem. For MBA programs, discuss your specific short-term career goals and how MBA training will help you achieve those goals.
Why do you want to attend our school?
Most applicants are going to write the obvious - if the school is big, they'll say they like a diverse student body. If the school is small, they'll say they like a warm, personal atmosphere. If the school is known for any particular feature - for instance, Columbia MBA has "Master Classes" - they'll say they're good for career development. They'll say they like the location - if it's a big city, it'll have many opportunities; if it's a small city, it's safe and personable.
You need to be more specific than these simple statements. How impressive is a statement that says, "your school 's stellar faculty and emphasis on teamwork attract me to your school"? Not at all.
Research the special focuses of the school - Wharton business school has a good reputation for training in finance, but not as much for management. Find any courses that suit your specific interests and are not available at most other schools. Find faculty that you are sincerely interested in, and discuss the chance of working and learning from them. Find school activities that relate to your own interests - if you were active in acting in college, then you can say you really want to participate in the student body's annual show. These features need to be unique - you cannot tell a school you want to attend it for a feature that 20 other schools have.
Above all, apply these features to yourself. Explain why the school is best for your specific goals, and why you would better use the school's resources than any other student.
When writing your essays, always put yourself in the position of the admissions officer. It's 1AM, you've already read 50 applications in the past week, and you have 10 more to make a deadline. Sustaining yourself with coffee, you give each essay only five minutes to impress you before making your decision. What is going to make you say yes to that student?
There are many answers to this question, but this kind of thinking is important when you write your essay. Think to yourself - is my essay unique? Will many other students write the same thing, or am I truly the only person who can write this essay? Is my essay interesting? Does it have too much unnecessary technical detail? Write the kinds of essays that you think would attract the tired admissions officer.
A major goal in applications of any type is to show that you are well-rounded - not only do you have great work experience, but you are also an interesting person and would be a unique addition to the school. If your application has multiple essays, you may therefore want to spend one on non-professional activities. This may include community service, clubs, or hobbies.
Other Advice
Why do you want to pursue this profession/graduate training?
The major pitfall here is to avoid having an idealistic view of the profession. If you want to be a doctor, you need to have a better reason than just wanting to help people. If you're applying for a PhD in the sciences, you should not talk about curing cancer or winning the Nobel prize. You need to convey mature ideas that are both realistic and ambitious. This shows that you have the experience to have developed these ideas, and that you know what to expect in your profession.
For example, If you apply to graduate school, discuss a research topic that really interests you and propose your own ideas about how to tackle the problem. For MBA programs, discuss your specific short-term career goals and how MBA training will help you achieve those goals.
Why do you want to attend our school?
Most applicants are going to write the obvious - if the school is big, they'll say they like a diverse student body. If the school is small, they'll say they like a warm, personal atmosphere. If the school is known for any particular feature - for instance, Columbia MBA has "Master Classes" - they'll say they're good for career development. They'll say they like the location - if it's a big city, it'll have many opportunities; if it's a small city, it's safe and personable.
You need to be more specific than these simple statements. How impressive is a statement that says, "your school 's stellar faculty and emphasis on teamwork attract me to your school"? Not at all.
Research the special focuses of the school - Wharton business school has a good reputation for training in finance, but not as much for management. Find any courses that suit your specific interests and are not available at most other schools. Find faculty that you are sincerely interested in, and discuss the chance of working and learning from them. Find school activities that relate to your own interests - if you were active in acting in college, then you can say you really want to participate in the student body's annual show. These features need to be unique - you cannot tell a school you want to attend it for a feature that 20 other schools have.
Above all, apply these features to yourself. Explain why the school is best for your specific goals, and why you would better use the school's resources than any other student.
There are many answers to this question, but this kind of thinking is important when you write your essay. Think to yourself - is my essay unique? Will many other students write the same thing, or am I truly the only person who can write this essay? Is my essay interesting? Does it have too much unnecessary technical detail? Write the kinds of essays that you think would attract the tired admissions officer.
A major goal in applications of any type is to show that you are well-rounded - not only do you have great work experience, but you are also an interesting person and would be a unique addition to the school. If your application has multiple essays, you may therefore want to spend one on non-professional activities. This may include community service, clubs, or hobbies.
Other Advice
- Think deeply about your most compelling experiences and how they affected them. They should be meaningful experiences that can showcase your maturity and depth of experience. A strong experience is the foundation to most good essays.
- Perfect English is a must. You want to leave as few obstacles as possible between your reader and your intended meaning. At worst, you might accidentally say something insulting.
- Other qualities you should consider are uniqueness of the experience and a sense of humor.
- Seek advice wherever you can - from friends, teachers, and admissions editors/consultants. The most useful sources are those who have already applied to competitive programs themselves since they understand better what admissions readers want to read.
- It will be painful to read criticism of your essays, but it will be for the best. Do not be afraid to completely abandon an essay topic. Often you can write a better essay than the first idea you think of.
Why do you want to pursue this profession/graduate training?
The major pitfall here is to avoid having an idealistic view of the profession. If you want to be a doctor, you need to have a better reason than just wanting to help people. If you're applying for a PhD in the sciences, you should not talk about curing cancer or winning the Nobel prize. You need to convey mature ideas that are both realistic and ambitious. This shows that you have the experience to have developed these ideas, and that you know what to expect in your profession.
For example, If you apply to graduate school, discuss a research topic that really interests you and propose your own ideas about how to tackle the problem. For MBA programs, discuss your specific short-term career goals and how MBA training will help you achieve those goals.
Why do you want to attend our school?
Most applicants are going to write the obvious - if the school is big, they'll say they like a diverse student body. If the school is small, they'll say they like a warm, personal atmosphere. If the school is known for any particular feature - for instance, Columbia MBA has "Master Classes" - they'll say they're good for career development. They'll say they like the location - if it's a big city, it'll have many opportunities; if it's a small city, it's safe and personable.
You need to be more specific than these simple statements. How impressive is a statement that says, "your school 's stellar faculty and emphasis on teamwork attract me to your school"? Not at all.
Research the special focuses of the school - Wharton business school has a good reputation for training in finance, but not as much for management. Find any courses that suit your specific interests and are not available at most other schools. Find faculty that you are sincerely interested in, and discuss the chance of working and learning from them. Find school activities that relate to your own interests - if you were active in acting in college, then you can say you really want to participate in the student body's annual show. These features need to be unique - you cannot tell a school you want to attend it for a feature that 20 other schools have.
Above all, apply these features to yourself. Explain why the school is best for your specific goals, and why you would better use the school's resources than any other student.
For the sciences, the graduate school application usually just has one personal statement, and perhaps an additional essay on your research experience (which is absolutely necessary for graduate school).
Personal Statement
Your personal statement should describe these things, mostly in order:
When you describe your research experience, your accomplishments are important, but more important are your reflection and opinions on your experiences. The reader wants to know what you learned from your experiences and how they influenced your interests and views on the field. Furthermore, try to avoid using too much jargon or specialized language when describing your work. While you will likely be applying to the same departments as your field (e.g. biology or chemistry), your reader will probably not be as familiar with your techniques and technical language. Be absolutely sure that anyone working in the department can understand your essay - otherwise, simplify it.
Be realistic about your research goals. Avoid trying to say you're going to solve a problem that hundreds of scientists have tackled for years. You do not want to say you want to cure cancer. At the same time, maintain optimism for the potential successes of your field of interest, and describe why you'd like to join this field
Be specific about why you want to attend a specific school. Saying that you like the school's reputation in biology, its emphasis on interdisciplinary research, and stellar faculty is pointless. This is true of every school you'll apply to. You should identify specific laboratories and faculty you would like to work with. Spend the time to research the school and what kind of research you might want to do. Read the professors' publications. You can also mention facilities or features truly remarkable about the school - Stanford's unique relationship with biotech companies, or MIT's high-end physics laboratories.
Research Statement
This is straightforward - you should not try to be ornate. Communicating science is one of the most important skills a scientist can have, and this is what they are looking for. You should follow this general outline:
Personal Statement
Your personal statement should describe these things, mostly in order:
- Your general goals and interests in an introduction.
- Previous research experience (briefly) and reflect on why this was important for you and why you enjoyed it. It is important to show that you enjoy the process of research, which can be very difficult at times. If there is an additional essay for research experience, this section can be shorter.
- Why you want to complete a Master's/PhD in your field of interest
- Why you want to complete a Master's/PhD at this specific school
- Conclusion
When you describe your research experience, your accomplishments are important, but more important are your reflection and opinions on your experiences. The reader wants to know what you learned from your experiences and how they influenced your interests and views on the field. Furthermore, try to avoid using too much jargon or specialized language when describing your work. While you will likely be applying to the same departments as your field (e.g. biology or chemistry), your reader will probably not be as familiar with your techniques and technical language. Be absolutely sure that anyone working in the department can understand your essay - otherwise, simplify it.
Be realistic about your research goals. Avoid trying to say you're going to solve a problem that hundreds of scientists have tackled for years. You do not want to say you want to cure cancer. At the same time, maintain optimism for the potential successes of your field of interest, and describe why you'd like to join this field
Be specific about why you want to attend a specific school. Saying that you like the school's reputation in biology, its emphasis on interdisciplinary research, and stellar faculty is pointless. This is true of every school you'll apply to. You should identify specific laboratories and faculty you would like to work with. Spend the time to research the school and what kind of research you might want to do. Read the professors' publications. You can also mention facilities or features truly remarkable about the school - Stanford's unique relationship with biotech companies, or MIT's high-end physics laboratories.
Research Statement
This is straightforward - you should not try to be ornate. Communicating science is one of the most important skills a scientist can have, and this is what they are looking for. You should follow this general outline:
- Background of project and what you planned to do
- Importance of project to the field or to society in general
- Brief technical details of what you did
- Eventual result of the project, including any publications
- Reflection on your research and how it has affected your interests and approach to science
When writing your essays, always put yourself in the position of the admissions officer. It's 1AM, you've already read 50 applications in the past week, and you have 10 more to make a deadline. Sustaining yourself with coffee, you give each essay only five minutes to impress you before making your decision. What is going to make you say yes to that student?
There are many answers to this question, but this kind of thinking is important when you write your essay. Think to yourself - is my essay unique? Will many other students write the same thing, or am I truly the only person who can write this essay? Is my essay interesting? Does it have too much unnecessary technical detail? Write the kinds of essays that you think would attract the tired admissions officer.
A major goal in applications of any type is to show that you are well-rounded - not only do you have great work experience, but you are also an interesting person and would be a unique addition to the school. If your application has multiple essays, you may therefore want to spend one on non-professional activities. This may include community service, clubs, or hobbies.
Other Advice
Why do you want to pursue this profession/graduate training?
The major pitfall here is to avoid having an idealistic view of the profession. If you want to be a doctor, you need to have a better reason than just wanting to help people. If you're applying for a PhD in the sciences, you should not talk about curing cancer or winning the Nobel prize. You need to convey mature ideas that are both realistic and ambitious. This shows that you have the experience to have developed these ideas, and that you know what to expect in your profession.
For example, If you apply to graduate school, discuss a research topic that really interests you and propose your own ideas about how to tackle the problem. For MBA programs, discuss your specific short-term career goals and how MBA training will help you achieve those goals.
Why do you want to attend our school?
Most applicants are going to write the obvious - if the school is big, they'll say they like a diverse student body. If the school is small, they'll say they like a warm, personal atmosphere. If the school is known for any particular feature - for instance, Columbia MBA has "Master Classes" - they'll say they're good for career development. They'll say they like the location - if it's a big city, it'll have many opportunities; if it's a small city, it's safe and personable.
You need to be more specific than these simple statements. How impressive is a statement that says, "your school 's stellar faculty and emphasis on teamwork attract me to your school"? Not at all.
Research the special focuses of the school - Wharton business school has a good reputation for training in finance, but not as much for management. Find any courses that suit your specific interests and are not available at most other schools. Find faculty that you are sincerely interested in, and discuss the chance of working and learning from them. Find school activities that relate to your own interests - if you were active in acting in college, then you can say you really want to participate in the student body's annual show. These features need to be unique - you cannot tell a school you want to attend it for a feature that 20 other schools have.
Above all, apply these features to yourself. Explain why the school is best for your specific goals, and why you would better use the school's resources than any other student.
There are many answers to this question, but this kind of thinking is important when you write your essay. Think to yourself - is my essay unique? Will many other students write the same thing, or am I truly the only person who can write this essay? Is my essay interesting? Does it have too much unnecessary technical detail? Write the kinds of essays that you think would attract the tired admissions officer.
A major goal in applications of any type is to show that you are well-rounded - not only do you have great work experience, but you are also an interesting person and would be a unique addition to the school. If your application has multiple essays, you may therefore want to spend one on non-professional activities. This may include community service, clubs, or hobbies.
Other Advice
- Think deeply about your most compelling experiences and how they affected them. They should be meaningful experiences that can showcase your maturity and depth of experience. A strong experience is the foundation to most good essays.
- Perfect English is a must. You want to leave as few obstacles as possible between your reader and your intended meaning. At worst, you might accidentally say something insulting.
- Other qualities you should consider are uniqueness of the experience and a sense of humor.
- Seek advice wherever you can - from friends, teachers, and admissions editors/consultants. The most useful sources are those who have already applied to competitive programs themselves since they understand better what admissions readers want to read.
- It will be painful to read criticism of your essays, but it will be for the best. Do not be afraid to completely abandon an essay topic. Often you can write a better essay than the first idea you think of.
Why do you want to pursue this profession/graduate training?
The major pitfall here is to avoid having an idealistic view of the profession. If you want to be a doctor, you need to have a better reason than just wanting to help people. If you're applying for a PhD in the sciences, you should not talk about curing cancer or winning the Nobel prize. You need to convey mature ideas that are both realistic and ambitious. This shows that you have the experience to have developed these ideas, and that you know what to expect in your profession.
For example, If you apply to graduate school, discuss a research topic that really interests you and propose your own ideas about how to tackle the problem. For MBA programs, discuss your specific short-term career goals and how MBA training will help you achieve those goals.
Why do you want to attend our school?
Most applicants are going to write the obvious - if the school is big, they'll say they like a diverse student body. If the school is small, they'll say they like a warm, personal atmosphere. If the school is known for any particular feature - for instance, Columbia MBA has "Master Classes" - they'll say they're good for career development. They'll say they like the location - if it's a big city, it'll have many opportunities; if it's a small city, it's safe and personable.
You need to be more specific than these simple statements. How impressive is a statement that says, "your school 's stellar faculty and emphasis on teamwork attract me to your school"? Not at all.
Research the special focuses of the school - Wharton business school has a good reputation for training in finance, but not as much for management. Find any courses that suit your specific interests and are not available at most other schools. Find faculty that you are sincerely interested in, and discuss the chance of working and learning from them. Find school activities that relate to your own interests - if you were active in acting in college, then you can say you really want to participate in the student body's annual show. These features need to be unique - you cannot tell a school you want to attend it for a feature that 20 other schools have.
Above all, apply these features to yourself. Explain why the school is best for your specific goals, and why you would better use the school's resources than any other student.
When writing your essays, always put yourself in the position of the admissions officer. It's 1AM, you've already read 50 applications in the past week, and you have 10 more to make a deadline. Sustaining yourself with coffee, you give each essay only five minutes to impress you before making your decision. What is going to make you say yes to that student?
There are many answers to this question, but this kind of thinking is important when you write your essay. Think to yourself - is my essay unique? Will many other students write the same thing, or am I truly the only person who can write this essay? Is my essay interesting? Does it have too much unnecessary technical detail? Write the kinds of essays that you think would attract the tired admissions officer.
A major goal in applications of any type is to show that you are well-rounded - not only do you have great work experience, but you are also an interesting person and would be a unique addition to the school. If your application has multiple essays, you may therefore want to spend one on non-professional activities. This may include community service, clubs, or hobbies.
Other Advice
Why do you want to pursue this profession/graduate training?
The major pitfall here is to avoid having an idealistic view of the profession. If you want to be a doctor, you need to have a better reason than just wanting to help people. If you're applying for a PhD in the sciences, you should not talk about curing cancer or winning the Nobel prize. You need to convey mature ideas that are both realistic and ambitious. This shows that you have the experience to have developed these ideas, and that you know what to expect in your profession.
For example, If you apply to graduate school, discuss a research topic that really interests you and propose your own ideas about how to tackle the problem. For MBA programs, discuss your specific short-term career goals and how MBA training will help you achieve those goals.
Why do you want to attend our school?
Most applicants are going to write the obvious - if the school is big, they'll say they like a diverse student body. If the school is small, they'll say they like a warm, personal atmosphere. If the school is known for any particular feature - for instance, Columbia MBA has "Master Classes" - they'll say they're good for career development. They'll say they like the location - if it's a big city, it'll have many opportunities; if it's a small city, it's safe and personable.
You need to be more specific than these simple statements. How impressive is a statement that says, "your school 's stellar faculty and emphasis on teamwork attract me to your school"? Not at all.
Research the special focuses of the school - Wharton business school has a good reputation for training in finance, but not as much for management. Find any courses that suit your specific interests and are not available at most other schools. Find faculty that you are sincerely interested in, and discuss the chance of working and learning from them. Find school activities that relate to your own interests - if you were active in acting in college, then you can say you really want to participate in the student body's annual show. These features need to be unique - you cannot tell a school you want to attend it for a feature that 20 other schools have.
Above all, apply these features to yourself. Explain why the school is best for your specific goals, and why you would better use the school's resources than any other student.
There are many answers to this question, but this kind of thinking is important when you write your essay. Think to yourself - is my essay unique? Will many other students write the same thing, or am I truly the only person who can write this essay? Is my essay interesting? Does it have too much unnecessary technical detail? Write the kinds of essays that you think would attract the tired admissions officer.
A major goal in applications of any type is to show that you are well-rounded - not only do you have great work experience, but you are also an interesting person and would be a unique addition to the school. If your application has multiple essays, you may therefore want to spend one on non-professional activities. This may include community service, clubs, or hobbies.
Other Advice
- Think deeply about your most compelling experiences and how they affected them. They should be meaningful experiences that can showcase your maturity and depth of experience. A strong experience is the foundation to most good essays.
- Perfect English is a must. You want to leave as few obstacles as possible between your reader and your intended meaning. At worst, you might accidentally say something insulting.
- Other qualities you should consider are uniqueness of the experience and a sense of humor.
- Seek advice wherever you can - from friends, teachers, and admissions editors/consultants. The most useful sources are those who have already applied to competitive programs themselves since they understand better what admissions readers want to read.
- It will be painful to read criticism of your essays, but it will be for the best. Do not be afraid to completely abandon an essay topic. Often you can write a better essay than the first idea you think of.
Why do you want to pursue this profession/graduate training?
The major pitfall here is to avoid having an idealistic view of the profession. If you want to be a doctor, you need to have a better reason than just wanting to help people. If you're applying for a PhD in the sciences, you should not talk about curing cancer or winning the Nobel prize. You need to convey mature ideas that are both realistic and ambitious. This shows that you have the experience to have developed these ideas, and that you know what to expect in your profession.
For example, If you apply to graduate school, discuss a research topic that really interests you and propose your own ideas about how to tackle the problem. For MBA programs, discuss your specific short-term career goals and how MBA training will help you achieve those goals.
Why do you want to attend our school?
Most applicants are going to write the obvious - if the school is big, they'll say they like a diverse student body. If the school is small, they'll say they like a warm, personal atmosphere. If the school is known for any particular feature - for instance, Columbia MBA has "Master Classes" - they'll say they're good for career development. They'll say they like the location - if it's a big city, it'll have many opportunities; if it's a small city, it's safe and personable.
You need to be more specific than these simple statements. How impressive is a statement that says, "your school 's stellar faculty and emphasis on teamwork attract me to your school"? Not at all.
Research the special focuses of the school - Wharton business school has a good reputation for training in finance, but not as much for management. Find any courses that suit your specific interests and are not available at most other schools. Find faculty that you are sincerely interested in, and discuss the chance of working and learning from them. Find school activities that relate to your own interests - if you were active in acting in college, then you can say you really want to participate in the student body's annual show. These features need to be unique - you cannot tell a school you want to attend it for a feature that 20 other schools have.
Above all, apply these features to yourself. Explain why the school is best for your specific goals, and why you would better use the school's resources than any other student.
When writing your essays, always put yourself in the position of the admissions officer. It's 1AM, you've already read 50 applications in the past week, and you have 10 more to make a deadline. Sustaining yourself with coffee, you give each essay only five minutes to impress you before making your decision. What is going to make you say yes to that student?
There are many answers to this question, but this kind of thinking is important when you write your essay. Think to yourself - is my essay unique? Will many other students write the same thing, or am I truly the only person who can write this essay? Is my essay interesting? Does it have too much unnecessary technical detail? Write the kinds of essays that you think would attract the tired admissions officer.
A major goal in applications of any type is to show that you are well-rounded - not only do you have great work experience, but you are also an interesting person and would be a unique addition to the school. If your application has multiple essays, you may therefore want to spend one on non-professional activities. This may include community service, clubs, or hobbies.
Other Advice
Why do you want to pursue this profession/graduate training?
The major pitfall here is to avoid having an idealistic view of the profession. If you want to be a doctor, you need to have a better reason than just wanting to help people. If you're applying for a PhD in the sciences, you should not talk about curing cancer or winning the Nobel prize. You need to convey mature ideas that are both realistic and ambitious. This shows that you have the experience to have developed these ideas, and that you know what to expect in your profession.
For example, If you apply to graduate school, discuss a research topic that really interests you and propose your own ideas about how to tackle the problem. For MBA programs, discuss your specific short-term career goals and how MBA training will help you achieve those goals.
Why do you want to attend our school?
Most applicants are going to write the obvious - if the school is big, they'll say they like a diverse student body. If the school is small, they'll say they like a warm, personal atmosphere. If the school is known for any particular feature - for instance, Columbia MBA has "Master Classes" - they'll say they're good for career development. They'll say they like the location - if it's a big city, it'll have many opportunities; if it's a small city, it's safe and personable.
You need to be more specific than these simple statements. How impressive is a statement that says, "your school 's stellar faculty and emphasis on teamwork attract me to your school"? Not at all.
Research the special focuses of the school - Wharton business school has a good reputation for training in finance, but not as much for management. Find any courses that suit your specific interests and are not available at most other schools. Find faculty that you are sincerely interested in, and discuss the chance of working and learning from them. Find school activities that relate to your own interests - if you were active in acting in college, then you can say you really want to participate in the student body's annual show. These features need to be unique - you cannot tell a school you want to attend it for a feature that 20 other schools have.
Above all, apply these features to yourself. Explain why the school is best for your specific goals, and why you would better use the school's resources than any other student.
There are many answers to this question, but this kind of thinking is important when you write your essay. Think to yourself - is my essay unique? Will many other students write the same thing, or am I truly the only person who can write this essay? Is my essay interesting? Does it have too much unnecessary technical detail? Write the kinds of essays that you think would attract the tired admissions officer.
A major goal in applications of any type is to show that you are well-rounded - not only do you have great work experience, but you are also an interesting person and would be a unique addition to the school. If your application has multiple essays, you may therefore want to spend one on non-professional activities. This may include community service, clubs, or hobbies.
Other Advice
- Think deeply about your most compelling experiences and how they affected them. They should be meaningful experiences that can showcase your maturity and depth of experience. A strong experience is the foundation to most good essays.
- Perfect English is a must. You want to leave as few obstacles as possible between your reader and your intended meaning. At worst, you might accidentally say something insulting.
- Other qualities you should consider are uniqueness of the experience and a sense of humor.
- Seek advice wherever you can - from friends, teachers, and admissions editors/consultants. The most useful sources are those who have already applied to competitive programs themselves since they understand better what admissions readers want to read.
- It will be painful to read criticism of your essays, but it will be for the best. Do not be afraid to completely abandon an essay topic. Often you can write a better essay than the first idea you think of.
Why do you want to pursue this profession/graduate training?
The major pitfall here is to avoid having an idealistic view of the profession. If you want to be a doctor, you need to have a better reason than just wanting to help people. If you're applying for a PhD in the sciences, you should not talk about curing cancer or winning the Nobel prize. You need to convey mature ideas that are both realistic and ambitious. This shows that you have the experience to have developed these ideas, and that you know what to expect in your profession.
For example, If you apply to graduate school, discuss a research topic that really interests you and propose your own ideas about how to tackle the problem. For MBA programs, discuss your specific short-term career goals and how MBA training will help you achieve those goals.
Why do you want to attend our school?
Most applicants are going to write the obvious - if the school is big, they'll say they like a diverse student body. If the school is small, they'll say they like a warm, personal atmosphere. If the school is known for any particular feature - for instance, Columbia MBA has "Master Classes" - they'll say they're good for career development. They'll say they like the location - if it's a big city, it'll have many opportunities; if it's a small city, it's safe and personable.
You need to be more specific than these simple statements. How impressive is a statement that says, "your school 's stellar faculty and emphasis on teamwork attract me to your school"? Not at all.
Research the special focuses of the school - Wharton business school has a good reputation for training in finance, but not as much for management. Find any courses that suit your specific interests and are not available at most other schools. Find faculty that you are sincerely interested in, and discuss the chance of working and learning from them. Find school activities that relate to your own interests - if you were active in acting in college, then you can say you really want to participate in the student body's annual show. These features need to be unique - you cannot tell a school you want to attend it for a feature that 20 other schools have.
Above all, apply these features to yourself. Explain why the school is best for your specific goals, and why you would better use the school's resources than any other student.
