How to Write a Grad School Application Essay
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What Is a Grad School Application Essay? | What Are Admissions Officers Looking for? | Before You Start Writing | While You're Writing | When You've Finished Writing | Sample Essay | Grad School Essay FAQs
Writing a graduate school admission essay can seem daunting. However, students can make the process easier by taking time to develop and organize their ideas before writing their personal statement.
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Students can apply several practices to write a compelling grad school personal statement that gets readers to take notice. These steps include developing a solid outline, conveying a strong and memorable thesis, presenting specific points relevant to the topic, and taking sufficient time to edit and proofread the essay before submitting it.
What Is a Grad School Application Essay?
Graduate school admission or application essays allow graduate programs to get to know applicants better as people. Although an applicant's grade point average (GPA), transcripts, and test scores tell part of their story, grad school essays allow students to show how their personalities, achievements, and past experiences inform their career interests and potential for academic success.
Graduate schools often ask for personal statements or letters of intent from applicants. Prospective graduate students should know what distinguishes these documents.
- A personal statement allows students some freedom to discuss how their past experiences, career goals, and interest in a prospective program have shaped their likelihood of success in and fit for graduate study.
- A statement of purpose describes a student's reasons for applying to a program. The student typically explains how their career goals, qualifications, and research interests will affect their future beyond graduate school.
- A letter of intent is a brief essay describing a student's skills, accomplishments, and goals that pertain to the field of study they aspire to pursue while in graduate school.
What Are Admissions Officers Looking for in a Grad School Essay?
In general, admissions personnel review these essays to determine how well students might fit in with a graduate program and succeed academically. Reviewers also look for a sense of how well prospective students handle stress, overcome challenges, and stand up to the demands of a rigorous program.
Grad school essays should shed light on how well students respond to criticism of their work. Also, graduate school provides a setting where individuals can explore diverse theories and perspectives. To this end, admissions personnel look for clues about students' openness to different viewpoints and their ability to express their ideas in written form.
What to Know Before You Start Writing
Review the prompt.
The prompt for the application essay gives students a sense of how to focus their writing. Before starting to write, students should read the instructions within the prompt carefully. These directions shed light on readers' expectations.
Prompts for grad school application essays vary greatly, with some offering little detail on what the statement should cover. Applicants should pay close attention to the requirements, including word count, format, and submission method.
Brainstorm Ideas
Some graduate essay prompts offer few instructions or requirements, leaving applicants a lot of room for choosing a topic. To determine the most appropriate topic, focus, and personal examples to include, students should devote considerable time to brainstorming before they start writing.
Students should give themselves time to reflect on their strengths, accomplishments, and research interests. They should also consider the qualities they want in a graduate program and pick out benefits provided by the program so they can speak to the specific reasons they're applying.
Create An Outline
Outlining is a crucial step in creating a compelling and memorable grad school personal statement. Just as architects need a blueprint to design and build a skyscraper, grad school applicants need a roadmap to organize and write their essays.
The most effective application essays include an attention-grabbing introduction, a body with solid and concise points, and a memorable conclusion. An outline will likely change somewhat during the writing process, but it still allows the writer to stay on top of the essay's construction.
Know the Point You're Trying to Get Across
A grad school personal statement should present a clear point or thesis to help it stand out. An overall thesis statement or claim answers the question, "What is this essay about?" A reader should not have to work hard to understand the thesis. If the point of an essay is unclear or confusing, an admissions officer might stop reading.
Applicants should place their thesis in the introduction so that the reader clearly understands what the following essay will address. Students can insert their thesis immediately after an anecdote, quotation, or other attention-getter to provide a smooth transition into the main topic.
Be Aware of Topics to Avoid
Brainstorming allows an applicant to consider a variety of topics and ways of writing about them. However, some subjects may be inappropriate for a grad school application essay because they could alienate certain readers or make them lose interest.
Topics that writers should consider omitting from an admission essay include the following:
- Traumatic personal experiences
- Subjects that make the writer appear overly negative or cynical
- An exhaustive list of accomplishments
Students should also avoid using well-known phrases or expressions. For example, common cliches offer virtually no advantage because they suggest little to no originality of thought. Also, students should not use words or terms (e.g., vulgar language) that detract from their professionalism.
What to Consider While You're Writing
Grab the reader's attention.
A strong grad school personal statement starts with writing a concise introduction that gains the reader's attention. The writer can make the essay more memorable by using a brief anecdote, quotation, compelling statistic, or rhetorical question.
The introduction should also provide a clear preview or roadmap for the rest of the essay. After the attention-getter, the essay should quickly transition into the thesis statement or main idea, followed by a preview of the upcoming points.
Writers should revisit the introduction once their essay is complete to double-check that it accurately reflects the main points of the essay.
Be Authentic
Students should not just focus on what they think admissions personnel will want to read. Instead, they should use their voice to present their ideas in meaningful ways that reflect their true selves. In other words, write with authenticity. While the essay should reflect a polished draft, it should also show applicants as they are.
Graduate school applicants shouldn't lie or misrepresent themselves in the grad school essay. In addition to strengths and accomplishments, admissions departments want to read what applicants say about their shortcomings and how they have worked to overcome them.
Be Relevant and Specific
While students can use creative anecdotes and personal examples, they need to make their points relevant to the prompt or question. Admissions personnel generally want to learn why students wish to enroll in the program and what makes them qualified. These elements can serve as the foundation when writing the main body of an essay .
Also, the main points should be specific. For example, in expressing why they are applying to a particular program, applicants can use a brief anecdote to explain their desire to work with a faculty member who shares their research interests. While stories and examples add a personal touch, they should not distract from essential information that grad schools want to know about an applicant.
Have a Strong Ending
When writing the conclusion of a graduate school admission essay, writers should restate the thesis and reiterate the main points. Rather than presenting new information, the ending should remind the reader of the statement’s main ideas. Furthermore, it should refer back to those points while giving the reader something to think about after they have finished reading.
A conclusion can also end by tying back to the attention-getting statement in the introduction. This stylistic device brings the whole essay full circle, provides a sense of closure, and strengthens the emotional connection with the reader.
What to Do When You've Finished Writing
Finishing the draft of a graduate school admission essay does not signal the end of the writing process. Rather, polishing the draft requires re-reading, editing, and getting feedback before submitting it.
Reread Your Draft
A grad school essay containing errors or reflecting poor writing does not leave a favorable impression. Re-reading the essay allows for catching mistakes, clearing up confusing sentences, and strengthening the main points.
Unfortunately, writers can gloss over errors after reading the essay just once. As a rule of thumb, when students believe their draft has gone through enough editing and proofreading, they might take a little more time and read the document one more time.
Edit Your Draft
Students should not confuse editing with proofreading — a step that involves checking for grammar, punctuation, and stylistic errors. Editing is a more substantive process that includes checking for conciseness and ensuring that ideas flow well. Proper editing also allows writers to determine whether each paragraph or section expresses a single thought and make sure that sentences are concise and clear.
Students should allow enough time to edit their essays. Also, reading the essay aloud can provide another way to catch mistakes or confusing phrases.
Get Feedback
Students should find individuals they trust to check their personal statement for clarity, errors, and other stylistic inconsistencies. Also, having others review the essay can give the applicant a sense of how others perceive its tone, organization, and potential to engage the reader.
Trusted peers, instructors, family members, friends, and students who have recently gone through the grad school application process often provide excellent feedback. Students can also seek out others who are applying to graduate school to share their personal statements and exchange constructive criticism.
Sample Grad School Application Essay
Prompt: Why do you wish to pursue a graduate degree in communication studies at the University of Oklahoma and how does it relate to your career goals?
Three years ago, I underwent a breast biopsy after two mammograms failed to rule out a suspicious lump. I met with my oncological surgeon before she was to perform the procedure. Although her technical skills were superior, her bedside manner left me feeling scared, uncertain, and lacking confidence in my capacity to handle a possible cancer diagnosis. Moreover, my doctor's inability to relate to me personally left me feeling powerless in meeting my health needs as a patient.
In poor health, many people feel robbed of their dignity. One of the most critical settings where patients can maintain dignity is during a doctor's visit. I wish to conduct research and teach courses in an academic setting to explore how doctor-patient interactions can help patients gain more confidence and improve their health outcomes. To this end, I am applying to the Communication Department at the University of Oklahoma to pursue a master's degree specializing in health communication. This master's will then allow me to continue my studies and earn a doctorate in this area.
I first learned a great deal about doctor-patient interactions while taking an undergraduate health communication class from Dr. Edith McNulty at the University of Nebraska. Dr. McNulty's class informed the way I view my breast biopsy experience. After completing her class, I enrolled in an independent study with Dr. McNulty transcribing qualitative interviews she conducted with patients. Through this independent study, I also learned how to perform constant comparative coding of those transcripts.
My independent study has fueled my interest in researching health communication and teaching classes on the subject. My interest in the communication studies program at Oklahoma stems partly from my interest in Dr. Dan O'Malley's studies of patients' expressions of ethnicity when they encounter healthcare workers. Working with Dr. O'Malley could expand my healthcare interest to include ethnicity as a factor in these settings.
I also am familiar with Dr. Wendy Wasser's research on communication efficacy during online video appointments. Given that increasing numbers of patients rely on telemedicine to receive their healthcare, studying with Dr. Wasser can help me understand the role of new communication technologies in doctor's visits.
Although my breast biopsy from three years ago was benign, I know that other patients are not as fortunate in their health outlook. All patients have the right to quality communication during doctor visits to help them gain confidence and take proactive measures toward their healthcare. My pursuit of a master's in health communication at the University of Oklahoma can set me on a path to contributing to our understanding of the interpersonal impact of doctor-patient interactions on medical care and patient well-being.
Frequently Asked Questions About Grad School Application Essays
- Collapse All
How long should a grad school application essay be?
Most applicants should expect to write at least 500 words for their grad school admission essay. However, length varies by graduate program. Many application materials contain specific instructions on how to write the essay, including word limits.
What should I title my application essay for grad school?
If an online application submission page includes a text box for the title, the applicant should follow the word or character limit and make the title relevant to their grad school personal statement. However, students do not need to add a title if the application does not require it.
How do I make my application essay stand out for grad school?
Prospective students should write a clear and compelling grad school essay free of errors. Also, the statement should help make the applicant stand out from their peers. It can include specific examples of unique experiences that illustrate students' strengths and abilities.
What should you not do in an application essay for grad school?
Students should not wander off topic when answering a prompt, especially if it asks a specific question. Also, an essay should not include so many personal examples that they read as a list. Instead, the applicant can provide a brief anecdote for each main point they want to make.
How do you answer grad school application essay questions?
The best graduate school admission essays have a clear thesis statement and good organization. They also grab the reader's attention right away and maintain it to the end. The best essays also reflect the writer's careful attention to the application instructions by addressing the prompt thoroughly.
Reviewed by:
Lonnie Woods III
Lonnie Woods III is a student affairs administrator, professor, and professional development practitioner whose research examines the career competencies of college students studying arts-related majors. Woods holds a BS in fine art photography from Towson University and an MA in higher education and student affairs from New York University . He has 10-plus years of experience working in higher education, with professional experience spanning various institutions, including Pratt Institute, New York University, The George Washington University , and Columbia University.
Lonnie Woods III is a paid member of the Red Ventures Education freelance review network.
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Guide To Writing Your Grad School Admissions Essay
Reviewed By
Updated: Nov 1, 2022, 12:08pm
You’ve made a big life decision: to apply to grad school. The transcripts are ordered, the letters of recommendation requested, and the interview is on the books. Now you just have to complete what might be the hardest part: write the perfect grad school admissions essay. But how do you get started? And what should a grad school admissions essay include? Follow our guide below to get started.
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What Is a Statement of Purpose for Grad School?
A grad school essay, otherwise known as a statement of purpose, is a required part of the grad school admissions process that tells school officials who you are, what your academic and professional interests are, and how you might contribute to the program.
A statement of purpose should generally be between 500 and 1,000 words, but check with your individual program for length, font size and spacing preferences.
Why Does It Matter?
Most graduate schools require a statement of purpose as part of the application process because it allows them to learn more about you in a personal way and decide if you will be a good fit for the program.
Applicants should convey that they have a decent amount of experience in their desired field of study and will be successful in a graduate school program. If there’s anything lacking or missing in your GPA or transcripts, you can briefly address it in your statement of purpose and explain why it won’t be an issue. Schools also like to see that applicants are resilient and can overcome challenges, so bring up any personal anecdotes that pertain to that as well.
What Makes a Good Personal Statement?
A good personal statement should include information about your work and academic experience. It should be detailed, but also concise. It’s also a chance for you to share a personal side of yourself with the admissions committee and explain why you’d be a good fit for the program and how you could add value to it if accepted.
Shows You’re a Good Fit for the Program
Above all, your personal statement should demonstrate that your interests would fit in the program and that you would do well there. For example, if applying to a master of business administration program, you might want to talk about your undergraduate studies in business, internships with high profile companies, past jobs you’ve held, or even future entrepreneurial ideas that you’re passionate about.
Demonstrates How Well You Handle a Challenge
Graduate school is no easy task and admissions officers want to know that you’re up for the challenge. Talking about other times in your life that you’ve struggled, but persevered through hard work and dedication, can assure school officials that you’ll rise to the occasion at their program if given the chance.
Indicates How You Respond to Criticism
Receiving positive and negative feedback is important, especially in an environment of growth like grad school. Including experiences like rewriting a paper after getting a bad grade or stepping it up at a job after getting tips from a boss can show an admission committee that you’re able to hear hard things and learn from them.
Exhibits Open-Mindedness and a Desire to Learn
No one likes to know it all and going to graduate school is all about learning more. You want to convey that you’ve had previous academic success, while also admitting that you still have more learning and growing to do.
How to Write a Strong Admissions Essay
You’ve researched and brainstormed, but now it’s time to actually write the admissions essay. Make sure your personal statement is strong and stands out by understanding the prompt, outlining your essay, including a clear thesis statement, personalizing your essay and making it relevant to your desired program.
Understand the Prompt
Most schools will want to know about your academic and professional experiences as well as how you will add value to the program. However, every program and application is unique and your school might have a unique prompt or specific questions they want you to answer in your statement of purpose. Be sure to read the prompt carefully several times so you answer all of the questions it asks.
Outline Your Essay
Before you start writing, make a plan for your personal essay by creating an outline. Not only will this make the writing process easier and faster, but it will likely add to you thoroughly addressing the prompt in a clear and cohesive way.
Include a Clear Thesis Statement
A thesis statement is the central idea or argument of your personal statement. Essentially, your thesis statement should preview the arguments for why you would be a good candidate for a particular program.
Personalize Your Essay
Applying to veterinary school? Be sure to include your lifelong love for animals or your time spent working in an animal shelter. Or perhaps you’re pursuing graduate studies in psychology. Experience with, say, a peer counseling program in high school or college, will help you stand out. The point is to make your essay so personal it only could have been written by you.
Make It Relevant
Admissions officials for a healthcare administration program will be perplexed if you talk about the time you set up a lemonade stand as a child. Similarly, a graduate engineering program probably isn’t too concerned about your recent dance recital. Make sure the information you include in your personal statement is relevant to the program and school you’re applying to.
Finalizing Your Grad School Admissions Essay
After writing your statement, it’s time to perfect and refine it before you attach it and click submit on your application.
Edit the Essay
Now it’s time to edit. Editing is different from proofreading as it focuses on structural changes and even content revisions. Read the prompt again. Make sure you’ve addressed all questions asked by your program. Then look at the structure. Try reading it out loud. Does the information flow in a way that makes sense? Are there parts that should be moved up or down? Could sections be cut and new parts added?
Proofread for Grammar, Punctuation and Style
Run a spelling and grammar check in Microsoft Word or Google Docs or even use a program like Grammarly to make sure your personal statement is free of typos and errors and adheres to the formatting required by your application.
Get Feedback From Peers and Mentors
Fresh eyes will only improve your writing. Ask classmates and professors to read your personal essay and provide you with feedback. They might see something you missed or have ideas for ways to improve. Make sure you give any readers enough time to go over your personal statement before it’s due.
Revise as Needed
Writing is really all about editing and rewriting. No one gets it right on the first try and sometimes not even on the second try so don’t be afraid to revise your statement of purpose as needed before your grad school application deadline.
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Ryah Cooley Cole is an award winning writer and a high school English teacher based on the Central Coast of California. She is most interested in bringing diverse stories to her readers and students.
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Graduate School Application Essays
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Types of Essays
Regardless of the type of school you are applying to, you will be required to submit an admissions essay as part of the application process. Graduate programs want students with clear commitment to the field. Essay prompts typically ask applicants to discuss their previous experience, future professional goals, and how the program can help them in achieving those objectives. The essay gives the applicant the chance to articulate these goals and display strong writing skills. Remember to tailor your essay to each school and the faculty committee that reviews your application. But first, take note of what kind of essay is being requested of you. Here are the two main admission essays:
Personal Statement
A personal statement is a narrative piece describing how your character and experiences have formed you into someone who will contribute positively and effectively to not only the department but the academic discipline as a whole. This is often achieved by detailing social, educational, cultural, and economic obstacles you have overcome in your journey to get to where you are today and your future objectives. A personal statement is also an opportunity to highlight what is unique about you and how you will advance diversity within the institution.
Check out Personal Statement Resources for Graduate School Applications in the Resources section of Handshake for a brainstorming activity and essay samples that can help you get started on your personal statement.
Statement of Purpose
Interchangeably called a “research statement”, a statement of purpose will prompt you to describe your research interests and professional goals, how you plan to accomplish them, and why a specific program is best suited for you to do so. Be specific about your specialized interests within your major field. Be clear about the kind of program you expect to undertake, and explain how your study plan connects with your previous training and future goals.
Use the Outlining Your Statement of Purpose guide in the Resources section of Handshake to get started on your statement outline.
How to Write a Powerful Admission Essay
Whatever required format, your essay should be thoughtful, concise, compelling, and interesting. Remember, admissions officers read hundreds of personal essays. Below are some tips for your admissions essay writing process:
Before Writing
- Read the question: Be sure you are aware of all aspects of the prompt. Failing to pay attention to details in the prompt won’t reflect well on you as a potential candidate.
- What is distinct, special, and/or impressive about me and my life story?
- Have I overcome any particular hardships or obstacles?
- When did I become interested in this field and what have I learned about it?
- What are my career goals?
- What personal traits, values, and skill sets do I have that would make me stand out from other applicants?
- Create an outline: You might have a lot that you want to say, but you will need to whittle down your many thoughts and experiences to a concrete thesis with a select number of examples to support it. Create an outline for your draft, not only to organize your points and examples, but to help tailor your essay for your readers.
- Know your audience: Consider how your narrative can best meet the expectations of admissions committee members. Will faculty be reading this? Administrators? Experts in the field? Knowing your audience ahead of time will assist you in addressing the prompt appropriately.
While Writing
- Grab your reader’s attention: Start your essay with something that will grab the reader’s attention such as a personal anecdote, questions, or engaging depiction of a scene. Avoid starting things off with common phrases such as “I was born in…” or “I have always wanted to…” Consider the experiences that have shaped you or your career decision, and delve into them with a creative hook.
- Write well: Your essay is a sample of your writing abilities, so it’s important to convey your thoughts clearly and effectively. Be succinct—you don’t need to write out your full autobiography or resume in prose. Exclude anything that doesn’t support your thesis. Gentle humor is okay, but don’t overdo it. Also, don’t make things up! Be honest about your experiences.
- End strong: End your essay with a conclusion that refers back to the lead and restates your thesis. This helps unify your essay as a whole, connecting your detailed experiences back to the reason you are writing this essay in the first place—to show your qualifications for your graduate program of choice.
Final Touches
- Use resources: The MIT Communication Labs have a CommKit that collects all of the Comm Lab resources relevant to the grad application process , including recommendation letters & interviews
- Revise: Give yourself enough time to step away from your draft. Return with a fresh pair of eyes to make your edits. Be realistic with yourself, not your harshest critic. Make a few rounds of revisions if you need.
- Ask for help: Have your essay critiqued by friends, family, educators, and the MIT Writing and Communication Center or our Career Services staff.
- Proofread: Read your essay out loud or even record yourself and listen to the recording, to help you catch mistakes or poor phrasing you may have missed when reading to yourself. Also, don’t rely exclusively on your computer to check your spelling.
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Articles & Advice > Graduate School > Articles
3 Great Grad School Application Essay Examples
The grad school personal statement is an important factor in your application process. Here are a few good grad school essay examples to help you figure it out.
by CollegeXpress , Daniel Masciello , Bridget Sullivan and Haviland Johannesson-Forgit
Last Updated: Jul 27, 2022
Originally Posted: Jun 15, 2017
Graduate school application essays, personal statements, and letters of intent can be a major hurdle to overcome in the application process. Getting just the right words on paper to convey why you want to go to grad school and the impact you intend have using your degree is a lot to ask. To help you get some inspiration and tell your story the right way, check out these three essay examples. Every essay here comes from a successful grad school application, and after reading the essay we break down just what makes it good. And you’re going to love their stories.
Daniel Masciello, Juris Doctor
University of Connecticut Class of 2015
T ry. To get. Some. Slee—it’s no use.
It’s 3:00 am, 90 minutes before our day at work in the landfills of rural Thailand is set to begin, and the 60-watt bulb is still shining bright overhead. It is radiant.
Directly on my left is one grown man’s bare armpit; to my right is more of the same. I keep my nose pointed at the ceiling. I can’t lift my arms because I am too big, a Caucasian beetle trying to fit into this Thai ant colony.
I’ve been lying still for the better part of six hours now, unable to determine exactly why my host family insists on leaving the brightest light in the house on all night (to this day, still a mystery). It is not for a child’s sake; I, at 22 years old, am the youngest in the home. I’m also the only American. Five grown men, lined up snugly on a queen-sized mattress, are soundly sleeping while I contemplate excuses for not working in the landfill that day.
Twelve hours later, over sticky rice and “fresh” vegetables (from the landfill), I try to call out some of my bunkmates for being afraid of the dark. Nobody laughs at my jokes, but they don’t stop smiling either. Perhaps they don’t understand my infantile Thai. From what I can understand of them, they enjoy talking about how grumpy I’ve been all day. No sleep for some 60-odd hours and putting in two grueling days in the landfill, filtering through mountains of trash from the nearby city of Khon Kaen, looking for yogurt containers and car batteries in the hot Thai sun—these things can change a man’s general disposition.
But I did wake up and go to work with my host family. No, I was not prepared physically or mentally, nor was I in the best of moods that day. But the smiling way of the Thai people is infectious, and it wasn’t long before I was smiling too that night, stomach full and ready for more...
That was back in the fall of 2008. The study abroad program I was participating in revolved around studying specific issues (damning rivers, mining minerals, razing slums, etc.), staying with a village that was negatively affected by an issue, and then working to help solve the problem. It was not uncommon to have sessions lasting eight or nine hours just to prepare for a town meeting the next day. Free time after exchanges and interviews would be spent working in the fields with the villagers or perhaps working on our program’s publications. It was not your typical study abroad experience. I have yet to learn of another like it.
It was also challenging at times. Thailand changed my view on a lot of things for the better, including what it means to truly work hard. As a waiter back home, it was a routine practice to work 40 hours a week in addition to going to class and studying. Still, sometimes I wonder if I used jobs outside of class as a crutch. I always had the excuse: I have to work to support myself. But so do a lot of people. And for some of those people, like many of the villagers in Thailand, working extra hours is not temporary. It's a way of life.
At the time I'm not sure I truly appreciated the privilege I had of going to college, as my undergraduate GPA might indicate. Part of that disappointing number is that I feel as if I was afraid of putting 100% of my effort into school. If I was to put all my effort in and still get mediocre grades, I would have considered myself a failure. Apparently I couldn’t or refused to handle that. How cowardly, not to mention foolish!
But while I was in Thailand, I developed a confidence in myself that I simply hadn’t been able to locate before. On multiple occasions I tasted the failure that comes with studying complex issues in a foreign land. Each time it tasted horrible. But I worked on these failures.
For example, I nagged my homestay families to help me with my Thai and forced myself to request constructive criticism in a group setting. Through these trials I discovered the sweetest feeling of them all: perseverance. That meal next to the landfill, described above, was one of the most deliciously memorable meals of my life for that same reason. I was exhausted and maybe a little bit grumpy, but I learned to work through it—and smile too.
I am well aware that law school will probably force me to even further revise my definition of hard work and present challenges and setbacks the likes of which I may not have yet experienced. But I would like to face these challenges, and most importantly overcome them, at your school. I hope my letters of recommendation and LSAT score give the indication that I am capable of doing so. This essay, lastly, is a chance for me to convince you that I can and will. I look forward to hearing from you.
Why this essay is great
Try to stop reading this personal statement, we dare you. The introduction grabs you and doesn’t let go. But besides spinning a great yarn that also says a lot about Daniel’s values, this application essay has an important function: it thoughtfully and maturely addresses any concerns the graduate admission committee might have regarding Daniel’s undergraduate academic performance. Showing rather than telling, he depicts a person who is prepared to do the work to overcome obstacles and learn from mistakes. And since he was admitted to the grad program, clearly it worked.
Related: How to Know if Law School Is Right for You
Bridget Sullivan, Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration
Boston College Class of 2017
I did not know higher education existed as a field until I came to college. Despite this, it has surprisingly been the field that has had the largest impact on my college experience. It has given me direction going forward.
College has been my most important experience so far, in that it has allowed me to better understand how I interact with my environment and how others experience the world around them. Without the Student Affairs professionals I have interacted with over the past four years, I would not be where I am today. I hope that in my future as a Student Affairs professional I can give students the great experience I have been privileged to receive. I will take the lessons I have learned and those that I will learn in the future to improve the college experience for many future generations going forward.
I have enjoyed being a Resident Advisor, a Parent Orientation Leader, and an Assistant Resident Director while attending the University of Massachusetts Lowell for the past four years. All of these jobs fall under the Office of Residence Life. These opportunities have been cornerstones of my college education. They have taught me the long-term and transferrable skills of organization, conflict management, and supervision.
I have most enjoyed being an Assistant Resident Director, as I get to work with the Resident Advisors and Resident Director in a more administrative capacity. The ARD works closely with the RD to get the work done and hold RAs accountable. I think my favorite part of being an ARD this year has been working with the RAs to make sure they have the best experience they can, while at the same time making sure they complete their work well and on time. I enjoy helping RAs and other students reach their full potential, and I feel that it is a learning process for me too. The ARD position has shown me how much I value helping others on the path I have set for myself through my experiences with the RAs I supervise.
Because of the ARD role I have been afforded, I have had the opportunity to see how this potential career may play out. I feel confident about my ability to transition to the professional side of the field because the ARD position has already forced me to take on many of these steps. I tested the waters of the potential career in my RA role last year; this year as an ARD has shown me that I know I can succeed.
I am passionate about student affairs and higher education because it is an opportunity to work with college students and help them grow and develop. I truly believe that there isn’t a more a rewarding career than one that allows you to help others. This field allows me to assist others every day at a time in their lives when many students need it most. It was my developmental path, and I want to give that support to others.
So far my academics and daily practice have not been linked nor intentional. I am excited to be able to make this so by starting a graduate program in higher education. Understanding my former responsibilities in terms of theory and learn how to turn new theories into practice is a process I cannot wait to begin.
I know the Lynch School of Education can assist me in achieving this goal through their program in Higher Education Administration. The opportunity to study in the Boston area will give me a multitude of professional development opportunities that would be hard to find anywhere else. If I am admitted, I will work hard to maximize my time at the Lynch School and become a young professional who can innovate and improve upon current practices in the field.
This personal statement takes you on a journey, as Bridget discovers her calling as an undergrad, gets all the hands-on experience in it she can, and figures out the perfect way to make it her career: grad school. And not just any grad school—Boston College in particular! There’s no doubt in your mind that she’s going to take advantage of everything BC’s master’s program has to offer, and she has the real-world experience to back her claims up.
Related: Alternative Jobs for Education Majors
Haviland Johannesson-Forgit, Master of Arts in Arts Administration
Castleton University Class of 2018
While contemplating how I should approach my personal and professional goals and how earning an advanced degree will support them, I came upon my application essay for Goddard College that I wrote close to three years ago:
“Often times, children who lack positive, authoritative figures and emotional support end up making unwise choices that stay with them and induce prejudice and judgment from other people who may be ignorant to what caused these children to make the choices in the first place. This cultural stigmatism that exists in our society often leads to these children being segmented into a disenfranchised group as adults. The misunderstanding and neglect that occurs in communities towards socially disenfranchised children goes against everything that I was raised to take in regard when attempting to understand a person.
I envision my studies reaching children and young adults in many different communities. It is my goal to immerse myself in rural, inner-city, and lower-income communities and meet these children before or in the midst of their time when the decisions they make can influence where their life may lead. I believe that the teachings of dance as a holistic lifestyle will provide outlets of knowledge and self-expression for these children and young adults that will lead them in positive directions.”
In this essay we were expected to write about our intentions and ambitions for our studies; to address the passions that acted as the drive for our work during our attendance at the college as well as after graduation. In returning to this essay, I was pleased to discover that my ambition and dedication to using the performing arts as a source of structure and reliability for youth in this country has not changed. When applying to Goddard College for my undergraduate degree I knew that I would want to continue on to pursue my graduate degree afterwards to enhance myself as a qualified candidate working in my field. Earning my advanced degree will enable me to go forth in the world as a confident and learned individual prepared to create the positive opportunities I envisioned years ago.
While earning my advanced degree, I intend to learn the details and structure that is needed to successfully run arts organizations. The closeness that Castleton University has with the Association for Arts Administration in developing its program for the MA in Arts Administration encourages me; it assures me that the quality and rigor of the program at Castleton is the right fit for my personal and professional aspirations. The efficacy of the program combined with the professional portfolio of projects demonstrating a mastery of skills in a range of areas in the arts and the six-credit culminating internship is exactly what I am looking for in an advanced degree program.
My background in the performing arts is broad. Not only have I have spent many years performing in productions of theater and dance, but I have also devoted my time and learning to other aspects of performance arts, whether it be technical, political, and social. My time attending Goddard College has proven to be extremely educational in training me in areas of social justice and cultural realizations of privilege, class, and human rights. With an accomplished and culturally diverse faculty and staff, the College requires its students to incorporate this training into their degrees, which makes for globally conscious citizens.
What I stand to bring to Castleton University’s campus is a vibrant love for the performing arts accompanied by acute social awareness training. My dedication to improving myself as an individual in my career is resolute; earning my advanced degree is vital to my continuing as a professional in a field so important to the foundation of our culture. I look forward to the opportunity of earning my Master of Arts in Arts Administration at Castleton University.
Haviland draws a remarkable line from her undergraduate studies and goals to the present day . She’s been on a clear path for a long time, and grad school has always been part of the plan and the logical next step for her career. Her unwavering commitment to arts education and dance as a means for furthering social justice will serve her well professionally—and it probably impressed the graduate admission folks too. Haviland also references specific features of Castleton University’s graduate program, showing she’s genuinely interested in the school and its unique strengths.
Related: Careers for People Who Want to Use Their Creativity
We hope these essay examples helped you get a better idea of where to take your grad school personal statements. The most important part of writing your essay is ensuring every word you put on the page is authentically you and true to your goals. You can write a great essay and get into a good grad school; just give yourself the time and flexibility by starting early and focusing. Good luck!
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- When Is the Best Time to Apply to Law School?
- The Ultimate Guide to Graduate School Applications
- What Grad School Tests Should You Take (or Not)?
- Advice for Writing Your Grad School Personal Statement
- 7 Big Mistakes Graduate School Applicants Should Avoid
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10+ Graduate School Essay Examples [ Master, Admission, Program ]
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1. Do Your Research
2. make it personal as you can, 3. get to know your graduate school degree, 4. add a short anecdote to your essay, 5. end your essay with a positive note, more design, free 8+ personal statement examples, free 6+ self-introduction essay examples, free 5+ student essay examples, free 9+ college essay examples, free 5+ college admission essays, free 5+ graduate school personal statement examples, free 3+ effective ways and examples to start your essay, tips in writing a reflective statement, 10 achievable career goal ideas for fresh graduates examples, 9+ academic reference letter examples, free 9+ scholarship essay examples, 8+ foundation scholarship application form examples, related articles.
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Applying to Graduate Programs
- Writing Statements of Purpose and Other Application Essays
As noted in the application qualifications and admissions criteria section of this website, the statement of purpose (in other words, the primary application essay; sometimes also called personal statement , background statement , and other names) can play a major role in determining whether an applicant is invited to interview and in final selection decisions. Specifically, the statement can be used to assess the applicant’s fit with the program, match with faculty members, writing ability, and more. Thus, spending the time to craft a well-written statement of purpose or other types of application essays is necessary in order for your application to have a chance of succeeding. To help with this process, here we provide an overview of the process of writing such statements and other application essays.
Types of Statements of Purpose and Other Application Essays
Depending on the program, you may be required to provide a statement of purpose , application essay , autobiographical essay , personal statement , career goal statement, background statement , or other similarly named piece of writing. Each of these commonly is your opportunity to provide information about yourself beyond that communicated in the rest of your application materials. You may also be asked to provide supplementary essays such as a diversity statement.
Typically, graduate applications provide an essay prompt which includes specific questions or themes that you should address in the essay. Common themes include: 1,2
- Your long-term career plans
- Your research interests or areas of interest in psychology
- Your reasons for choosing the program that you are applying to
- Your prior research experiences
- Your academic background or objectives
- Your motivation for pursuing your field of study
It is common for programs to specify how the essay should be formatted, or at a minimum, its maximum length. For instance, an application essay may be stated to be “no longer than 2 double-spaced pages” or no more than 500 words. It is important to follow all directions and not exceed that limit.
Using the same exact essay for each application is not advised . 1,3 Each program typically has specific information that they are seeking, and if you do not directly address those details in your essay, your application will suffer. You may be able to reuse different parts of your application essays, but you should expect to have to write new material for each application.
Are there example statements of purpose that I should examine? A variety of online sources do contain example statements, and you can find links to example statements at the bottom of this page. However, application essays in general are unique to each individual – each person has a different set of experiences and different aspects that they may wish to emphasize. Moreover, writing an application essay that resembles someone else’s can result in that essay appearing derivative – and given the highly competitive application process, that is something you should avoid. Thus, examples are for reference only.
How to Write a Statement of Purpose and Other Application Essays
When writing an application essay, it can be helpful to rely on the following steps. Please note that these procedures represent a common approach for writing application essays; you may wish to adapt some of the steps, or use/add others, for best results. 1,3
1. Brainstorming/clustering
At this first stage, jot down your thoughts as you think of answers to the essay prompt. Try to think of themes that you wish to emphasize, as well as concrete examples that you may wish to describe in the essay. You can organize them into clusters (for example, write ideas in circles and draw connecting lines). Remember that the overall goal of the essay is to convince the admissions committee that you are an attractive candidate and a good fit for their program.
2. Outlining
This is an optional step. Take your brainstorming/clustering notes and organize them into an outline of how the essay will be structured. You might have a chronological structure that begins with your earlier experiences and advances towards your more recent activities. Alternatively, you may organize your essay around themes (for example, research topics). A common outline involves an opening paragraph, then discussion of academic accomplishments, research experience, other experiences, future plans and suitability for the program of interest, and a concluding paragraph. 4
3. Freewriting/initial draft
Often one of the biggest hurdles is just getting words on the page. The key here is to not worry about having your words sound perfectly the first time around. Try drafting several sentences, a paragraph or two, and see whether your thoughts translate well into prose. It is common at this stage to discard whole sections of text in favor of new material. At this conclusion of this process, you should aim to have a completed first draft.
4. Revising
It is easy to get burned out on writing, so after you have completed that first draft, set it aside for a while. Then, return with fresh eyes and read through it carefully. You are likely to find areas that need improvement – be sure to take notes or highlight them. It can help to read the essay out loud; a general rule is that if it sounds unusual when spoken aloud, it should be rewritten. Then, revise the essay.
5. Solicit feedback
Have another individual or individuals read your essays critically and provide feedback. Your mentor can be an ideal person to provide that feedback; alternatively, you might try a university writing center or your peers.
6. Revise and finalize your essay
Using the feedback and your own thoughts while reading the essay, edit it further until it is a polished product. Be sure to proofread, check formatting, and make sure that all aspects of the essay prompt are clearly and thoroughly addressed.
Statement of Purpose Do’s and Don’ts
Here are some recommended elements to include, strategies to try, and recommended elements or strategies to avoid. 1,3
- Do emphasize your individual strengths
- Do customize each statement to the program that you are submitting it to
- Do provide specific examples of relevant experiences (such as research, coursework, etc.)
- Do thoroughly address all aspects of the essay prompt
- Do use clear topic sentences, connective words or phrases, and paragraph transitions (for more information, please see the improving scientific writing section of this website)
- Do consider emphasizing your fit to the program that you are applying to
- Do consider discussing faculty mentors of interest
Dont’s
- Don’t use jokes, humor, or try to be funny
- Don’t excessively self-disclose personal problems
- Don’t be very general or vague in your research interests
- Don’t include complaints and criticisms
- Don’t use clichés such as “since my childhood I have always been interested in” or “I just want to help everyone”, unless you can genuinely and convincingly use them
Financial Aid, Fellowships, and Scholarship Application Essays
As you complete your graduate applications, you might also consider applying for financial aid or some sort of graduate research fellowship such as the Ford Foundation Fellowship or the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship . Such fellowships typically require a background statement that is similar in some aspects to the statement of purpose.
Workshops and Downloadable Resources
- For in-person discussion of the process of applying to graduate programs in psychology, neuroscience, and related fields, please consider attending this department’s “Paths to PhDs” workshop and other related events (for dates and times, please check the undergraduate workshops calendar).
- Tips for Applying to Graduate Programs in Psychology (a brief summary) [ PDF ]
Further Resources
How-To Videos
- Applying to Grad School Videos
Recommended Reading
- American Psychological Association (2007). Getting in: a step-by-step plan for gaining admission to graduate school in psychology . Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
- Keith-Spiegel, P., & Wiederman, M. W. (2000). The complete guide to graduate school admission: psychology, counseling, and related professions . Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
Example Statements of Purpose
- Example statement for psychology PhD program, with annotations, from University of Florida
- Example statement for psychology PhD program, in draft form, from EssayEdge
- Example statement for Master’s psychology program from Western Washington University
- Example statement for a non-psychology PhD program, history, from UC Berkeley
- Slideshow guide to writing winning statements of purpose from UCLA
- Guide to writing statements of purpose from Purdue Online Writing Lab
- Tips for writing the statement of purpose from UC Berkeley
- 10 tips for writing statements of purpose from USC
- 11 tips for writing powerful statements of purpose from CrunchPrep.com
- Choosing a graduate program from the Association for Psychological Science
- Smart shopping for psychology doctoral programs [PDF]
APA Videos on Graduate Applications
- Preparing and applying for graduate school in psychology [12-part video series]
- Preparing and applying for graduate school in psychology [video slides in PDF format]
- UCSD Graduate Division Statement of Purpose Prompt
- UCSD Career Center Graduate Application Process
- UCSD OASIS Language and Writing Program
- UCSD Writing Programs and Resources
- UCSD Muir College Writing Hub
- UCSD Writing Hub
1 American Psychological Association (2007). Getting in: a step-by-step plan for gaining admission to graduate school in psychology .
2 norcross, j. c., & hogan, t. p. (2016). preparing and applying for graduate school in psychology: 12 modules. american psychological association [video workshop]., 3 keith-spiegel, p., & wiederman, m. w. (2000). the complete guide to graduate school admission: psychology, counseling, and related professions . psychology press., 4 rutgers university camden college of arts and sciences. writing a personal statement ., prepared by s. c. pan for ucsd psychology, graphic adapted with permission from leoncastro under creative commons attribution-share alike 4.0 international license..
- Finding and Choosing Graduate Programs of Interest
- Timelines for the Graduate Application Process
- Applicant Qualifications, Admissions Criteria, and Acceptance Rates
- Requesting Letters of Recommendation
- Preparing for the Graduate Record Examination
- Graduate Admissions Interviews
- Applying to Clinical Psychology Programs
- Applying to Medical School and Professional Health Programs
- Accepting Graduate Admissions Offers
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The first thing you need for getting into graduate school is tо have a good idea of what you want to study. Graduate school admissions officers want to know what you have done to demonstrate your interest in their program. The essays you submit help them determine whether you are the right applicant and whether you will be a good fit for the program. The best way to demonstrate this is to show that yоu have thought about thе graduate program in great depth аnd have made a good choice. This is especially true for graduate programs in your chosen field.
The essays are аn important way for the admissions officers to understand how yоu think. So, it’s important to have a bit of training from time to time. To find appropriate resources for that, check out recommendations at trusted-essayreviews.com , a review aggregator that collects some of the best writing-related materials, essay samples , and services, all reviewed by real students.
What is a Graduate School Essay?
A graduate school essay іs a piece оf writing that is typically required fоr graduate school admissions. It provides an insight into your thought process and how you see yourself іn relation to the program. It is a personal statement written for the purpose оf demonstrating your fit with the program. The goal оf the essay is tо show that you are interested in the program and that you have thought about it in great depth.
It is also a chance for thе admissions officers to get to know you and gеt to know you as an applicant. They want to know how you will fit іn with the program and hоw yоu will contribute to the program. This is a chance fоr you to show that you have thought deeply about the field and are excited by it.
The graduate school essay is a chance for you to show the admissions committee your passion, your interest, and your commitment to the field of study. It is a chance to show that you have thought about what you want tо do and why. It is a chance to show that you are ready and able to take on this new endeavor.
The graduate school essay is an important part of your graduate school application. It helps the admissions committee get to know you. It shows them that you are ready to commit yourself to the field of study. It shows them how well yоu understand the program. It shows them hоw you can contribute.
A graduate school essay is different than the one you have written before. It is different because it is personal. It is also different because it іs a chance to show who you are beyond your grades, test scores, and extracurricular activities. The grad school essay is also a chance to let the admissions committee get to know you. This is a chance to show them your character. This is a chance to show them your personality.
The grad school essay іs different than the one you have written before. It is personal. You are writing for the admissions committee. It is an insight into your life and your goals. It is a chance to show your character. It is also an opportunity to let the committee get to know you. This is a chance to let them see what makes you unique and what makes you a good fit fоr the graduate school environment. It is also an opportunity to show them how well you understand the program.
How to Write a Graduate School Application Essay
Before we begin discussing the importance of a good graduate school essay, let us first define what this essay is. It is a piece of writing that is submitted along with the application to graduate school. It gives applicants a chance to explain why they want to pursue a graduate degree from a particular college or school. In addition, the committee reviews this piece аnd assesses whether or not you have adequately answered the essay prompt. In other words, the committee wants to see that yоu have thought deeply about the graduate program and are ready tо dedicate your time to it. In the graduate school admission essay, you have to explain your reasons for choosing that particular college оr school. It is a very important aspect of the application process because it helps you stand out from the other applicants. Thе committee wants to see that you are dedicated tо the graduate program and that you are excited about it.
Writing a good graduate school admission essay means that you have tо be very specific about what yоu want to study and why you are going to study іt at that particular university and college. It is important to write about thе specific program you want to enter and why yоu think it is the best choice for you. It is important to write about thе particular department or school you want to join аnd why it is the best fit for you. You also have to be very specific in what you want tо study. It іs not enough tо say that you want tо study something because it is popular.
You also have to explain why yоu chose the specific school and the specific program. You have to be specific in what you want to study. It is also important to show that you have thought about the program and school in great depth. You have to show that you have done your research on the school and have an idea of what they value. You need to bе able to show that you are excited about the school аnd that you are excited about your future there.
In your graduate school application, you need to make sure that you answer the prompt. It is not enough to simply write something like “I want to study something because іt is popular.” You also need to show why it is important for you.
The committee wants to see that yоu have thought deeply about the school аnd have a strong understanding of the program. You should be able to show that you understand what yоu want to study in detail.
The Graduate School Application Essay is a short essay that you must write when applying tо graduate school. This is the first step in the graduate school application process. This essay allows the committee tо learn about you as an applicant and as a student. This is also your chance to show why you are a good fіt for their program. The essay should be about your experiences, goals, interests, аnd personality. You should show how you will fit into their community and how your experience will contribute to their goals. You should also explain why the program is the right fit for you. You should show why you are a strong candidate for the program. The essay should also show that yоu have a plan fоr your future. You should show that you have an understanding of how your career will develop after you graduate.
The essay should be about you. It should bе unique and tailored to your experiences аnd goals.
It should be between 300 and 400 words.
You do not have to bе a genius to come up with a good essay. You just need to have an understanding of how to write one. The key to writing a successful essay is to show your enthusiasm for the program and how it will help you achieve your goals.
The best way to write a strong graduate school application essay is to start with an introduction. The introduction is your chance to make an impression. You cаn use a quote or anecdote or even a question to grab the reader’s attention. This is also your chance tо show the committee that you have a sense of self. This is your chance to show that you are excited about the program and that you are ready to dedicate your time and energy to it. Yоu want the committee to know that you will be a good fit for thе program.
The committee will read through hundreds of applications. Thе committee wants to make sure that you have something unique tо say. This is why you need to show that you are unique.
The best way to do this is to show that you are passionate about the topic. The committee is not interested in reading a list of your accomplishments. They arе interested in learning why yоu are interested in their program and why they should select you. Yоu need to show that you are excited about thе program and that you are prepared to dedicate your time to it.
Tip 1: Brainstorm
Brainstorm to find out what makes you unique. The more you brainstorm, the better your essay will be. You should also think about what kind of person you want to be. Graduate school is not just about academic excellence. You have tо show that you are creative, that you are a good communicator and that you have a sense of adventure.
Think about your background аnd your goals. Think about what makes you different. Brainstorming will help you create an outline that will help yоu write a great essay. You will also be able tо find areas that arе similar to other applicants. Brainstorming will help yоu find areas that you want tо highlight. It is a good idea to write out an essay before you begin writing. It can help you see how your essay will look before you begin writing. You can also look at other essays that have been written and see how you cаn write yours. The more you brainstorm, the better your essay will be.
Tip 2: Be Specific
Make your essay stand out. Make іt as specific as possible. Thе committee wants to read about thе specific qualities that you can bring to the graduate school that will set you apart. Use specific examples to show why your experiences are relevant to the graduate program.
For example, іf yоu are applying for an engineering program, you should include your experience working in a team, using your engineering skills tо design аnd create prototypes. If you arе applying for a business program, explain your experience with marketing, your ability to analyze data, and your ability to translate that analysis into action. Use specific details to show the committee exactly what you arе going tо bring to the program.
For example, if you are applying for a master’s degree in business, yоu should describe your experience in marketing, analyzing data, and creating a marketing strategy. You don’t want to be generic and say that you are a great communicator. Use specific details to show exactly what you are going to bring to thе program.
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How to Write a Graduate School Admission Essay
Thinking about beginning your post-grad studies? Well done! Success is coming your way because you’re about to learn some of the best tricks to write a great graduate school admission essay.
The critical steps in writing a graduate school admission essay include identification of the audience, explaining potential gaps in your studies, and editing the essay, establishing passionate writing and showing experience,
You will almost always need to have completed an undergraduate (bachelor’s) degree , also called a ‘first’ degree , before applying for admission to grad school . Admission to grad school is a process that may require the applicant to write an admission essay just like in undergraduate programs.
What is a graduate school admission essay?
A graduate school admission essay is an academic writing specifically by scholars seeking to further their education in postgraduate programs. The graduate school application essay is your chance to bring to life and express your personality into your application.
But unlike undergraduate admission essay, where you might’ve offered a provided a clever story, your grad school application essay should focus more on emphasizing your academic and professional goals.
You should also remember to include why graduate school is essential to achieving those sets of goals.
The grad school application essay should also allow the selection or admission committee to obtain a good sense of who you are and the things you value most. Isn’t that a wonderful opportunity to change the opinions of people? Yes, but it is not yet that time.
Let us first consider what should go into your admission essay for graduate school.
Highlighting Who You Are
Do you remember the trouble you went through when writing your undergraduate application essays? It was your opportunity to show the university the real you. In the essay, you were allowed to talk about anything ranging from your favorite movie, dish, hobby or game.
Well, the good news is that now that you’re about to apply to grad school with another set of application essays, the writing process is not much different.
However, the only difference is that a post-grad student has been conferred with the first degree and has the power to read and research. Therefore, your approach needs to be more strategic.
Having struggled in undergraduate studies, registering for a postgraduate degree tends to be less threatening as one is already familiar with basics of research.
What is the length of a graduate school admission essay?
Graduate school admission essays average between 250-850 words long. Our estimation is based on the average length of admission essay paper instructions for this particular level of study. So, a graduate school admission essay can be only one page long or up to three pages long.
Usually, the requirement for grad school admission essay will vary from one institution to another. So, regarding how long your admission essay to grad school should be, a lot of advice that aided your writing in undergrad studies still applies.
What do I mean? The goal is to tell a unique story using perfectly-described examples. The more genuine your story is, the more likely it is to earn you entry.
Perhaps another important consideration is to explain why joining the institution to study the program at postgraduate level will make you an asset to the program – and why you believe the study will contribute to your personal growth in future.
Since admission committees have many applicants’ essays to read, longer essays will increase your risk of being declined even before someone reads the entire document.
Also, the best shot is to follow the institution’s direction. Some universities specify the required length of grad school admission essays. When they need 600 words, do not write 750 or 450 words.
More or less words is a bad sign of rebellious student who may not suit any postgraduate learning.
Some common graduate school admission essay prompts
- Description of a situation that you overcame or leadership skills that you learned from the failures.
- What is the biggest desire driving you to obtain this degree at this moment in your life?
- Are there short- and long-term career goals that you may wish to share?
- Describe some of your proudest moments or achievement in educational life.
- The BIG one: why have you chosen that particular university and not any other?
Whichever prompt you decide to pick, the graduate admission committee should be able to drop your essay having picked a few points to remember.
Some of the most important points you could ensure the reader picks include the following:
- What do you want to study in graduate school after admission?
- Why are you interested in studying that particular area?
- Is there a unique reason why you have selected the institution as the best place for you to study that course?
If your grad school admission essay reader cannot answer those questions at the end of your last full stop, something is definitely wrong.
Getting an approval would decline in the event that each one of these key ideas are missing.
Having said all that, let’s dive into writing tips to ensure you do not fail the graduate school admission test essay.
1. Identification of the audience
Tailoring your admission essay to each school you are applying to goes a long way in boosting your points.
Everyone likes a message with a personal touch. Becoming an alumnus of as a graduate student should make you a better person. By giving an explanation to admission counselors on the issue, you set yourself as a unique student worth considering.
How do you know your audience?
Read university official blog posts and follow their social media accounts. It is easy to obtain first-hand information from there.
2. Establish passionate writing
In a crowd of applicants, something should set your graduate school admission essay apart.
Show the graduate admission committee a sense of who you are and things you’re passionate about. What excites you every day as a scholar?
3. Show an experience, don’t tell
An example would be as follows:
“I frequently left the laboratory just as the sun was rising—and long after I had completed my architecture assignments. The reason for this is because I got hooked on experimenting with laser cutting and hardly noticed as the hours passed.”
Providing examples with personal touch is definitely a good way to earn yourself entry into that desired university.
4. Being relevant
In as much as you’d love to give the story a personal feel, the examples should be discrete.
It would be a bad idea to talk about experience in Afghanistan War when you’re applying to be admitted for computer science degree.
Try not to force any story to fit your admission essay into grad school. Not all life experiences can make graduate school personal statement fodder.
5. Explaining potential gaps
Every student has an academic record. Some of your records might raise eyebrows among the admission counselors.
For instance, one semester, you might really have had very poor grades. It would be better to account for such in your admission essay.
However, always remember to avoid the temptation of blaming others or giving excuses for your academic inconsistencies.
6. Editing your grad school admission essay matters
I can’t reiterate this enough.
While completing the application essay, check and recheck your paper for style, tone, clarity, grammar, and many other issues.
It is best to have a professional graduate school admission essay writer look at it.
The reason for this we all know: no reader likes a disorganized essay without flow and is full of grammatical mistakes.
Writing the first draft, editing it, and repeating could be the surest way to catch errors.
For those ESL students who English is their second language, it is not a bad idea to seek help from services such as those offered by Academeter.com.
Don’ts in a graduate school admission essay
As you craft your best essay, have the following don’ts in mind:
- Giving out potentially damaging information. A story about how you were arrested while smoking or at a drinking party doesn’t paint a nice image. It is probably not necessary. Some essay readers can be judgmental even if you decided to include such information with good intent to explain a life’s turning point.
- Don’t over-emphasize and repeat some parts of your admission essay. Having all A’s in tests is not a reason to talk about your high GPA throughout the personal statement. Someone might take you as an overly proud person.
- Keep negativity away. The goal is to get the admission committee to see you as an ever enthusiastic spirit into their program, not a particular grouch.
- Controversial topics should be kept off. Don’t get into discussing issues such as abortion. These touchy subjects could irritate or offend the admission personnel, making your personal statement essay worthless.
- No flowery language. Writing this essay is not a creative process but a scholarly activity. A clear language will make your essay more compelling.
- No copying. Lifting your graduate school essay from an existing published one or one that had been written by someone you know amounts to plagiarism. If you can’t get through the entire process alone, consider working with Top Writer for Graduate Assignment (link to sales page) at Academeter to complete it.
- Stay away from jargon. Y ou have several years of scholarly work to do after admission. So, focus on using active language, smooth transitions, an attention-grabbing opening, and a strong conclusion. Jargon will not impress the admission committee.
Graduate school admission essay example with analysis
Below is a great sample graduate school admission essay. This essay was written by a third party and does not seek to infringe on their copyright.
I slowly stepped towards the convention hall and kept wondering if I had gotten the room number wrong. It was impossible to hear any sign of life, and I could imagine losing my never only to open a door and embarrass myself. (This is an amazing attention grabber. I hope you’re eager to find out about being in the wrong room).
While my thoughts raced in recalling a security guard approaching me and chiding me for being in a place and shouldn’t, a hand reached past my waist and turned the door knob setting it open. That jolted me back to the real world. I stretched my neck, peeked and all surprises again.
More hands and not a few but hundreds of them. They were flying, waving and some were dancing. Another stream of awe and fear struck. You can do this young man!
In my entire life, I had never taken American Sign Language. Certainly, it was never my plan to take my heart. My first semester in college, I registered for German, a language I had secretly loved the sound of since I was 6 years old. Only one week before we could start classes, the course section was scrapped off.
Deep in frustration, I considered taking any first available language class in the course register. Guess what? It probably wasn’t the smartest move. All I know is that it was a decision that undoubtedly altered my set-in-stone plan of becoming a linguist.
Fast forward, the complexities of sign language floored me. I found myself thinking about hand signs while writing essays on Saussure’s linguistic signs. I had to rearrange every bit of my routine so I could take improv classes to help with my facial and body expressions. Theater! In as much as that may appear completely out of character, I had suddenly found myself compelled toward anything that would help immerse me in ASL and deaf culture.
Jumping to conclusion…
All in all, my dedication to language and learning about culture through communication is still the same. But the path by which I desire to pursue that passion is now different. My foray into deaf studies as well as American Sign Language may have begun as an accident. However, regardless of the countless times I still get nervous when my fingers fumble or I have to spell something out, nothing stops me from admitting that my accident led me to positive calling that I am grateful for. This accident directed me to a calling that could have remained unfamiliar in my entire life (Do you see how this conclusion has wrapped up the entire experience into something adorable. That is how to conclude a great graduate school admission essay with certainty).
As you can see, this admission essay is related to a grad school focusing on working with the deaf.
The essay has achieved several things.
First, it has identified our audience, which is the university offering that course.
Second, we have focused on showing our experience rather than telling it.
Also, relevance and passion are evident in the piece of writing.
This sample graduate school admission essay has left out a number of things. For example, we haven’t discussed why we are interested in joining the institution and not another university. Also, we have not explained the career goals beyond postgraduate studies, but that is because we have decided not to publish the entire essay.
Did you find this graduate school admission essay interesting? If so, we have expert admission essay writers on standby to provide the best service.
Placing an order with us today will be equal to placing one foot right into admission to your favorite college or university.
Breadcrumbs
How to write a standout graduate admissions essay, article highlights.
- Reflect before you begin your application essays.
- Outline your ideas before you put pen to paper.
- Write freely, and then return to edit your essay on the second draft.
- Take your time. Break between writing and editing for a fresh perspective.
- Gather feedback from a trusted source.
- Read your essay aloud to identify needed edits.
Everyone has a story to tell, and we know there’s more to you and your talents than what’s on your resume. But how will you stand out from the crowd when applying to Johns Hopkins Carey Business School?
The essay portion of the application is your opportunity to expand beyond your transcript and resume. Share your unique strengths, your background, your growth, or whatever else makes you a strong candidate for Johns Hopkins Carey Business School.
In this article, you will find a detailed explanation of how to write a standout admissions essay.
How to prepare
Before you begin writing, read the essay prompts carefully. Take a moment to reflect and explore why you’re pursuing a graduate business degree. Consider having a pen and notepad nearby as you participate in this reflection exercise. Think about your path thus far and pinpoint moments of growth and learning. Take note of how these moments have shaped you and how these experiences will guide you through your graduate business degree at Carey.
Map your ideas:
Now that you have an idea of how to share your story within the context of the essay prompts, it’s time to draft an outline . Map out your key points and outline the supporting examples. As you map the direction and flow of your essay through the outline, keep in mind your audience. Our admissions officers read thousands of application essays, so you want to find a creative hook to make your story stand out.
Don’t overthink it! Start writing:
As you start to write your first draft, let the words flow. At this stage, don’t fixate on grammar or finding the perfect word– just get your thoughts on paper. You will finesse and polish your essay in the second draft.
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Take a break:
Once you complete your first draft, take a day or two before returning to edit it. Coming back to your writing with fresh eyes allows you to read it with a new perspective. Tackle the details of grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary during this second pass. Consider reading your essay backward to help catch typos.
Get feedback:
Once you feel your essays are in a good place, it is highly recommended that you share them for review. Share them with your advisor, a trusted colleague, friend, or even your recommender . Getting insights from a trusted source can help you make your essay stronger, as well as catch any typos or small edits.
Finalize and submit:
You are almost done. Before submitting your essays, do a final review. Run a spell check and read the essays out loud to yourself. This trick allows you to identify areas that may need clarification or tweaks. As you review your final draft, make sure that you actually answered the question posed on the application.
Remember, the essay portion of your application is your chance to stand out from the crowd. By sharing who you are as a person, your growth thus far, your passions, your goals, and your voice, you can make a lasting impression. Best of luck with your application process!
Just the facts
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career outcomes
Application Essays
What this handout is about.
This handout will help you write and revise the personal statement required by many graduate programs, internships, and special academic programs.
Before you start writing
Because the application essay can have a critical effect upon your progress toward a career, you should spend significantly more time, thought, and effort on it than its typically brief length would suggest. It should reflect how you arrived at your professional goals, why the program is ideal for you, and what you bring to the program. Don’t make this a deadline task—now’s the time to write, read, rewrite, give to a reader, revise again, and on until the essay is clear, concise, and compelling. At the same time, don’t be afraid. You know most of the things you need to say already.
Read the instructions carefully. One of the basic tasks of the application essay is to follow the directions. If you don’t do what they ask, the reader may wonder if you will be able to follow directions in their program. Make sure you follow page and word limits exactly—err on the side of shortness, not length. The essay may take two forms:
- A one-page essay answering a general question
- Several short answers to more specific questions
Do some research before you start writing. Think about…
- The field. Why do you want to be a _____? No, really. Think about why you and you particularly want to enter that field. What are the benefits and what are the shortcomings? When did you become interested in the field and why? What path in that career interests you right now? Brainstorm and write these ideas out.
- The program. Why is this the program you want to be admitted to? What is special about the faculty, the courses offered, the placement record, the facilities you might be using? If you can’t think of anything particular, read the brochures they offer, go to events, or meet with a faculty member or student in the program. A word about honesty here—you may have a reason for choosing a program that wouldn’t necessarily sway your reader; for example, you want to live near the beach, or the program is the most prestigious and would look better on your resume. You don’t want to be completely straightforward in these cases and appear superficial, but skirting around them or lying can look even worse. Turn these aspects into positives. For example, you may want to go to a program in a particular location because it is a place that you know very well and have ties to, or because there is a need in your field there. Again, doing research on the program may reveal ways to legitimate even your most superficial and selfish reasons for applying.
- Yourself. What details or anecdotes would help your reader understand you? What makes you special? Is there something about your family, your education, your work/life experience, or your values that has shaped you and brought you to this career field? What motivates or interests you? Do you have special skills, like leadership, management, research, or communication? Why would the members of the program want to choose you over other applicants? Be honest with yourself and write down your ideas. If you are having trouble, ask a friend or relative to make a list of your strengths or unique qualities that you plan to read on your own (and not argue about immediately). Ask them to give you examples to back up their impressions (For example, if they say you are “caring,” ask them to describe an incident they remember in which they perceived you as caring).
Now, write a draft
This is a hard essay to write. It’s probably much more personal than any of the papers you have written for class because it’s about you, not World War II or planaria. You may want to start by just getting something—anything—on paper. Try freewriting. Think about the questions we asked above and the prompt for the essay, and then write for 15 or 30 minutes without stopping. What do you want your audience to know after reading your essay? What do you want them to feel? Don’t worry about grammar, punctuation, organization, or anything else. Just get out the ideas you have. For help getting started, see our handout on brainstorming .
Now, look at what you’ve written. Find the most relevant, memorable, concrete statements and focus in on them. Eliminate any generalizations or platitudes (“I’m a people person”, “Doctors save lives”, or “Mr. Calleson’s classes changed my life”), or anything that could be cut and pasted into anyone else’s application. Find what is specific to you about the ideas that generated those platitudes and express them more directly. Eliminate irrelevant issues (“I was a track star in high school, so I think I’ll make a good veterinarian.”) or issues that might be controversial for your reader (“My faith is the one true faith, and only nurses with that faith are worthwhile,” or “Lawyers who only care about money are evil.”).
Often, writers start out with generalizations as a way to get to the really meaningful statements, and that’s OK. Just make sure that you replace the generalizations with examples as you revise. A hint: you may find yourself writing a good, specific sentence right after a general, meaningless one. If you spot that, try to use the second sentence and delete the first.
Applications that have several short-answer essays require even more detail. Get straight to the point in every case, and address what they’ve asked you to address.
Now that you’ve generated some ideas, get a little bit pickier. It’s time to remember one of the most significant aspects of the application essay: your audience. Your readers may have thousands of essays to read, many or most of which will come from qualified applicants. This essay may be your best opportunity to communicate with the decision makers in the application process, and you don’t want to bore them, offend them, or make them feel you are wasting their time.
With this in mind:
- Do assure your audience that you understand and look forward to the challenges of the program and the field, not just the benefits.
- Do assure your audience that you understand exactly the nature of the work in the field and that you are prepared for it, psychologically and morally as well as educationally.
- Do assure your audience that you care about them and their time by writing a clear, organized, and concise essay.
- Do address any information about yourself and your application that needs to be explained (for example, weak grades or unusual coursework for your program). Include that information in your essay, and be straightforward about it. Your audience will be more impressed with your having learned from setbacks or having a unique approach than your failure to address those issues.
- Don’t waste space with information you have provided in the rest of the application. Every sentence should be effective and directly related to the rest of the essay. Don’t ramble or use fifteen words to express something you could say in eight.
- Don’t overstate your case for what you want to do, being so specific about your future goals that you come off as presumptuous or naïve (“I want to become a dentist so that I can train in wisdom tooth extraction, because I intend to focus my life’s work on taking 13 rather than 15 minutes per tooth.”). Your goals may change–show that such a change won’t devastate you.
- And, one more time, don’t write in cliches and platitudes. Every doctor wants to help save lives, every lawyer wants to work for justice—your reader has read these general cliches a million times.
Imagine the worst-case scenario (which may never come true—we’re talking hypothetically): the person who reads your essay has been in the field for decades. She is on the application committee because she has to be, and she’s read 48 essays so far that morning. You are number 49, and your reader is tired, bored, and thinking about lunch. How are you going to catch and keep her attention?
Assure your audience that you are capable academically, willing to stick to the program’s demands, and interesting to have around. For more tips, see our handout on audience .
Voice and style
The voice you use and the style in which you write can intrigue your audience. The voice you use in your essay should be yours. Remember when your high school English teacher said “never say ‘I’”? Here’s your chance to use all those “I”s you’ve been saving up. The narrative should reflect your perspective, experiences, thoughts, and emotions. Focusing on events or ideas may give your audience an indirect idea of how these things became important in forming your outlook, but many others have had equally compelling experiences. By simply talking about those events in your own voice, you put the emphasis on you rather than the event or idea. Look at this anecdote:
During the night shift at Wirth Memorial Hospital, a man walked into the Emergency Room wearing a monkey costume and holding his head. He seemed confused and was moaning in pain. One of the nurses ascertained that he had been swinging from tree branches in a local park and had hit his head when he fell out of a tree. This tragic tale signified the moment at which I realized psychiatry was the only career path I could take.
An interesting tale, yes, but what does it tell you about the narrator? The following example takes the same anecdote and recasts it to make the narrator more of a presence in the story:
I was working in the Emergency Room at Wirth Memorial Hospital one night when a man walked in wearing a monkey costume and holding his head. I could tell he was confused and in pain. After a nurse asked him a few questions, I listened in surprise as he explained that he had been a monkey all of his life and knew that it was time to live with his brothers in the trees. Like many other patients I would see that year, this man suffered from an illness that only a combination of psychological and medical care would effectively treat. I realized then that I wanted to be able to help people by using that particular combination of skills only a psychiatrist develops.
The voice you use should be approachable as well as intelligent. This essay is not the place to stun your reader with ten prepositional phrases (“the goal of my study of the field of law in the winter of my discontent can best be understood by the gathering of more information about my youth”) and thirty nouns (“the research and study of the motivation behind my insights into the field of dentistry contains many pitfalls and disappointments but even more joy and enlightenment”) per sentence. (Note: If you are having trouble forming clear sentences without all the prepositions and nouns, take a look at our handout on style .)
You may want to create an impression of expertise in the field by using specialized or technical language. But beware of this unless you really know what you are doing—a mistake will look twice as ignorant as not knowing the terms in the first place. Your audience may be smart, but you don’t want to make them turn to a dictionary or fall asleep between the first word and the period of your first sentence. Keep in mind that this is a personal statement. Would you think you were learning a lot about a person whose personal statement sounded like a journal article? Would you want to spend hours in a lab or on a committee with someone who shuns plain language?
Of course, you don’t want to be chatty to the point of making them think you only speak slang, either. Your audience may not know what “I kicked that lame-o to the curb for dissing my research project” means. Keep it casual enough to be easy to follow, but formal enough to be respectful of the audience’s intelligence.
Just use an honest voice and represent yourself as naturally as possible. It may help to think of the essay as a sort of face-to-face interview, only the interviewer isn’t actually present.
Too much style
A well-written, dramatic essay is much more memorable than one that fails to make an emotional impact on the reader. Good anecdotes and personal insights can really attract an audience’s attention. BUT be careful not to let your drama turn into melodrama. You want your reader to see your choices motivated by passion and drive, not hyperbole and a lack of reality. Don’t invent drama where there isn’t any, and don’t let the drama take over. Getting someone else to read your drafts can help you figure out when you’ve gone too far.
Taking risks
Many guides to writing application essays encourage you to take a risk, either by saying something off-beat or daring or by using a unique writing style. When done well, this strategy can work—your goal is to stand out from the rest of the applicants and taking a risk with your essay will help you do that. An essay that impresses your reader with your ability to think and express yourself in original ways and shows you really care about what you are saying is better than one that shows hesitancy, lack of imagination, or lack of interest.
But be warned: this strategy is a risk. If you don’t carefully consider what you are saying and how you are saying it, you may offend your readers or leave them with a bad impression of you as flaky, immature, or careless. Do not alienate your readers.
Some writers take risks by using irony (your suffering at the hands of a barbaric dentist led you to want to become a gentle one), beginning with a personal failure (that eventually leads to the writer’s overcoming it), or showing great imagination (one famous successful example involved a student who answered a prompt about past formative experiences by beginning with a basic answer—”I have volunteered at homeless shelters”—that evolved into a ridiculous one—”I have sealed the hole in the ozone layer with plastic wrap”). One student applying to an art program described the person he did not want to be, contrasting it with the person he thought he was and would develop into if accepted. Another person wrote an essay about her grandmother without directly linking her narrative to the fact that she was applying for medical school. Her essay was risky because it called on the reader to infer things about the student’s character and abilities from the story.
Assess your credentials and your likelihood of getting into the program before you choose to take a risk. If you have little chance of getting in, try something daring. If you are almost certainly guaranteed a spot, you have more flexibility. In any case, make sure that you answer the essay question in some identifiable way.
After you’ve written a draft
Get several people to read it and write their comments down. It is worthwhile to seek out someone in the field, perhaps a professor who has read such essays before. Give it to a friend, your mom, or a neighbor. The key is to get more than one point of view, and then compare these with your own. Remember, you are the one best equipped to judge how accurately you are representing yourself. For tips on putting this advice to good use, see our handout on getting feedback .
After you’ve received feedback, revise the essay. Put it away. Get it out and revise it again (you can see why we said to start right away—this process may take time). Get someone to read it again. Revise it again.
When you think it is totally finished, you are ready to proofread and format the essay. Check every sentence and punctuation mark. You cannot afford a careless error in this essay. (If you are not comfortable with your proofreading skills, check out our handout on editing and proofreading ).
If you find that your essay is too long, do not reformat it extensively to make it fit. Making readers deal with a nine-point font and quarter-inch margins will only irritate them. Figure out what material you can cut and cut it. For strategies for meeting word limits, see our handout on writing concisely .
Finally, proofread it again. We’re not kidding.
Other resources
Don’t be afraid to talk to professors or professionals in the field. Many of them would be flattered that you asked their advice, and they will have useful suggestions that others might not have. Also keep in mind that many colleges and professional programs offer websites addressing the personal statement. You can find them either through the website of the school to which you are applying or by searching under “personal statement” or “application essays” using a search engine.
If your schedule and ours permit, we invite you to come to the Writing Center. Be aware that during busy times in the semester, we limit students to a total of two visits to discuss application essays and personal statements (two visits per student, not per essay); we do this so that students working on papers for courses will have a better chance of being seen. Make an appointment or submit your essay to our online writing center (note that we cannot guarantee that an online tutor will help you in time).
For information on other aspects of the application process, you can consult the resources at University Career Services .
Works consulted
We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.
Asher, Donald. 2012. Graduate Admissions Essays: Write Your Way Into the Graduate School of Your Choice , 4th ed. Berkeley: Ten Speed Press.
Curry, Boykin, Emily Angel Baer, and Brian Kasbar. 2003. Essays That Worked for College Applications: 50 Essays That Helped Students Get Into the Nation’s Top Colleges . New York: Ballantine Books.
Stelzer, Richard. 2002. How to Write a Winning Personal Statement for Graduate and Professional School , 3rd ed. Lawrenceville, NJ: Thomson Peterson.
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How to Write a Graduate School Application Essay
What follows is some good advice for you to utilise your time and energy in a way that will be most effective in convincing an admissions officer that you not only will be an asset to their Master’s or MBA programme, but also that you have the personal motivation and commitment to succeed.
Purpose of a graduate school application essay
Your transcripts and standardised test scores demonstrate your ability to handle coursework and study, but that is only part of your story. To get a more complete picture of you as a candidate, admissions officers will often ask for a personal graduate school application essay, which may also be called a statement of purpose or a motivation letter. Whatever it is named, its purpose is clear.
You are investing in a university or B-school by enrolling in its Master’s or MBA programme, and the school is making an investment in you as a student and potential alumnus. So they want to be sure you are prepared, willing, competent, and motivated to make the best of the opportunity you have been given to excel, both academically now and professionally throughout your life.
It is not unusual for a student or professional to evolve in knowledge and skill beyond what earlier transcripts or test scores can reveal. If you fear your transcripts or test scores do not accurately reflect your capabilities, the graduate school application essay is also a perfect opportunity to supplement your academic record.
Check out: 2017 Top European MBA Essays
Before you begin writing your graduate school application essay
By the time you apply to a Master’s or MBA programme, you have probably done enough self-analysis that you know what your career goals are and how further education will support them. If not, that is certainly your first step. Do you know what you hope to achieve with a post-graduate degree? Are you certain you want to invest this time and money in that particular programme? Have you studied the various career options this degree will allow, and are you committed to this particular path of study? You cannot convince an admissions committee of your commitment if you have trouble convincing yourself. Neither would you want to.
To crystallize what you want to communicate in your essay, start by listing your professional goals and noting exactly how this degree programme will further them. For example, if you are deeply interested in applying for higher-level jobs for which only degreed candidates are eligible, that demonstrates an obvious need for the programme. If you begin the writing process with a clear picture of what the degree will add to your life professionally, you will have a much easier time communicating those points in your graduate school application essay.
Next, think of the experience you hope to have during your Master’s or MBA studies. What amenities, student groups, and career services do you want from the school you select? Illustrating how a particular school meets all your needs and wants demonstrates a fully thought-out decision-making process, which is fundamental to the entire application.
Finally, think of your personal goals. How will your personal life benefit from the degree and experience you will receive by graduating from a challenging Master’s or MBA programme? Search within yourself to find what motivates you most and what that degree will mean to you on a personal level. For example, if you would be the first person in your family to receive a post-graduate degree and that would bring you great pride and fulfillment, or if you think it would demonstrate to your children that anything is achievable with dedication and hard work, that is certainly a personal detail you would want to include.
Writing process for your graduate school application essay
Ideally, by this time in your education or career, you will have learned that procrastination works against you. If not, heed this warning: start early. Allow yourself enough time to make several drafts and to have people with vastly different experiences and viewpoints to read it and offer suggestions.
Overall, you want your essay to reflect your own ideas and ambitions, so it needs to be – above all else – authentic and sincere. Do not attempt to flatter the institution in the hope of winning over the committee, but instead personalise the experience ahead of you with your goals and dreams and how they will motivate you to succeed.
Begin the actual writing process by determining the essay topics available to you. Does the university or B-school to which you are applying have one specific topic or a series of questions from which to choose? Whether you are given a topic or you can pick from a list, make sure your essay stays on topic throughout. Keep a focus on your objectives for the essay, and be careful not to ramble or include too much extraneous information.
Once you have a topic in mind, go back to your initial brainstorming about your personal and professional goals as well as what you want to gain from the experience itself. Where can you draw parallels between what they want to know and what you want them to know? Try to call to mind specific examples in your life that have led to your decision to obtain this Master’s or MBA degree, and include those in your text.
Getting stuck in the writing process is rather common. If it happens, set it aside for a day or week and come back to it with a fresh perspective. Once your mind has time to digest the information, you will be surprised at how easily new ideas will come to you.
Set a goal for a first draft long before the essay is due. Ask friends and relatives with diverse experiences and opinions to critique it, and be open to their suggestions. Once you have a new draft, take it to them again. Chances are they will welcome the opportunity to assist you in pursuing such an important goal.
Check out: Top MBA Admission Essay Requirements
Your graduate school application essay is your chance to supplement impersonal transcripts and test scores with interesting information about who you are as a student, as a professional, and as a person. Selling yourself as a candidate in a succinct yet informative way, without being boastful or insincere, can be tricky, but it can be done well if you allow yourself enough time for thorough reflection and multiple drafts. It may be that one opportunity you have to impress the admissions committee that you are the right candidate, and to get the degree you want so badly.
Check out: How to Finish Your Business School Application Essay
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If you’re applying to graduate school, you’ll likely need to write a personal statement. But what exactly is a graduate school personal statement? And what should you write about to give yourself your best shot at admission?
In this guide, we teach you how to write a personal statement for grad school, step by step. But first, let’s go over how the personal statement differs from the statement of purpose as well as what schools look for in a great graduate school essay.
What Is a Graduate School Personal Statement?
A graduate school personal statement is an admission essay that typically focuses on your personal reasons for wanting to enter a grad program and particular field of study. Essentially, you must tell the story of who you are and how you developed your current research interests.
So is a personal statement for graduate school the same thing as a statement of purpose? Well, not always (though it can be). Here are the general distinctions between the two essay types:
- Statement of purpose: A formal essay that summarizes your academic and professional background, research interests, and career goals. In this essay, you’ll usually explain your reasons for applying to grad school and why you believe the program is a good fit for you (as well as why you’re a good fit for it!).
- Personal statement: A less formal essay that focuses on your passion and motivation for wanting to enter your chosen field and program. This statement is typically more flexible than the statement of purpose, with a bigger emphasis on storytelling. Schools often encourage applicants to discuss (relevant) challenges in their lives and how they’ve overcome them.
Both the graduate school personal statement and statement of purpose are usually anywhere from one to three double-spaced pages long, depending on the program you’re applying to.
Below is a chart comparing the personal statement and statement of purpose:
Usually, the personal statement and statement of purpose are considered two different graduate school essay types.
But this isn’t always the case. While some schools consider the personal statement and statement of purpose two distinct essays, others use the names interchangeably.
For example, Michigan State University’s College of Engineering considers them two distinct essays, while The Ohio State University uses “personal statement” to describe what is essentially a statement of purpose.
Many schools require just one essay (and it’ll usually be the statement of purpose, as it’s the more academic one). But some, such as the University of Michigan , ask for both a personal statement and statement of purpose, while others, such as Notre Dame’s Creative Writing MFA program , want an essay that combines the features of both!
Ultimately, the type of graduate school essay you submit will depend entirely on where you’re applying.
What Do Schools Look For in a Personal Statement?
Many grad schools require a personal statement in order to learn more about you, your interests, your struggles, and your motivations for wanting to enter a field of study. Through this essay, schools can get to know you on a deeper, more intimate level and learn about you in ways they can’t through transcripts and letters of recommendation alone.
But what specifically do universities look for in a great personal statement for graduate school? Here are some of the most important elements to include in your essay.
A Compelling Story
First off, your personal statement must tell a story. After all, this essay is basically your autobiography: it introduces who you are, your interests and motivations, and why you’ve decided to apply to grad school.
Unlike the statement of purpose, the personal statement should focus mostly on your personal history, from your failures to your triumphs. All experiences should tie back to your field or research area, emphasizing what you’ve learned and what this means in terms of your potential as a grad student.
Since you’re talking about yourself, be conversational in your storytelling: use an authentic voice, open up about your experiences, and maybe even throw in a joke or two. Though you’re still writing an essay for school, it’s generally OK to be a little more informal here than you would in a statement of purpose.
That said, there are a couple of things you absolutely shouldn’t do in your personal statement.
- Open your essay with a quotation. Professors have heard the quotation before and don’t need (or want) to hear it again. Plus, quotations often take up too much space in an already short essay!
- Use clichés. Think of unique ways to tell your story and grab readers’ attention. Schools want to see you can be creative yet honest about yourself, so avoid clichés like the plague (see what I did there?).
- Get too creative. Your goal is to look like a serious, committed applicant—not a wacky risk taker—so write clearly and avoid any unnecessary distractions such as images, colors, and unprofessional fonts.
Most importantly, remember that your graduate school personal statement should focus on your successes. Try to use strong, encouraging words and put positive twists on difficult experiences whenever possible. It’s OK to mention your setbacks, too—just as long as you’re discussing how you ultimately overcame (or plan to overcome) them.
Inspirations for Your Research Interests
Schools don’t only want to see clearly defined research interests but also why you have these particular interests. While the statement of purpose elaborates on your professional goals, the personal statement explains what personally motivated you to explore your interests.
For example, in my personal statement for a Japanese Studies MA program, I wrote about my hot-and-cold relationship with the Japanese language and how a literature class and a stint abroad ultimately inspired me to keep learning.
Don’t make the mistake of going way back to the beginning to start your essay. Many applicants open their statements with something along the lines of “I fell in love with psychology when I was ten years old” or “It all started when I was in high school.” But these broad statements lack the creativity and zest needed to secure an acceptance, so avoid them at all costs.
Your Motivation for Applying to Grad School
Your statement of purpose should explain why grad school is a practical next step in your professional life—but your personal statement should focus on what personally motivates you to take this step.
Generally, schools want answers to the following questions:
- Why is grad school an appropriate step for you now?
- How will a graduate degree help you achieve your goals?
- Why didn’t you apply to grad school earlier (if you took time off after undergrad)?
- Were there any struggles or problems you faced that prevented you from applying to grad school before?
Be honest about why you’re applying, both to grad school and the program in particular. In my graduate school essay, I discussed how my passion for Japanese literature and desire to translate it inspired me to seek advanced language training at the graduate level.
Strong Writing Skills
A great personal statement shows that you can write cogently and coherently. After all, strong writing skills are imperative for success as a grad student!
So in addition to telling a good story, make sure you use correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization. Use paragraphs to break up your thoughts, too. Because the personal statement is slightly less formal than the statement of purpose, feel free to play around a little with paragraph form and length.
Also, remember that good writing doesn’t necessarily equal big words. You’re writing about yourself, so use words that come naturally to you. Don’t grab a thesaurus and start throwing in a bunch of high-level vocabulary wherever you can; this will make your essay sound less authentic, not to mention stiff.
On the other hand, don’t get too colloquial. You’ll lose respect if you start inserting conversational words such as “gonna” and “gotta.” Therefore, look for the middle ground and write from there.
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Explanations for Any Hiccups in Your Academic Career
Lastly, the personal statement gives applicants a chance to explain any problems or changes in their academic histories, such as low grades or gaps in education.
Because transcripts and resumes are severely limited in what information they give, schools often use the personal statement to understand your reasons for abrupt changes in your resume and/or transcripts, and to see how you’ve overcome these barriers in your education (and life).
Essentially, a personal statement equalizes the playing field by giving you full rein to explain yourself and emphasize your success over any struggles you’ve had.
How to Write a Personal Statement for Grad School: 9-Step Guide
The personal statement is a fiercely important part of your grad school application. In this section, we teach you how to write a memorable personal statement for grad school so that you’ll have a better shot at getting accepted.
Step 1: Start Early
Personal statements (actually, grad school applications in general!) take a lot of work, so don’t put off writing your essay until the week before your deadline. Rather, try to start working on your essay at least two or three months before your application is due.
You might want to give yourself more time to write it if you’re currently in school or working a demanding job. Setting aside more time lets you work on your graduate school essay routinely without having to squeeze in too many hours each week.
If you only have a month or less until your application deadline, get started on your essay pronto! Though it’s possible to write a personal statement quickly, I recommend carving out more time so that you can put more thought and effort into what you write and how you present yourself. (Doing this also gives others more time to edit your essay for you! We’ll cover this more in later steps.)
Step 2: Read the Instructions
Perhaps the most important step is to read your program’s instructions for the personal statement. Not following these instructions could very well result in a rejection, so always read these first before you start writing! Most programs put their personal statement instructions on their application materials pages.
Your program should give you the following information:
- What type of content your personal statement should include or generally focus on (you might even get an actual prompt to answer!)
- How long your statement should be
- What type of heading, if any, you must include on your statement
- How to save and submit your statement (e.g., .docx, PDF, etc.)
For example, let’s say you’re applying to the History PhD program at UC Berkeley . In this case, your personal statement can’t exceed 1,000 words (three double-spaced pages). You must also answer this prompt :
Please describe how your personal background informs your decision to pursue a graduate degree. Please include information on how you have overcome barriers to access in higher education, evidence of how you have come to understand the barriers faced by others, evidence of your academic service to advance equitable access to higher education for women, racial minorities, and individuals from other groups that have been historically underrepresented in higher education, evidence of your research focusing on underserved populations or related issues of inequality, or evidence of your leadership among such groups.
On the other hand, if you were to apply for an MS in Mining, Geological, and Geophysical Engineering at the University of Arizona , your personal statement would follow these parameters:
Your personal statement is an opportunity to sell yourself, in terms of your research interests, research experience and research goals. Unless you have extensive research experience, most personal statements should be about two single-spaced pages. Your writing should be clear, concise, grammatically correct and professional in tone. You may convey some personal experiences that have led to your current interests or that make you a particularly promising candidate.
Clearly, grad programs can approach personal statements quite differently. Some schools consider them the same as statements of purpose and want a formal focus on academic and research interests, while others want applicants to explain more informally the challenges they’ve overcome to get to this point.
Simply put, follow your program’s directions exactly in order to give yourself your best shot at admission. And if any part of the instructions is unclear, don’t hesitate to contact your program!
Step 3: Figure Out Your Angle
Your “angle,” or focus, in your graduate school personal statement will depend on a few key factors:
- What your grad program wants you to write about
- Your field of study and research interests
- How much experience you have in your field
As I mentioned in step 2, it’s extremely important to read the personal statement instructions for your program. Many times these guidelines will tell you what to include in your essay, thereby clarifying what your overall angle needs to be.
Let’s look back at the example we used above for UC Berkeley’s doctoral program in history. If you were applying here and came from a low-income family, you could discuss how you’ve overcome these financial challenges in your life to get to where you are today.
No matter the prompt, you’ll need to discuss your research interests (to some degree) in your personal statement. How much you talk about your interests, however, will depend on whether you have to submit a separate statement of purpose. If so, you can focus less on your research plans and more on your passions and motivations for applying.
On the other hand, if your personal statement is essentially a statement of purpose, dive deep into your research interests—that is, be specific! For example, those applying to English lit programs should think about the works, eras, and writers they want to study, and why.
More broadly, though, try to answer the question of what you hope to accomplish, either during or after the program. Is there any particular project you want to do? Skills you want to improve? Field you want to break into?
Finally, always choose a positive angle. Use affirmative words and phrases to highlight both your successes and overall enthusiasm for the program.
Step 4: Ask Yourself, “Why This Program? Why This Field?”
Although the statement of purpose usually answers this question directly, you’ll likely need to address this in your personal statement as well—ideally, with a less academic and more conversational tone.
As you brainstorm, try to come up with answers to the following questions:
- What goals or experiences led you to apply to this program?
- How will this program help you grow on a personal level?
- What made you interested in this field? Why do you want to study it more?
- What are your research interests? How did you develop these interests?
- Are there any particular professors you wish to work with?
Step 5: Make an Outline
Now that you’ve brainstormed some ideas, it’s time to start outlining your essay.
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How you choose to outline your statement is up to you. Some people like drawing bubble charts for organizing their thoughts, whereas others (like myself) prefer to write a list of rough ideas in the general order they want to present them.
Even if you’re not sure whether you want to include something, just add it to your outline anyway. You can always cut it out later as you draft and edit.
Step 6: Draft Your Essay
It’s now time to start writing! Once you’ve got your outline ready, work on expanding what you’ve written into full-fledged paragraphs.
In the beginning, it’s OK to write down anything you feel is relevant, but as you continue to draft, try to look for any extraneous information you can chop.
Remember, most personal statements will be short— usually one to two double-spaced pages—so you don’t want to risk exceeding your program’s word limit. Schools want to see that you can tell a story concisely yet effectively.
If you’re having trouble coming up with a way to open your statement, try skipping around as you draft. Go ahead and jump to a paragraph you have more ideas for—it’s perfectly OK! Just make sure you start to tie all of your ideas together the closer you get to finishing your draft.
On a related note, be careful not to copy any material from your statement of purpose (if you’re required to submit two separate essays). These statements may share a little overlap but should still focus on different aspects of your (academic) life, accomplishments, and goals.
Step 7: Get Feedback
Once you finish drafting, give your essay to people you trust for feedback. This could be a parent, friend, sibling, or mentor (such as a former or current professor).
Ask your editors to give you specific feedback on what you can change, both stylistically and technically, to make it more impactful. Ideally, they’ll also note any unclear, awkward, or redundant ideas/phrases and will offer you helpful suggestions for improvement.
If you’ve written a separate statement of purpose, see whether your editors are willing to check that essay over as well so that you can ensure there isn’t too much overlap between the two.
Step 8: Revise & Edit Your Essay
Once you get feedback, revise and edit your personal statement using your editors’ comments as a guide.
For example, if your editors told you your essay lacked detail, look for places in your writing where you can be more specific and that are likely to have a strong impact on the admission committee.
As you revise, keep an eye out for any awkward sentences or extraneous information. Personal statements are usually pretty brief and you don’t want to accidentally exceed the word limit. So when in doubt, take it out!
Step 9: Proofread
The final step is to proofread your draft. Start by using your computer’s spell check function to quickly find any glaring typos and grammatical errors.
Then, proofread your essay one sentence at a time. Since it’s easy to miss errors in your own writing, I recommend editing your essay from back to front (i.e., from the last sentence to the first sentence). Doing this prevents you from glossing over words and lets you pinpoint punctuation, spelling, and grammatical errors more easily.
In addition, check that you have page numbers on each page (if required—though I suggest adding them regardless) and a proper heading (again, if required) that meets the requirements of your program.
Before you submit it, see if you can get someone else (preferably one or all of your editors from step 7) to look over your final draft as well. If anyone spots a problem with your essay, go back to step 8. If you get all thumbs ups, read over your statement one last time and then turn it in without looking back! (Seriously, don’t read it again or you’re going to want to change something.)
The Key to a Great Graduate School Personal Statement
The personal statement is an essential part of your grad school application. Like the statement of purpose, it highlights your research interests, experiences, and goals.
But more importantly, the personal statement showcases your unbridled passion for your field, lets you reflect on challenges you’ve faced (and subsequently overcome), and answers the overarching question of why you want to attend grad school.
A great graduate school personal statement will normally include most or all of the following elements:
- A compelling story
- Inspirations for your research interests
- Your motivation for applying to grad school
- Strong writing skills
- Explanations for any changes or problems in your academic career
Above, we walked you through how to write a personal statement for grad school. To recap, here are the nine steps to follow:
- Start early—at least two or three months before your application is due
- Read your program’s instructions for the personal statement
- Figure out your angle by brainstorming ideas
- Ask yourself, “Why this program/field?”
- Make an outline using charts, a list, etc.
- Draft your essay
- Get specific feedback from multiple editors
- Revise and edit your essay
- Proofread (and get other people to proofread it, too!)
What’s Next?
Need to write a statement of purpose, too? Waste no time! Our expert guide offers tons of tips to help you come up with a statement of purpose that’s certain to impress admission committees.
Do your schools require a CV or resume? If you’re totally lost on where to begin, read our guides to learn how to put together a great CV or resume for grad school. And for extra help, check out our four original CV and resume templates !
What do you need to submit for your grad school application? Get the scoop on what kinds of materials you’ll need to prepare when applying to grad school .
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Author: Hannah Muniz
Hannah graduated summa cum laude from the University of Southern California with a bachelor’s degree in English and East Asian languages and cultures. After graduation, she taught English in Japan for two years via the JET Program. She is passionate about education, writing, and travel. View all posts by Hannah Muniz
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15/01/ · 6 Tips for Writing a Killer Grad School Application Essay 1. Don’t become a graduate school essay cliché. Grad school essays may require you to answer a specific 8/04/ · Writing well-written purposeful paragraphs is key to writing winning graduate school essays. You need to ensure that each paragraph is used for a distinct purpose and focuses on How to Write a Graduate School Essay? 1. Do Your Research. I know what you are going to say, why do I need to do my research? What this means is that get to 2. Make It Personal as You
How to Write a Graduate School Admission Essay - blogger.com
But how will you stand out from the crowd when applying to Johns Hopkins Carey Business School? The essay portion of the application is your opportunity to expand beyond your transcript and resume. Share your unique strengths, your background, your growth, or whatever else makes you a strong candidate for Johns Hopkins Carey Business School. In this article, you will find a detailed explanation of how to write a standout admissions essay. Before you begin writing, read the essay prompts carefully. Consider having a pen and notepad nearby as you participate in this reflection exercise. Think about your path thus far and pinpoint moments of growth and learning. Take note of how these moments have shaped you and how these experiences will guide you through your graduate business degree at Carey.
Map out your key points and outline the supporting examples. As you map the direction and flow of your essay through the outline, keep in mind your audience. Our admissions officers read thousands of application essays, so you want to find a creative hook to make your story stand out. As you start to write your first draft, let the words flow. You will finesse and polish your essay in the second draft. Your letter of recommendation is an opportunity to showcase your skills, goals, and work ethic Once you complete your first draft, take a day or writing an essay for graduate school before returning to edit it.
Coming back to your writing with fresh eyes allows you to read it with a new perspective. Tackle the details of grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary during this second pass. Consider reading your essay backward to help catch typos. Once you feel your essays are in a good place, it is highly recommended that you share them for review. Share them with your advisor, a trusted colleague, friend, or even your recommender. Getting insights from a trusted source can help you make your essay stronger, as well as catch any typos or small edits.
You are almost done. Before submitting your essays, do a final review. Run a spell check and read the essays out loud to yourself. This trick allows you to identify areas that may need clarification or tweaks. As you review your final draft, make sure that you actually answered the question posed on the application. Remember, the essay portion of your application is your chance to stand out from the crowd. By sharing who you are as a person, your growth thus far, writing an essay for graduate school , your passions, your goals, and your voice, you can make a lasting impression. Best of luck with your application process! Johns Hopkins Carey Business School is joining the Forté Foundation as an MBA partner and Forté Welch is using the skills she learned in the classroom to advise government programs to conduct gap CTA Apply Visit Contact Us.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Print. Article Highlights Reflect before you begin your application essays. Outline your ideas before you put pen to paper. Writing an essay for graduate school freely, and then return to edit your essay on the second draft. Take your time, writing an essay for graduate school . Break between writing and editing for a fresh perspective. Gather feedback from a trusted source, writing an essay for graduate school . Read your essay aloud to identify needed edits. Start writing: As you start to write your first draft, let the words flow. Share this Article Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Print.
What to Read Next. admissions Top 3 tips for choosing a strong reference Your letter of recommendation is an opportunity to showcase your skills, writing an essay for graduate school , goals, and work ethic Take a break: Once you complete your first draft, take a day or two before returning to edit it. Get feedback: Once you feel your essays are in a good place, it is highly recommended that you writing an essay for graduate school them for review. Finalize and submit: You are almost done. Discover Related Content. admissions Johns Hopkins Carey Business School Joins Forté Foundation in Advancing Business Education Opportunities for Women Johns Hopkins Carey Business School is joining the Forté Foundation as an MBA partner and Forté career outcomes Meet Masters in Real Estate Graduate Megan Welch Welch is using the skills she learned in the classroom to advise government programs to conduct gap admissions Carey Business School Opens Enrollment to Diversity Leadership Initiative Certificate program aims to advance the management skills of people of color.
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How To Write a Winning Graduate School Essay – blogger.com
8/04/ · Writing well-written purposeful paragraphs is key to writing winning graduate school essays. You need to ensure that each paragraph is used for a distinct purpose and focuses on Some universities specify the required length of grad school admission essays. When they need words, do not write or words. More or less words is a bad sign of rebellious How to Write a Graduate School Essay? 1. Do Your Research. I know what you are going to say, why do I need to do my research? What this means is that get to 2. Make It Personal as You
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Graduate School Application Essay
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How to Write Your Graduate School Admissions Essay
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The admissions essay is often the least well-understood part of the graduate school application yet it is critical to your admissions success. The graduate admissions essay or personal statement is your chance to distinguish yourself from other applicants and let the admissions committee know you apart from your GPA and GRE scores . Your admissions essay can be the deciding factor in whether you are accepted or rejected by a graduate school. Therefore, it is necessary that you write an essay that is honest, interesting, and well organized.
How well you structure and organize your application essay can determine your fate. A well-written essay tells the admissions committee that you have the capacity to write coherently, think logically, and do well in grad school . Format your essay to include an introduction, a body, and a concluding paragraph. Essays are often written in response to prompts posed by the grad school . Regardless, organization is key to your success.
Introduction:
- The introduction is the most important part of the essay, especially the first sentence. The first sentence introduces your essay and a bad introduction, in person or in writing, is detrimental to your admissions chances.
- The first sentence should be unique and compelling, possibly thought provoking or attention-grabbing.
- First sentences may explain your desire to study the subject of interest or discuss the motivation that influenced your desire to study the subject of interest. State it in a creative manner.
- The sentences following the first sentence should provide a brief explanation that supports the claim stated in the first sentence.
- Your goal for the introduction is to entice the reader to continue beyond the first paragraph.
- The body includes several paragraphs that provide detailed evidence to support the statements made in the introductory paragraph.
- Each paragraph should have a transition, which starts each paragraph with a topic statement that will be the theme of that paragraph. This gives the reader a heads up of what's to come. Transitions connect paragraphs to preceding paragraphs, enabling the essay to flow smoothly.
- Each paragraph should have a resolution, which ends each paragraph with a meaningful sentence that provides a transition to the next paragraph.
- Experiences, accomplishments or any other evidence that can support your claims should be included in the body. Future goals should also be mentioned in the body.
- A short summary of your educational background can be discussed in the 1st paragraph of the body.
- Personal experiences and the reasons for wanting to attend the school can be discussed in the 2nd paragraph.
- Do not simply repeat what was stated in the application.
- The last paragraph can explain why you are a good match for the program.
Conclusion:
- The conclusion is the last paragraph of the essay.
- State the key points mentioned in the body, such as your experiences or accomplishments, that explain your interest in the subject. State it in a conclusive and brief manner.
- Convey your fit to the specific graduate program and field.
Your essay should include detail, be personal, and specific. The purpose of the graduate admissions essay is to show the admission committee what makes you unique and different from other applicants. Your job is to display your distinct personality and provide evidence that confirms your passion, desire, and, especially, fit for the subject and the program.
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Writing a graduate school essay.
If you have written an essay yourself and need an expert opinion on the structure, word choice, topic coverage, and other aspects of your paper, our graduate school essay editing service Oct 21, · Essay requirements will vary from school to school, but you’ll likely be asked to write – words. Common graduate application essay prompts include the following: Jan 15, · 1. Don’t become a graduate school essay cliché. Grad school essays may require you to answer a specific question (i.e., Discuss a piece of literature that changed your life.);
Write a Graduate School Essay that Will Knock Their Socks Off
Writing a graduate school essay, December 7, at AM until AM Eastern Standard Time. For many institutions, including Stevens, the Statement of Purpose or Personal Statement is a vital part of a master's or Ph. level application! Join Graduate Admissions staff to discuss some helpful tips and strategies for writing your graduate school essay. To RSVP for this webinar, please complete and submit the form below. If you have any additional questions, please email graduate stevens. This website uses scripting to enhance your browsing experience. Enable JavaScript in your browser and then reload this website. This website uses resources that are being blocked by your network. Contact your network administrator for more information. Skip to Main Content. OGA Event - Graduate Admissions: Tips and Writing a graduate school essay for Writing a Grad School Essay Wednesday, December 7, at AM until AM Eastern Standard Time For many institutions, including Stevens, the Statement of Purpose or Personal Statement is a vital part of a master's or Ph.
Master of Business Administration Executive MBA in Technology Management MBA - Analytics MBA - Business Administration. Engineer's Degree Biomedical Engineering BM. Chemical Engineering CH. Civil Engineering C. Computer Engineering CP. Computer Science C. Electrical Engineering E. Mechanical Engineering M. Additional Comments if any. Office of Graduate Admissions. Location On Campus Howe Center, 11th Floor 1 Castle Point Terrace Hoboken, NJ Contact Types p. STEVENS e. graduate stevens. edu f, writing a graduate school essay . Social Media Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn.
HOW TO WRITE YOUR GRADUATE SCHOOL APPLICATION STATEMENT OF PURPOSE - THE FIVE PARAGRAPH S.O.P.
OGA Event - Graduate Admissions: Tips and Strategies for Writing a Grad School Essay
Jan 15, · 1. Don’t become a graduate school essay cliché. Grad school essays may require you to answer a specific question (i.e., Discuss a piece of literature that changed your life.); If you have written an essay yourself and need an expert opinion on the structure, word choice, topic coverage, and other aspects of your paper, our graduate school essay editing service Detail your experience and what it means, always thinking about which qualities you want to illustrate, plus how it all serves as evidence you are a match for the program. Introductions
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Graduate school application essay help, 3 great grad school application essay examples,few words about graduate school essay editing.
WebRegardless of the type of school you are applying to, you will be required to submit an admissions essay as part of the application process. Graduate programs want WebJan 15, · As any graduate school admission officer will tell you, numbers don’t always tell the complete story. If that was the case, students would be admitted or denied solely Webperson and a scholar. This is an outstanding essay overall. --Always name your advisors and mentors. --Try and have a paper that you could submit for publication before you Web10+ Graduate School Essay Examples 1. Graduate School Admission Essay blogger.com Details File Format PDF Size: KB Download 2. Graduate ... read more
These steps include developing a solid outline, conveying a strong and memorable thesis, presenting specific points relevant to the topic, and taking sufficient time to edit and proofread the essay before submitting it. Graduate school admission or application essays allow graduate programs to get to know applicants better as people. Although an applicant's grade point average GPA , transcripts, and test scores tell part of their story, grad school essays allow students to show how their personalities, achievements, and past experiences inform their career interests and potential for academic success. Graduate schools often ask for personal statements or letters of intent from applicants. Prospective graduate students should know what distinguishes these documents.
In general, admissions personnel review these essays to determine how well students might fit in with a graduate program and succeed academically. Reviewers also look for a sense of how well prospective students handle stress, overcome challenges, and stand up to the demands of a rigorous program. Grad school essays should shed light on how well students respond to criticism of their work. Also, graduate school provides a setting where individuals can explore diverse theories and perspectives. To this end, admissions personnel look for clues about students' openness to different viewpoints and their ability to express their ideas in written form.
The prompt for the application essay gives students a sense of how to focus their writing. Before starting to write, students should read the instructions within the prompt carefully. These directions shed light on readers' expectations. Prompts for grad school application essays vary greatly, with some offering little detail on what the statement should cover. Applicants should pay close attention to the requirements, including word count, format, and submission method. Some graduate essay prompts offer few instructions or requirements, leaving applicants a lot of room for choosing a topic.
To determine the most appropriate topic, focus, and personal examples to include, students should devote considerable time to brainstorming before they start writing. Students should give themselves time to reflect on their strengths, accomplishments, and research interests. They should also consider the qualities they want in a graduate program and pick out benefits provided by the program so they can speak to the specific reasons they're applying. Outlining is a crucial step in creating a compelling and memorable grad school personal statement. Just as architects need a blueprint to design and build a skyscraper, grad school applicants need a roadmap to organize and write their essays. The most effective application essays include an attention-grabbing introduction, a body with solid and concise points, and a memorable conclusion.
An outline will likely change somewhat during the writing process, but it still allows the writer to stay on top of the essay's construction. A grad school personal statement should present a clear point or thesis to help it stand out. An overall thesis statement or claim answers the question, "What is this essay about? If the point of an essay is unclear or confusing, an admissions officer might stop reading. Applicants should place their thesis in the introduction so that the reader clearly understands what the following essay will address. Students can insert their thesis immediately after an anecdote, quotation, or other attention-getter to provide a smooth transition into the main topic.
Brainstorming allows an applicant to consider a variety of topics and ways of writing about them. However, some subjects may be inappropriate for a grad school application essay because they could alienate certain readers or make them lose interest. Students should also avoid using well-known phrases or expressions. For example, common cliches offer virtually no advantage because they suggest little to no originality of thought. Also, students should not use words or terms e. A strong grad school personal statement starts with writing a concise introduction that gains the reader's attention. The writer can make the essay more memorable by using a brief anecdote, quotation, compelling statistic, or rhetorical question.
The introduction should also provide a clear preview or roadmap for the rest of the essay. After the attention-getter, the essay should quickly transition into the thesis statement or main idea, followed by a preview of the upcoming points. Writers should revisit the introduction once their essay is complete to double-check that it accurately reflects the main points of the essay. Students should not just focus on what they think admissions personnel will want to read. Instead, they should use their voice to present their ideas in meaningful ways that reflect their true selves. In other words, write with authenticity. While the essay should reflect a polished draft, it should also show applicants as they are. Graduate school applicants shouldn't lie or misrepresent themselves in the grad school essay.
In addition to strengths and accomplishments, admissions departments want to read what applicants say about their shortcomings and how they have worked to overcome them. While students can use creative anecdotes and personal examples, they need to make their points relevant to the prompt or question. Admissions personnel generally want to learn why students wish to enroll in the program and what makes them qualified. These elements can serve as the foundation when writing the main body of an essay. Also, the main points should be specific. For example, in expressing why they are applying to a particular program, applicants can use a brief anecdote to explain their desire to work with a faculty member who shares their research interests.
While stories and examples add a personal touch, they should not distract from essential information that grad schools want to know about an applicant. When writing the conclusion of a graduate school admission essay, writers should restate the thesis and reiterate the main points. Furthermore, it should refer back to those points while giving the reader something to think about after they have finished reading. A conclusion can also end by tying back to the attention-getting statement in the introduction. This stylistic device brings the whole essay full circle, provides a sense of closure, and strengthens the emotional connection with the reader.
Finishing the draft of a graduate school admission essay does not signal the end of the writing process. Rather, polishing the draft requires re-reading, editing, and getting feedback before submitting it. A grad school essay containing errors or reflecting poor writing does not leave a favorable impression. Re-reading the essay allows for catching mistakes, clearing up confusing sentences, and strengthening the main points. Unfortunately, writers can gloss over errors after reading the essay just once. As a rule of thumb, when students believe their draft has gone through enough editing and proofreading, they might take a little more time and read the document one more time. Students should not confuse editing with proofreading — a step that involves checking for grammar, punctuation, and stylistic errors.
Editing is a more substantive process that includes checking for conciseness and ensuring that ideas flow well. Proper editing also allows writers to determine whether each paragraph or section expresses a single thought and make sure that sentences are concise and clear. Students should allow enough time to edit their essays. Also, reading the essay aloud can provide another way to catch mistakes or confusing phrases. Students should find individuals they trust to check their personal statement for clarity, errors, and other stylistic inconsistencies.
Also, having others review the essay can give the applicant a sense of how others perceive its tone, organization, and potential to engage the reader. Trusted peers, instructors, family members, friends, and students who have recently gone through the grad school application process often provide excellent feedback. Students can also seek out others who are applying to graduate school to share their personal statements and exchange constructive criticism. Prompt: Why do you wish to pursue a graduate degree in communication studies at the University of Oklahoma and how does it relate to your career goals?
Three years ago, I underwent a breast biopsy after two mammograms failed to rule out a suspicious lump. I met with my oncological surgeon before she was to perform the procedure. Although her technical skills were superior, her bedside manner left me feeling scared, uncertain, and lacking confidence in my capacity to handle a possible cancer diagnosis. Happy writing! Join the CollegeXpress community! Tags: admission essays essay writing grad school graduate admission graduate programs graduate school personal statements. CollegeXpress has everything you need to simplify your college search, get connected to schools, and find your perfect fit. I have spent a lot of time aggressively searching for scholarships.
It was a long and frustrating process until I found the CollegeXpress network. This site made my search so much easier. With the simple check of a few boxes, the site sorted out scholarships I was eligible for and led me directly to the correct websites. Winning this scholarship has definitely given me and my family some financial relief, and CollegeXpress has allowed me to improve my chances of winning further financial aid. Thank you so much! CollegeXpress helped me find the school I am currently attending by consistently sending me emails of other schools. This allowed me to do research on other schools as well as the one I am in now! I love that CollegeXpress has helped me find some scholarships to apply for but also helped me succeed in school with lots of tips.
I also really like how they consistently email me about webinars that teach me a lot of things from the comfort of my home! Not only have I been awarded this scholarship, but CollegeXpress makes it easier to apply and gives amazing tips for schools and scholarships. I am a deaf student, and I had always dreamed of going to Gallaudet University. CollegeXpress helped me search though other qualified universities. They helped me know for sure that Gallaudet University was the right choice for me! With this information, we'll do our best to display content relevant to your interests. Last Updated: Sep 27, Originally Posted: Jan 15, Related: 7 Ways to Stand Out as a Graduate School Applicant 2. Follow the directions Forget about the content of your essay for a second.
Keep it clean You should have impeccable spelling, grammar, and punctuation throughout your essay, and avoid texting slang or vulgar language unless there is an absolutely compelling reason why it needs to be in your story. Tell your story, in your words Ditch the thesaurus. Related: Good Strategies for Writing Grad School Personal Essays 5. Related: 3 Great Grad School Application Essay Examples Writing your grad school essays needs to be handled with care. Join Now. Join our community of over 5 million students! Join CollegeXpress. Jasmine High School Class of Samantha Fils-Aime High School Class of Heaven Johnson Back to School Scholarship Winner, High School Class of Sarah Armstrong High School Class of College Matches.
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What Is a Grad School Application Essay? What Are Admissions Officers Looking for? Before You Start Writing While You're Writing When You've Finished Writing Sample Essay Grad School Essay FAQs. Writing a graduate school admission essay can seem daunting. However, students can make the process easier by taking time to develop and organize their ideas before writing their personal statement. com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site. Students can apply several practices to write a compelling grad school personal statement that gets readers to take notice.
In general, admissions personnel review these essays to determine how well students might fit in with a graduate program and succeed academically. Reviewers also look for a sense of how well prospective students handle stress, overcome challenges, and stand up to the demands of a rigorous program. Grad school essays should shed light on how well students respond to criticism of their work. Also, graduate school provides a setting where individuals can explore diverse theories and perspectives. To this end, admissions personnel look for clues about students' openness to different viewpoints and their ability to express their ideas in written form. The prompt for the application essay gives students a sense of how to focus their writing. Before starting to write, students should read the instructions within the prompt carefully.
These directions shed light on readers' expectations. Prompts for grad school application essays vary greatly, with some offering little detail on what the statement should cover. Applicants should pay close attention to the requirements, including word count, format, and submission method. Some graduate essay prompts offer few instructions or requirements, leaving applicants a lot of room for choosing a topic. To determine the most appropriate topic, focus, and personal examples to include, students should devote considerable time to brainstorming before they start writing. Students should give themselves time to reflect on their strengths, accomplishments, and research interests. They should also consider the qualities they want in a graduate program and pick out benefits provided by the program so they can speak to the specific reasons they're applying.
Outlining is a crucial step in creating a compelling and memorable grad school personal statement. Just as architects need a blueprint to design and build a skyscraper, grad school applicants need a roadmap to organize and write their essays. The most effective application essays include an attention-grabbing introduction, a body with solid and concise points, and a memorable conclusion. An outline will likely change somewhat during the writing process, but it still allows the writer to stay on top of the essay's construction. A grad school personal statement should present a clear point or thesis to help it stand out. An overall thesis statement or claim answers the question, "What is this essay about? If the point of an essay is unclear or confusing, an admissions officer might stop reading.
Applicants should place their thesis in the introduction so that the reader clearly understands what the following essay will address. Students can insert their thesis immediately after an anecdote, quotation, or other attention-getter to provide a smooth transition into the main topic. Brainstorming allows an applicant to consider a variety of topics and ways of writing about them. However, some subjects may be inappropriate for a grad school application essay because they could alienate certain readers or make them lose interest. Students should also avoid using well-known phrases or expressions.
For example, common cliches offer virtually no advantage because they suggest little to no originality of thought. Also, students should not use words or terms e. A strong grad school personal statement starts with writing a concise introduction that gains the reader's attention. The writer can make the essay more memorable by using a brief anecdote, quotation, compelling statistic, or rhetorical question. The introduction should also provide a clear preview or roadmap for the rest of the essay. After the attention-getter, the essay should quickly transition into the thesis statement or main idea, followed by a preview of the upcoming points. Writers should revisit the introduction once their essay is complete to double-check that it accurately reflects the main points of the essay.
Students should not just focus on what they think admissions personnel will want to read. Instead, they should use their voice to present their ideas in meaningful ways that reflect their true selves. In other words, write with authenticity. While the essay should reflect a polished draft, it should also show applicants as they are. Graduate school applicants shouldn't lie or misrepresent themselves in the grad school essay. In addition to strengths and accomplishments, admissions departments want to read what applicants say about their shortcomings and how they have worked to overcome them. While students can use creative anecdotes and personal examples, they need to make their points relevant to the prompt or question.
Admissions personnel generally want to learn why students wish to enroll in the program and what makes them qualified. These elements can serve as the foundation when writing the main body of an essay. Also, the main points should be specific. For example, in expressing why they are applying to a particular program, applicants can use a brief anecdote to explain their desire to work with a faculty member who shares their research interests. While stories and examples add a personal touch, they should not distract from essential information that grad schools want to know about an applicant.
When writing the conclusion of a graduate school admission essay, writers should restate the thesis and reiterate the main points. Furthermore, it should refer back to those points while giving the reader something to think about after they have finished reading. A conclusion can also end by tying back to the attention-getting statement in the introduction. This stylistic device brings the whole essay full circle, provides a sense of closure, and strengthens the emotional connection with the reader. Finishing the draft of a graduate school admission essay does not signal the end of the writing process. Rather, polishing the draft requires re-reading, editing, and getting feedback before submitting it.
A grad school essay containing errors or reflecting poor writing does not leave a favorable impression. Re-reading the essay allows for catching mistakes, clearing up confusing sentences, and strengthening the main points. Unfortunately, writers can gloss over errors after reading the essay just once. As a rule of thumb, when students believe their draft has gone through enough editing and proofreading, they might take a little more time and read the document one more time. Students should not confuse editing with proofreading — a step that involves checking for grammar, punctuation, and stylistic errors.
Editing is a more substantive process that includes checking for conciseness and ensuring that ideas flow well. Proper editing also allows writers to determine whether each paragraph or section expresses a single thought and make sure that sentences are concise and clear. Students should allow enough time to edit their essays. Also, reading the essay aloud can provide another way to catch mistakes or confusing phrases. Students should find individuals they trust to check their personal statement for clarity, errors, and other stylistic inconsistencies. Also, having others review the essay can give the applicant a sense of how others perceive its tone, organization, and potential to engage the reader. Trusted peers, instructors, family members, friends, and students who have recently gone through the grad school application process often provide excellent feedback.
Students can also seek out others who are applying to graduate school to share their personal statements and exchange constructive criticism. Prompt: Why do you wish to pursue a graduate degree in communication studies at the University of Oklahoma and how does it relate to your career goals? Three years ago, I underwent a breast biopsy after two mammograms failed to rule out a suspicious lump. I met with my oncological surgeon before she was to perform the procedure. Although her technical skills were superior, her bedside manner left me feeling scared, uncertain, and lacking confidence in my capacity to handle a possible cancer diagnosis.
Moreover, my doctor's inability to relate to me personally left me feeling powerless in meeting my health needs as a patient. In poor health, many people feel robbed of their dignity. One of the most critical settings where patients can maintain dignity is during a doctor's visit. I wish to conduct research and teach courses in an academic setting to explore how doctor-patient interactions can help patients gain more confidence and improve their health outcomes. To this end, I am applying to the Communication Department at the University of Oklahoma to pursue a master's degree specializing in health communication.
This master's will then allow me to continue my studies and earn a doctorate in this area. I first learned a great deal about doctor-patient interactions while taking an undergraduate health communication class from Dr. Edith McNulty at the University of Nebraska. McNulty's class informed the way I view my breast biopsy experience. After completing her class, I enrolled in an independent study with Dr. McNulty transcribing qualitative interviews she conducted with patients. Through this independent study, I also learned how to perform constant comparative coding of those transcripts. My independent study has fueled my interest in researching health communication and teaching classes on the subject.
My interest in the communication studies program at Oklahoma stems partly from my interest in Dr. Dan O'Malley's studies of patients' expressions of ethnicity when they encounter healthcare workers. Working with Dr. O'Malley could expand my healthcare interest to include ethnicity as a factor in these settings.
10+ Graduate School Essay Examples [ Master, Admission, Program ],1. Don’t become a graduate school essay cliché
WebJan 15, · As any graduate school admission officer will tell you, numbers don’t always tell the complete story. If that was the case, students would be admitted or denied solely Webperson and a scholar. This is an outstanding essay overall. --Always name your advisors and mentors. --Try and have a paper that you could submit for publication before you Web10+ Graduate School Essay Examples 1. Graduate School Admission Essay blogger.com Details File Format PDF Size: KB Download 2. Graduate WebRegardless of the type of school you are applying to, you will be required to submit an admissions essay as part of the application process. Graduate programs want ... read more
End strong: End your essay with a conclusion that refers back to the lead and restates your thesis. Most of our editors are graduates from Ivy League schools, so they are aware of the best working tactics to win the competition for the dream place. We consider language aspects, structure, formatting, tone of voice, and specific instructions provided by the admission committee depending on the chosen university and a major subject. With this information, we'll do our best to display content relevant to your interests. considering college considering transferring colleges considering graduate school a parent or guardian a counselor or consultant I am Because of the ARD role I have been afforded, I have had the opportunity to see how this potential career may play out. Benefits Documents Our team How to start Offers Reviews FAQ Description.
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Graduate school admissions essay help, how to write the graduate admissions essay,1. don’t become a graduate school essay cliché.
WebMay 11, · Graduate school admission or application essays allow graduate programs to get to know applicants better as people. Although an applicant's grade point average (GPA), transcripts, and test scores tell part of their story, grad school essays allow WebRegardless of the type of school you are applying to, you will be required to submit an admissions essay as part of the application process. Graduate programs want students WebJan 15, · Grad school essays may require you to answer a specific question (i.e., Discuss a piece of literature that changed your life.); ask you for a general statement WebJul 3, · Your admissions essay is similar to any other essay you have written. It has an introduction, body, and conclusion. Your admissions essay presents an argument, Web10+ Graduate School Essay Examples [ Master, Admission, Program ] There are people who have plans to go beyond a bachelor’s degree. I salute you for going beyond just a ... read more
Graduate applications often ask that applicants write in response to specific statements and prompts. Most prompts ask applicants to comment on how their backgrounds have shaped their goals, describe an influential person or experience, or discuss their ultimate career goals. Some graduate programs request that applicants write a more generic autobiographical statement, most often referred to as a personal statement. A personal statement is a general statement of your background, preparation, and goals. Many applicants find it challenging to write a personal statement because there is no clear prompt to guide their writing. An effective personal statement conveys how your background and experiences have shaped your career goals, how you are well matched to your chosen career and provides insight into your character and maturity.
No easy feat. If you are asked to write a generic personal statement, pretend that the prompt instead requires you to discuss how your experiences, interests, and abilities have lead you to your chosen career. Before you write your admissions essay you must have an understanding of your goals and how your experiences to date prepare you for pursuing your goals. A self-assessment is critical to gathering the information you need to write a comprehensive essay. You likely will not and should not use all of the information that you gather. Evaluate all of the information you gather and determine your priorities. Most of us have many interests, for example.
Decide which are most important to you. As you consider your essay, plan to discuss the information that supports your goals and what is most important to you. Writing an effective graduate admissions essay requires knowing your audience. Consider the graduate program at hand. What specific training does it offer? What is its philosophy? How well do your interests and goals match the program? Discuss the ways in which your background and competencies overlap with the graduate program's requirements and training opportunities. If you're applying to a doctoral program, take a close look at the faculty. What are their research interests?
Which labs are most productive? Pay attention to whether faculty take on students or appear to have openings in their labs. Peruse the department page, faculty pages, and lab pages. By this time in your academic career, you have likely written a great many essays for class assignments and exams. Your admissions essay is similar to any other essay you have written. It has an introduction, body, and conclusion. Your admissions essay presents an argument, just as any other essay does. Granted, the argument concerns your capacities for graduate study and the outcome can determine the fate of your application. Regardless, an essay is an essay.
I believe this holds true for all types of writing, but especially for drafting graduate admissions essays. Many writers stare at a blank screen and wonder how to begin. If you search for the perfect opening and delay writing until you find just the right angle, phrasing, or metaphor you may never write your graduate admissions essay. Writer's block is common among applicants writing admissions essays. The best way to avoid writer's block is to write something, anything. The trick to beginning your essay is to not start at the beginning. Write the parts that feel natural, such as how your experiences have driven your career choices.
You will heavily edit whatever you write so don't worry about how you phrase your ideas. Simply get the ideas out. You want to try to take your reader to a place or time and help them understand who you are and what makes you tick. For instance, you might take a different approach for a small Christian university like Olivet Nazarene in Illinois as opposed to a large urban public institution like New York University or a more specialized program like at the Rhode Island School of Design. Related: 3 Great Grad School Application Essay Examples. Writing your grad school essays needs to be handled with care. They carry big weight in the graduate admission process, and you only have one chance to submit them, so you want to get it right. Happy writing!
Join the CollegeXpress community! Tags: admission essays essay writing grad school graduate admission graduate programs graduate school personal statements. CollegeXpress has everything you need to simplify your college search, get connected to schools, and find your perfect fit. I love the site CollegeXpress; it has been very helpful finding colleges and getting them to send me information. It has also been very, very helpful with finding tons of scholarships. Also, I told many of my friends about it and they love it as well! I never would have found the college I plan on attending without CollegeXpress! I've always been a person of ambition and have been dreaming of studying and working on my passion for law, legal studies, and political science.
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I know this isn't a very long explanation of what CollegeXpress has done for me, but nonetheless, I believe it's crucial to how I developed as a person throughout my time as a college student. With this information, we'll do our best to display content relevant to your interests. Last Updated: Sep 27, Originally Posted: Jan 15, Related: 7 Ways to Stand Out as a Graduate School Applicant 2. Follow the directions Forget about the content of your essay for a second. Keep it clean You should have impeccable spelling, grammar, and punctuation throughout your essay, and avoid texting slang or vulgar language unless there is an absolutely compelling reason why it needs to be in your story.
Tell your story, in your words Ditch the thesaurus. Related: Good Strategies for Writing Grad School Personal Essays 5. Related: 3 Great Grad School Application Essay Examples Writing your grad school essays needs to be handled with care. Join Now. Join our community of over 5 million students! Join CollegeXpress. Lu Diehl High School Class of Victoria Fuss March Madness Scholarship Winner, Class of Carlie Cadet High School Class of Victoria High School Class of College Matches.
Regardless of the type of school you are applying to, you will be required to submit an admissions essay as part of the application process. Graduate programs want students with clear commitment to the field. Essay prompts typically ask applicants to discuss their previous experience, future professional goals, and how the program can help them in achieving those objectives. The essay gives the applicant the chance to articulate these goals and display strong writing skills. Remember to tailor your essay to each school and the faculty committee that reviews your application. But first, take note of what kind of essay is being requested of you.
Here are the two main admission essays:. A personal statement is a narrative piece describing how your character and experiences have formed you into someone who will contribute positively and effectively to not only the department but the academic discipline as a whole. This is often achieved by detailing social, educational, cultural, and economic obstacles you have overcome in your journey to get to where you are today and your future objectives. A personal statement is also an opportunity to highlight what is unique about you and how you will advance diversity within the institution. Check out Personal Statement Resources for Graduate School Applications in the Resources section of Handshake for a brainstorming activity and essay samples that can help you get started on your personal statement.
Be specific about your specialized interests within your major field. Be clear about the kind of program you expect to undertake, and explain how your study plan connects with your previous training and future goals. Use the Outlining Your Statement of Purpose guide in the Resources section of Handshake to get started on your statement outline. Whatever required format, your essay should be thoughtful, concise, compelling, and interesting. Remember, admissions officers read hundreds of personal essays. Below are some tips for your admissions essay writing process:. Skip to content Skip to main nav Graduate School Application Essays Share This: Share Graduate School Application Essays on Twitter Share Graduate School Application Essays on Linkedin Share Graduate School Application Essays on Facebook Copy Link.
Types of Essays Regardless of the type of school you are applying to, you will be required to submit an admissions essay as part of the application process. Here are the two main admission essays: Personal Statement A personal statement is a narrative piece describing how your character and experiences have formed you into someone who will contribute positively and effectively to not only the department but the academic discipline as a whole. How to Write a Powerful Admission Essay Whatever required format, your essay should be thoughtful, concise, compelling, and interesting. Below are some tips for your admissions essay writing process: Before Writing Read the question: Be sure you are aware of all aspects of the prompt.
Brainstorm: Within the context of the question, make a list of your interests, personal passions, past experiences, hardships, successes, etc. to give yourself some writing topic options. Have I overcome any particular hardships or obstacles? When did I become interested in this field and what have I learned about it? What are my career goals? What personal traits, values, and skill sets do I have that would make me stand out from other applicants? Create an outline: You might have a lot that you want to say, but you will need to whittle down your many thoughts and experiences to a concrete thesis with a select number of examples to support it.
Create an outline for your draft, not only to organize your points and examples, but to help tailor your essay for your readers. Know your audience: Consider how your narrative can best meet the expectations of admissions committee members. Will faculty be reading this? Experts in the field? Knowing your audience ahead of time will assist you in addressing the prompt appropriately. Be honest about your experiences. End strong: End your essay with a conclusion that refers back to the lead and restates your thesis. This helps unify your essay as a whole, connecting your detailed experiences back to the reason you are writing this essay in the first place—to show your qualifications for your graduate program of choice.
Return with a fresh pair of eyes to make your edits. Be realistic with yourself, not your harshest critic. Make a few rounds of revisions if you need. Ask for help: Have your essay critiqued by friends, family, educators, and the MIT Writing and Communication Center or our Career Services staff. Proofread: Read your essay out loud or even record yourself and listen to the recording, to help you catch mistakes or poor phrasing you may have missed when reading to yourself. Resume checklist and worksheet Apply to Graduate School ExploreHealthCareers.
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WebJul 3, · Your admissions essay is similar to any other essay you have written. It has an introduction, body, and conclusion. Your admissions essay presents an argument, WebJan 15, · Grad school essays may require you to answer a specific question (i.e., Discuss a piece of literature that changed your life.); ask you for a general statement Web10+ Graduate School Essay Examples [ Master, Admission, Program ] There are people who have plans to go beyond a bachelor’s degree. I salute you for going beyond just a WebRegardless of the type of school you are applying to, you will be required to submit an admissions essay as part of the application process. Graduate programs want students WebMay 11, · Graduate school admission or application essays allow graduate programs to get to know applicants better as people. Although an applicant's grade point average (GPA), transcripts, and test scores tell part of their story, grad school essays allow ... read more
Each time it tasted horrible. College Graduate Law MBA Medical School. This information is used to create your account First Name Please enter your name. I look forward to the opportunity of earning my Master of Arts in Arts Administration at Castleton University. Working with Dr. Brandon D.
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Graduate school admission essay examples.
WebPersonal Statement Graduate School Examples Lead #1 While I will never make the grandiose statement of knowing the nitty-gritty of my life’s plan at an early age, I can Web13 rows · Your graduate school personal statement needs to show the school you are Web5/09/ · Our graduate school experts have been kind enough to provide some successful grad school personal statement examples. We’ll provide three examples here, along with
Grad School Sample Essays
After writing an essay, it helps to edit, and not just for the sake of it. To ensure that your composition is flawless, use our professional editing services. We perform thorough checks and edits to ensure a consistent style, tone, and structure. Eliminate all grammatical mistakes from your grad application with graduate school admission essay examples experts! A Sample Shows You How to Comply with the Instructions The last thing you want to do with student grad composition is to fail to comply with its specifications. If you are unsure about what specification demands are, make a point of checking out our examples.
A Sample Shows You How to Be Authentic It helps to focus on what you genuinely wish to say instead of what you think the acceptance panel wants to hear. This way, you can craft a unique composition that stands out among the generics in a pile. Your graduate graduate school admission essay examples essay is a fundamental part of the packege of your application documents, as you are granted graduate school admission essay examples chance to prove yourself as the best applicant for the program you are applying to. With this essay, your biggest aim is to differentiate yourself among other applicants graduate school admission essay examples show your personality and activities that make you who you are.
Check these graduate admission essay samples with the before and after editing from our experts. The editor's job is to take a good essay and make it great — register to read. Every student has a strong desire to enter the most prestigious university and get the best background for a future… Continue Reading. Applicants may not be… Continue Reading. Without any doubt, we can say that the most challenging part of doing something decisive and essential for your life… Continue Reading. Tips of using EssayEdge samples. Unlike undergraduate study essays, grad school application compositions are more about your career and educational objectives.
As such, they require a different approach, which is often challenging for many students. To teach you how to craft this document well, we provide a massive collection of admission essay graduate school admission essay examples for graduate school for any student to use as learning resources. How to Use Graduate Admission Essay Examples Our grad school application composition examples are best to use as learning resources. A sample provides an excellent idea regarding the structure of these documents, mistakes to avoid, writing style, and ideal length. Students get stuck most of the time since they do not have an idea on how to start, continue, or conclude their essays. Get Professional Editing to Improve Your Application composition After writing an essay, it helps to edit, graduate school admission essay examples , and not just for the sake of it.
Order Now. Why Are Admission Essay Examples for Graduate School Useful? Show That You Understand the Program Securing acceptance into a grad study is more about being the ideal fit than being the most qualified. Connect Your Anecdotes to Your Graduate Course Excellent examples show a student how to illustrate connections between their experiences and their intended program of study, graduate school admission essay examples . This way, you show the admissions committee how your path has set you on course to a specific line of study.
A Sample Teaches You to Personalize Your Essay Many examples on our site are highly personalized. Doing this is especially essential since showcasing individuality goes a long way in persuading the admissions team. Some ways of customizing a student essay to match our examples are: Being creative and funny but without overreaching; Revealing new information; Talking about you and not telling what the panel wishes to hear. View Document Before Editing View Document Before Editing. View Document After Editing View Document After Editing. Free samples. Sample locked. Unlock Samples. Before After, graduate school admission essay examples . Need Brilliant Admission Essay? Get the best admission coaching with EssayEdge editors. From initial brainstorm to polished Graduate Admission Essay drafts in 2 weeks.
Benefits Documents Our team How to start Offers Reviews FAQ Description. Do you have more questions? We are always here for you. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy Terms of Service. Our mission graduate school admission essay examples to prepare you for academic and career success. Log In Sign Up. Reset password Please enter your email address to request a password reset. Log In. This information is used to create your account First Name Please enter your name. Email Please provide a valid email. Phone Please provide a valid phone number. Password Your password must be at least 8 characters long. Which program are you applying to? MBA LAW Medical Grad College Please select the required program. What year are you planning to apply? What do you need help with? Send me updates from EssayEdge with tailored offers, admission essay advice, and new educational materials alerts.
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Web4 SAMPLE GRADUATE SCHOOL ESSAYS #1. "From Working Poor to Elite Scholar" One of the proudest accomplishments of my life was earning my college degree, despite the Web10+ Admission Essay Examples 1. College Admission Essay blogger.com Details File Format PDF Size: KB Download 2. Graduate Admission Essay blogger.com WebA Sample Teaches You to Personalize Your Essay. Many examples on our site are highly personalized. Doing this is especially essential since showcasing individuality goes a
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How long should a grad school application essay be? Most applicants should expect to write at least 500 words for their grad school admission essay. However, length varies by graduate program. Many application materials contain specific instructions on how to write the essay, including word limits.
Make sure the information you include in your personal statement is relevant to the program and school you're applying to. Finalizing Your Grad School Admissions Essay After writing your...
Here are the two main admission essays: Personal Statement A personal statement is a narrative piece describing how your character and experiences have formed you into someone who will contribute positively and effectively to not only the department but the academic discipline as a whole.
Common graduate application essay prompts include the following: Describe a situation where you overcame adversity/exhibited leadership/learned from failure/experienced an ethical dilemma. Why do you need this degree at this juncture in your life? What are your short- and long-term career goals? What are you most proud of?
Writing a Graduate School Application Essay . Getting Started . Every graduate school requires applicants to submit either a personal statement or astatement of purpose (sometimes called a research statement). This handout details some of the main differences between the two types of documents, and provides
Grad school essays may require you to answer a specific question (i.e., Discuss a piece of literature that changed your life.); ask you for a general statement (Tell us about yourself.); or about your goals (What do you hope your graduate studies will help you achieve?).
Graduate school application essays, personal statements, and letters of intent can be a major hurdle to overcome in the application process. Getting just the right words on paper to convey why you want to go to grad school and the impact you intend have using your degree is a lot to ask.
10+ Graduate School Essay Examples 1. Graduate School Admission Essay career.msstate.edu Details File Format PDF Size: 429 KB Download 2. Graduate School Essay Format csun.edu Details File Format PDF Size: 907 KB Download 3. Simple Graduate School Essay shsu.edu Details File Format PDF Size: 1 MB Download 4. Graduate Business School Essay cpp.edu
person and a scholar. This is an outstanding essay overall. --Always name your advisors and mentors. --Try and have a paper that you could submit for publication before you apply to graduate school. --When you have identified specific professors at the graduate program who could be mentors to you, mention them by name. #2.
Typically, graduate applications provide an essay prompt which includes specific questions or themes that you should address in the essay. Common themes include: 1,2 Your long-term career plans Your research interests or areas of interest in psychology Your reasons for choosing the program that you are applying to Your prior research experiences
Graduate applications often ask that applicants write in response to specific statements and prompts. Most prompts ask applicants to comment on how their backgrounds have shaped their goals, describe an influential person or experience, or discuss their ultimate career goals.
The Graduate School Application Essay is a short essay that you must write when applying tо graduate school. This is the first step in the graduate school application process. This essay allows the committee tо learn about you as an applicant and as a student. This is also your chance to show why you are a good fіt for their program.
Graduate School Application Essay FAQs Application essays are also difficult to write since there's a lack of consensus about the best practices of the genre. There isn't one correct way to write application essays because you can make yourself stand out in many different ways. These FAQs highlight some of the differing approaches.
In a crowd of applicants, something should set your graduate school admission essay apart. Show the graduate admission committee a sense of who you are and things you're passionate about. What excites you every day as a scholar? 3. Show an experience, don't tell An example would be as follows:
Reflect before you begin your application essays. Outline your ideas before you put pen to paper. Write freely, and then return to edit your essay on the second draft. Take your time. Break between writing and editing for a fresh perspective. Gather feedback from a trusted source. Read your essay aloud to identify needed edits.
Many guides to writing application essays encourage you to take a risk, either by saying something off-beat or daring or by using a unique writing style. ... Graduate Admissions Essays: Write Your Way Into the Graduate School of Your Choice, 4th ed. Berkeley: Ten Speed Press. Curry, Boykin, Emily Angel Baer, and Brian Kasbar. 2003.
Perhaps the best piece of advice I graduate essay format offer on writing your admissions essay is to solicit feedback from many sources, especially faculty. Grad school essay example 2: The engineering student A simple bridge truss was the first structure I ever analyzed. Many writers stare at a blank screen and wonder how to begin.
Check out: 2017 Top European MBA Essays. Before you begin writing your graduate school application essay. By the time you apply to a Master's or MBA programme, you have probably done enough self-analysis that you know what your career goals are and how further education will support them. If not, that is certainly your first step.
Above, we walked you through how to write a personal statement for grad school. To recap, here are the nine steps to follow: Start early—at least two or three months before your application is due. Read your program's instructions for the personal statement. Figure out your angle by brainstorming ideas.
Writing an essay for graduate school. 15/01/ · 6 Tips for Writing a Killer Grad School Application Essay 1. Don't become a graduate school essay cliché. Grad school essays may require you to answer a specific 8/04/ · Writing well-written purposeful paragraphs is key to writing winning graduate school essays.
How to Write a Grad School Application Essay. Schools Details: WebHow long should a grad school application essay be? Most applicants should expect to write at least 500 words for their grad school admission essay. … sample graduate school personal statements › Verified 2 days ago
A well-written essay tells the admissions committee that you have the capacity to write coherently, think logically, and do well in grad school. Format your essay to include an introduction, a body, and a concluding paragraph. Essays are often written in response to prompts posed by the grad school. Regardless, organization is key to your success.
Write a Graduate School Essay that Will Knock Their Socks Off. Writing a graduate school essay, December 7, at AM until AM Eastern Standard Time. For many institutions, including Stevens, the Statement of Purpose or Personal Statement is a vital part of a master's or Ph. level application! Join Graduate Admissions staff to discuss some helpful ...
Graduate school admission or application essays allow graduate programs to get to know applicants better as people. Although an applicant's grade point average GPA , transcripts, and test scores tell part of their story, grad school essays allow students to show how their personalities, achievements, and past experiences inform their career ...
How to Write the Graduate Admissions Essay,1. Don't become a graduate school essay cliché ... (GPA), transcripts, and test scores tell part of their story, grad school essays allow WebRegardless of the type of school you are applying to, you will be required to submit an admissions essay as part of the application process. Graduate programs ...
While the content of the letter is most important, the style, grammar and structure of the essay also communicate your ability to write in a professional and academic manner. How to write a letter of intent for graduate school admission. If you need to write a letter of intent for graduate school admission, consider following these steps: 1.
Graduate school admission essay examples. WebPersonal Statement Graduate School Examples Lead #1 While I will never make the grandiose statement of knowing the nitty-gritty of my life's plan at an early age, I can Web13 rows · Your graduate school personal statement needs to show the school you are Web5/09/ · Our graduate school experts have been kind enough to provide some successful grad ...