Graduate Essay
GRADUATE SCHOOL ADMISSIONS ESSAYS
Preparation
Before applying, understand why attending graduate school makes sense to you. To clarify why you want to attend graduate school at this point in your life, try answering questions such as:
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What will this degree enable you to achieve?
•
What do you plan to do with your advanced degree?
Be able to express what about you and your experiences will help you to succeed in the program:
•
Make lists of professors, courses, research projects, ideas, travel, and other experiences that have been important to you, or have influenced your decision to apply to graduate school.
•
Think about any volunteer, extracurricular, or paid work experiences, as well as interests, special skills you possess, or honors and awards you have received.
•
What have you learned from your experiences? How have you used this knowledge?
•
Provide the admissions committee with information that supplements (not repeats) the information in the rest of your application. What important aspects are not clearly reflected in your resume, college transcripts and test scores? For example, you might want to indicate how you hope to benefit from graduate studies, and how you intend to apply and integrate your graduate studies in your career.
Writing Tips
•
Answer the question. Some applications require a general personal statement, others ask you to write on more specific topics. Be sure to tailor your essay to the school’s request.
•
Keep the essay clear, concise, and to the point. The essay demonstrates your writing ability and communication skills. Engage your readers with an effective introduction and clear structure. Say what you mean directly and avoid using phrases like “I think” or “In my opinion.”
•
Write your personal story. Set your statement apart by discussing WHAT is important to you,
WHY it is important, and HOW you have used your talents and abilities in your life.
•
Be
Preparation
Before applying, understand why attending graduate school makes sense to you. To clarify why you want to attend graduate school at this point in your life, try answering questions such as:
•
What will this degree enable you to achieve?
•
What do you plan to do with your advanced degree?
Be able to express what about you and your experiences will help you to succeed in the program:
•
Make lists of professors, courses, research projects, ideas, travel, and other experiences that have been important to you, or have influenced your decision to apply to graduate school.
•
Think about any volunteer, extracurricular, or paid work experiences, as well as interests, special skills you possess, or honors and awards you have received.
•
What have you learned from your experiences? How have you used this knowledge?
•
Provide the admissions committee with information that supplements (not repeats) the information in the rest of your application. What important aspects are not clearly reflected in your resume, college transcripts and test scores? For example, you might want to indicate how you hope to benefit from graduate studies, and how you intend to apply and integrate your graduate studies in your career.
Writing Tips
•
Answer the question. Some applications require a general personal statement, others ask you to write on more specific topics. Be sure to tailor your essay to the school’s request.
•
Keep the essay clear, concise, and to the point. The essay demonstrates your writing ability and communication skills. Engage your readers with an effective introduction and clear structure. Say what you mean directly and avoid using phrases like “I think” or “In my opinion.”
•
Write your personal story. Set your statement apart by discussing WHAT is important to you,
WHY it is important, and HOW you have used your talents and abilities in your life.
•
Be