To a large degree, the particular graduate program you are applying to will dictate the content of a successful application essay. However, certain qualities of these essays apply equally to all fields. Admissions committee members are looking for interesting, insightful, revealing, and non -generic essays that suggest you have successfully gone through a process of careful reflection and self-examination. your essay should offer a very thorough, probing, and analytical look at yourself and your objectives. 1, Insight Into your character (insight into your personality feature) When we say "non-generic" above, we mean a personal statement that only you could have written, one that does not closely resemble what other applicants are likely writing. you achieve this type of statement by being personal and analytical. Don 'T Waste Space on Superficial Generalizations About Your Life. Instead, Give The Reader Specific, Personal Details So That He or She Will Be Able To Und Your Character and Motivation. Then Analyzes. ze those details in a way that drives home clear, illuminating points. 2, Sincerity (real) Do not focus too heavily on what you think admissions officers want to see, at the expense of conveying your own message in your unique way. Be yourself rather than pretending to be the "ideal" applicant. Inundated with countless cliché-ridden essays, admissions committees respond very favorably to honesty. Do not be afraid to reveal yourself. Admissions officers are interested in finding out about who you are, and The Appreciate Candor. Sincerity Is Important to Stress Because IT '
s hard for most of us to achieve, despite the fact that it seems so simple. The pressures and anxieties of the situation have locked us into a mindset that prevents us from writing honestly. Further, because we are not used to writing about ourselves and being so close to the subject, we can not assess the sincerity of our own writing. Thousands of students every year will read this same advice, whether in a guidebook or even in the application instructions themselves, but they simply will not be able to put it into practice. If you can be one of the few who truly understand what it means to be sincere, then you will already have separated yourself from the pack in a crucial way. you might question how a reader who does not know you can judge your statement's sincerity. The basis for judgment usually lies in the context your reader has developed from reading hundreds or thousands of other essays. Assessing your essay against others is one essential area in which we can offer a more criti cal eye than your friends, relatives, or teachers who have not accumulated the expertise specific to the personal statement. Moreover, our perspective in reading your essay is just as objective as your admissions reader's perspective will be. 3, Background and Motivation (comprehensive background . and motivation) Detail your interest in and exposure to your particular discipline in a thoughtful way you are aspiring to become a professional in your field; therefore, you should express an interest in contributing something novel to it Make clear that you have a. Realistic perception of what this field entails (Work, study, etc.), classes, conversations with people, seminars you '
ve attended, or any other sources of specific information about the career you want and why you're suited for it. Remember not to make this a laundry list in which you rattle off impressive names or theories. Any specific people or ideas you mention should be thoughtfully addressed and seamlessly interwoven into the essay as a whole. 4, (target) When you were applying to colleges, no one expected you to be certain about your future. At the graduate level, however, you need to demonstrate a more mature sense of what you want to do, and how the program you're applying to fits in with that intended path. Although admissions officers are well aware that people's goals will change, they at least want to see some sense of direction so they can evaluate your self-awareness and commitment. "I seek a sense of commitment, a sense of discipline, and a sense pecifically of what the student wants to do. I do not think it's advisable for anyone to write that he or she just loves English Literature and Wan ts to read and write. People have to know what field they want or are most likely to work in, or what specific kinds of projects they want to pursue in a field. "-Graduate English Department, UCLA" I think the main thing is to see whether the student is aware of and has thought about the field to which he or she is applying. "-Graduate Engineering Program, California Institute of Technology 5, Attributes of the Program (professional feature) Explain why the particular school's unique features attract You. Again, Graduate Study Is Much More Focused Than Undergraduate Work; IT '
s not a time for unbounded exploration. For your own sake, you need to determine whether a specific program meets your needs, and sharing what you discover with the schools can show them why you're a good fit. Do the research necessary to find out what sets your choice apart from other universities or programs. do not, however, waste space on empty praise. For example, do not cite the "world-renowned faculty" and "diverse student body" as your main reasons, because these are trite, obviously prepackaged points that you could say about any school. Instead, refer to specific courses or unique aspects of the curriculum, and show an interest in specific clubs or organizations. "you really have to let the admissions committee know what it is about this program in particular that interests you. "-The Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University" It helps for the student to have done some research on the university being applied to. It is easy to differentiat e an applicant who really wants to come here because of our special resources from someone whose knowledge of the program comes simply by way of the brochure we send to all interested applicants. "-Graduate English Department, UCLA 6, Writing Ability (writing) Again, The Importance of Writing Ability Varies According to Different Programs. A Great Flair For Language Will Not get you admitted Into a Biochemistry Program, But it '
