When writing your admission essay for college, perhaps the most important thing to keep in mind is your goal. Ultimately, the goal of your college essay is to impress the admissions committee and get them to accept your application to their college or university. Here’s what an admissions dean has to say about the importance of your college essay when trying to impress the admissions committee. Here’s an excerpt from the The Choice blog of the New York Times:
Prospective students will often ask me if a good essay will really get them accepted. The truth is that while no essay will make an unqualified student acceptable, a good essay can help a qualified applicant stand out from the competition. A good essay just might be what turns a “maybe” into a “yes.”
As you can see, there are a lot of college applicants who have good grades and credentials, but these are not enough to guarantee their admission. Your admission essay will still hold weight in your application package. This is simply because admissions officers aren’t necessarily looking for people with amazing grades, but they are looking for those who can enrich the school environment and improve the educational atmosphere.
More admission essay tips
Perhaps the best way to impress the admissions committee is to get to know the school that you are applying to. Try to get an idea of the school’s educational beliefs and their educational model. Aside from simply visiting the website of the college, you may want to actually visit the college and take a tour of the campus so that you can get an idea of what it is like there. This venture may even help you find more reasons for wanting to attend the school. This will give you an idea on how to approach writing your essay, considering the fact that the admissions committee probably shares these same beliefs and frame of mind. Here are additional pieces of advice:
# Write about yourself. A great history paper on the Civil War might be very well written, but it doesn’t tell me anything about the writer. Regardless of the topic, make sure you shine through your essay.
# Use your own voice. I can tell the difference between the voice of a 40-year-old and a high school senior.
# Focus on one aspect of yourself. If you try to cover too many topics in your essay, you’ll end up with a resume of activities and attributes that doesn’t tell me as much about you as an in-depth look at one project or passion.
This simply means that your entrance essay should be all about you, your personality, and why you have what it takes to succeed in the school you’re applying to. In the end, if you want to impress the admissions committee, the best thing you can do is be yourself and let your unique personality shine through in your essay.
Reminders
Make sure that the topic you’ll use for the essay will appeal to your readers. Another college blog has this to say about making a good essay:
What you think is a good essay really may not be a good essay at all. Remember that college application essay readers look at thousand of essays….Also, application essays are not the same kind of essay that your English teacher assigns and grades. You may get all A’s on your essay in English class and still miss what the college application essay demands.
This means that even if you poured in your best effort into writing your application essay, it shouldn’t stop there. Take time to edit your essay carefully. Look not only for technical errors but also for issues on writing style, clarity, and coherence. Have another person critique your essay for content and significance to your application to college.
Writing a creative admission essay is one of the ways to ensure that your essay is unique, powerful, and interesting enough to get your application accepted. Here’s what the Spark Notes blog has to say about creativity in essays:
Essays are usually a tool used to gauge something about you, for example, your skill at writing, your ideals and personality, or your ability to repeat some things about Charlemagne before forgetting them forever.
You might assume that if you’re writing about your ideals and personality, there are no right or wrong answers, and that’s probably true. But there are awesome and far-less-awesome answers. Sometimes, despite seeming absolutely insane, an unexpected approach winds up surprising and delighting the people who read these things.
In the first part of this excerpt, you can find some helpful information about the objectives of an essay. When writing your college admission essay, it’s important to keep your eye on your goal, which is to introduce yourself to the admissions committee and let them know why you make a good fit for their school. In the second part of the excerpt, however, Spark Notes gives advice that doesn’t necessarily work when it comes to college application essays. Being creative isn’t about writing something with an unexpected approach, but it’s more about putting thought into how you translate your personality into an excellent essay.
Get your creative juices flowing
If you need some help getting your creative juices flowing, then you should heed this advice from another blog, which states:
Whether you are writing an essay, speech, or developing personal goals, the following three-step process can be applied:
1. Idea Collection: Use various brainstorming techniques to gather your thoughts on a specific topic.
2. Idea Mapping: Create Mind Maps that organize your thoughts structurally.
3. Conversion to Linear Form: When writing or speaking, ideas must be presented one word after another. The challenge is to present the material in a way that the associations and structure of the material are not lost.
Basically, the blog breaks down the creative writing process into three steps, but we all know that it can be a lot harder than 1, 2, 3, to write an exceptional paper. Still, this gives a great foundation from which to work on. When preparing to write your essay, brainstorm on the various topics that you want to talk about. Write down practically any relevant issue that comes to mind. Then try to organize your thoughts into something with a sequence and a structure. This second stage is basically like making an outline. Finally, you have to turn your ideas and your outline into a full-fledged essay.
Being creative in your essay
The best way to show your creativity is to let your personality and your character spill onto the pages of your admission essay. Just be yourself, because everyone has their own creative streak that makes them unique. Here are some good pieces of advice:
The first thing an applicant has to remember is that Admission officers want the essay to be personal and imaginative. The next thing they have to take note of is how to write something personal without making it appear as a lifeless paper. The trick for this is to make the tone of the essay a conversational one. Since one is talking about his life, narrate it in a light humorous tone as though one is talking to another person like a friend. In this way, one will definitely get the focus and the hearts of the admission officers. People should freely express themselves.
In the end, the best topics are those that you can tell with your own personal flair. A topic that you can use as a vessel to get across your ultimate message: that you are a person who is ready, willing, and able to be a student in the school you are applying to.
It is not just Martin Luther or JFK who could be used as a theme for the admission essay, if the guidelines of the Committee allow it, you may even use a fictional character from movies, books, etc. You have to be aware though, that your topic may have come from fiction, but your finished essay should not come across as a work of fiction.
Why your favorite fictional character is a good admission essay idea
First, there are greater chances of the Admissions officers getting more interested in reading your essay rather than the old, tired and overused themes of historical icons. Second, your favorite fictional character is close to your heart. If Thomas Odd (a character of Dean Koontz) is your choice because both he and you experienced rescuing a friend from criminally-minded persons, then you could point out (then go to the supporting statements) that you could definitely relate to him.
Ways to discuss this topic in your essay for admission
One warning: usually, you would not be barred from using a cartoon character, but if he/she is either funny or just trivial, you might come across as an applicant who is not serious in applying. Relate the character’s life, values and attitudes to your own, and even connect it to your future goals.
The good thing about using a fictional person in the admission essay is that it’s fun. There are so many stress factors in the application process (not just the writing of the essay), and creating this essay could be both work and play at the same time. Take note, play here does not mean your essay should be lousy or haphazardly done.
Related questions:
1. Can Batman be used as part of the discussions on the admission essay?
2. What is the danger of using a cartoon character as the admission essay theme?
3. How does one discuss the strengths and attributes of the fictional character?
It can be difficult to start your personal statement, especially if you are not too sure what you will be writing about in the first place. To help relieve some of your stress, it may be helpful to approach your personal statement like you would any other essay. When you start your essay, you want it to be interesting, attention-capturing, and downright captivating. Here are some ways on how you can write an amazing introduction:
Thought-provoking questions
You have probably read one or two great essays that start with a question. The reason a question makes for a good introduction is that it instantly gets your reader to interact. By asking a question, the reader will think about how to answer the question, how they feel about the question, and why you posed the question to begin with. Try to use a thought-provoking question to entice your reader to keep reading out of interest.
Analogies
Another great way to start your personal statement is to use an analogy. It is important though that the analogy that you use is related to who you are and what your story is. By using an analogy, it engages your reader to think about the relations in your analogy and what the analogy says about you, the writer. In essence, an analogy is a comparison of sorts and this is why it makes for a good introduction, because you get the reader to think about what you are saying and the connections you are making. Just make sure that the analogy you use is meaningful, relative, and interesting.
Touching stories
Third, you can start your essay with a touching story or something personal. Although this may be rather overused in the personal statement, it all depends on how you tell your story. The operative word here is “personal.” You want to get personal with your reader and tell them what makes you unique, what makes you who you are, and why who you are makes a good addition to their college. Try not to be too over the edge when you write touching stories; just tell the story naturally and, most of all, tell it from the heart.
Related links:
Academic Success Tips – Review on an academic success blog
Academic Productivity – Review on an academic productivity blog
Narrative Descriptive Essay – About writing a narrative descriptive statement
Political Beliefs – Writing about your political beliefs in the essay
Fictional Character – Using fictional characters for your essay subject
Introduction Strategies – On writing a solid essay introduction
Essay Introductions – How to start your essay right
Effective Introductions – Five effective essay introductions
Writing Introductions – How to write a good essay introduction
Introduction for Argument – Writing introductions for argumentative essays
You do not know how to start your personal statement? Then here are some tips that will help you write your essay like an expert storyteller:
Intrigue your readers right from the start
One of the most important factors you have to consider when writing your personal statement is to grab the attention and interest of your reader right from the start of your essay. Just like a good book has an introduction that captures your imagination to draw you into the story, your personal essay should do the same. There are a number of ways to capture the attention of the reader from the very first line of your essay, and here are a few of them:
- Use an anecdote that gives insight into what the rest of your essay will be about.
- Use a favorite quote of yours that relates to the theme and tone of your essay.
- Give background information that is essential to the flow of the essay.
Lead them into details that make sense
To hold the attention of the reader, you will have to continue your story-telling by using a logical progression. For example, instead of just talking about your background and then jumping into another topic, you should guide the reader by connecting each and every topic in your essay. You have to keep in mind that, aside from the information in your application form, the admissions committee has no idea who you are. This is why you need to tell them the entire story and get them involved by telling them about your personal insights and experiences, such as how you developed admirable character traits as a result of these experiences.
Make your ending thought-provoking and persuasive
Finally, every good story has a smashing ending, so you will have to find a way to write a great conclusion to your essay. Here are some of the elements of a good conclusion:
- The conclusion should wrap up your entire essay by alluding to your introduction and body.
- The conclusion should lead the reader to new understandings, insights, or thoughts.
- The conclusion should be persuasive and perhaps even inspiring.
Remember, the main goal for your personal statement is to convince the admission committee that you make a good candidate for acceptance into their school. This is why you have to capture the attention of the committee, hold it throughout the entire essay, and leave a lasting impression on them with a strong conclusion.
Related links:
Academic success tips – Review on an academic success blog
Academic productivity – Review on an academic productivity blog
Narrative descriptive essay – About writing a narrative descriptive statement
Political beliefs – Writing about your political beliefs in the essay
Fictional character – Using fictional characters for your essay subject
Logical Progression – About the importance of a good application essay
Med school essay – How to write a med school application essay
Grad school essay – How to write a grad school application essay
College essay – Tips for college application essays
MBA essay – Writing a good MBA application essay
One of the basic requirements for your application to a post-secondary educational institution is the admission essay. Simply put, the admission essay can spell the difference between getting accepted or rejected to the school of your choice. If you are having trouble writing your personal statement, you may want to read on for some basic but helpful tips on writing an exceptional piece. This article will also give advise on how you can use personal statement examples to help you along the way.
Accurate accounts of your student life
When writing your admission essay, it’s essential that you make accurate accounts of your student life. Not only can admissions committees double check your transcripts and what you write on your resume, but most admissions officers can also spot a lie a mile away, so don’t even think about it.(1) Scour the Internet for some examples of personal statements to see how other writers use their student life to enhance their essays.
Brief but powerful descriptions of your experiences
If you plan on writing about life experiences, make sure that your descriptions are concise, brief, and, most of all, powerful. Read a good example of personal statement, and you’ll notice how the writer uses literary strategies to make their experiences come across more vividly and with impact. The last thing you want to do is bore the admissions officers who are reading your essay.(2)
Convincing conclusions
In concluding your admission essay, you should keep in mind your main objective, that is, to persuade the admission committee to accept you into their school. Try to use what you have already written about (your student life and your experiences) to prove that you have the values and traits that it takes to succeed in the college that you are applying to. Make sure that you don’t come off as being boastful or arrogant, instead try to be humble but confident.(3) Look for an example of personal statement with a persuasive conclusion, and try to emulate how the writer was able to succeed in reaching the main goal of the admission essay.
(1) http://www.acm.edu/uploads/cms/documents/acm-writing-essay.pdf
(2) http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/application.html
(3) http://www.depauw.edu/admission/documents/college-essay.pdf
Earning an MBA degree can be one of the most fulfilling achievements that you will experience in life. Not only is MBA an achievement in itself, but it can also aid greatly in your career path. This article will cover three essential fields of business, and how an MBA education can help you succeed in each one.
Business Management
An MBA degree can help you advance your career in business management. All throughout your MBA education, you will be studying and dealing with different business models, situations, concepts, strategies, and topics. An MBA degree is likely to aid you in starting up and managing your own business.(1)
Finance
Another field where an MBA degree is of great importance is finance. Dealing with numbers can be difficult, but an MBA education can help you understand the way that the economy works and how to manage your finances. It is often said that understanding finance is one of the most important factors in being successful, and an MBA education will definitely help you develop a deeper understanding of how it works.(2)
Strategic/Risk Management
Finally, in order to keep a business and company running smoothly, efficiently and effectively, it is essential to be well versed in risk management and strategic management. Whether you specialize in risk management or you have learned about it through your other classes, an MBA education is definitely a good way to get accustomed with making strategies and minimizing business risks.(3)
Before you gain your MBA education and degree, you will have to complete your application package and get accepted into an MBA program. Perhaps the most significant application requirement is the personal statement. So be sure to take a look at examples of personal statements to help you write an excellent essay. When studying examples of personal statements, try to understand the tone, format, themes, and topics that are often written about. What you will notice about personal statement examples is that they are interesting, captivating, and moving, all at once. Try to read at least one personal statement example to get an idea of what is expected from your essay.
(1) http://www.hbs.edu/mba/svmp/
(2) http://www.bus.wisc.edu/mba/curriculum/
(3) http://www.mib.edu/cms/data/pages/master_course_insurance_finance.aspx
So you’re finishing up your application package and you’re looking for some personal statement examples to help you on your essay when you came across some information on scholarships. At first glance, it may seem as though scholarships are impossible to obtain and that you need to have impeccable grades and an outstanding resume. While these things may definitely help you, there are a few other factors that can boost your chances of getting a scholarship plan.(1) Read on for some helpful tips on scholarship applications.
Know what the sponsor is looking for, and gauge your success based on this
Before you start applying for scholarships, it’s important to get a good idea of what the sponsor is looking for. Try to gather all of the information you need, and determine if you are eligible for a scholarship. Aside from checking the websites of sponsors, you can also give them a call in an attempt to talk to someone who can give you all of the details you have to know.(2) Just like using personal statement examples to help you understand how to write an admission essay, it is also important to gather sponsor information for better chances at landing a scholarship plan.
Send all requirements in advance
One of the golden rules when submitting applications of any sort is to make sure that you complete all of the requirements in full and send them before the deadline. Not only will you get a head-start on your competition, but you will also let your probable sponsors know that you are responsible.(3) Be sure to allot enough time for writing your personal statement, if it is required. You can use personal statement examples to get the gist of what a scholarship personal statement should be like. Before submitting your requirements, compare your essay with a personal statement example to ensure that you did a great job at writing.
Do well with your application essay by focusing on more meaningful discussions
When you are brainstorming on topics to write about in your essay, use examples of personal statements. You’ll find that most examples of personal statements focus on meaningful discussions, such as goals and aspirations, your merits, and how you make a good candidate for the scholarship. Some topics that would be great for use in your essay include your personal growth, your character, and your individuality.(4)
(1) http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergrad_adm/paths_to_adm/freshman/scholarship_reqs.html
(2) http://www.scholars.uci.edu/tips.asp
(3) http://www.iusb.edu/~scholar1/scholarlist.shtml
(4) http://www.finaid.wwu.edu/scholarships/pages/general_information/tips.php
When applying for an MBA program, you will probably hear and read a lot of information about MBA school, MBA admissions, and MBA degrees. The problem is, it’s high likely that not everything you hear or read about them will be true. In fact, there are numerous myths about MBA that many people believe in. Here are some MBA myths and the truths behind them:
Myth 1: You need to be a business major to qualify for MBA
The truth is, people from many different fields apply to and qualify for MBA programs and schools all around the world. Most schools will accept applicants as long as they have a US Bachelor’s degree or any equivalent form of achievement.(1) In fact, if you just take a little time to read some personal statement examples, you will find that MBA applicants come from all kinds of academic backgrounds. Don’t believe in this myth, because you will only discourage yourself in getting your MBA degree.
Myth 2: You won’t get admitted to top MBA schools if you didn’t come from a blue-chip company
Another common myth is that you need to be from a blue-chip company to get admitted to a reputable MBA school. While some schools will require that applicants to have had practical experience in the working world, others are willing to accept applicants with no working experience at all.(2) If you do plan on applying to a top MBA school without any working experience, try checking out some examples of personal statements to get an edge over your competition. You’re bound to find an example of personal statement that’s written by someone who isn’t from a blue-chip company.
Myth 3: Using a former alumna as personal reference that will help you secure a spot
Getting letters of recommendation and other forms of help from an alumna is a clever way to increase your chances of getting accepted. It’s important to realize, though, that an MBA school will not accept you just because one of their alumni wrote a recommendation letter for you.(3) Take matters into your own hands and have confidence that your own skills, capabilities, and experiences are enough to get you into MBA school. Be sure to capitalize on your personality, character, skills, education, and training by writing an excellent MBA admission essay with the help of personal statement examples.
(1) http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/mba/admission/application_requirements.html
(2) http://www.hbs.edu/mba/admissions/admissioncriteria.html
(3) http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/mba/admission/letters_of_reference.html
When writing your MBA admission essay, one of your main goals is to stand out as a unique individual who makes a good candidate for college admission. Most examples of personal statement are able to do this well. Writing a unique MBA essay doesn’t necessarily require that you write about your entire life history.(1) If you are stuck on how to write an MBA essay that stands out, try out some of the following tips:
Discuss what makes you both a leader and good team player
Two marks of a great applicant are teamwork and leadership. The reason MBA schools hold teamwork and leadership with great regard is that these two traits are essential to being a good business student and a good businessperson in general. Some examples of personal statement focus on certain experiences or situations wherein the author had to take on the reigns and be the leader of the team, or had to sacrifice for the sake of teamwork. Be specific in the examples that you give, but expound on the qualities and character traits that you have developed because of your experiences.(2)
Tell readers what MBA can offer you
Another way to make your MBA essay stand out is by talking about how an MBA degree can help you in your life. This is an approach used in many personal statement examples. Perhaps you have specific goals or aspirations in life that would be more easily attainable with an MBA degree. An MBA degree has a lot to offer you, so be sure to concentrate on the points that mean the most and those that will make the most impact on your career and life. Just remember not to make it sound “too good to be true,” otherwise, the admissions committee may just think you’re sucking up.
Focus on your strengths and downplay your weaknesses
Finally, use the MBA essay to highlight your strengths while downplaying your weaknesses. For example, you may want to briefly address a certain weakness or shortcoming of yours. Be sure to focus on how you have used your strengths to overcome such weaknesses. The point is to acknowledge the negative, but concentrate on the positive.(3) For a good idea on how to go about incorporating this third tip into your essay, have a look at an example of personal statement that talks about failures or hardships.
(1) http://www.californiacolleges.edu/admissions/university-of-california-uc/personal-statement.asp
(2) http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/personal_statement.shtml
(3) http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/642/01/
