Graduate School Admission Essays
Self Assessment Questions
Before you start writing, organize your thoughts, goals
and experiences by answering the following questions.
- What is the most unusual/unique thing about you?
- Who and what were intellectual influences to you?
- Which writers, articles or books in your field of
study have impacted you?
- Who were your favorite college professors and why?
- What is the best paper, exam or lab you wrote in
your major and why?
- What is the most important concept you have learned
in college?
- Define your career goals as specifically as
possible.
- What are your plans?
- How will graduate education facilitate those plans?
- What is your five-year goal? Ten year?
- What is the historical background to choosing said
goal?
- When and why did your interest in the field begin?
- What work/volunteer experiences influenced your
choice?
- How has family impacted your choice?
- How have you prepared yourself to succeed in
graduate school?
- What personal attributes make you likely to succeed
in the profession you have chosen?
- Discuss any research you've been involved in.
- What were the outcomes?
- What are the ramifications of the research?
- Is there any other information relevant to your
career goals, educational plans, interest in field of study, etc.?
Adapted from: Graduate Admission Essays: Write Your
Way into the Graduate School of Your Choice, Donald Asher, Ten Speed Press,
2000.
Graduate Admission Essays- An Overview
Basic Tips
- Essay should be typed, not handwritten, and
error free.
- Read the questions! Make sure you respond to
the questions asked. Follow instructions regarding length of essay.
- Essays range from a very general, comprehensive
personal statement to very specific questions.
- Use a strong opening sentence or paragraph. Try
to grab the reader's attention.
- Be clear and concise. Organize your essay
effectively.
Content Tips
- When talking about yourself, use examples
rather than just stating facts.
- Do not simply repeat information found
elsewhere in your application such as extracurricular activities. Go
beyond the obvious and indicate how these activities have impacted
you or your choice of career.
- Substantiate your preparation and ability
to perform. Be as specific about your career goals as possible.
Emphasize your passion for the field!
- Indicate some knowledge of the program to
which you are applying.
- Be yourself! Don't write what you THINK the
admissions committee wants to hear.
- Be positive and enthusiastic. Help the
admission committee learn who you are beyond the "numbers."
- Avoid controversial topics such as politics
and religion. Don't criticize the profession that you plan to join.
Avoid clichés (I want to be a doctor because I'm good at science and
I like to help people.)
Before you mail it in
- Ask yourself and others if your essay
is relevant, interesting and memorable.
- Always have someone proofread your
essay – particularly a professor or someone familiar with
admission essays.
- Don't send the exact same essay to
multiple schools if the question asked is different. Never send
an essay to one school with the name of ANOTHER school in the
text! (this happens and it's a turn off)
Sample Resources:
There are several books and numerous web sites that contain
general information about writing a personal statement as well
as examples of graduate admission essays. A few include:
Application Essay Writing 101 at
http://www.info.gradschools.com/
Graduate Admission Essays: Write Your Way
into the Graduate School of Your Choice, Donald Asher, Ten Speed
Press, 2000.
How to Write a Winning Personal
Statement for Graduate and Professional School, Richard Stelzer,
Petersons, 1997.
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