How Sample Graduate School Essays Prepare You for Your Application in Graduate School
It is a fact that an excellent graduate school essay would boost your chances of getting accepted in your school of choice, whether it be an Ivy League school such as Harvard or any high-quality learning institution. The big question is: what exactly would a topnotch essay accomplish for you?
A strong essay would elevate your application from the multitudes of other candidates whose qualifications are about as solid as yours. In cases wherein the admissions officers are having a hard time choosing between two equally good applications, the better admission essay might be the “deadlock breaker.”
A very good essay should have a theme, also called a “thesis statement”. This would be the central topic to which the essay would revolve around. If the essay is compelling, original, and personal, this could only strengthen your chances of getting into your dream school. A good essay should not have the following bad parts: elements that make the essay an angry narrative, too many attempts to make the readers laugh, or simply an essay that goes in circles.
Other tips for a more effective admission essay
# Have the materials prepared. Get copies of resume, transcripts, the application form, sample graduate school essays, etc. Create a list of crucial data such as titles of jobs in the past, duties you did, and the names of former employers. Using sample essays is very helpful, especially if you don’t have any idea on how to start writing your own.
# Use “I” appropriately. It is good to be a little creative in writing one’s admission essay, but this is not a piece of creative writing or fiction. In creative writing, the use of first or second or third case all depends on the style or mood of the writer. In the admissions essay however, using the first person is crucial, because this would enliven your writing. A little warning though. Beginning all sentences with “I” is overkill.
# Do not be redundant. If you have included certain information in the other application documents (transcript, resume, etc.), then you need not repeat those information on the admission essay. Doing so would make your essay redundant.
# Be conscious of your essay’s length. How long should it be? If it is too short, the admissions board might think you didn’t put a lot of thought in it. If it’s too long, they might get tired of reading it. Admission essays must follow the given length range. However, if yours is a two-paged essay and you feel that cutting it shorter would be detrimental to your chances of getting accepted, then let it be.
A strong admission essay must have a solid thesis statement. To write a topnotch essay, the following are crucial things to consider: preparation involving the use of sample essays, properly using the first person, avoiding redundancy, and being conscious of the length. While not a 100% guarantee on getting accepted, an exceptional admission essay would most surely raise your chances of landing a spot at your preferred school.
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When you apply to graduate school, you will probably be asked to send letters of recommendation along with your application package. Because these letters are usually written by other professionals, they give the admissions committee a look at who you are from a professional perspective. Here are some suggestions as to who you can go to for requesting your letters of recommendation.
Getting to know you
Basically, letters of recommendation allow admissions committees to get to know more about you. These letters contain information on how you performed in the academic or professional setting. This means that the people that you ask for letters of recommendation from should be able to honestly detail your personality, your qualities, and your traits.
Where to begin
As mentioned above, most recommendation letters will have to come from other professionals (usually in high positions). Depending on what your graduate school asks for, you may need to submit recommendation letters from past professors, instructors, or bosses. Be sure that the people you ask letters from are those that have recognized and witnessed your good qualities. If a letter of recommendation from a professor is required, you may want to ask for one from a dean or department head who has been your teacher.
Choosing the right people
Now that you have an idea of who can issue your letters of recommendation, it’s time to narrow down your list and choose the right people. Here are some considerations you should keep in mind:
* Choose someone who knows you and has witnessed you at your best
* Choose someone who can write about your good personality traits
* Choose someone who you think will write a good recommendation for you
* Most importantly, share your goals, aspirations, and plans with the people who will be writing your recommendations letters. This will help them to understand why you need the letters and how they can write more appropriate and personal letters of recommendation for you.
Besides the letters of recommendation, you may be asked to submit graduate school admission essays. Check out the web for sample graduate school essays. You can consult online resource that have sample graduate school essays, so you can use these as a guide.
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