sample admission essay

The first ever college founded in North America, Harvard University found its small beginnings almost four centuries ago, in 1636. Through the vote of Great and General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the college started with nine students, a far cry from the current enrollees of 18,000 (excluding those enrolled in the he Harvard Extension School) . The University was named after the young minister named John Harvard of Charlestown who left half his estate and his library to the budding institution when he died in 1638.
With its rich history, Harvard University boasts of alumni like seven of US’ presidents: John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Theodore and Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Rutherford B. Hayes, John Fitzgerald Kennedy and George W. Bush; poets EE Cummings and TS Eliot, and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson, to mention a few.

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The University started wit an academic model of English university associated with Puritan philosophy although it was never officially affiliated with a particular religion or denomination. At present, Harvard University aims to foster an atmosphere of freedom– freedom to think, express oneself, create and explore. The environment of diversity, critical thinking and excellence taps into the potential of each student; Harvard University does not only yield students brilliant in their specializations but it also produces responsible individuals and great leaders. If the range of famous alumni does not speak for itself already, the University tops the country’s University lists. A Harvard degree is well recognized throughout the country as well as all over the world.

The requirements for Harvard university admissions are as follows:

1. The Application form: One may request for or download application forms from the admissions website. On line application is also an option. Financial aid may be granted and Financial aid forms may be filled out along with the regular application forms. Admission requirements and forms may be accessed from the official admissions website: http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/index.html .

2. Fee: An application fee of $65 applies although the fee may be waived upon request (a fee waiver request must be completed by the guidance counselor and attached to the application). The fee may be paid on-line using a credit card or through check/money order. The applicant’s name must appear on the check or money order, and the check/money order should be attached to the application form.

3. Official score reports from the SAT I or ACT , and three SAT II Subject Tests.

4. Secondary School Report and Mid-Year School Report: This report must be filled out by the school counselor or college adviser.

5. Two Teacher Evaluations: Teachers writing the evaluation must be of two different academic subjects and has sufficient knowledge of student’s performance and character. Applicant’s teachers during the last two years of secondary school is recommended. Supplement evaluations may also be submitted such as those from significant people outside of classroom who can provide testimony about applicant.

These requirements should be mailed to the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid (taking note of the deadlines of submission) at 86 Brattle StreetCambridge, MA 02138. After 1-2 weeks upon receipt of application, admissions office will send an e-mail to the applicant, providing an access code needed to access the information on line (https://admweb.fas.harvard.edu/ha/Applicant/ApplicantFrame.html ).

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How does a person apply to law schools in the U.S.?

Getting to a prestigious law school is one of the loftiest ambitions that one can have. There is nothing like graduating from an institution such as Harvard to jump start one’s career in the law profession. Getting into an Ivy League school is definitely not easy. Aside from intelligence, there are other requirements needed to make sure that you are qualified to get into law school.

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What are the basic requirements needed in order to apply to law schools in the U.S.? First, a student must already have an undergraduate degree. A satisfactory grade point average is needed along with the Bachelor’s Degree to get into good law schools. Also, a student must also take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and obtain a satisfactory score. The LSAT is administered by the Law School Admission Council four times a year, usually in February, June, October and September.

Aside from the test, there are other factors that will determine your admission, such as recommendation letters, essays, questionnaires and other materials. There are some schools who consider family background and social status when it comes to assessing applicants.

Since law school takes a lot of time and determination in order for one to finish and to get that much-awaited license, there are may things to consider if you want to apply to law schools in the U.S. Here are some of the most sensible tips when it comes to law school admission.

1.Make sure that it is YOU who wants to go to law school. There are lots of students out there who got into law school not because THEY want to; it is more because their family and friends want them to, or think that they should. Succumbing to family and peer pressure is a sure way to guarantee that he or she will drop out or think of dropping out of law school before they finish it.

2.Be prepared to face the admissions committees. The committees are the ones who decide whether you deserve a slot in their institution. Remember that there are thousands of students out there who will stop at nothing to get admitted. If you are applying in a prestigious university, expect the competition to be cutthroat. Make sure that you have a great “story” to tell the admissions people. Normally, they would ask standard questions like “Why do you want to become a lawyer?” or “Why do you think you can become a lawyer?” This questions will require you to open up about your background and personality, so make sure that your story is a convincing one. You need to show them what sets you apart from other candidates, and how it makes you deserving to be in their institution.

3. Get solid and reputable references. Having great references and having them validate your application by extolling your many virtues can give your candidacy an immense push right inside the walls of Harvard. Of course, you should make them prepared and coach them on what they should say when the committees inquire about you.

** APRIL 4 2009 UPDATE **

We are delighted to inform our readers that we will now offer FREE admission essay outlines AND actual sample essays based on the biographic information and form answers they send us.  Details are listed below. PLEASE tell all your friends and family about this FREE service.  There’s more than enough for everyone!  Share the word, please.

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Need an application essay, statement of purpose, or application essay for college/university, law school, medical school, graduate school, or an MBA program? You’ve come to the right place, we offer FREE custom-written essays based on your biography.

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Admissions Essay Questions:

Type of institution: (e.g. college, law school, MBA program, graduate program, or medical school)

Why are you applying to the institution: Rambling answers are fine. List as many reasons as you can and back them up with experiences/memories/etc.

Essay question asked by the application form:

Your preliminary answer to this question: (rambling answers are fine)

Which favorite quote of yours applies to the question being asked by the application form?

What best symbolizes the reason you are applying to this instution? Note: a symbol could be an object, a song, a situation, etc.

Do you have a favorite song lyric that sums up the reason you are applying to the institution?

Have you overcome any obstacles/disadvantages?

What do you offer this institution?

What do you offer society should you get a degree from this institution?

Post your family history: (e.g., divorce, immigration, abuse, etc)

Where do you want to be 10 years from now?

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You are seriously aiming to apply to the college or business school of your choice. You have taken the required tests, and now, you are ready for the grueling application process. In particular, you need to pay attention to the College Admission Essay, or MBA essay as part of your application, since the college admission essay or MBA essay allows you to explain certain weaknesses in your grades. Many colleges and universities still have reservations on admitting applicants whose school records contain grades that they consider low as per their standards. And this is your big dilemma. How to explain your low grades. This is where the College Admission Essay or MBA essay will play a vital role.

In cases where you unfortunately received a bad grade, the best thing to do is to give a valid and genuine reason. Do not ignore it, but address it head on. In the college admission essay or MBA essay you have the golden opportunity to explain your low grades and provide rational reasons on why these grades are not necessarily reflective on your potential as a student. Offer a specific example to explain your side of the issue. For instance, you can say that personal problems (sick family member or unexpected accident) kept you from focusing more on your studies.

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Just try to keep in mind that your aim in your explanation in the admission essay or MBA essay is not to make excuses nor create tall tales to cover the fact that you have a low grade in one or two subject areas. The goal is to emphasize the reality that the bad grade was not because you failed to study but because circumstances were simply beyond your control. Make it a point to stress that it was just a temporary setback and that overall, your school record is still academically excellent, and that you are worthy of admission to the school of your choice. In fact, you may want to explain how such unexpected experiences actually made you into a better person, a more mature and understanding person, who now appreciates life more and is more driven than ever before. Your primary goal should be to convey to the reader that you are a better person as a result of your personal experiences, which in turn make you a better candidate for admission.

Also, remember that different schools place different weights on test scores or grades and may emphasize your college admission essay or MBA essay instead. Rather, they look more into your extracurricular activities since the approach of their program is the total development of an individual. In such cases, lower grades may not be as crucial in the admissions process, but you should still aim to explain them as best as you can, and doing so can best be done in the College Admission Essay or MBA essay.

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Every year thousands of students face the challenge of submitting their applications to their dream schools and submitting their masterly crafted College Admission Essay. Before you can ever step on the pavements of the university, an aspiring student’s acceptance letter may be largely dependent on the student’s college admission essay. Admission essays and College Application Essays are very vital for one’s entry to a good reputable university. The admission essay can be the determining factor, of whether or not one is to be admitted to a certain college or university. Many students never make it to their desired schools not because of their grades or lack of extracurricular activities. They fail because of the admission essay they submitted. An admission essay does not really have to be Nobel Prize for Literature-like essay. It just has to be creative and one of a kind.

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Year after year, admissions officers read thousands of College Admission Essays from all over the country (and the world). The probability that they will remember everything a student has written is one to a thousand. The only way that a student could make a mark and imprint his words to the admissions officers’ minds is to be unique. This means to say that the essay should be creatively woven to bring out the real persona behind the student. Admissions officers don’t want to read essays that are written already in one’s resume like achievements and personal particulars. They are interested in what’s behind those achievements and grades. They are after the essence and soul of the particular student. Writing about one’s experiences is a good material to start one’s essay with. This will help bring out the spunk and creative genius in a person while baring his soul for the admissions officers to read.

There are ways in which the student can check if the College Admission Essay he has written can catch another person’s attention and to see if the essay is grammatically correct. For one, he could let his family, friends and teachers to read the essay and have them critique it. In this way, the strong and weak points of the essay will be brought up and can be corrected. If more than three persons consulted say that the essay lacks color and life, or if the essay is not coherent and has no unity, then something must be very wrong with it. Don’t be offended by the criticisms received for they are only constructive ones and it will also help improve the essay. There’s a tendency that a person can’t see errors in one’s own writings. Therefore, it is important to let others read and critique one’s work. In fact, their comments and criticisms may be the very same comments and things that the admission officers will take note of as well.

Preparation for college requires a lot of patience and great deal of imagination. College Admission Essays as well as College Application Essays are the necessary essentials that could make or break a student’s future. Remember that one’s future is at stake with these essays. Needless to say, when one is writing every word in the paper, he should think about the future. Accordingly, there are three parts of college admission essays: the introduction, body, and conclusion. It’s always good to begin one’s essay with a bang to hook the readers to continue perusing the essay until the very last period. Make use of humor and wit, but never forget to be honest and true to one’s writing.

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These days, it seems that university admission committees think that acing your SATs, boosting your GPA, and having glowing recommendations are not good enough to guarantee admission to your dream school. After the entrance exams and submission of other requirements, they still require you to write a college admission essay. True, the essay is an added work, but it is your opportunity to market yourself to your dream university. Application essays allow you another opportunity to convince the school board to accept you. It also gives the board an overview of how you are as a student and individual. Therefore, the prospect of writing your college application essay must not be taken lightly – your essay can spell the difference between acceptance and rejection.

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Even if a college admission essay is your chance to express yourself, it requires good and effective writing. Just typing something up does not qualify as an admission essay – this is your best bet if you want your essay to meet the document shredder. Good and effective writing means that you have to curb your enthusiasm for self-expression and be on guard about things that have the potential to ruin your essay. A study on admission essays submitted in recent years show several common mistakes. These mistakes range from content to grammatical mistakes – the very things you don’t want in your essay.

Most universities provide guide questions for essay writing but you don’t have to answer each one in detail unless they expressly ask you to do so. The questions were just provided to give you an idea what to write about. But candidates often write mile-long essays thinking that the longer the college application essay is, the more impressive. This is contrary to what admission officials are saying. Compositions that are unnecessarily lengthy are thought of as lacking in language mastery and clear thinking. Lengthy essays often lose focus and become circuitous while too short essays come up, well, short. Take out unnecessary words like too many adjectives, and instead, focus on using nouns and verbs. A good application essay should be concise but informative and interesting.

Speaking of being informative and interesting, resumes, SAT scores, and GPAs are not crucial in a college admission essay. They are not interesting and they do not provide new information about you. The admission board has your resume and academic records — they don’t need these in your essay. Brown-nosing and excessive praise for the university do not impress admission officials. They are great and they know it. They also know what they can do for their students, so you don’t have to remind them. Take all these details out of your essay; nobody needs them. Come up and write about a topic that you feel passionate about to showcase your strengths as an individual. An essay about your stint as a volunteer is more interesting than grade enumeration.

Of course, good writing also means good grammar. College application essays with spelling errors give the impression of sloppiness. So do essay with errors in grammar and punctuation. Grammar books are effective solutions for these problems. Write a draft of your college application letter and reread it. Having other people – especially your English teacher – to read and point out errors is also a good idea. Revise and rewrite as often as needed and get as many comments as possible. Do this until your essay becomes concise and error-free.

The essay is about you, your talents, and how the school can benefit from accepting you. Writing an effective college application essay can be taxing but it can pave the way for your entrance into a brighter future.

Year after year, a swarm of applicants with diverse backgrounds and qualifications vie for slots in universities or colleges of their choice. There’s an ample chance you’re up against applicants with the same set of credentials you have. That is precisely the reason a college application essay can make or break you. Unless you have hard-to-beat, outstandingly brilliant scholastic and extra-curricular records, you have to bank on your college admission essay to increase your chance of admission up a notch.

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Some colleges and universities supply applicants with specific essay questions, so all you have to do is research ahead of time to come up with well-thought-of piece. There are also instances when the school lets applicants craft their college admission essay based on the topic of their choice. If this is the case, you should meticulously decide on a certain topic that provides you with an excellent opportunity to reveal your individuality. The ideal essay should cover key areas like values, thought processes, and preferences. Admissions officers, who are tasked to read countless piles of essays each year, are on the lookout for candidates who know how to weave coherent and comprehensive essays which showcase vital information and details. Application essays should give school administrators a chance to get to know candidates the way transcripts and diplomas cannot. If you’re an applicant, invest time and effort in writing your essay because this may be your last chance in convincing admissions officers you are indeed worthy to study in that university or college.

Your thought patterns, preferences, and values are revealed in the essay as you relate specific and effective anecdotes. Be selective on what you write, and be wise. In your college application essay, don’t include details like how you managed to get a passing grade in a quiz after partying hard the night before. Instead of being impressed by your cramming skills, readers take it as a sign that you prioritize partying over studying. This can be a major blow on your chance of successful admission. Admissions officers are after candidates who value education and edifying causes much more than partying or anything similar to it. The examples or instances you relate in your essay also reflect your thought patterns. Based on the anecdotes you share, readers get a glimpse or basic grasp of your thought patterns. They can usually tell if you’re the type who is spontaneous in making decisions or someone who carefully analyzes circumstances before deciding.

Your college admission essay also gives evaluators an idea regarding your preferences and interests. Although you would want to impress readers, veer away from being pretentious. Officers in charge of admission can always tell if the candidate is really into the ideals of Freud or not based on how the essay is written. An informative and honest college application essay reads like a good piece of editorial without sounding too authoritative. Most of all enjoy the process of writing your essay as much as possible. Readers always have a great time going through an essay which has the right mix of character and attitude.

Unlike college application essays, questions for graduate personal statements or admission essays are more inclined to ask for career plans and research experiences. Since applicants are already past the undergraduate years, they are expected to have more concrete ideas regarding what they want or like to pursue in life. Some universities ask common questions that make the applicants elaborate on their academic interests or what specific area or discipline they would like to venture on.

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You might want to briefly discuss interesting reasons that made you decide to take up a particular field. Say something about how taking up a certain post-graduate course is an essential part in achieving your long-term career goals. When asked about research experiences, relate research topics you’ve enjoyed doing in the past. Remember that research is a big thing in graduate school so make sure you highlight your superb research skills, if ever. Similar to the college admission essay, candidates for a post-graduate also need to include academic background, achievements, and extra-curricular in their essays.

One of the several topics graduate school applicants can write about is their field and clinical experiences. Assuming candidates already have previous working experiences, they can say something about the practical values they gained in the process. It is best to relate job experiences in line with your career plans. Avoid mentioning on-the-job experiences which are not directly related with the field you are applying for. This may give evaluators an impression that you don’t have a clear sense of your goals or whatever it is you want to achieve. Admissions officers want to make sure applicants are really serious in pursuing post-graduate course and are not merely out to dabble and leave after a few semesters. They want to admit applicants who may be potential additions to the university’s roster of prominent and successful alumni. Convince them that you deserve a slot by producing an essay that requires little additional queries. Needless to say, the expectations and standards of admissions officers are higher for those aspiring for post-graduate degrees.

Writing graduate application essays, in essence, is also very much like crafting a college admission essay. You should also follow the basics of an effective personal statement like unity, coherence, and focus. A well-written essay reflects the fact you’ve allotted effort and time in weaving your essay in the same way sloppy essay can be a telltale sign that you’ve done it in haste. Start the statement with a strong point of entry that can surely grab the attention of your readers. Every sentence in a personal statement is significant but make sure your opening paragraphs are especially engaging. If you’ve successfully thought of a great introduction, sustain the momentum by polishing the rest of the contents of the essay. If you were able to craft a successful college application essay, there’s no doubt you could also come up with a winning graduate admission essay.

This blog focuses on the often-stressful process of applying to college, law school, medical school, MBA programs, or graduate programs. We will give you free tips and assistance on how to use the personal statement, statement of purposes, or admission essay to get an edge over your competition. We will feature free drafts of admission essays based on our visitors’ biographical information. These sample admission essay drafts are aimed at giving you a jump start when you are writing your own essay.

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