sample admission essay

If you’re an aspiring lawyer or doctor, then you need to prepare yourself for going into medical school or law school. There are many schools offering pre-med and pre-law programs, but there are those that do not. If you find yourself wondering about what major to take up so that you’ll be prepared for graduate studies in either medicine or law, below are some suggestions on which majors you should take up.

What to major in when planning to go to medical school

Going to medical school will have you taking up many science classes. Some of the best majors that can help you have a smooth transition to medical school are those that include subjects such as biology, chemistry, physics, and psychology. This is because the training, experience, and education you will gain in these majors will be useful in medical school. You can also choose to major in the social sciences or humanities if you plan to go to medical school.

What to major in when planning to go to law school

There are a wide variety of majors suitable for students who want to go to law school. Common majors taken up by aspiring lawyers include political science, philosophy, criminology, and psychology. What makes these majors good preparation for law school is that these focus on research and analysis, human behavior, and logical thought.

The choice is yours

Many majors include courses that are related to law or medicine, but remember that it’s still your choice. Keep in mind that your college education is not only about academics, it’s also important that you make something of it. Perhaps it would be better for you to take a course that fits your skills, interests, and experience. Doing so will add to your knowledge and hone your talents, as well as give you training in that field. Although the major you pursue may not be ideal for law school or medical school, most graduate schools still accept applicants that come from different academic backgrounds. It would be good for you to talk to your guidance counselor to discuss your career options.

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One serious issue that many schools face is sexual harassment. Research done by the American Association for University Women (AAUW) finds that more than 60% of male and female college students have been sexually harassed during their stay at their college or university. Although sexual harassment is an occurrence that hasn’t been eliminated, you can prevent it from happening to you. Here’s how:

Be aware

In avoiding sexual harassment, you must first know more about it. Any unwelcome sexual behavior, be it nonverbal, verbal, or physical, can be considered as sexual harassment. In college, offenders may be friends, other students, strangers, and even teachers or other school employees. Do some research and understand the causes, effects, law, and policies that are related to sexual harassment. It’s also important for you to know where you should go and who you could talk to in case you become a victim of sexual harassment.

Take the necessary precautions to avoid sexual harassment

* Don’t provoke attention. Dress appropriately wherever you go.
* Be aware of where you are and stay alert. Make sure that you know the place you’re in. Don’t go to places you don’t know very well, especially during nighttime. If you have to go somewhere that you haven’t been to before, ask a friend to accompany you.
* Know that teasing and joking of a sexual nature also stands as sexual harassment. If you’re uncomfortable with this, make it known.
* In case you’re being sexually harassed in any way, let others know. Don’t be afraid to speak out and protect yourself.

Ask for help from your school

Most schools implement their own policies regarding sexual harassment. Make it a point to learn about these rules by reading your student handbook. You can also join a group or organization that aims to help students fight against sexual harassment.

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In case you don’t know yet what program you’re going to pursue in college, then you might want to consider conducting a personal Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis. This is a project planning method that can help you determine, interpret, and analyze your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. You can conduct a personal SWOT so that you’ll know more about yourself and what kinds of careers or programs in college will suit you best.

Learning more information about the SWOT analysis

Before you begin conducting a SWOT analysis, you first have to know more information about its objectives, procedure, and how you can interpret your findings. Conducting a SWOT analysis requires you to answer various questions regarding your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. The Internet provides many tools for personal SWOT analysis. When using SWOT analysis to determine your academic inclinations, you have to make sure that your questions and answers are related to educaton, experience, training, and personal qualities. Below are some questions you can use to conduct a personal SWOT analysis.

* In what subjects do I do well in school? (strength)
* Among the tasks required in school, which do I have the most difficulty in doing? (weakness)
* Which schools have programs that I’m interested in? (opportunity)
* What factors are most likely going to prevent me from going to college and getting a degree? (threat)

Taking note of realizations

When you answer the SWOT test, make sure that you’re honest in doing so. One way to help you do this is to think of how other people see you. Keep in mind that honesty is key to knowing more about yourself and realizing what you’re good in and which careers will be suitable for you.

Interpreting results

Once you’ve already taken the test, you can then go over the results and use your findings to figure out which programs will suit you best. Below are some pointers that will help you choose an academic program.

* Choose a program where your strengths will be valuable.
* Don’t go into a program that requires you to deal with your weaknesses. You can just take some classes that will help you overcome these weaknesses. In case you’re not good at dealing with mathematics, don’t go into engineering or other math-intensive fields.
* Maximize opportunities by making a list and taking advantage of as many of these as you can.
* Evaluate threats and determine how you can handle and overcome them.

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If you haven’t decided on a career path yet, you might want to consider going into the fields of humanities and social sciences. Programs specializing in these areas can prepare you for various kinds of jobs. This is because the humanities and social sciences provide education and training to students by covering a wide variety of subjects. Below are some of the most common careers in the humanities and social sciences.

* Lawyers – Getting a background in the field of social science or humanities can prepare you for a career in law. Because students taking up programs in humanities or social science learn much about human behavior, history, and psychology, they can become equipped with knowledge that are helpful for law.

* Teachers – If you aim to teach and guide others, you might want to take up a program in the humanities or social sciences to become a teacher. The skills you’ll learn and develop during your college years in a humanities or social science program are important for a career in teaching.

* Political scientists – If you wish to study political systems and public policies, then it’s advisable for you to consider a career as a political scientist. In becoming a political scientist, you will have to deal with various social and political issues. Taking up a program in humanities or social science can prepare you for this.

* Sociologists – Another profession that is well-suited for you if you want to take up humanities or social science programs, becoming a sociologist will require you to study social behavior, human behavior, and the organizations that help facilitate them. Other subjects that sociologists are concerned in are social psychology, politics, business, and education.

* Anthropologists – When you become an anthropologist, you will be tasked with studying cultural development and human behavior. You also have do research, analyze, and interpret human behavior as well as deal with areas such as the cultural, physical, and social development of humans. Basically, anthropologists make it their mission to understand people in various contexts, mainly social ones.

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Careers in the fields of science and engineering are often among the most prestigious in the world. This is mainly due to the many contributions that engineers and scientists have made over the years, which have done a big part in making our lives more comfortable and making it easier for us to accomplish various daily tasks. If you’re interested in engineering and science, then you might want to consider going into one of the five careers presented below.

Science

* Hydrology – Hydrologists are professionals studying various aspects of the water cycle to figure out how much water there is at a certain reservoir or body of water, how water is circulated throughout earth, and how water makes its way to oceans and the atmosphere. Recognized by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) as among the fastest growing careers in science, hydrology is something you might want to pursue.
* Environmental science – When you pursue a career in the field of environmental science, you will have to research, analyze, and find solutions for environmental problems affecting people and wildlife. This career is advisable for you if you aim for career growth.

Engineering

* Civil engineering – Civil engineers deal with designing sewage systems, roads, bridges, water supplies, and airports. They also take responsibility for overseeing the construction of these infrastructures.
* Mechanical engineering – When you become a mechanical engineer, you can enter various industries because this field is one of the broadest and largest engineering professions. Mechanical engineers deal with designing, maintaining, and manufacturing mechanical components and equipment.
* Electrical engineering – Electrical engineers are responsible for designing, manufacturing, and developing electrical equipment. They can also be tasked with installing, configuring, and maintaining electrical systems.

Whatever career path you choose to pursue, be it in the field of science or engineering, it’s important that you prepare for it well. You can plan and prepare by taking up programs, attending workshops, and engaging in various activities that help you hone your skills and give you experiences that will be valuable in the specific field you wish to enter.

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Choosing a career path is an important and often difficult decision to make. Perhaps you are being forced by your parents to choose a career that will provide you with a high salary. Or perhaps you don’t really know what kind of career you want to have. What you need to do is assess your interests and skills. It’s going to be your career after all, and you need to find one that suits you well and makes you happy.

Know your options

Find jobs and career paths that will enable you to utilize your skills. Make sure that a certain career interests you before you go into it. Make a list of things you love doing and subjects you’re good at. You can then look at this list and look for professions that require you to have these skills or jobs in which these skills will be an advantage.

Hone your skills

When you already have a clear idea of what kinds of jobs interest you, you should then try to gain some experience in that field. If you’re on your way to college, consider taking up programs, seminars, extracurricular activities, and workshops that are related to the jobs you want to pursue. If you’ve already graduated from college, you can attend lectures and join organizations. Not only will doing these help you enhance your skills, but these will also be a great addition to your resume.

Consider following these tips

* Talk to your professors, guidance counselor, or friends who know you well. Ask them about their opinions of you and what kind of career they think you would thrive in.
* Find information regarding the qualifications and requirements you’d need to be accepted into jobs you want and do something about these.
* Allow yourself to experiment and explore. In case you’ve already gotten a job in a particular field and then realize that it’s not right for you, you can find a different job in a related field or in a totally different industry. It just takes a little perseverance and research, and you’ll surely be on your way to finding career satisfaction.

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