sample admission essay

Essay (first paragraph)

My educational attainment and work experience have made me a competent professional, but my commitment and reliability are what makes my academic background and professional attainment more valuable. I was able to obtain a bachelor’s degree in Commerce at the __________, and for three years, I was able to attain top ranking in class. In terms of work experience, I’ve had a three year-experience working for ___________ New Delhi and now I am one of their technical assistants. This length of experiences has equipped me with the needed knowledge and competency in the business and accounting field. I believe that obtaining an MBA degree will help me further my career and allow me to meet my educational as well as professional goals. My dedication to my chosen profession will help me make worthwhile contributions in the field, and with an MBA degree, I will have the added qualifications to show for it.

outline

I.  Essay question

By answering the essay question regarding my career goals and how a ______ MBA can help me achieve them, I believe I am able to show the admissions officers how this graduate degree is highly relevant for both my personal and professional advancement. Furthermore, by pursuing an MBA degree, I believe I can make a valuable contribution to the commerce and accounting industry of India. The essay question allowed me to showcase my qualifications both academically and professionally.

II.  My qualifications

I believe that my educational background and work experience only prove my commitment to continued growth and success in the field.  My qualifications include the following:

1.  Attaining a bachelor’s degree in Commerce at the _____________ in India
2.  Sustain top ranking in class
3.  Being a final group student of the Institute of the Chartered Accountants of India under the Chartered Accountancy (CA) course (to be completed in May)
4.  Having worked for three years for PriceWaterhouse, New Delhi in the assurance and business advisory services division
5.  Working as a Technical Assistant with the same division since the past four months

III. MBA application

1. Explain concisely why an MBA degree is well-suited for me
2. Show how my training and scholastic experience in Commerce and Accountancy makes me a suitable applicant for an MBA degree
3. Show how I can make relevant contributions to my workplace by pursuing further studies in MBA
4. Explain why I want to specialize in international and portfolio management

The United States offers a lot of opportunities for foreign students, but immigration laws are often a major obstacle. If you’re thinking of trying your luck in an American college, here’s a quick guide to help you avoid common pitfalls.

Step 1: Choosing a college

If you’re not on a scholarship or exchange program, your first step should be finding a college or university to attend. Most schools now have online applications, so applying from overseas shouldn’t be a problem. Do this at least a year in advance—you may have to mail in some of the requirements, so it’s best to anticipate delays. Be sure to have “backup” schools in case your first choice doesn’t take you in.

Step 2: Getting a visa

For studies lasting less than 18 months, a student visa is usually not required. Otherwise, most prospective students from overseas will need a non-immigrant visa. Different study conditions call for different visa types . There are three visa types granted to foreign students:

Student Visa (F-1): This is the most common type of visa for academic study. The F-1 is for students who get accepted into accredited colleges and universities in the U.S., or who want to study intensive English in universities or language centers.

Student Visa (M-1): This is meant for students in non-academic study, such as vocational programs or trainings. The program should be offered by accredited U.S. institutions.

Exchange Visitor (J-1): The J visa class is for cultural and educational exchange programs. J-1 visas are given to students who are participating in international exchange programs.

The U.S. Bureau of Consular Affairs recommends that students apply well in advance, because the large number of applicants can lengthen the processing times. Applicants aged 14 to 79 are usually called in for an interview at the local embassy. In most cases, you’ll need to be accepted into a school before you can apply. Your school will then give you the documents you need for the interview. Other things you should have in hand include:

-A valid passport
-2×2 photos
-Official application forms from the embassy (these are usually downloadable)
-Proof of financial capacity (bank statements for whoever is funding your stay; either you, your parents or a sponsor)
-Receipt of the visa application fee
-Diplomas and transcripts from previous institutions you attended
-Scores from international standardized tests, such as the TOEFL and SAT s

Step 3: Financing your education

U.S. schools cost from $7,000 to over $40,000 a year. That’s hard enough for some Americans, but as a foreign student, you also have to think about food, lodging, books, and day-to-day expenses. Unfortunately, it’s hard to get foreign student aid from schools or even the US government. Your best bet is to look for colleges that promote a multi-ethnic student community. These schools are more open to foreign applicants and may even offer scholarships to deserving students. If you think you can make the cut, you can also try getting an athletic or academic scholarship.

Photo credit: Cubbie_n_vegas

A guide for non-US residents on how to apply to college in the USA

When faced with the important process of how to apply for college, one can be easily daunted by the many forms, tests, and trivial requirements of colleges around the world. Even with soaring test scores and impeccable transcripts, it is still quite hard to have a smooth and easy application to college in the United States – even for Americans. One can only imagine the difficulty that a foreigner would encounter in the same situation.

Foreign applicants to American colleges have to complete the requirements of any other student, as well as some additional requirements. Perhaps the best way to ease the process of application for foreign students is through organization and guidance. Although this guide will certainly not cover absolutely all of the considerations for foreign application to an American college, it will definitely be of great assistance.

Preparation and Anticipation

Like any other significant endeavor in life, it is always important to prepare ahead in order to anticipate the humps and bumps that may arise along the way. Before applying, narrow down the list of colleges that you wish to apply to. Once done, you can use the internet to visit the homepage of each college and gather the application procedure and requirements – keep in mind that the requirements will differ from school to school. Now you can make a schedule to help you along each of your tasks and deadlines to ensure that you are well prepared for things to come.

Falling in Line with the Rest

As a foreign student, you will have to complete everything that all the other students have to complete with the added bonus of extra requirements. Almost all college applications require the following:

Application form
Application fee
High school transcripts
Admission test scores (SAT, ACT, etc.)
Recommendation letter/s
Essay/s
Interview
Portfolio or audition (if applying for an arts related course)
You should also prioritize your list and adjust your schedule to make sure that you have enough time for each requirement. Remember that foreign students have quite a handful more to consider, therefore it is imperative to allot ample time to complete the regular requirements and those needed for foreigner applicants.

A Little Something Extra

The best place to begin after completing your normal requirements is by asking your high school guidance counselor for a list of common tests or requirements that will be needed for foreign applicants. This list will most likely consist of the following:

TOEFL or test of English as a foreign language (or other proficiency tests)
VISA (whether working or student)
Financial support

The TOEFL is an English proficiency test for foreigners who would like to work or study in places where English is the primary language. Acquiring a VISA and proper financial support determines whether or not you will be admitted into the United States and if you will be properly financed throughout your stay. Make sure to inquire with family (both abroad and in your native country) as they can help with these regards. Aside from these, double-check the specific requirements of each college you apply to.

Patience is a Virtue

Finally, all that is left to do is wait. Definitely, this wait will give you time to do more research into your colleges of choice and your programs of preference. Get out there and do some research into campus life, student programs, course information, and the likes. All of your work will pay off in the end!

photo credit: Rich Anderson