sample admission essay

Here is a free custom essay outline based on one of our network of blogs’ reader input.

Outline of the essay based on the reader’s biographic input

I.  Introduction
A.  Confucius quote: “Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without.”
B.  Explaining how I got into music
C.  Explaining why music has become an inseparable part of me that I truly cannot do without

II.  My music education
A.  When my parents allowed me to take up piano
B.  My first, major individual achievement in music: grade 8 piano
C.  Joining the Chinese Orchestra Society

III.  How my appreciation and love of music grew
A.  As I learned to appreciate music, I felt greater freedom of expression.
B.  I felt that I was able to make the instrument sound the I wanted it to, express my thoughts and feelings in those very same melodies that captured me as a little boy.
C.  I continue to expand my knowledge, practice, and expression of music to this day.

IV.  Why I want to join this graduate music program
A.  I believe that this graduate music program will equip me with the tools, education, and experience needed to become the best musician I can be.
B.  Through my experience in this graduate program, I feel that I will be able to meet people who will become life-long friends and colleagues in the music world.
C.  Ultimately, my goal is to be the best musician I can be so that I may create music that, as Confucius put it, “produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without.”

Full First Paragraph of the custom essay

Confucius, one of China’s most celebrated philosophers, once said, “Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without.”  The first moment in my life that I felt this notion of my human nature being incapable of doing without music was when I was a young boy and my parents bought my sister a piano for her to take lessons.  I remember that every time she would play, I would be whisked away by the sweet melodies of the piano.  It was something that I felt an instant and direct connection with, as though I could not live without it.  At that point, I begged my parents to allow me to take piano lessons as well and it marked the beginning of a musical journey that I continue to this day.  Today, music is just as much a part of me as my body, my mind, my emotions, or my soul – truly a kind of pleasure which my being cannot do without.

“Associate yourself with people of good quality, for it is better to be alone than in bad company.” -  Booker T. Washington

This quote has long been one of the most important sources of  inspiration in my life.  Aside from bidding sound advice, Washington also alludes to how powerful an influence each person can be in another person’s life.  It is not only important to surround yourself with good people and avoid bad company, but it is also paramount to make your own self-exemplary of a person of good quality.  This is the reason I want to pursue my graduate studies at the Prairie View A&M University College of Business.  I feel that Prairie View is the best environment for surrounding myself with good people and for my own formation into an even better person who can be a positive influence on those around me.

Washington’s quote resounds loudly in me because I share the same beliefs.  My primary aspiration in life is to obtain a PhD in management and, ultimately, become a professor at a top-tier historically black college and university, like Prairie View A&M.  I believe that education is one of the principal means of sharing who I am and what I have to give to others, as I strive to be that person of good quality and help others become better people themselves.  Achieving an MBA degree from Prairie View A&M will be a major step toward my aspirations and goals in life.  Aside from having an excellent business school with an outstanding MBA program, the institution is also a prominent historical symbol as Texas’ second oldest public institution of higher learning established to educate a diverse student population.  This falls right in line with my goal to teach in a historically black college or university.

Business plays a central role in our lives, in society, and in the way that the world continues to develop.  Business and the effects that ripple out from it have a strong effect on the human psyche and how we live our day to day lives.  Even in the context of the economic crisis we are suffering, we can see that business is cardinal, affecting practically every aspect of our lives from pricing and income, to employment and consumerism.  To be a positive and meaningful influence on the business minds of today and tomorrow is my perennial goal.

Growing up, I was fortunate enough to have both of my parents in the household to raise me.  This was quite different from the family background of many of my other friends, but it is something I am deeply grateful for.  My parents played an active role in my formation, and there was one thing that they always emphasized and encouraged in my life: education.  They helped  foster in me an attitude of passion, dedication, and discipline toward education that drives my ambitions.  Even more importantly, though, it is precisely that passion, dedication, and discipline that I wish to impart on others through my MBA education at Prairie View A&M, and my role as a future PhD-holder and professor in the field of business.

Outlined used for this Essay:

I.  Most inspirational quote for me

I started the essay with my favorite quote from Booker T. Washington, “Associate yourself with people of good quality, for it is better to be alone than in bad company” because of the following reasons:

1.  It reflects what I want to achieve in life.
2.  The quote discusses the importance of good company, good quality people, and the effect that one person can have on another.
3.  The quote helps explain that I want to be a good person who can positively affect those around me, and that Prairie View A&M is an ideal educational environment for fostering the right qualities and characteristics in me.

II.  Further explanation of the quote on a more personal level, going over how it ties in with my aspirations

In this part, I discussed my aspirations to obtain a PhD in management and to become a professor in a HBCU.  I also discussed about Prairie View A&M as a top-tier HBCU and, hence, makes for the perfect place to get training, education, and experience.

I explained my view of education and its major role of shaping people.  Becoming a teacher is the best way for me to share everything that I am to help others reach their full potential. This part also talks about how achieving an MBA from Prairie View A&M is a major step toward becoming a teacher and affecting other people’s lives in the best possible way.

III. Explanation of my personal perspective on business and why I have been inspired to succeed in business

This part tackles the following topics in relation to my desire to go to a business school:

1.  How business affects practically every aspect of our lives
2.  How the economic crisis is a perfect example of the effect that business has on our lives – This is also an adversity that I have had to overcome, because it’s difficult going to college in these tough economic times.
3.  How my perspective on business has contributed to my passion to become a teacher who can be a positive and meaningful influence on the business minds of today and tomorrow

IV.  Conclusion about how my parents inspired me

This is a short passage about how my parents have helped to foster my appreciation for education. This part also points out the following topics:

1.  Having two parents really helped to have a stable home, which many of my friends weren’t fortunate enough to have.
2.  How my parents always emphasized and encouraged education, passion, dedication, and discipline, which had a great impact on me.
3.  My goal is to instill in others the same passion, dedication, and discipline that my parents instilled in me.

Some of the terms used in graduate school admissions are similar to those used in undergraduate studies, so applicants need not be stressed by grad school admissions jargon. There are, however, some words that take on a different meaning when used within the context of graduate school admissions and curriculum. So just in case you’re not yet familiar with graduate school admissions terminologies, here are some of the commonly used terms:

Assistantship – refers to the financial assistance granted to a meritorious graduate student in return for services as an assistant in research, laboratory, and teaching. Applicants can inquire about the details of the school’s assistantship arrangements from the graduate school admissions staff.

Attestation – the process of reaffirming that a transcript or degree is genuine by having a witness or authorized person sign it. A transcript of records is an important graduate school admissions requirement, and attestation is sometimes required in certain circumstances.

Core requirements or core curriculum – refers to the compulsory courses or requisites in order to complete a degree.

Deferred admission – also known as delayed admission, this is an option that grad students have to temporarily postpone their program studies usually for work, document processing, travel, etc.

GMAT: raduate Management Admission Test – one of the main graduate school admissions requirements for business schools and MBA applicants.

GRE: Graduate Record Exam – the GRE is a common grad school admissions requirement, and can be considered as the grad school counterpart of SATs. it tests your cognitive and reasoning abilities and is composed of two elements: general and subject matter.

Letter of recommendation – another essential graduate school admissions requirement, and is written by a credible reference person to vouch for the applicant’s character, work progress, career goals, etc. Applicants usually ask professors to write letters of recommendation for them.

LSAT or Law School Admission Test – a graduate school admissions requirement for law schools, and professional and postgraduate law programs in the US.

MAT or (Millers Analogy Test): this exam is commonly used in the admissions process for social science and liberal arts graduate school programs. As compared to GRE, the MAT focuses more on verbal reasoning and qualitative skills.

MCAT: Medical College Admission Test – a graduate school admissions requirement for those applying to medical schools in the US.

Non-matriculated student — a student who takes courses from the institution but is not enrolled under any degree program. This is a good option to gauge whether a student can handle the workload of grad school.

NRMP: National Resident Matching Program offered to those applying to medical schools in the US.

Placement test – a test conducted to help students find the suitable courses for them according to their interests and academic ability.

Plan of study – details the applicant’s intended course of study and should coincide with the applicant’s stated objectives in her/his statement of purpose or personal statement. The statement of purpose is also an essential graduate school admissions requirement.

Test of English as a Foreign Language or TOEFL: One of the graduate school admissions requirements that non-native English speakers should meet.

Transcript – the official record of a student’s academic performance, contains the course titles, corresponding final grades, and each course’s number of credits. All applicants are asked to submit a copy of their transcripts as a graduate school requirement.

TSE or Test of Spoken English – a test administered to assess English proficiency for non-native English speakers.

Withdrawal – refers to the process of dropping out of a class or school.

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.

Free sample admission essay outlines customized to YOUR biography
Free admissions essays examples

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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