sample admission essay

Agent Jade written by Absolut College Girl is a blog by a college student who is currently taking up Geography. The blog has a wide variety of topics that are all brought together by the common theme of a college girl seeking the “Ultimate College Experience.” For example, you can find college-related topics like “Cautionary Notes from a Disgruntled Senior to the Freshman” or more random topics like “Five Reasons Why You Should See Slumdog Millionaire.”

Things to like

What makes this blog is the personality and attitude that shines through in each of the blog entries. The website exudes personality, from the large, bright pink and yellow opening page down to the snappy article titles and the overall perspective of the articles. A quick visit to the “About Me” page and you’ll find out where all of that personality comes from as the author describers herself, her interests, and the purpose of her blog.

Things to improve on

On the good side, AgentJade excels in the one thing that most blogs fail at: having a personality that the audience can relate to. On the bad side, AgentJade has some problems with her overall blog design. First, it is difficult to navigate. Personally, I hate having to scroll all the way down the webpage just to find the site’s navigation links. Perhaps some navigation buttons along the top of the page or on the left margin would make it easier for us visitors. Second, hardly any of the blog entries have pictures. Pictures play a big role in capturing and keeping the interest of the readers. There’s just no excuse not to put some good pictures up there, especially considering the fact that the author enjoys sharing her experiences, feelings, and interests. Finally, there is nothing on the front page of the blog that tells the reader what it is all about. Even though “written by Absolut College Girl” gives readers a hint, there should be some other indication of what people can find on the blog.

Crafting the perfect MBA application essay is a tough job.  Many people are aware of the benefits an MBA degree can give them in their careers and as such, you need to be able to stand out in the kind of admission essays that you pass.  MBA schools have doubled their strictness when it comes to choosing prospective students, taking in applicants who impress not only with their grades but also with the achievements in their lives.  Get inspiration and ideas on how to define entrepreneurship in your MBA admission essay by viewing sample MBA essays.  Here’s how to make your own winning piece from the good points seen in sample MBA admission essays.

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Entering a graduate school is a dream for many people.  A degree from a graduate school can provide you with various career opportunities in the future.  Many companies and institutions today prefer applicants with degrees from graduate schools.  So if you want to broaden your chances of getting a brighter future, entering a graduate school is your ticket.  One of the requirements in getting admitted is a well-written graduate school essay.  Below is a guideline on how to make one that would grab the attention of the admissions officers.

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Your college admission essays will give the college admission committee the chance to get to know more about yourself.  It is these college application essays that will provide them with some insight into your identity and how you are as a person.  Because of this, it is necessary for you to exert much time and effort when writing your essay.  If you’re having a hard time trying to think of college essay topics, you might want to take a look at sample college admission essays to see how others have written theirs.

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Your personal statement essay is a very important part of your application to law school.  It’s not supposed to be a written form of your transcript of records or resume, but rather a document that provides admissions officers with insights regarding your life and personal opinions.  Personal statements are supposed to be personal, non-generic, and unique.  Writing your sample personal statement gives you the opportunity to provide readers with a look into your life as a student and how you are as a person.  Because admissions officers will be reading hundreds, if not thousands, of personal statement essays, you have to make sure that yours stands out.  One of the ways by which you can do this is to focus on an aspect of your life that makes you different from others.(1)
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Making the decision to become a lawyer can be one of the biggest steps that you take in your life, especially if you are from a family of lawyers.  Coming from a family of lawyers can have many advantages for those who are planning to become lawyers themselves.  Regardless of whether or not you are directly related to lawyers, though, you will probably have to enroll in law school to get prepared for the bar exams.  Getting into law school can be difficult, but you have good chances of getting admitted if you do a great job on your application package.  Perhaps the most important application requirement is the personal essay.(1)  Read on for some tips on indicating in your personal statement that you are from a family of lawyers, and other basic tips on writing your law school personal statement.

Doing your research: taking a look at well-written sample law school personal statements for valid reasons to go to law school

Before you begin writing your law school personal statement, you may want to start out by doing some research and gathering samples.  Sample law school personal statements can help you brainstorm for ideas and understand the basic format of the essay.  Try to get a good grasp of the tone of the essay and how the ideas are developed in the essay.  Aside from looking at examples of well-written essays, you may also want to look at poorly written ones, so you know what mistakes to avoid.(2)

Writing your essay :  using the characteristics of well-written, family-focused law school personal statement examples in your draft

Now that you have a good idea of what it takes to write a good family-focused law school personal statement, you can get started on your first draft.  Take some time to reflect on the research that you composed and think of how to make your essay even better than all of the samples that you read.  Concentrate on making your essay excellent in content, form, and style.(3)  Here is a list of some basic tips on writing your personal statement for law school:(4)
-  Make sure that your sentences are clear and concise.
-  Avoid all types of technical errors, such as spelling and grammar mistakes.
-  Try to let your character and personality show through your writing.
-  Always make your personal statement specific to the school that you are writing it for.
-  If you need more help, you may want to join a writing workshop for personal statements.

Winning your case : writing your own excellent law school personal statement by discussing family experiences and influences

One of the benefits of being from a family of lawyers is that you are probably already pre-disposed to the profession.  You can use this benefit to your advantage by writing a law school personal statement that is family-focused.  Not only is your background and family something personal, but it also offers many opportunities to discuss why you want to go to law school.  Before you get to writing your essay, be sure to take time to plan out what you are going to write and how you are going to write it.(5)  Try not to make it sound as though you are only going to law school because of the fact that you come from a family of lawyers.  Instead, try to focus on how your background has helped to form the values and virtues that it takes to be successful in law school and as a lawyer in the future.(6)

Some tips on mentioning examples in your family-focused essay: (7)
-  Focus on positive traits and try to eliminate any negative aspects.
-  Try to discuss how the examples have helped to sculpt your personality and character.
-  Find out what makes you unique in your family and as a person, in general, and expound on that.
-  Remember to concentrate on your goal with the personal statement. Introduce yourself and explain how your family background and upbringing has influenced you and your decision to apply for law school.

Making an appeal by learning a few more tips based on a creatively written law school personal statement sample

Writing a creative and interesting law school personal statement does not mean that you have to do something completely new and “out of the box.”  In fact, it would probably help to keep your essay simple, clear and concise, without too much humor or cliches.(8)  The best way to write creatively is to be yourself.  Many of the things that make you unique are precisely what interests other people.  Try not to focus too much on other people or family members.  Instead, keep the essay centered on you and let your personality and character shine through for who you really are.  Your essay is a venue for you to let the admissions committee know why you deserve a slot at the school.

(1) http://career.berkeley.edu/LAW/LawStatement.stm
(2) http://collegeapps.about.com/od/essays /College_Admissions_Essays_Samples_Critiques_and_Writing_Tips.htm
(3) http://bunny.ucdavis.edu/advising/law/handouts /tips_writing_your_law_school_personal_statement.html
(4) http://lawschool.about.com/od/applicationprocess/tp/personalstatement.htm
(5) http://www.bc.edu/offices/careers/gradschool/law/lawstatement.html
(6) http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/642/01/
(7)  http://www.sampleadmissionessay.com/category/law-school-admissions/
(8) http://www.yale.edu/career/students/gradprof/lawschool/lawapply.html#stat

When putting together your college application package, you will probably be required to submit an application essay.  While your transcripts, resume, and SAT scores will probably be the first thing that schools look at, your college application essay may just be the x-factor that gets you into the school of your choice.  Because of the importance of the application essay, it’s important to think of topics that are interesting and relevant to your application.  If you have had job experience in high school, you may want to focus on that topic, because it shows a sense of responsibility, hard work, and independence.(1)  Read on to learn more about focusing on your high school job experiences in your college application essay or personal statement.

Why including high school job experiences in your application essay or personal statement is helpful

The main purpose of the application essay is to serve as an introduction.  You are introducing yourself to the admissions committee and the college or university that you want to study in.  Writing about your high school job experiences and how they have helped to develop your character is a good way of introducing yourself through your college application essay.  Even just the ability to balance school life and work life is a great advantage of those who worked through high school, which is why it can be favorable for you to write about such a topic.  Working while studying helps to build work ethic, responsibility, and character – three key traits that many admissions committees look for in applicants.(2)

How to discuss what you’ve learned from high school job experiences in your college application essay or college entrance essays

When writing your college admissions essay about your high school job experiences, the number one pitfall to avoid is listing and enumerating.  The resume and personal information that you submit along with your application package will already have the basic information on your achievements and practical experience.  Try to avoid merely listing the jobs or experiences that you have had as a working student and, instead, tell the story of how you have learned valuable lessons, developed important values, and practiced certain virtues.(3)  For example, instead of talking about the kind of work you did, try to single out an instance when you had to make an important decision that helped you learn a lot about yourself, your work, and your life in general.

Aside from the subject matter, you should also concern yourself with the mechanics of the essay and how you present yourself in the essay.  First, make sure that your essay does not have any typographical or grammatical errors.  Take time to edit your essay well and eliminate any and all technical mistakes.  Second, be as truthful and honest as you can.  If the admissions committee finds out that the information in your essay or your other records is not true, then you can forget about getting into the college, because they probably won’t accept you.  Finally, make sure to let your personality shine through.  Remember, you are trying to introduce yourself, so you should let your character and personality come through in your essay.(4)

How a sample application essay focusing on previous work experiences can help you write your personal statement

If you are having a hard time writing your personal statement, try taking a look at some sample application essays that also focus on work experience.  Reading sample essays is a great way to get ideas, inspiration, and motivation for your own essay.  Take note of the theme, tone, and format of the sample application essay so you can get an idea of how to go about your own essay.  Just make sure that you are using the sample admission essays to get inspiration and not to copy from.(5)  You may even want to use sample college admission essays to learn.  For example, you can critique certain sample essays to see what they did wrong and learn from their mistakes to make sure that the essay you write is better.(6)

Why comparing your personal statement draft with a sample application essay can be helpful

So you have finally finished your essay and you are looking for ways to improve on it.  One great way of editing your personal statement draft is to compare it with a sample application essay.  Read both of the papers side-by-side and see if there are any areas that you can edit to make your essay better.  Some of the changes you will make can be as simple as spelling corrections, while other changes may require you to rewrite an entire paragraph.  Make sure to go over your essay a few times until you are happy with it.  You may even want to have your essay read by a parent, teacher, advisor, or counselor to see if they have any helpful suggestions, corrections, or comments.  In the end, what you are aiming for is an excellent college application essay that will help get you a slot in the college of your choice.

(1) http://www.sampleadmissionessay.com/category/college-university-admissions/
(2)  http://www.sampleadmissionessay.com/category/college-university-admissions/
(3) http://collegeapps.about.com/od/essays/a/essay_tips.htm
(4) http://apps.carleton.edu/admissions/apply/essay_tips/
(5) http://businessmajors.about.com/od/applicationessays/Sample_Application_Essays.htm
(6) http://collegeapps.about.com/od/essays/a/EssayYouthBoard_3.htm

Whether you are planning to go into undergraduate studies or post-graduate studies, you will probably have to complete and submit an application package for the admissions committee.  The application package is more than just a requirement to get into schools, but it also serves as an introduction of yourself to the admissions committee of the schools that you apply to.  For this reason, it is essential that you do a great job on your application package if you wish to take up undergraduate college or post-graduate studies, especially for popular fields such as medicine.  This article will cover some of the basic differences between the college admissions process and the medical school admissions process.

The medical school admissions process vs.  the college admission or university admission process

The admissions processes for medical schools and undergraduate schools differ in a number of ways.  The most basic and obvious difference is that medical schools usually have more specific application requirements.  Colleges, universities, and medical schools will all ask for your personal information and transcripts, but medical schools usually also require applicants to have taken up specific courses that are related to medicine.  Sciences, such as Biology, Physics, and Chemistry are normally required for medical school admission.  For US schools or international schools, students may be required to have taken up at least one year of English.(1)

In truth, whether you are applying for college or medical school, the application requirements and admissions process will differ from school to school.  Fortunately, programs such as the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS)(2) and The Common Application for Undergraduate College Admission(3) are making efforts to simplify the application process.  Basically, the AMCAS and the Common Application provide a primary application process that allows applicants to complete and submit a common application form with the basic information that most medical schools, colleges, and universities require.  The application forms are then sent to the schools that the applicant wants to apply to.  The costs for either the AMCAS or the Common Application will depend on the number of schools being applied to.  Applicants who have a chance of getting into the school applied for will be sent a secondary application form with more specific requirements, such as application essays.

Usual college admissions or university application requirements (4)

Application fee
Personal information or resume
Official transcripts
Recommendation letters
SAT or ACT scores
Admissions essay
Interview
Secondary application (if necessary)

Usual medical school requirements (5)

Application fee
Personal information or resume
Official transcripts
Recommendation letters or evaluation letters
DAT, MCAT, or GRE scores
Admissions essays
Interview
Secondary application (if necessary)

Preparing for the medical school admissions process

As can be seen in the lists above, the requirements for medical school and undergraduate schools are quite similar.  In most cases, however, medical schools are stricter when it comes to evaluating, assessing, and accepting students.  For many schools, the number of slots they have available are far fewer than the number of applicants, which is why medical schools normally have high standards.  To get ahead of the competition, try to follow some of the following tips for your medical school application:(6)

Make sure to complete and compile all of the requirements in a neat and organized manner.  Presentation surely isn’t everything, but a clean and neat application package is certainly more welcome than one that has a bunch of markings and crossed-out entries.
Make a schedule so you can keep track of submission deadlines and important meetings, such as interviews or meetings with those who are writing your evaluation and recommendation letters.  Always submit before the deadline, but make sure that you have put in enough time and effort to make the best application package you can.

Try reading some sample medical school admissions essays to get an idea of the questions asked, topics written about, the overall format, and the tone of the essays.  When writing your own essay, be sure to write more than just your achievements.  Tell the story of how your achievements have changed you and helped you develop virtues and values that are essential for medical school and medicine practice in general.(7)

Medical school interviews

One of the most important medical school requirements is the interview.  If you make it to the interview stage of the admissions process, then you are probably on track to getting into the school.  The fact that the school called you in for an interview means that you are actually worth their time and effort to interview.  Here are some tips on how to do a great job on your medical school admission interview:

Try to get to know the school that you are applying to.  Gather information on the history of the school, the courses offered at the school, and what makes it different from other schools.(8)  Take some time to read, understand and formulate answers to some of the commonly asked interview questions.(9)  Finally, try to be confident, but not arrogant.  If you know your goals and why you want to go to medical school, then you will probably do a great job on your interview.  Just relax and have confidence in yourself.

(1) http://www.aamc.org/students/applying/about/start.htm
(2) http://www.aamc.org/students/amcas/
(3) https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/default.aspx
(4) http://www.sampleadmissionessay.com/category/college-university-admissions/
(5) http://www.sampleadmissionessay.com/category/medical-school-admissions/
(6) http://careers.dyc.edu/guide/sec5/med_and_law_school_app_tips.htm
(7) http://www.cmu.edu/hpp/achieve/pstips.html
(8) http://gradschool.about.com/od/medicalschool/f/InterviewMS.htm
(9) http://career.berkeley.edu/Health/MedInterview.stm

Getting into the MBA school of your choice can be quite challenging.  Not only do you have to have reasonable grades to get admitted into a good MBA school, but you are also expected to write MBA admission essays.  Most schools have specific questions or topics for you to answer in your MBA essay, such as “what is your career vision?” or “how have you engaged with a community or organization?”(1)  Whether or not the school you are applying to has specific essay questions or topics, it can still be difficult to go about writing your MBA admissions essays.  One of the best areas to focus on in your MBA essays is your entrepreneurial endeavors.  Here are some tips on how to write about and develop topics of entrepreneurship and professional experience in your MBA essays:

MBA essay questions: know what to expect

Before you get started with your MBA essays, it’s important to have a good idea of what admissions committees expect from you and your essays.  First, check out the admissions requirements of the school you are applying to and make sure that you know exactly what questions or topics they expect you to write about in the essay.  Some schools require multiple essays, each one answering a different question.  While some essay questions will ask specifically about your career life or professional experience, others will focus on more general topics.(2)

Try to take a look at the questions independently and collectively to get an idea of what the admissions committee is expecting of you.  For example, some questions may be more centered on values and virtues, while others are focused on achievements and success.(3)  Knowing what to expect and knowing what is expected of you will help you set clear and precise goals for your MBA admission essays.

Looking at sample MBA essays with the theme of entrepreneurship: getting ideas from an MBA essay sample about how to develop the topic of entrepreneurship

Now that you have a basic idea of what to write about in your MBA essays, you may want to gather information and ideas on how to successfully develop the theme of entrepreneurship in your essay.  Perhaps the best way to begin your research is by reading sample MBA essays of those who have been successful in getting into the business school of their choice.  You can find sample essays from numerous sources, such as co-workers, friends, and relatives.  Aside from asking those around you, consider using the Internet to search for sample MBA essays.  In fact, some websites have listings of sample application essays submitted to particular MBA schools.(4)

When you locate some useful sample MBA essays with the entrepreneurship theme, make sure to take note of how they developed the theme.  What types of endeavors does the sample mention? Did the writer use a creative or unique angle to express his or her ideas? You will probably notice that many of the successful MBA essays based on a theme of entrepreneurship are those that go beyond a simple enumeration of the writer’s achievements, endeavors, and successes.  Try to get ideas of what to write about and how to express it successfully.(5)

Writing about your business or entrepreneurial endeavors in your MBA admission essays

When writing your MBA essay, make sure to keep in mind the form and substance of your essay.  The form is how the MBA essay is written and organized.  It is important to effectively convey your message, while keeping your essay concise and coherent.  The substance of your essay, while focusing on your entrepreneurial endeavors, should also speak for some of the values and virtues that you have learned along the way.

Possible topic #1: Stating in your MBA admissions essay how an MBA degree can further help your business

You may want to start by writing about some of the business experience that you have gained throughout the years.  Remember that the admission resume already serves as a list of your achievements, so try to focus on only one or two of your experiences in entrepreneurship.  You may want to give a little background, but make sure to keep your focus on how an MBA degree can help you with your current entrepreneurial ventures.  Try to explain why you think it’s the right time for you to get an MBA degree in the context of your business.  Finally, you may want to conclude your MBA essay with a few sentences about what you plan to do once you complete your MBA education.(6)

Possible topic #2: Indicating in your MBA admissions essays how an MBA degree can equip you with skills to finally start your own business

MBA admission essays can make or break your chances of getting accepted into the MBA school of your choice, so be sure to take the time and effort to write excellent essays.  Indicating in your essay how an MBA degree can help you establish your own business is another good topic.  By using this as a topic, you’re actually letting the admissions officers know about your future goals as a first-time entrepreneur.

Remember that writing an essay will not only help you convince the admissions committee to accept you, but it will also be a great way of reflecting upon your success, career, and life in general.  Writing an MBA admission essay may seem like a daunting task at first, but, with a little inspiration and motivation, you can write an excellent essay that can get you in the MBA school of your choice.

(1) http://www.hbs.edu/mba/admissions/writtenapplication.html
(2) http://www.admissionsessays.com/business_school.html
(3) http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/programs/duke_mba/daytime/apply_daytime/
(4) http://www.businessweek.com/bschools/mbainsider/sample_essays.html
(5) http://www.sampleadmissionessay.com
(6) http://businessmajors.about.com/od/admissionessays/

Parents and students consider multiple factors when selecting a school. For most parents, the most important thing to consider is the school’s tuition rates, as well as the other expected expenses. For some, what matters most is location and accessibility. There are some parents, however, who believe that the school’s prestige and reputation is the most important thing to consider when selecting schools. Below are some of the common reasons why some parents place prime importance on prestige and reputation when selecting schools:

Prestigious school = more career opportunities in the future

For many parents, the money they’ll spend on their children’s education in a reputable school is a worthy investment because they believe that a degree from a prestigious school will translate to more and better employment opportunities for their kids after graduation. In this sense, the high tuition rates and other big expenses are all well worth it because the academic degree will ensure better careers for their kids.

You see proof of the reality of this belief in the number of companies in the professional world that have certain biases or inclinations toward applicants who hold degrees from reputable universities, med and law schools, and graduate schools. Even if having the name of a prestigious school stamped on the applicant’s resume doesn’t guarantee a job for the applicant, it still lends him or her an edge over all the other applicants.

Prestigious school = higher quality of education

While this belief may not hold true in the case of ALL prestigious schools, providing high quality education is still undeniably one of the top ways through which academic institutions earn a good reputation. Reputable schools invest in the services of highly competent and knowledgeable professors and lecturers to teach at their institution, which means that the students get taught by the best practitioners in the field of teaching. There’s nothing wrong with making prestige and reputation the primary considerations when choosing a school, as long as parents ensure that the money they’ll be spending on their kids’ education is well worth it, and the education their kids will get will be put to good use.