Grad's guide to graduate admissions essays - Colleen Reding 2015

Conclusion - Starting the writing process

The hard part is over. You have decided that you want to further your education, and you are taking the first steps in making it happen. The authors of the essays provided had very different backgrounds with even more disparate future goals, but all agreed on the same thing. When it comes to the graduate school application process, the most challenging aspect was deciding to apply in the first place, whether it was years in the making or the result of evolving interests. For many, sitting down and writing the admissions essay(s) was the next major hurdle. It may seem funny that providing a 2-page essay could seem so daunting to individuals who spent their undergraduate years writing 20-page research papers and presenting dissertations. However, writing about oneself can prove to be a very challenging exercise, as it requires the writer to thoughtfully consider relevant experiences and academic intentions and then present these ideas within an honest and coherent manner. For some, the task was made simpler by having a specific prompt to address, but for most programs, applicants were offered the opportunity to craft essays based on the topic of their choice. Hopefully, the essays provided sparked some ideas for your prospective topic, but here are some additional questions to consider when making that decision.

1.When did you decide that you were interested in applying to graduate school?

2.Which classes were your favorites when you were an undergraduate student? Were there professors in particular who inspired you?

3.What are your long-term career goals? Is graduate school necessary in order to pursue those career aspirations?

4.Can you think of a time when you held a leadership position? Were there challenges you had to overcome? How did you come to a solution to effect change?

5.Are there particular aspects of the graduate program that attract you? The university’s faculty? Research opportunities of interest? The location of the university?

6.What experience will you bring to the program? What, specifically, sets you apart from other applicants?

7.Are you interested in making a career change? Was there something about your prior experience that helped you realize your professional skills and interests?

8.Have you traveled somewhere that had an impact on your perspective?

9.Is there someone in your life who inspires you and who has led you to where you are now?

10.Why is now the ideal time in your life to attend graduate school?

Now, go. Write down all of your ideas and get started. Be sure to leave yourself plenty of time to revise or completely start over. After you have your ideas down on paper, you will be able to better visualize what you want your essay to look like. Avoid falling into the trap of waiting for that perfect topic to hit you; instead, allow the writing process to lead you to it. Once you have completed a draft, go back and review the sample essays to be certain that you are hitting all of the points you want to make within your essay. Remember, most admissions essays are between 500 and 800 words—this does not leave much room to express who you are, why you are a great candidate for your intended program, and why you are interested in the degree, so make sure that each paragraph counts. After you have something down on paper, show someone. It may be a professor, a friend, or a coworker—someone who you trust to give you honest feedback on your work.

In the draft stage, you should ensure that you have tailored your essay to fit the individual programs to which you are applying, if applicable. This is your opportunity to introduce yourself and to convince admissions officers that you belong in next year’s class, so this is not the time to be shy or to make mistakes in grammar or spelling. You have undoubtedly worked hard to be where you are. If you are at the essay-drafting stage, you have likely completed the required admissions examinations and your undergraduate coursework (or are close to being finished), and you can look at the essay as the final opportunity to make your application stand out and make your case for your acceptance.

Congratulations on your decision to apply to graduate school. Best of luck to you on the application process and your future studies!