So, you want to go to graduate school? Pursuing a graduate degree right after college or after having worked for a couple of years is a major step toward personal and career development. While admission requirements may vary from one university to another-as well as from one graduate program to another-what would be common to all is the graduate admission essay. If you are not so much into writing, you may have a tough time coming up with your admission essay. The essay part is the be-all and end-all of the application process. Not to discourage you or anything, but it can make or break your chances at graduate school.
What is a graduate admission essay, anyway?
Since you took the time to read this article, it would be safe to assume that you have completed-or about to complete-your bachelor's degree, so you already have an idea of what an admission essay is. This is not too different from the one that you submitted when you first applied for college admission. The only difference is that in grad school, the competition is tougher, and the admissions examiner more discriminating. The essay is also referred to as a "statement of purpose," which should explain your motivation and intent for getting into the program.
How do you come up with an outstanding graduate admission essay?
First of all, your essay should present you as both a candidate and a person. Make sure that you highlight your best qualities by focusing on your biggest achievements, major influences, and your career and personal goals. Keep in mind that all these should be a good match with the type of program you would like to get into. A good essay should also be able to tell the university's admission board about your philosophy in life and how you believe obtaining a master's degree or a PhD can help you make a more significant contribution to your community.
What are some dos and don'ts in writing the essay?
Aside from academic excellence, earning a graduate degree requires hard work, patience, and resilience. Your academic records can easily show how well you did in college, and your former professors' recommendation letters will attest to that. What can't be seen right away are your personal values and goals. For this reason, do include past experience where you had faced a major disappointment and explain how you bounced back from the setback. Don't spin stories, though, because inconsistencies are bound to show. Do write about activities and work experience which display how determined and passionate you are about your field. Don't say that you just feel pressured to get into grad school, because you're hoping for a promotion or a raise or your fiancé has a PhD in molecular biology. Do have someone you trust and respect read your draft. Reading and re-reading your work will sometimes cause you to miss lapses in grammar and typography. If that person had been or is a graduate student, you may even ask him or her for tips or topics which you might have missed but would otherwise make your essay stand out.
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