Monthly Archives: June 2009

The ABCs of Admission Essay Writing

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One of the basic requirements for your application to a post-secondary educational institution is the admission essay.  Simply put, the admission essay can spell the difference between getting accepted or rejected to the school of your choice. If you are having trouble writing your personal statement, you may want to read on for some basic but helpful tips on writing an exceptional piece.  This article will also give advise on how you can use personal statement examples to help you along the way.

Accurate accounts of your student life

When writing your admission essay, it’s essential that you make accurate accounts of your student life. Not only can admissions committees double check your transcripts and what you write on your resume, but most admissions officers can also spot a lie a mile away, so don’t even think about it.(1)  Scour the Internet for some examples of personal statements to see how other writers use their student life to enhance their essays.

Brief but powerful descriptions of your experiences

If you plan on writing about life experiences, make sure that your descriptions are concise, brief, and, most of all, powerful.  Read a good example of personal statement, and you’ll notice how the writer uses literary strategies to make their experiences come across more vividly and with impact.  The last thing you want to do is bore the admissions officers who are reading your essay.(2)

Convincing conclusions

In concluding your admission essay, you should keep in mind your main objective, that is, to persuade the admission committee to accept you into their school.  Try to use what you have already written about (your student life and your experiences) to prove that you have the values and traits that it takes to succeed in the college that you are applying to.  Make sure that you don’t come off as being boastful or arrogant, instead try to be humble but confident.(3)  Look for an example of personal statement with a persuasive conclusion, and try to emulate how the writer was able to succeed in reaching the main goal of the admission essay.

(1)  http://www.acm.edu/uploads/cms/documents/acm-writing-essay.pdf
(2)  http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/application.html
(3)  http://www.depauw.edu/admission/documents/college-essay.pdf

Top 3 Fields where MBA Can Help You Succeed

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Earning an MBA degree can be one of the most fulfilling achievements that you will experience in life.  Not only is MBA an achievement in itself, but it can also aid greatly in your career path.  This article will cover three essential fields of business, and how an MBA education can help you succeed in each one.

Business Management

An MBA degree can help you advance your career in business management.  All throughout your MBA education, you will be studying and dealing with different business models, situations, concepts, strategies, and topics.  An MBA degree is likely to aid you in starting up and managing your own business.(1)

Finance

Another field where an MBA degree is of great importance is finance.  Dealing with numbers can be difficult, but an MBA education can help you understand the way that the economy works and how to manage your finances.  It is often said that understanding finance is one of the most important factors in being successful, and an MBA education will definitely help you develop a deeper understanding of how it works.(2)

Strategic/Risk Management

Finally, in order to keep a business and company running smoothly, efficiently and effectively, it is essential to be well versed in risk management and strategic management.  Whether you specialize in risk management or you have learned about it through your other classes, an MBA education is definitely a good way to get accustomed with making strategies and minimizing business risks.(3)

Before you gain your MBA education and degree, you will have to complete your application package and get accepted into an MBA program.  Perhaps the most significant application requirement is the personal statement.  So be sure to take a look at examples of personal statements to help you write an excellent essay.  When studying examples of personal statements, try to understand the tone, format, themes, and topics that are often written about.  What you will notice about personal statement examples is that they are interesting, captivating, and moving, all at once.  Try to read at least one personal statement example to get an idea of what is expected from your essay.

(1)  http://www.hbs.edu/mba/svmp/
(2)  http://www.bus.wisc.edu/mba/curriculum/
(3) http://www.mib.edu/cms/data/pages/master_course_insurance_finance.aspx

Getting Ahead with Your Scholarship Application

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So you’re finishing up your application package and you’re looking for some personal statement examples to help you on your essay when you came across some information on scholarships.  At first glance, it may seem as though scholarships are impossible to obtain and that you need to have impeccable grades and an outstanding resume.  While these things may definitely help you, there are a few other factors that can boost your chances of getting a scholarship plan.(1)  Read on for some helpful tips on scholarship applications.

Know what the sponsor is looking for, and gauge your success based on this

Before you start applying for scholarships, it’s important to get a good idea of what the sponsor is looking for.  Try to gather all of the information you need, and determine if you are eligible for a scholarship.  Aside from checking the websites of sponsors, you can also give them a call in an attempt to talk to someone who can give you all of the details you have to know.(2)  Just like using personal statement examples to help you understand how to write an admission essay, it is also important to gather sponsor information for better chances at landing a scholarship plan.

Send all requirements in advance

One of the golden rules when submitting applications of any sort is to make sure that you complete all of the requirements in full and send them before the deadline.  Not only will you get a head-start on your competition, but you will also let your probable sponsors know that you are responsible.(3)  Be sure to allot enough time for writing your personal statement, if it is required.  You can use personal statement examples to get the gist of what a scholarship personal statement should be like.  Before submitting your requirements, compare your essay with a personal statement example to ensure that you did a great job at writing.

Do well with your application essay by focusing on more meaningful discussions

When you are brainstorming on topics to write about in your essay, use examples of personal statements.  You’ll find that most examples of personal statements focus on meaningful discussions, such as goals and aspirations, your merits, and how you make a good candidate for the scholarship.  Some topics that would be great for use in your essay include your personal growth, your character, and your individuality.(4)

(1) http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergrad_adm/paths_to_adm/freshman/scholarship_reqs.html
(2)  http://www.scholars.uci.edu/tips.asp
(3)  http://www.iusb.edu/~scholar1/scholarlist.shtml
(4)  http://www.finaid.wwu.edu/scholarships/pages/general_information/tips.php

Debunking Some Prevalent Rumors about the MBA

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When applying for an MBA program, you will probably hear and read a lot of information about MBA school, MBA admissions, and MBA degrees.  The problem is, it’s high likely that not everything you hear or read about them will be true.  In fact, there are numerous myths about MBA that many people believe in.  Here are some MBA myths and the truths behind them:

Myth 1: You need to be a business major to qualify for MBA

The truth is, people from many different fields apply to and qualify for MBA programs and schools all around the world.  Most schools will accept applicants as long as they have a US Bachelor’s degree or any equivalent form of achievement.(1)  In fact, if you just take a little time to read some personal statement examples, you will find that MBA applicants come from all kinds of academic backgrounds.  Don’t believe in this myth, because you will only discourage yourself in getting your MBA degree.

Myth 2: You won’t get admitted to top MBA schools if you didn’t come from a blue-chip company

Another common myth is that you need to be from a blue-chip company to get admitted to a reputable MBA school.  While some schools will require that applicants to have had practical experience in the working world, others are willing to accept applicants with no working experience at all.(2)  If you do plan on applying to a top MBA school without any working experience, try checking out some examples of personal statements to get an edge over your competition.  You’re bound to find an example of personal statement that’s written by someone who isn’t from a blue-chip company.

Myth 3: Using a former alumna as personal reference that will help you secure a spot

Getting letters of recommendation and other forms of help from an alumna is a clever way to increase your chances of getting accepted.  It’s important to realize, though, that an MBA school will not accept you just because one of their alumni wrote a recommendation letter for you.(3)  Take matters into your own hands and have confidence that your own skills, capabilities, and experiences are enough to get you into MBA school.  Be sure to capitalize on your personality, character, skills, education, and training by writing an excellent MBA admission essay with the help of personal statement examples.

(1) http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/mba/admission/application_requirements.html
(2)  http://www.hbs.edu/mba/admissions/admissioncriteria.html
(3)  http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/mba/admission/letters_of_reference.html

Avoiding Plagiarism in Personal Statements

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Respecting Intellectual Property when Viewing Examples of Personal Statements: Why Plagiarism Is Bad

When applying for college or post-graduate studies, one of the most important parts of your admissions package is the personal statement.  For many applicants, the personal statement spells the difference between getting accepted or rejected by their school of choice.  For this reason, some people turn to examples of personal statements for help with writing their own essays.  While making use of examples of personal statements is definitely a good idea, there is a major danger that you should be aware of before you do so: plagiarism.  Educational institutions frown upon plagiarism and even punish offenders by expulsion in serious cases.  Read on to learn more about plagiarism and how to avoid committing plagiarism when using examples of personal statements to write your essay.

What is plagiarism?

In basic terms, plagiarism is the act of using another writer’s words and ideas without properly citing your sources. Intellectual property is the main concept behind plagiarism, because the original writers have the intellectual property rights over the words and ideas that are expressed in their works.  Whenever you make use of someone else’s words, ideas, sounds, images, videos, or any other form of intellectual property, it’s imperative that you document your sources or you run the risk of getting called out for plagiarism.  As mentioned earlier, most educational institutions don’t take plagiarism lightly.  If you are caught plagiarizing someone else’s works, you can be expelled from your school, get your application rejected, or, in serious cases, get arrested for intellectual property rights infringement.

What does plagiarism have to do with your personal statement?

When you make use of examples of personal statements, you may get tempted to use the ideas and words of the examples that you read.  While direct copying of the examples is definitely plagiarism, there are a number of other ways in which you can commit plagiarism.  A common misconception about plagiarism is that paraphrasing the original author’s words or ideas is not an offense.  The truth is, whether you copy directly, paraphrase, or summarize, you will need to site your sources or run the risk of getting caught for plagiarism.  Another plagiarism risk is making use of famous quotes or sayings without stating who originally said or wrote the saying.  With all of the risks of committing plagiarism, you’re probably wondering: “So how do I put examples of personal statements to good use?”

How can you put examples of personal statements to good use without plagiarizing?

Plagiarism and intellectual property laws, in general, are complex and difficult to understand, especially if you aren’t a lawyer.  First off, it’s important to realize that it probably won’t look good to the admissions committee if your personal statement is full of quotes and citations of sample personal statements, so try to avoid that route.  When making use of sample essays, your best bet is to only use these essays as guidelines and sources of inspiration.  Instead of actually lifting words or ideas from the examples that you find, try to take note of the characteristics of the examples, such as the tone, format, style, themes, and subject matter that was written about.  That way, you will be sure that you won’t commit plagiarism and, at the same time, your essay will be original.  Remember, your goal is to introduce your own character and personality through your personal statement, soavoid plagiarism and let your true self shine through in your admissions essays.

Photo Credit : Digirebelle

Highlighting Skills in Personal Statements

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Using Examples of Personal Statements When Writing An Essay Highlighting Your Excellent Research Skills

Research skills are an invaluable asset in any industry and any profession that you enter into, even in the schooling stages of one’s life.  No matter what path you decide to take in your college or post-graduate education, you will find that your research skills can be a great help not only for getting through school, but also for getting into school.  You application forms and transcripts will probably give the admissions committee a hint that your research skills are excellent, but you may want to consider highlighting these skills in your personal statement.  Read on for some helpful tips on how to write an admission essay about your excellent research skills.

Put your research skills to use

As a good researcher, you probably already know the importance of doing research before starting any major projects.  So, before you begin writing your application essay or personal statement, you need to begin by doing some research on the schools that you are applying to.  Taking the time and effort to do your research will give you a vital edge when writing your personal statement.  Try to get information from the official websites of these schools to get a clear picture of their values, style of education, strengths and weaknesses, campuses, student bodies, and their philosophy of education.  You will be able to use all of this information when deciding on your approach for your personal statement.  While your research, remember to think of ways that you can tie in the themes of research and your research skills in particular when writing your essay.

Gather some sources

Now that you have done some research on the schools you plan on applying to, it’s time to gather some sources to help you on your personal statement.  There are loads of guides and tips on the Internet, but one of the most effective sources for help are examples of personal statements.  Gather some examples of personal statements so you can get some ideas about the format, style, tone, themes, and subjects that others have written about in their essays.  Because you want to focus on your research skills, you should try to find some examples of personal statements that also focus on research skills.  It may take some time to find some good examples of personal statements, but the benefits are well worth it.

How to focus on your research skills in your personal statement

With a good foundation of what the admissions committee expects from your essay, you can now go about writing your personal statement.  When you write about your research skills, make sure not to make that the only focus of your personal statement.  While research skills are a definite plus, you don’t want the admissions committee to think that it is your only skill or trait.  Try to discuss your research skills in relation to how they have helped you deal with difficult situations or challenging times.  You can also relate your abilities as an excellent researcher to your values, character traits, virtues, and future goals.  Reflection is an important step towards realizing just how much of an impact your research skills have made on you, your personality, and your life in general.

Photo Credit : Freddy The Boy

Personal Statements and Your Competitive Personality

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Using Examples of Personal Statements as Guides on How Being Competitive Can Help You Excel in College

Being competitive can be a problem or a benefit, depending on the situation you are in and how you channel your competitive spirit.  When you are applying for college, competition is something that you have to be very aware of.  With thousands of students applying to the same colleges and universities that you apply to, you definitely have to show the admissions committee why you deserve to be accepted into their school.  Although the competition may be tough, you can definitely make it into and through college if you have the right competitive spirit.  One of the ways to let this spirit come through to the admissions committee is through your personal statement.

Why is the personal statement so important

The personal statement is one of the most essential requirements in your application package.  Even if your transcripts aren’t flawless and your resume isn’t perfect, the personal statement can sway the decision of the admissions committee.  In other words, the personal statement can give you a competitive edge over all of the other applicants.  The trick is basically to introduce yourself to the committee and show them why you have the right personality, virtues, and values to succeed in college and beyond college.

Writing about competitiveness in your personal statement

A great way to make effective use of your personal statement is to discuss your competitive spirit and how it has helped to form your character and personality.  For example, many people who write about competition are athletes or anyone else who participates in competitive events.  It’s important not to sound as though you are obsessed with or get carried away by competition.  Instead, focus on how your competitive nature has helped you overcome adversity, challenges, and other difficult times in your life.  It is also a great idea to explain how you have grown as a person as a result of the various experiences that you have had in the past.

Using examples of personal statements

Examples of personal statements can help you in writing your owncompetition-inspired essays.  The trick is to take note of how other people have developed the theme of competition throughout their essays.  Also, try to analyze which types of competitive situations they chose to write about and how they linked these experiences to their personality traits.  If you really want to write a moving and heartfelt essay, you can focus on the most difficult competition you have faced in the past, the outcome of the challenge, and how the outcome made you a better person who is more ready to deal with the hardships of college.

How a competitive spirit can help you through college

Aside from focusing on past experiences and how they have made you into the person you are today, you should also think about how your competitive spirit can help you through college in the future.  Reflect on the types of traits that competition builds, such as leadership, teamwork, independence, self-motivation, the ability to rise to the occasion, and perseverance.  Getting through college has a lot to do with honing these traits and skills.  In your essay, try to touch on how your competitive spirit and everything that you have learned from competition can help you get through college and deal with the many challenges ahead of you.

Photo Credit : Bright Meadow

Three Myths about Scholarships

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With all of the financial troubles that are affecting the economy these days, one of the key goals of most consumers is to get the best deal possible.  College students and their parents can save loads of money by applying this same saving attitude to college education fees.  One of the best ways to get a good deal on college education is to get a scholarship.  If you think that you are not eligible for a scholarship, check out these top three myths on scholarships and think again:

You cannot get scholarships if you’re not an A student

You don’t have to be a straight-A student to get a scholarship.  Many schools are willing to give scholarships to students who show gradual improvement in their grades and other areas.(1)  If you want to bring attention to how you have improved over the years, you may want to do so in your admission essay.  Check out some personal statement examples to see how other people have discussed their academics by highlighting the positive aspects and downplaying the negative.

You cannot get scholarship if you’re not financially incapable

Another common myth when it comes to scholarships is that only people who are financially incapable are able to get scholarships.  Schools are obliged to assess scholarship applications based on the student’s records, personality, and abilities, and not just based on their financial status.  Before you count yourself out just because you are financially capable, try applying for a scholarship and see what happens.

It’s best to pay and let some organizations secure the scholarship grant for you

A lot of companies offer services and products based on searching for and acquiring scholarship grants for you.  While some of these services can be helpful, it is not advisable to pay for them.  You can get loads of information for free straight from the Internet and from the college or univeristy that you want to get admitted to.  Use what you have, and avoid spending extra money just to get the information that you can otherwise obtain for free.(2)

Before you get caught up thinking of what to do about your scholarship situation, make sure that you write a winning personal statement to get you into the college of your choice.  Make use of personal statement examples to help you think of ideas and topics to write about.  Examples of personal statements can also help you get an idea of what colleges and universities expect from their students.  You may want to find a personal statement example that was written specifically for the school that you are applying to.(3)

(1)  http://ia.utep.edu/Default.aspx?tabid=23038
(2)  http://www.orangecoastcollege.edu/NR/rdonlyres/EE349C5B-E995-484D-9860-C39321F211E6/0/ScholarshipMyths.pdf
(3)  http://www.public.coe.edu/wac/samples.htm

How to Make Every Word Count in Your Admission Essay

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When you write your admission essay, it is important to make every word count.  Take a look at some good examples of personal statements, and you’ll find that practically every word helps to enhance the essay.  Most schools have guidelines on essay length, which literally means that each word counts.  Aside from adhering to the essay length, it is also essential to make sense out of those words because your admission essay may be the one thing that can get you into the school of your choice.(1)  Here are some helpful tips on how to make write your personal statement:

Use the active voice

Although it is possible to use the passive voice in an effective way, it is often best to use the active voice in your admission essays.  Because the active voice denotes an action, it helps in affirming your desire to attend the school you are applying to.  Also, this helps to grab and hold the reader’s attention.  Using the passive voice may lead to confusing sentences or sentences that are not very interesting to read.(2)  Use examples of personal statements to see how they make use of the active voice.

Don’t show doubt or lack of confidence in your writing

You probably have a lot of doubts about what to write, how to write it, what the committee wants to hear, and how to make your essay stand out.  When it comes down to finally writing your paper, though, it’s important not to let any of these doubts, or any other negative thoughts for that matter, reflect in your writing.(3)  Try to show that you are confident, relaxed, and ready to face the challenge of writing your essay and getting into the school.  One tactic often used in personal statement examples is to focus on the positive and downplay the negative.

Be sure not to repeat the same ideas.

Another helpful hint for creating a winning admission essay is to avoid repeating the same ideas or information throughout your essay.  Try to keep your essay flowing from one idea to the next, and avoid recycling or reusing the things that you have already said.  Read your essay to yourself and then read it aloud to discern for yourself whether or not it is enthralling enough to keep your audience reading.  You could also have others read it, and use their insights and opinions to improve on what you’ve already written.  Compare your essay to a personal statement example to see if it’s at par with quality.

(1) http://www.sac.edu/students/library/nealley/pathfinders/meb_essay.htm
(2)  http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_actpass.html
(3)  http://admissions.me.holycross.edu/2007/10/09/common-application-essay-advice/

Ideas That Can Make Your MBA Essay Stand Out

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When writing your MBA admission essay, one of your main goals is to stand out as a unique individual who makes a good candidate for college admission.  Most examples of personal statement are able to do this well.  Writing a unique MBA essay doesn’t necessarily require that you write about your entire life history.(1)  If you are stuck on how to write an MBA essay that stands out, try out some of the following tips:

Discuss what makes you both a leader and good team player

Two marks of a great applicant are teamwork and leadership.  The reason MBA schools hold teamwork and leadership with great regard is that these two traits are essential to being a good business student and a good businessperson in general. Some examples of personal statement focus on certain experiences or situations wherein the author had to take on the reigns and be the leader of the team, or had to sacrifice for the sake of teamwork.  Be specific in the examples that you give, but expound on the qualities and character traits that you have developed because of your experiences.(2)

Tell readers what MBA can offer you

Another way to make your MBA essay stand out is by talking about how an MBA degree can help you in your life.  This is an approach used in many personal statement examples.  Perhaps you have specific goals or aspirations in life that would be more easily attainable with an MBA degree.  An MBA degree has a lot to offer you, so be sure to concentrate on the points that mean the most and those that will make the most impact on your career and life.  Just remember not to make it sound “too good to be true,” otherwise, the admissions committee may just think you’re sucking up.

Focus on your strengths and downplay your weaknesses

Finally, use the MBA essay to highlight your strengths while downplaying your weaknesses.  For example, you may want to briefly address a certain weakness or shortcoming of yours.  Be sure to focus on how you have used your strengths to overcome such weaknesses.  The point is to acknowledge the negative, but concentrate on the positive.(3)  For a good idea on how to go about incorporating this third tip into your essay, have a look at an example of personal statement that talks about failures or hardships.

(1)  http://www.californiacolleges.edu/admissions/university-of-california-uc/personal-statement.asp
(2)  http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/personal_statement.shtml
(3)  http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/642/01/