- What is a personal
Statement?
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- A method to introduce yourself as an individual, the way you
think, and your ability to express yourself in writing. Essays are
normally reviewed by an admission committee, so preparation is
essential to success.
- What are the admission counselors
trying to find out?
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- If you have a realistic and clear understanding of the field
and the demands of the program. Graduate programs are trying to
protect themselves from students dropping out due to disappointment
or becoming overwhelmed by the workload.
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- Can you write an essay, express yourself in an intelligent way,
use proper logic, form, grammar, and punctuation? The essay is
important for both what you write and how you write it.
- How should I start writing
mine?
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- Carefully review the application to identify what specifically
needs to be answered in your essay.
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- Identify special, and/or impressive experiences from your
background.
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- Develop ways to describe your college years that might help an
admissions committee better understand you or help demonstrate you
are a stronger candidate than other applicants.
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- Consider how you originally became interested in the field, the
insights you have gained, what have you since learned about it and
about yourself that has confirmed this interest.
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- Describe how have you learned about this field through classes,
activities, work or other experiences/conversations with people in
the field.
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- Define how activities or work experiences during your college
years have contributed to your personal growth.
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- Reflect and clarify your career goals.
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- Pinpoint ways you can document personal characteristics that
show your inclination for success in the field.
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- List the most compelling reasons the graduate program should
admit you?
- What should I leave out of the
essay?
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- Experiences prior to college, unless it was an extraordinary
achievement in junior high school that impacted your life in terms
of your career development.
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- Subjects that are controversial, such as religion and
politics.
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