Writing Your Graduate School Application Essay (Page 5 of 5) in pdf

Graduate School Application Essay FAQs

Application essays are also difficult to write since there’s a lack of consensus about the best practices of

the genre. There isn’t one correct way to write application essays because you can make yourself stand

out in many different ways. These FAQs highlight some of the differing approaches.

Note: Talk to an advisor in your field to see which approach is better for your discipline.

What’s the difference between a statement of purpose and a personal statement?

Sources haven’t reached a consensus on the difference between personal statements and statements of purpose.

Some say that personal statements should explain your personal history and past experiences more, while state-

ments of purpose should be more future-oriented, with special language about future work. Others say that per-

sonal statements should be more engaging, autobiographical and anecdotal, while statements of purpose should

be more direct and to-the-point about your academic work. Often, the institution you’re applying to can offer advice

about how to write and what to include in your application essay, even if instructions are not in the main prompt.

Should my tone be personal or strictly professional?

You can assume many tones when writing your application essay, ranging from engaging, anecdotal, and enter-

taining to objective, direct, and concise. Here’s a good guideline: don’t be too extreme with any tone you assume.

Check with the institution you’re applying to or an advisor to see which approach is better for your field.

Should I begin my statement with an anecdote or personal hook?

Some sources recommend starting your application essay with a personal hook – a relevant, personal anecdote or

experience that will make you stand out from other applicants. (Medical schools often like to see personal hooks).

Other sources recommend focusing your application essay on your research and academic goals, without any fluff.

Talk to an advisor to see which approach is better for your field, but no matter your approach, be sure to connect

your introduction to your future plans.

Personal hook introduction: When I was 17 years old, I was scuba diving off the coast of Australia and had

my right leg, below the knee, bitten off by a Great White shark. While this experience was incredibly difficult, the

prosthetic leg I received enabled me to live a “normal” life. I could maintain a similarly active lifestyle engaging in

activities like running, skiing, skateboarding, and even scuba diving. My accident was the event that incited my

entry to the field of biomedical engineering, with a focus on orthotics and prosthetics.

Direct introduction: I’m applying to the biomedical engineering program at M.I.T. with a concentration in orthot-

ics and prosthetics. I believe my extensive work with ankle stabilizing mechanisms, along with my firsthand expe-

rience of living with a prosthetic leg, makes me the ideal candidate for your doctorate program.

Should I account for things like a drop in my GPA, poor SAT/GRE scores, or lapses in my work or

education history?

Don’t lie, but don’t ignore any unusual or potentially negative experiences hoping that the committee won’t notice.

You don’t need to make excuses – especially if you don’t have a good one – but you should note if your grades

dropped because you were caring for a sick family member, or if you took time off from school to work in an unrelat-

ed industry. However, why you let your grades slip or took time off is often less important than what you did to rem-

edy your situation. If you had a rough semester, what did you do to get yourself back on track? If you were working

as a chef, what made you decide to pursue a Ph.D. in engineering? More importantly, what did you learn from those

experiences that will benefit you in graduate school? These experiences may not directly affect what you’ll research

in graduate school, but they demonstrate your commitment to pursuing an advanced degree.

Writing Your Graduate School Application Essay Page 5