Writing A Graduate School Application Essay

By Daphne Drohobyczer

This advice applies to fellowships, internships, and scholarships -- not only graduate application essays.  If you are on the road to academia, you will be writing essays your whole life, and writing a good essay takes a lot of practice.

I. Common Questions:

Why this program?

Be specific:

Homne in on the exact reasons why you are choosing to apply to a program.  Perhaps there is a professor whom you are hoping to work with, or the curriculum suits your preferred specialty through course work or research.  Also, make sure you focus on what you are looking for in the program and that you aren't all over the map.  It is true that you may have many reasons why you are applying to that program, but it is good to narrow down and talk about a select number of things that interest you for each application.

Write different essays for each school

It sounds elementary, but you should write different essays for each school, simply for the reason that no two programs are exactly identical, nor should your essays be.  It is not only an unspoken requirement, but it is also beneficial for you, the applicant, to write different essays for each school.

Read up on your program.  It is very easy these days to look up a program on a website and read about it. But there is probably even more literature you can find on your program. Do your research at libraries, book stores, and if you get the chance, publications of the university.  There is so much out there, start looking!

Be original, but it is better to describe a simple subject in detail and make it stand out than to take a big subject and shrink it.  For instance, if you wrote about former President Bill Clinton and how successful he was at the presidency, you may overlook a more important lesson you learned from a friend, neighbor, or relative.  This is not to say that grander subjects should not be approached, but choose your subjects with care.

Someone who influenced you:

Again, this doesn't have to be Gandhi -- it can be your grandmother.  Think hard about your own characteristics and how they were formed.  Who do you attribute this characteristic to?  More often than not, the answer lies in those surrounding you, or perhaps an author or leader who sparked something within you.  Whoever it is, be sure to make a connection between you and them and explain their influence upon you.

Use anecdotes and tell a story:

Anecdotes are short stories that are funny, entertaining, or serve as a lesson.  Our memories provide anecdotes.  We tell anecdotes every day, to our friends, colleagues, and family members.  Anecdotes are the spice of essays.  Think of anecdotes that are a good story and that have a "moral."  Such anecdotes are usually the most effective ones.  Perhaps it is something that happened to you in the second grade, at work, or on a trip.  There may be a lesson you learned, but you should avoid getting on a soap box. Don’t lecture your reader (the admissions officer, remember) or “show off” your knowledge unnecessarily.

A travel experience

This shouldn’t be “What I Did on My Summer Vacation.” An example of a powerful story might be your first visit to a country where relatives live.  Be descriptive and pay a good deal of attention to detail.  Try not to exaggerate, but instead ask yourself what you learned, and be honest.  Do not concentrate too much on yourself, but instead on what is outside of you and what you can give to your surroundings (this goes for all of the questions).

A book that influenced you.

Admissions officers are tired of reading about Catcher in the Rye and Catch-22 -- choose a book off of the beaten path.  Relate it to your life; don’t just do a book review.

General tips

 Whichever subject you choose, it is important to show how you are able to contribute to your surroundings.  And always connect it into the program you are applying for.  Re-read your piece and make sure you have tied together loose ends.  Your paper ought to be whole and makes sense. . Write something different for each school instead of something generic.  Schools can find out if you sent the same essay to two different schools.  Admissions officers can also sense when an essay is generic.  Do your best to be fresh and full of ideas when it comes to writing essays for multiple schools.  You should tailor each essay to the school you are applying.  Just as each university has a different character, so should your essays to each of those schools.

II. Things to remember that will improve your essay

Researching your school

It is important to go to the school's web site and peruse the web page of the program you're interested in.  If you have any questions, contact the school and ask.  It doesn't hurt to email the department about questions you cannot find the answers to on the web site.  If you find a professor in the field you are interested in, consider emailing her a pertinent question.  However, do not waste anyone's time with questions that have obvious answers or answers you can find on your own.

Checking your essay multiple times for grammar errors

Especially competitive schools might reject an application because of typos.  Make sure you have the right name of the school for each separate essay and turn in the right essays to the correct school.  Even one typo can be the fatal error that destroys your chances of admission to a university. Have a friend read your essay over.  

III. Take Note of these trends

The essay can make or break the application.  This is true especially for competitive schools.  When two students are comparable, admissions looks to the essays.  You can prove yourself in your essay.  A good essay coupled with good numbers (grades, test scores, etc.) tells admissions you will be a successful student.  Numbers are still very important to schools.  Sometimes, if your numbers are good, a less competitive university might accept you despite a mediocre essay.  However, this is not the same for competitive schools.  Tough competition means you must submit the highest scores with stellar essays.

At schools where many applicants present good numbers, the basis for admissions can center on the essay more than at less-demanding schools.  So, if you are applying to only competitive schools and are a good student, your essay better be high quality.

 IV. Shaping the Essay

Your essay should have a logical progression and draw the reader's attention.  You could even compare the essay to a short story, with a catchy opening, interest building to a climax, and a dénouement with a surprise twist.  From the start, draw the reader in with a pithy, funny, descriptive, or even controversial statement.  Like any good essay, the application essay shows a sense of purpose.  

You should avoid using very big words just to show off.  Admissions officers are turned off by too many “SAT words. “.  Make your essay clear and cogent.  The last thing admissions officers care to read is something that rambles. You should also avoid producing a dry lecture with too many facts, but instead refer to your personal stories. 

Going to the Writing Lab Web Site

On our web site you will find the tools to write a graduate school application, including examples of essays.