Arco Perfect Personal Statements

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ISBN: 9780028610498 | 0028610490
Cover: Paperback
Copyright: 1/1/1996

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Writing the personal statement, or application essay, can be the hardest part of applying to graduate or professional school. This guide shows how to do it correctly, revealing the latest essay questions used by top law, business, medical, and graduate schools. Fifty actual student essays--with comments from admissions officers--tell what makes a winning statement.

Undergraduate Grades and Entrance-Exam Scores Don't Tell the Whole Story	p. ix
Creating Perfect Personal Statements	p. 2
The Questions	p. 2
Preparing to Write Your Essays	p. 5
Writing Your Personal Statement--Content and Theme	p. 7
The Ultimate Test for Content	p. 7
What They Are Really Looking For	p. 8
Almost Everyone Makes This Mistake	p. 8
Getting Creative--Especially in Your Opening Remarks	p. 8
Taking Risks in Expressing Yourself	p. 9
Discussing Your Background and Experience	p. 9
Discussing What Makes You Different or Unique	p. 10
Discussing Your Minority Status or Disadvantaged Background	p. 11
Discussing Your Motives and Aspirations	p. 11
Discussing Why You Want to Attend This Particular School	p. 14
Explaining Deficiencies, Inconsistencies, and Blemishes	p. 16
Disclosing Skeletons in Your Closet	p. 17
Discussing Your Recommenders and Other "Influential" People	p. 17
Writing Your Personal Statement--Style and Format	p. 18
Introductory Paragraphs and Conclusions/Summaries	p. 18
Unconventional and Gimmicky Writing Styles	p. 19
Unconventional and Gimmicky Formats and Packages	p. 20
Typeface, Type Size, and Handwritten Essays	p. 21
Page Limits and Word Limits	p. 21
Obtaining Assistance in Writing/Editing Your Personal Statement	p. 22
Submitting Supplemental Materials	p. 22
The Top 10 Do's and Don'ts for Writing Personal Statements	p. 23
Top 10 Rules to Write By	p. 23
Top 10 Personal-Statement Pitfalls	p. 24
Personal Statements and Medical School Applications	p. 25
The AMCAS "Personal Comments" Essays	p. 25
"Supplemental" or "Secondary" Application Essays	p. 26
Applying to Law Schools via the LSAC Web Site	p. 26
The AMCAS Application Form (for Medical-School Admission) at the AAMC Web Site	p. 27
Recommendation Letters and in-Person Interviews	p. 30
Recommendation Letters	p. 30
What the Schools Want to Know from Your Recommenders	p. 30
The Checkbox or "Grid" Approach	p. 32
Selecting Your Recommenders	p. 33
Approaching and Assisting Potential Recommenders	p. 33
Undergraduate Placement Files and Credential Services	p. 34
If the School Does Not Require any Recommendation Letters	p. 35
Submitting Fewer or More Letters than Required	p. 35
"Sealed" Recommendation Letters	p. 36
Waiving Your Right of Access to Recommendation Letters	p. 36
Submitting a "Dean's Certification"	p. 37
Committee Letters for Medical-School Applicants	p. 38
In-Person Interviews	p. 38
Arranging for an Interview	p. 38
Interview Format and Dress Code	p. 41
What to Expect During the Interview	p. 41
Thirty Great Personal Statements (by Successful Applicants)	p. 44
Essays That Relate a Personal Anecdote	p. 45
Essays That Admit Shortcomings	p. 50
Essays That Connect the Applicant's Past, Present, and Future	p. 54
Essays by Risk-Takers with Distinct Points of View	p. 59
Essays by Applicants Clearly Focused on Goals	p. 64
Essays by Applicants with Unique Life Experiences	p. 69
Essays That Explain Why the Applicant Chose This Particular School	p. 74
Essays That Explain Deficiencies Or Blemishes	p. 77
Essays by Applicants Who Are Committed to a Cause	p. 81
Essays by Multifaceted Applicants	p. 86
Advice From the Experts	p. 92
Advice from the Law Schools	p. 93
Boalt Hall (University of California at Berkeley, School of Law)	p. 93
Cornell University Law School	p. 96
Georgetown University Law Center	p. 98
The University of Michigan Law School	p. 101
The University of Texas at Austin, School of Law	p. 103
UCLA School of Law	p. 106
Advice from the Business Schools	p. 108
Columbia University, Graduate School of Business	p. 108
The Fuqua School of Business (Duke University)	p. 111
University of Illinois M.B.A. Program	p. 113
Leonard N. Stern School of Business at New York University	p. 115
Stanford University, Graduate School of Business	p. 116
Amos Tuck School of Business Administration (Dartmouth College)	p. 118
Advice from the Medical Schools	p. 121
Stanford University School of Medicine	p. 121
New York University School of Medicine	p. 122
University of Michigan Medical School	p. 124
The Pritzker School of Medicine (The University of Chicago)	p. 126
School of Medicine, University of Washington	p. 129
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Arco Perfect Personal Statements

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