Q: What if I know what I like and am passionate about but don't know how to find what that transfers into for graduate school?
A: This is an excellent time for you to talk to people in your network, especially if they share similar interests. Do so to discuss your interests and how they can be applied to graduate school and your future career. Since most graduate programs are interdisciplinary, perhaps you can begin to look at your interests individually and then how they might relate to one another. For example, if you're interested in education and technology, look at a school of education where they often have various areas a student can specialize in, one of which is education and technology. Explore beyond the title of a program. Look at the areas of specialization, the curriculum, and other fields of study that coincide with the program.
Q: How can I most effectively "be myself" when writing a personal statement? I think that intrinsically — because we are trying to gain admission into a school — we may naturally write what we believe admissions committees are looking for, but should we do that?
A: The short answer is no. The longer answer: The statement of purpose is one of the most important components of your application packet. For this reason, you not only want to outline your reasons for wanting a graduate degree and your qualifications, but you want to tell your story authentically. The essay is your opportunity to stand out among the many other highly qualified applicants—to show the committee that you have a passion for your intended field of study and be an excellent graduate student.
Excellent grades and test scores are important; they will make the committee look seriously at your file. After that, a compelling statement of purpose is often the difference between getting in and not. Graduate admission decisions are not about finding the “best” applicants by some objective standard; they are about finding the applicants who are likely to contribute the most to their department. When you write your statement of purpose, your goal is to show uniqueness and authenticity.
Q: Is it ok if the extracurricular activity I focus on has a different goal/philanthropy than my career goal? For example, I wouldn't know how to answer if I were asked in an interview, "How does this social club help you with our program?".
A: Not all extracurricular activities must be 100% aligned with your career goals. One gains many transferable skills through various experiences, such as time management skills, organization, and working with groups of people. Look at the skills you're developing in this work and how they relate to your intended field. Showing them how you've grown in this area and why it means a lot to you to be involved in this work can give readers a glimpse into the kind of person you are. These experiences can also help you stand out in the admissions process.
Do you have a question you would like me to answer on this blog? If so, feel free to comment below or email me (debby@wisegradadmissions.com).
Comments