SYMBOLS & SUBSTANCE :: Application Essays...Your 30 Second Commercial

By now you are aware that the graduate and professional school admissions process is highly competitive and that the application is THE deciding factor for your acceptance. Unfortunately, many students often stumble over the essay portion of the application. The essay questions not only provide an opportunity for you to answer the questions asked, but more importantly allow you to showcase , well, YOU. Understandably, this of course, is often the most difficult part of the application process. How can you possibly share your passion and purpose for continuing your education, highlight your strengths and greatest achievements, honestly divulge your weaknesses, and explain why you would be an asset to their program within the minimal word or space limitations?

Think of it as your 30 second commercial. You are the product, of course. Your writing is your pitch, your commercial. A quality and memorable commercial has a message. A clear and concise message is what makes a commercial of good quality and memorable. I hope you notice the simple but necessary thought pattern here. Your essays should do the same. They should answer the question asked, while maintaining the themes of who you are and why you should be admitted to the program. As you craft each essay, ask yourself, does your answer tell the admissions committee who you are, why you want to continue your education at their institution and program, and how you would benefit their program?

Here is a quick checklist for completing your essays. CHICOLE::INTERMIXED will gladly help you through this process. Trouble getting started or need an objective reviewer, send us an email or leave a comment and we'll help you out.


CHICOLE::INTERMIXED Essay Tips
:: Read all the instructions! This means all word and space restrictions.
Complete all essays for your program, even those marked optional. All essays marked optional are not optional. It’s a trick. If you do not answer them, you are yielding time to your opponent (other students trying to get admitted). Now, why would you want to do that? If the admissions committee tells you they are willing to giving your application additional time, USE IT!

:: Start early. Allow time for drafts and proofreading by several different individuals. Even the best, most simple commercials weren’t completed on the first take. They require hours of editing.

:: Consider your audience and what they are looking for. Don’t know your audience, find out! Call the school, department, or program and start asking questions. Surf the web or read the endless brochures they have. If you don’t address your reader appropriately, it’s like showing up to a white tie event in flip flops or sneakers. So inappropriate.

:: Write clearly, succinctly and with enthusiasm. Tell them what you’re going to tell them. Tell them. Tell them what you told them. Yes, you can add personality by writing around a central story or creative theme, but you still must write with brevity and purpose. There are some programs and schools who prefer flowery prose and long doctrinal answers to essay questions, but most like it simple and straightforward.

:: Use active voice. Answer your questions with “I” and first person.

:: Proofread. Proofread. Proofread.