...I try to draw an analogy with the process of reading application essays. The bad. Ninety percent of the applications I read contain what I call McEssays - usually five-paragraph essays that consist primarily of abstractions and unsupported generalization. They are technically correct in that they are organized and have the correct sentence structure and spelling, but they are boring. Sort of like a Big Mac. I have nothing against Big Macs, but the one I eat in Charlottesville is not going to be fundamentally different from the one I eat in Paris, Peoria or Palm Springs. I am not going to rave about the quality of a particular Big Mac. The same can be said about the generic essay. If an essay starts out: "I have been a member of the band and it has taught me leadership, perseverance and hard work," I can almost recite the rest of the essay without reading it. Each of the three middle paragraphs gives a bit of support to an abstraction, and the final paragraph restates what has already been said. A McEssay is not wrong, but it is not going to be a positive factor in the admission decision. It will not allow a student to stand out. A student who uses vague abstractions poured into a preset form will end up being interpreted as a vague series of abstractions. A student who uses cliché becomes, in effect, a cliché. If we are what we eat, we are also what we write. Not only does a preset form lead to a generic essay, so does a generic approach to what is perceived as the right topic...
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...I try to draw an analogy with the process of reading application essays. The bad. Ninety percent of the applications I read contain what I call McEssays - usually five-paragraph essays that consist primarily of abstractions and unsupported generalization. They are technically correct in that they are organized and have the correct sentence structure and spelling, but they are boring. Sort of like a Big Mac. I have nothing against Big Macs, but the one I eat in Charlottesville is not going to be fundamentally different from the one I eat in Paris, Peoria or Palm Springs. I am not going to rave about the quality of a particular Big Mac. The same can be said about the generic essay. If an essay starts out: "I have been a member of the band and it has taught me leadership, perseverance and hard work," I can almost recite the rest of the essay without reading it. Each of the three middle paragraphs gives a bit of support to an abstraction, and the final paragraph restates what has already been said. A McEssay is not wrong, but it is not going to be a positive factor in the admission decision. It will not allow a student to stand out. A student who uses vague abstractions poured into a preset form will end up being interpreted as a vague series of abstractions. A student who uses cliché becomes, in effect, a cliché. If we are what we eat, we are also what we write. Not only does a preset form lead to a generic essay, so does a generic approach to what is perceived as the right topic...
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...I’ve written four college essays. Each essay appeared great in my eyes, but there’s some naivety to me believing I would get it perfect the first time. After all it’s hard work and dedication that drives my life, not automatic success. When thinking of my first essays so many topics came to mind, my loyal work ethic in relation to ever changing time, my love for grocery stores and my strong family ties, and my lost, but found cultural identity. I wrote an essay for all, but none seemed adequate. However, while writing these essays I learned several things. One, making a proactive high school student chose a singular topic to describe them is nearly impossible. How can you choose something that’s supposed to reflect every being of yourself, yet also be expected to display a divine sense of “greatness”? I suppose that’s why the essay was assigned to the application process, two I don’t want to describe myself in one word or one event. And three, It’s...
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...MBA Admissions Essay Powerful Tips for Improving Your Odds of Gaining Admission to the MBA Program of Your Choice Admissions essays are easily the most challenging part of the MBA application process, and it’s no wonder. Most people don’t like to write, and even those of us who do enjoy writing can come up blank when called upon to write about ourselves, especially when so much is at stake. The fact remains: If you want to go to business school, you have to be able to generate one or two thousand carefully chosen words that sum up your background and experience, your career goals, your reasons for seeking the MBA, and why you’ve chosen the program to which you’re applying. Step one: Relax. Writing admissions essays is stressful—it’s supposed to be stressful— but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Everyone who has ever applied to business school has written admissions essays, and so can you. All you have to do is submit essays that are a little bit better than most of the others, and if you follow the advice we’ll cover in the following pages, it will be a lot less painful. How to Write a Successful Most MBA essays are mediocre The good news is that most MBA admissions essays are mediocre at best. If you can at least come up with a marginally compelling narrative, and if you can spell and punctuate everything correctly—or know someone who can—you’ll automatically have an advantage over much of the competition. This guide is designed to help you get started (the hardest...
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...HOW TO WRITE GREAT ESSAYS HOW TO WRITE GREAT ESSAYS Lauren Starkey ® NEW YORK Copyright © 2004 LearningExpress All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. Published in the United States by Learning Express, LLC, New York. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data: Starkey, Lauren B., 1962– How to write great essays / Lauren Starkey. —1st ed. p. cm. ISBN 1-57685-521-X 1. English language—Rhetoric—Problems, exercises, etc. 2. Essay—Authorship—Problems, exercises, etc. 3. Report writing—Problems, exercises, etc. I. Title. PE1471.S83 2004 808'.042—dc22 2004003384 Printed in the United States of America 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 First Edition ISBN 1-57685-521-X For more information or to place an order, contact LearningExpress at: 55 Broadway 8th Floor New York, NY 10006 Or visit us at: www.learnatest.com Contents Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 vii Organization 1 Clarity 11 Word Choice 21 Mechanics 39 Revising, Editing, and Proofreading 55 Untimed Essay Writing Strategies 67 Timed Essay Writing Strategies 85 Sample Essay Prompts and Essays 97 Resources 111 CONTENTS HOW TO WRITE GREAT ESSAYS v Introduction n your preparations for college, you may find yourself facing a handful of high-stakes essays. Your college application requires at least one, and the SAT requires another. Depending upon the high...
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...The task was simple: write an essay based on this prompt, “A Biola University education is designed to equip students for a life of following Jesus. The Bible plays a significant role in the life of a Christian. Using meaningful verses from the Bible, in 1-2 pages please respond to both of the following prompts: 1. Describe how and when you made a decision to follow Christ 2. Using personal examples, share about your growth as a Christian over the past 3 years.” Yet, the the essay was much more difficult to write than expected. Not only did I have to meet the essay requirements, I was also attempting to win over the admissions board to be accepted into Biola University. I remember as I wrote this essay, I was terrified. Seeing as my father is a Language Arts teacher, I always felt pressured to have “perfect” writing. Always keep your formal writing in the third person. Do not use contractions. Make your essay fight for your topic, not against it. All the added...
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...A Former Harvard Business School Admissions Board Member Reveals the Insider Keys to Getting In • Prepare your resume and professional record • Discover the differences between business schools • Top essay and interview strategies • Behind the scenes of the admissions process • Qualitative factors that can make you stand out • Application insights from insiders Chioma isiadinso, M.ed. former Admissions Board Member of Harvard Business School The Best Business Schools’ Admissions Secrets A Former Harvard Business School Admissions Board Member Reveals the Insider Keys to Getting In Chioma Isiadinso, M.ED. © 2008 by Chioma Isiadinso Cover and internal design © 2008 by Sourcebooks, Inc. Cover photo © Punchstock Sourcebooks and the colophon are registered trademarks of Sourcebooks, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems—except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews—without permission in writing from its publisher, Sourcebooks, Inc. This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional service. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought. —From...
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...Thanks so much for your interest in Texas Christian University. Please follow the easy steps below to complete the application process so we can review your application and give you an admission decision. Step 1: print thiS packet and keep it for your recordS. This packet contains this checklist, the Counselor and Teacher Evaluation forms and your application as submitted. Step 2: pay your application fee. You may submit your fee online or by mail. To submit your fee by mail, send your check or money order made payable to TCU to this address: Office of Admission Texas Christian University TCU Box 297013 Fort Worth, Texas 76129 Step 3: have your official tranScript and teSt ScoreS Submitted. Your guidance counselor can include your scores on your transcript. Or you can ask ACT to send us your scores at www.actstudent.org (our ACT code is 4206). If you’d prefer to submit your SAT scores, go to www.collegeboard.com (our SAT code is 6820). We look forward to reviewing your application! Raymond A. Brown Dean of Admission Texas Christian University P.S. If you haven’t already, please visit TCU soon. To schedule a visit or to ask any further questions, please call 800-828-3764. Texas Christian University • TCU Box 297013 • Fort Worth, Texas 76129 COUNSELOR EVALUATION FOR UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSION & SCHOLARSHIP CONSIDERATION Required for all freshmen – not required for transfers. The student's application file is not complete until this evaluation is returned to TCU. This document...
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...University By applying to the Pre-Professional Scholars Program, you are applying to gain admission to professional school earlier than students who apply in the traditional way. Please indicate why you’re interested in your chosen profession. How do you see yourself being particularly suited to this field? What events and/or experiences have led you to your choice? This essay should be between 250 and 500 words in length. The summer before my senior year, I participated in Mechanisms of Human Health and Disease through Nationwide Children’s Hospital, which exposed me to various aspects of medicine. It gave me the opportunity to learn about subjects related to medicine, such as microbiology and the hallmarks of cancer,...
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...说明 1. 本资料来源于英文版《How to get into the top MBA programs》,作者为Don Martin. 2. 第一部分为115份真实的ESSAY, 分别来自于17个不同背景的申请人. 3. 第二部分为对21个常见ESSAY问题的分析，包括问题的关键，常见错误，正确的回答方式. 个人认为这一部分比真实的ESSAY更重要. 4. 由于文件采用扫描和文字识别方法输入, 可能存在一些错误. 5. 此文件仅供CHASEDREAM网友参考使用, 请尊重原书版权, 切勿用于商业用途. Xiearmyxiearmy 零四岁末于美国穷乡僻壤 Chapter I Application Essay Examples INTRODUCTION This appendix contains 115 actual essays written, by 17 different applicants, for leading MBA programs. They address dozens of different essay topics. The applicants and their essays have been selected to give you the widest possible range of materials from which to profit. The first four applicants all applied to the University of Chicago. They were chosen by Chicago’s admissions director, Don Martin, according to my desire that they be from four very different people and of average quality for those admitted. In other words, these essays will show you exactly what you are competing against. They are of perfectly acceptable quality, but they should not discourage you. If you follow the lessons of this book you should be able to surpass each of these efforts. The second set of three applicants—Melissa, Doreen, and Carol—is taken from Columbia University’s files. Columbia’s admissions director, Linda Meehan, was asked to supply several applications, again from people of widely differing backgrounds, but this time of superior quality. I think that this group’s applications...
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...BUSINESS SCHOOL HARVARD SUCCESSFUL 65 APPLICATION SECOND EDITION E S S AY S APPLICATION BUSINESS SCHOOL HARVARD SUCCESSFUL 65 ECSNS A IYI O N S SE O D ED T With Analysis by the Staff of The Harbus, the Harvard Business School Newspaper ST. MARTIN’S GRIFFIN NEW YORK 65 SUCCESSFUL HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL APPLICATION ESSAYS, SECOND EDITION. Copyright © 2009 byThe Harbus News Corporation. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. For-information, address St. Martin's Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010. www.stmartins.com Library of Congress Cataloging...in..Publication Data 65 successful Harvard Business -School application essays : with analysis by the staff of The Harbus, the Harvard Business School newspaper / Lauren Sullivan and the staff of The Harbus.-2nd ed. p.em. ISBN 978...0..312...55007...3 1. Business schools-United States-Admission. 2. Exposition (Rhetoric) 3. Essay-Authorship. 4. Business writing. 5. Harvard Business School. 1. Sullivan, Lauren. II. Harbus. III. Title: Sixty...five successful Harvard Business School application essays. HF1131.A1352009 808'.06665-dc22 2009012531 First Edition: August 2009 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 CONTENTS Acknowledgments Introduction ix xi I. Defining Moment Stacie Hogya Anonymous Anonymous David La Fiura Anonymous Avin Bansal Anonymous Brad Finkbeiner Anonymous 4 7 10 13 17 20 23 26 29 ii. UndergradUate experience John Coleman Maxwell Anderson...
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...the Planning your future page to see some of the things it could be useful to mention. • Explore your options • Undergraduate • When to apply • Filling in your application • Personal statement • Reference, pay and send • Tracking your application • Results • Student number controls • Fraud and similarity • Performing arts • Postgraduate • Teacher training • Flexible and part-time • International • Starting your studies • Student finance • Mature students • Parents and guardians • Advisers and referees Your personal statement Write a personal statement that shows you'd be a great student – to persuade unis and colleges to accept you on their course. • Course tutors use personal statements to compare applicants, so try to make yours stand out. • Remember it's the same personal statement for all courses you apply to – so avoid mentioning universities or colleges by name, and ideally choose similar subjects. If they're varied then write about common themes – like problem solving or creativity. Personal statements BSL personal statement video How to write your personal statement This video looks at how to get started, as well as common fears and concerns. • Watch more video guides Signed personal statement video This signed video takes you through what to consider when writing your personal statement. • Watch more BSL video guides Where to start Most applicants...
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...History 121 Syllabus [pic] My communication with the class will be primarily through announcements posted on the Blackboard Message Board. However, if you need to contact me, please feel free to send me an email directly. Also, be sure to ENTER YOUR CURRENT STUDENT ID NUMBER and CLASS ID ON ALL EMAILS, otherwise a response will be significantly delayed. All homework assignments must be posted on Blackboard. Assignments emailed to me will not receive any credit. The Blackboard system is our “classroom” therefore you must turn in all assignments into the BB system. NO EXCEPTIONS!!!! DO NOT EMAIL ME. There are no face-to-face meetings in this distance education class. You will receive all information for the class electronically. ONLINE students, after the semester begins, you must check the News page every day. Anything less and you will be jeopardizing your grade and status in the class! This is an intense class which imitates a regular in-person class. Also, this is a 3 unit college level class and as such requires 10-12 hours of study per week. As is the case with many on-campus courses, History 121 requires that the student be highly disciplined and motivated. This course offers considerable flexibility for the completion of assignments, yet like students taking Asian History at the SCC campus, on-line students must meet certain deadlines in order to complete the course successfully. Late work will not be accepted!! No exceptions!!! PREREQUISITES None. However...
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...background both academically and professionally which has exposed me to different continents, peoples, cultures, and languages. As a native of Asia, I am familiar with the increasingly important markets of this region, and as such I am thoroughly prepared for the demands and challenges presented by undertaking study in the MBA program at your institution. From a young age, I set goals beyond those of my peers. I decided to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in International Hotel Management, but in recognition of the limitation of programs in this field in my native country, I decided to pursue my undergraduate degree in Europe. The international hotel management course I joined was run by Goodwell University in the UK, and due to the experience of the instructors and the overall sophistication of the program, I received an incredibly valuable learning experience, beyond that which I could have received elsewhere. My undergraduate coursework at Goodwell University focused on management marketing, accounting, and various aspects of tourism. I received broad business-based education while immersing myself in European culture and language on a daily basis. As a result, I am confident in my ability to adapt to your environment and join your MBA program. After graduation from Goodwell University, I returned to my native country, but the limitations of the rapidly growing domestic hotel industry quickly became apparent to me. I therefore sought employment in a...
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...reading comprehension? With this information you'll be able to focus your GRE test prep studies on your weaknesses. 3. GRE Study Plan: With your GRE weaknesses in mind, make a very specific study plan for yourself. You should know what, how, and when you are going to study for the GRE test. Put your study plan somewhere in plain view, and make sure you stick to your plan. Try to keep GRE test prep interesting by planning to study different things in different ways. For example, study GRE vocabulary from flash cards one day, from a list the second day, and by reading and learning words in context the third day. 4. GRE Vocabulary: The single-most effective way to improve GRE Verbal score is with GRE vocabulary. Start studying GRE vocabulary now. Study a word list, use flash cards, learn with software, or learn words in context with The Wall Street Journal. Do whatever it takes to learn new words. Improve your vocabulary skills and watch your GRE score improve. 5. Active Reading: Practice reading every day, but...
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