Article by Thomas Suh

The rapid advancement in modern technology has led to stiffer competition in our lives, especially in the area of job opportunities. Many companies today are no longer satisfied with a college-degreed applicant. They also look for people who are computer literate and even holders of multiple degrees or specialized certifications. This is why college and post-graduate admissions is more competitive than ever. Getting into the school or program of your choice is itself highly challenging. Besides the routine standardized tests and GPA, you have a tool you can use to make yourself stand out from the rest of the pack. This is where an applicant’s college admission essay or graduate school admission essay, including MBA essay, becomes important. A College Admission Essay or graduate school admission essay, including MBA essay, is an essentially prosaic version of your personality profile. Often, this is the same area of concern discussed in job application exams.

Needless to say, a college degree in today’s employment market is imperative. However, entry to many colleges and universities today have also risen to such competitive levels that admission to such requires extensive preparation, especially in taking the entrance exams, including the writing of an Admission Essay or graduate school admission essay, including MBA essay.

While a significant part of the admission process to college and graduate schools are admission exams (of standardized tests such as the SAT, LSAT, MCAT, MBA), equally important are is the admission essay or graduate school admission essay, including MBA essay. Many applicants, particularly those with high test scores often overlook the importance of this portion of the application process. Yet, this is actually the one part that could spell the difference between acceptance and rejection.

While test scores do play a most essential role, admissions officials recognize that it does not tell the complete story of a candidate’s life. With the tight competition in the quest for higher education, schools are now looking for people who not only perform well in entrance tests or achieve high grade point average, but they look for applicants who are interesting, diverse, and articulate as well. This will usually be reflected by a well-crafted Admission Essay or graduate school admission essay, including MBA essay.

So how do admission officers determine who these applicants are? Answer: By analyzing an applicant’s college admission essay or graduate school admission essay, including MBA essay.

The College Admission Essay, or graduate school admission essay, including MBA essay is essentially the human side of a candidate’s test scores. Many school officials do not limit their knowledge of an applicant to his/her admissions test performance or GPA. They are also interested to know more about his ambitions, goals, preferences, interests, and backgrounds. They already have a measure of his intelligence. The next thing they want to gain is an insight into his persona. This is where the admission essay comes in.

When writing college admission essays or graduate school admission essays including MBA essays, it is important to keep in mind that what you are writing is about yourself. Focus then on giving a clear and definite description of who you are, but giving stress to your strengths rather than on your weaknesses.

Also, give explicit samples of what you are like: what you prefer to do on a lazy day, how you view the world, what things annoy you most. Cite a favorite book, movie or incident that helped you become the person that you are now. This can serve as your essay introduction, which, if written effectively, can grab an admissions officer’s attention. An eye-catching introduction will inspire them to read on. Remember, an admissions official probably may read hundreds, if not thousands of college admission essays. Make yours memorable and eye-catching from the get-go.

Write a positive and confident college admission essay or graduate school admission essay, including MBA essay, as the case may be. Do not generalize, especially when listing down your accomplishments in school. Cite specific instances in your class which show you at your best, giving extra attention to subject areas considered as one of your fields of concentration. Preferably, the sample that should be given is one wherein you obtained an excellent grade, as this will reinforce the presumption that you excel in your chosen field of interest.

Additionally, your college admission essay or graduate school admission essay, including MBA essay, should also include a listing of the extracurricular activities that you engaged in. Give detailed information and if possible, state a particular case where you were able to accomplish a goal or a project, either by yourself or as part of a group.

Of course, it goes without saying that the activities you will list down in your collegeadmission essay or graduate school admission essay, including MBA essay, should be those that are directly related to the course you are presently seeking. For instance, a candidate wishing to gain access to medical school could cite his involvement as a volunteer in the relief mission for famine-torn Ethiopia in 1984. This will give more life to his resolve to acquire a medical degree. But if you have any other activities that present you in a positive personal light – emphasize those also, such as volunteering at your church every Saturday to help with special-needs children. This “humanizes” you and shows that you are not just about grades or school.

Often, many applicants make the mistake of writing their college admission essay or graduate school admission essay, including MBA essay, with a sweeping generalization of all their achievements in their respective fields, trusting that their excellent school records will breeze them through the admissions process. Unfortunately, such a scenario does not always come to pass. Nowadays, school administrators are more critical and scrutinizing. They want to look for something, more than just numbers. They also consider a person’s experiences, and not just general experiences, but actual and detailed accounts where an applicant was able to showcase his innate abilities in areas that are of special interest to him. This is perhaps one major reason there are instances of two candidates having similar entrance test scores as well as school grades but one of them does not get admitted to the same school that the two of them are applying to. Their respective admissions essay or graduate school admission essay, including MBA essay may have determined their fates.

So if you are dreaming of entering Harvard or of getting admitted to Oxford, then make serious preparations. Check out their websites for details on their admission requirements, including possible topics for college admission essays. Get hold of your old books to review past lessons. And more importantly, take time to produce a well-written.

College Admission Essay or graduate school admission essay, including MBA essay.