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10 Things
a Spellchecker Won't Catch
We should warn you that there are hundreds of spelling
and grammatical errors that can go unnoticed by your
computer's spell-check program. That's why you will
still need to proofread your application the old
fashioned way, by eyeballing it.
Beware of Sample Personal Statements
Writing a graduate school application can be
intimidating. It's not easy to know the best approach,
format, or style. That's where reading sample personal
statements can help. But be careful...
Sometimes It's Best to Say Nothing About a Poor Grade
The axiom that 'no one's perfect' holds as true for college students as it does for anyone else. Even serious, dedicated, hard-working students sometimes graduate with a transcript that
includes one or two poor or even failing grades. Those grades can later become a major source of anxiety for students who decide to apply to graduate schools.
What should you do if you're a grad school applicant with one of those less-than-perfect college records?
Finding the Focus of a Personal Statement
One time I worked with an applicant who obviously
had a lot of great attributes. She had done well in
school despite having first to overcome a personal
illness, and then cope with a serious illness in her
family...
Making Your Personal Statement Connect
I often work with international students who are applying to competitive programs at U.S. graduate schools. Many of them run into the same
two difficulties: one, writing a strong personal statement in English (when that isn't their first language); and two, explaining
something that Americans might interpret as a weakness in their school or work records.
Finding Your 'Wow Factor'
I worked with a re-applicant a few seasons ago who was applying to
political science programs. She had applied to schools on her own the previous year and been turned down by all of them. That experience had completely undermined
her confidence. She worried she was
'good enough,' but not special enough, to get accepted to her target schools.
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