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How Personal Is Too Personal in Your Application Essays?

The personal statement is your opportunity to stand out and make a lasting impression on your target school’s adcom. How can you make your essay original? How much should you tell? And at what point are you crossing the line into TMI? When I applied to college, I wrote a personal statement describing some challenging …

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Writing Compelling Activity Descriptions to Boost Your Med School Application

Writing Compelling Activity Descriptions to Boost Your Med School Application

Having worked in admissions for more than two decades, I have read thousands of experience and activity descriptions from applicants to medical schools and schools in healthcare-related fields. Some candidates seem to view this element of their application as less important than their personal statement, writing only cursory descriptions of their tasks. This “job description” …

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Deciding Who Should Write Your PhD Program Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation (LORs) are a key component of your graduate school application. A strong one can provide meaningful support, while a lukewarm one can really hurt your chances of admission. In this blog post, we’ll answer two questions: who should write in support of your PhD application, and how can you make sure your …

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Show, Don’t Tell: How to Write Compelling Application Essays

“Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.”– Anton Chekhov Whether you’re applying to college, a master’s program, business school, or a competitive fellowship, these five words should be your writing mantra: “Show me. Don’t tell me.” The statement “Show me. Don’t tell me” sings to me …

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Six Things to Do over the Summer Before Applying to Graduate School

Application deadlines for MBA and graduate programs kick off in early fall and run through mid-January. But you don’t want to delay getting started on your submissions! Budget at least three months to map out your plan, address weaknesses, and assemble all the materials you’ll need.  Here’s a six-step breakdown of how to organize yourself …

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Four Graduate and Post-Graduate Fellowships for Creatives

Applying for grants and fellowships is an important and sustaining part of many artists’ practice. Besides the recognition these competitive, highly sought-after awards bestow, they provide significant time and money so that creators such as writers, musicians, composers, visual artists, filmmakers, and photographers can pursue long-term projects and develop their craft without worrying about making …

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A Practical Guide to Applying to PsyD Programs in Clinical Psychology

Most PsyD programs in clinical psychology focus on clinical training and are designed to prepare future psychologists to provide prevention/intervention, assessment, and treatment for patients presenting with a wide array of clinical conditions. The process of applying to these programs takes time and commitment, so here are some tips to get you started: 1. Consider …

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How to Write a Letter of Interest for the Institute of Current World Affairs

Are you interested in immersing yourself in a foreign culture or society? Would you like to pursue an independent, two-year reporting project overseas? If so, an Institute of Current World Affairs (ICWA) fellowship may be the opportunity you’re looking for.  Founded in 1925, ICWA advances American understanding of international cultures and affairs by sending outstanding …

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Letters of Recommendation: Ten Essential Tips for Recommenders

Asking someone to write you a letter of recommendation can feel awkward – you’re essentially requesting that a busy professor, supervisor, or mentor take time out of their schedule to advocate for you and your future. It’s a big ask. But here’s the good news: you can make it much easier for your recommender to …

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What you Need to Know about Duke’s Master of Engineering Management [Episode 604]

Show Summary In this episode of Admissions Straight Talk, Dr. Christy Bozic, the Executive Director of Duke University’s Masters of Engineering Management (MEM) program, discusses the unique aspects of the program, including the differences between online and in-person formats, and the importance of integrating technical and business skills. She also delves into the admissions process, …

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Four Tips for Displaying Teamwork in Your Application Essays

a team high fiving demonstrating teamwork in applications

Teamwork – and its close cousin, leadership – are highly prized by graduate programs and universities. But if you haven’t worked in a team on any regular basis, don’t worry! You’ve probably got a number of examples of teamwork in your back pocket that you didn’t even realize were there. Consider the following four ideas when you …

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Four Ways to Highlight Your Strengths in Your Application Essays

One of the most important pieces of advice you’ll ever get regarding your personal statements and application essays is this: Show, don’t tell.  It’s a classic writing lesson, and you’ve probably heard it before, but how do you actually “show, not tell,” in your essays?  Simply “telling” is ineffective, because it usually involves boastful claims such …

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