support@accepted.com
Get Your Free Consultation!

Which program are you applying to?

  • - Select a program -
  • MBA/EMBA
  • Law School
  • Grad School, PhD
  • MD/DO, Residency
  • Other Healthcare Programs
  • College
  • About Accepted
    • About us
      • The Accepted Advantage
      • Clients Accepted At
      • In The News
    • Client Feedback
    • Contact Us
  • Meet the Team
    • MBA Admissions Consultants
    • Med School Admissions Consultants
    • Grad School Admissions Consultants
    • Law School Admissions Consultants
    • College Admissions Consultants
  • Free Resources
    • MBA
      • Free Guides
      • Selectivity Index
      • Sample Essays
      • Essay Tips
      • MBA Podcast Episodes
      • MBA Deadlines
    • Med School
      • Free Guides
      • Selectivity Index
      • Sample Essays
      • Essay Tips
      • Med School Podcast Episodes
    • Healthcare Programs
      • Free Guides
      • Admissions Straight Talk Podcast for Healthcare Applicants
    • Grad School
      • Free Guides
      • Sample Essays
      • Grad School Podcast Episodes
    • Law School
      • Free Guides
      • Selectivity Index
      • Sample Essays
      • Law School Podcast Episodes
    • College
      • Free Guides
      • Sample Essays
      • Admissions Straight Talk Podcast for College Applicants
  • Services
    • MBA
      • Complete Packages
      • Essay Editing
      • Resume Services
      • Interview Prep
      • MORE
    • Med School
      • Premed Packages
      • Primary App Packages
      • Secondary App Packages
      • Essay Editing
      • Interview Prep
      • MORE
    • Healthcare
      • Postbac Packages
      • MPH Packages
      • NursingCAS Packages
      • PharmD Packages
      • Essay Editing
      • MORE
    • Grad School
      • Complete Packages
      • PhD Packages
      • Essay Editing
      • CV/Resume Assistance
      • MORE
    • Law School
      • Complete Packages
      • Essay Editing
      • Interview Prep
      • MORE
    • College
      • Complete Packages
      • Common App Package
      • Essay Editing
      • MORE
  • Blog
    • MBA Blog Posts
    • Medical School Blog Posts
    • Other Healthcare Blog Posts
    • Grad School Blog Posts
    • Law School Blog Posts
    • College Blog Posts
    • Admissions Straight Talk Podcast
Accepted

Accepted Admissions Blog

Everything you need to know to get Accepted

June 10, 2009

Reading Time: 2 minutes

What Does It Mean to Write from the “Inside Out”?

After devoting many days and countless revisions to his 250-word Stanford GSB Reliance Fellowship essay, the blogger at MBAdreamz concludes: “The mantra for writing essays should be bringing one’s ‘INSIDE OUT.’ The more one knows and reveals (about himself) in the essays, the more comfortable and confident he would be with the essays.” Having worked with grad school applicants for 13 years, I understand what he means, and I also understand some of the process he went through before he was satisfied with his essay.

Applicants are always eager to begin grad school as a step toward realizing career goals, but they often discover that the process of writing distinctive application essays that define themselves and their career goals can be hard work. Some really struggle to make the link between where they have been professionally and how that path links logically to their career goals. These questions, as well as the more personal questions that ask people to reveal their values and defining experiences, also require self-reflection, which doesn’t come naturally to everyone. 

This isn’t surprising. Our media-driven society is based on soundbite-sized commentary, and even newspaper and magazine articles get shorter and shorter. I call it the “Twitterizing” of communication, where there’s just not a lot of room for depth.

That’s why the blogger referred to this process of writing “from the inside out.” Having to write so succinctly forced him to dedicate serious “think time” to his goals; there were no extra words to spare. But the effort was worth it, as he submitted his essay with confidence. Similarly, most of my clients who struggled with figuring out what to write have told me how happy they were that they went through this process of clarifying their career goals and personal values, even if they admittedly weren’t thrilled about doing so in the first place. Sometimes, clients will do more research about their career goals in order to write as concretely as the schools would like. This research often becomes a path to discover niche areas of their chosen careers that really suit their experience and interest, and then they are able to write more confidently about their need for a graduate degree and their longer term career plans.

Similarly, questions about personal values and background also present an opportunity for applicants to consider their animating values, what is really important to them. This process helps the school get to know them better, and to envision how they will fit in with the school’s own personality. I know most of my clients would agree that this exercise is a win-win: it creates more compelling, defined essays, and it also gives applicants a rare chance in an otherwise rushed schedule for honest self-reflection and the acquisition of self-knowledge. And that result is always a side benefit of the MBA application process.

If you would like help in this process, I would be happy to work with you!

 

Article by Judy Gruen / Grad School Admissions, Law School Admissions, MBA Admissions, Medical School Admissions / career goals, Fellowship, Stanford GSB

Get Accepted!

Sign up for a free consultation today!

Which program are you applying to?

Blog Categories

  • Admissions Consulting
  • Admissions Straight Talk Podcast
  • College Admissions
  • Grad School Admissions
  • Law School Admissions
  • MBA Admissions
  • Medical School Admissions
  • Other Healthcare Admissions
  • Uncategorized

Most Popular Blog Posts

1. 7 Simple Steps to Writing an Excellent Diversity Essay

2. 4 Ways to Show How You’ll Contribute in the Future

3. How to Write About Your Research Interests

4. Tips for Answering the Yale University Supplemental Essays and Short Answer Questions [2022-2023]

5. When Will Medical Schools Give You an Answer?

6. Sample Essays from Admitted HBS Students

7. Tips for Answering the University of Pennsylvania Supplemental Essay Prompts [2022-2023]

8. Top STEM MBA Programs: A Comprehensive List and Overview of STEM-OPT Eligible B-Schools

Sample Essays

MBA Personal Statement Examples

Medical School Personal Statement Examples

Graduate School Personal Statement Examples

Law School Personal Statement Examples

College Application Essay Examples

 

Home Page Services and Prices MBA Med School Law School Grad School College

About Us Press Room Contact Us Podcast Accepted Blog
Privacy Policy Website Terms of Use Disclaimer Client Terms of Service

Accepted 1171 S. Robertson Blvd. #140 Los Angeles CA 90035 +1 (310) 815-9553
© 2022 Accepted

BBB A+ RatingStamp of AIGAC Excellence

Copyright © 2023 · Education Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in