Using a Sample Personal Statement Essay when Writing an Essay Focusing on Your Experiences as a Research Assistant
A personal statement essay is easy to write once you start hitting your strides, that is, when you already know where to begin. Beginning a personal statement essay is quite difficult since there are so many points where you can start. That is why it is advisable to use a sample personal statement essay. This allows you to have a framework which can guide you not only in beginning your essay, but in writing and concluding it as well. Being a research assistant is a huge advantage for you. That job allowed you to learn many things that you can use in graduate school. However, you are not the only graduate school applicant who has experienced being a research assistant. The challenge for you now is to make yourself stand out among the rest. You must write an essay that shows that you are unique and distinctive.
You may choose to base on a different essay
The personal statement essay of the research assistants who have entered college ahead of you may not be interesting. There might be an essay in the library that interests you more. You can still use that essay even if it does not deal about the personal experiences of a research assistant. Study how the author begins his or her essay and see if you can begin yours in a similar manner. For example, the author began with the most remarkable experience he had as an intern. You may also do so provided that you do not copy any of his idea. You may pattern your style after the original writer if you do not have a hard time writing that way. Just do not rephrase anything from his or her work.
Be careful with online sources
Should you use a sample personal statement acquired from the web, be sure that it has a verifiable author. The web is very easy to access and posting any information, factual or not, is very easy as well. The best thing that you can do is to get your sources from reliable websites. Verify the author of the sample essay to make sure that it is not plagiarized. If you cannot verify the author’s identity, you may have to skip that essay. You cannot use it as a research material. A work that has no author has no authority.
Get the author’s point
Understand the point that the author is making. Know where he or she wants to lead you, what his or her intents for writing are. Ask yourself what his or her aim is in writing that essay. This allows you to have an objective so you would know where to go when you are already making your essay. Do some self-exploration. Know how the point the writer is making relates to you as a research assistant.
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There are a lot of students who are taking a double degree or a double major. Getting this will enable you to graduate with two degrees within your regular number of years in college, though there are instances in which you have to extend one year of your stay in college.(1) Pursuing a double degree has lots of advantages and disadvantages. Below are some of the pros and cons that could help you in deciding whether or not to get a double degree or major.
What it entails to get a double major
Having a double major is not as easy as many think it is. Getting one entails that you have to double your effort, time, and money spent in studying. So if you are planning to get one, you have to make sure that you are willing to sacrifice some of the things that you enjoyed doing such as hanging out with friends very often.
Pros of having a double major
Although having a double major entails that you have to double your effort in studying, it would prove to be worth it once you have finished your schooling. For one, this could enhance your career in the future. Many employers would probably prioritize you, knowing that you are equipped with the right skills and knowledge.(2)
When writing your personal statement for college, it’s very important that you state why you wish to pursue a double major. Your personal statement for college allows the admissions panel to see your personality and determine if you’re ready for a double degree. A free sample personal statement can help you write your own. Just make sure that you use the personal statement sample as a guide and not as something you can copy ideas from.
Cons of having a double major
One of the drawbacks of a double major is that it requires a lot of time and effort. College is about concentrating on a specific field. And getting another degree could prove to be more difficult. It would be very hard for you to balance your academic and personal life. Aside from this, a double degree also means you have to be spending a lot of money for tuition and other school-related expenses.(3)
(1) http://people.clarkson.edu/~avadikic/dual.html
(2) http://oberwiki.net/Double_Degree_Program
(3) http://davidhildebrand.org/teaching/doublemajor.html
Having a degree from a graduate school will open various career opportunities for you in the future. This is because companies and firms know that anyone who is a graduate degree holder is equipped with knowledge and skills that are very useful in specific fields. However, a degree from a grad school does not come cheap. Like all the best things in life, this may also cost you a great deal, especially today that the country is experiencing an economic crisis. This is why if it is really your ardent dream to attend a grad school, you have to weigh the pros and cons of pursuing further education.(1)
Pros of going into graduate school
There are lots of reasons why many dream of getting a graduate degree. For one, a grad school can give you prestige. This can also open various doors of opportunities for you in the future.
Cons of going into graduate school
As mentioned earlier, attending a grad school is not as easy as others may think it is. You must really have a strong passion to do so. This is because grad school requires a lot of hard work. This also means you should be willing to sacrifice a lot of things if you enter graduate school. Another thing is that this endeavour can be quite expensive.
Some graduate school essay writing tips
After you have made your choice and have decided to pursue further studies, you have to decide which school you want to apply to.(2) You should then prepare the requirements that you will need. These include your resume and personal statement. You can get ideas on how to write an attention-grabbing essay by reading a sample personal statement essay online. You can also get a copy of a sample personal statement from your friends who have attended or are attending the same school.(3) You should analyze the structure of the sample personal statement essay in order to write an excellent one for yourself. Make sure that you choose a quality personal statement sample as a guide.
(1) http://www.spsu.edu/cccenter/counseling/career/Gradschool.htm
(2) http://www.providence.edu/Philosophy/Graduate+School+Advising/
(3) http://www.inta.gatech.edu/student-resources/gradschool/
Graduate school applicants are required to submit application requirements such as a sample personal statement essay. The sample personal statement essay could be used to convince the admissions committee that you are qualified. This is why it is important that you write your sample personal statement essay with determination. The following tips could help you write your graduate school sample personal statement essay.
Writing sample personal statement essay: put yourself in their shoes
Thin about the admissions committee when you’re writing your sample personal statement essay. Try to make an intelligent guess of the criteria they would use in evaluating your application essay
Writing sample personal statement essay: remember the program
If it is possible, research about the curriculum of the specific graduate program you are applying for. This would help you identify its focus. The information you would write in your graduate school sample personal statement essay must be in line with program’s focus.
Writing sample personal statement essay: emphasize your maturity
Use the sample personal statement essay as an avenue to write about the things that the application form did not cover. Do not simply rehash or summarize the things stated in the application form. Let the admission committee know that you are mature enough for a graduate degree. It would be also helpful if you could include concrete experiences that could show your leadership, determination or other similar characteristics
Writing sample personal statement essay: tell them why you want it
Make a statement of purpose. The admission committee might be wondering why you want a graduate degree. Don’t be afraid to sound cheesy. Just remember to be honest.
Writing sample personal statement essay: explain
The application essay could be an opportunity for you to explain some things. If you think that your grades were affected by a personal problem in the past, state it. The admission committee might probably understand the situation you went through.
A sample personal statement essay could be used to your advantage. Don’t think twice. But if you are still having problems, try to read writing articles. They might help you get an idea. There are also online sites that offer sample personal statement essays that you could read. You could also ask a friend or colleague to criticize your essay for you. This would let you identify the points you have to improve. You could also refresh your basic grammar and editing skills to make sure that you could come up with a flawless essay.
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