Unigo is a website where students can come together to learn about various aspects of college life. With a large collection of articles, videos, photos, documents, and student reviews, Unigo certainly has what it takes to be a top-notch website for college students. You can find articles on financial aid, college admissions, internships and jobs, international studies, and various topics of college life, such as a Back to School College Guide.
Unigo goodies
Unigo has a lot to offer. In fact, its biggest advantage over other blogs is probably its wide variety of topics and media. With all of the numerous and varied interests of college students, it will take a diverse website like Unigo to keep visitors coming back for more. For example, the student reviews, video sharing, and picture sharing features of Unigo make the site feel like more of a community rather than a simple student help blog. Also, Unigo does a great job at presentation. In web design and layout, presentation is everything. If your website isn’t well-designed, you can expect people to find it boring and difficult to navigate. Unigo, however, does a good job at web layout, presenting its varied content in an organized manner that doesn’t force the reader to search around the entire page for links that should be easy to spot.
Improvements Unigo can make
I think that the best way to improve Unigo is to keep creating content to give visitors more reasons to come back and continue reading the blog entries. The most successful blogs out there are able to pump out new and relevant articles daily, which helps to increase traffic. In turn, an increase in traffic translates to more activity on the site, leading to a stronger sense of community, which is essential for a blog’s success.
The Sam Jackson College Experience is a blog created by Sam Jackson, who studied at Yale and will be attending Peking University in Beijing. Basically, this is a rather straightforward blog that discusses issues related to higher education marketing, college admissions, college application processes, and the author’s experiences as a Yale student. As such, you can find articles about the crime rates in the area around Yale, Yale admissions information, and general blogging information.
What’s good about Sam Jackson’s blog
What you’ll love about The Sam Jackson College Experience is that it is a no-frills blog site, where visitors can enjoy what the author has to say on various topics. The site is well-organized and very simple, making it easy to navigate to the various blog entries and sections on the site. Sam Jackson also has the advantage of having a rather unique voice and concept. A Yale student blogging about school life and marketing trends isn’t something that you find in every blog that you come across, which is why The Sam Jackson College Experience is distinct from some of the other blogs out there.
What’s not-so-good about Sam Jackson’s blog
On the other side of the scale, Sam Jackson’s blog does have a few faults. First of all, visitors have little to look forward to with the site. The author himself claims that The sad reality is that I now tweet more than I blog! It’s bad enough that the content on the site is rather limited, but having the author commit himself more to Twitter means that his blog readers can expect even fewer content on the blog. The blog entries could also use some pictures to help improve the look of the site.
The application process for college can be quite difficult to complete, considering the fact that you will probably be asked to write a personal statement of some kind. The personal statement is often the deciding factor that will convince admissions committees that you make a good fit in their college. One way to write an exceptional personal statement is to make use of samples to give you an idea of what a good personal statement is all about. Read on to learn about how using sample personal statement essays can help you get into college.
Finding a topic to write about
For many people, one of the hardest parts of writing the personal statement is actually thinking of a topic to write about. Reading sample personal statement essays is a good way to get ideas for this. Try to gather some samples that discuss topics you can relate to and study how the writer goes about discussing the topic at hand. Use these essays as inspiration to come up with your own topic that reflects your unique personality.
Knowing what admissions committees expect
Another good reason for using sample personal statement essays is so you can get an idea of what admissions committees expect from your essay. Sample personal statements can be your guide to format, formality, and basic writing strategies of the writers. A successful personal statement must not only meet the expectations of the admissions committee, but it should also avoid the things that annoy admissions committees, such as trying to be poetic or overly creative in your essay. Understanding what your admissions committee expects from your essay is a crucial step toward knowing what to write and what not to write in your essay.
Tailoring your essay to the school you’re applying to
Finally, sample personal statement essays can help you tailor your essay to the specific school you are writing the essay for. One of the golden rules when applying to a college or university is to get to know the school you are applying to. Get to know what the school specializes in, what their educational system is all about, and the values and characteristics that they pride themselves in. Try to find sample personal statement essays that were written for the particular school you are applying to so you can see how the writer customized the essay for that particular school.
It’s important to make the admissions committee feel as though their school is your primary choice, and knowing more about the institution can help you tailor your essay to express your intent and passion about getting accepted to that school. Just remember that you should never, under any circumstances, plagiarize. Plagiarism can lead to rejection from the school and possibly even legal repercussions.
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Applying to one of the top universities in the country can seem like a daunting task. Most applicants experience a great deal of stress and pressure, because they want so badly to get into a top university. Whether you are transferring from another school or you are a newcomer into college life, you will definitely want to put your best foot forward when applying to a top university. One of the best ways to increase your chances of getting accepted is to know what they expect from you. Here are some tips that will also help you with writing your personal statement:
1. Do your research
The first and most important step to understanding what the university expects from you is to do your research. Visit the homepage of the university and read about the school, the courses they offer, their educational system and values, as well as their history. Getting to know the university will give you a good idea of what the university expects not only from its applicants, but from its students as well.
Part of your research will be to gather all information regarding the application process, such as requirements, deadlines, and procedures. Once you are satisfied with the information you have gathered about the university, you should spend some time trying to analyze the information to understand what the university is looking for and how they choose the applicants that will be accepted. To round up your research, try to find some sample personal statements that were written specifically for the university you are applying to. These sample essays can give you an upper hand on your competition when it comes to writing your own essay.
2. Know the requirements for the personal statement
Another way of trying to understand what top universities expect from your personal statement is to know and understand the requirements for your personal statement. Different schools will have different questions, and these questions can give you clues to what topics to write about, what the tone of the essay should be, and how to go about writing the essay. Some questions will be very open-ended, leaving it up to you to find a creative and interesting way to present yourself, while other questions will be straightforward and precise. Use the essays that you found to guide you in meeting the requirements for your application. Remember that the requirements given for the sample essay may differ from those given to you, so only use the samples as general guides.
3. Aim to exceed their expectations
Finally, when writing your personal statement, it’s important to aim higher than just meeting the university’s expectations. Try to exceed them. Here are some of the expectations that top universities normally have for the personal statement:
- error-free (no spelling, grammar, or syntax errors) personal statements
- truthful information
- interesting presentation of facts
- meaningful topics
- clear, concise, and coherent essays
Write an essay that is unique, emotional, captivating, and, most of all, one that makes a strong impact on the admissions committee. If you are able to leave a good, lasting impression on the admissions committee, you can be sure that your chances of getting into the top university will increase greatly. Try to study how the sample personal statement essays were able to go beyond what is normally expected to make an impact on the reader. Use some of these techniques to embellish your own essay.
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Although colleges and universities have almost the same process of admitting applicants, it is still helpful if you research information about the specific school where you are planning to enroll to. Among the information you should read to broaden your chances of getting admitted are tips on writing a personal statement. Aside from this, it is also better if you gather information regarding the usual questions being asked during the interview. Being well informed about these little things will increase your chances of being admitted to your dream school. The following are tips on how you can gather inside information on a school’s admission process.
* Read forums, student blogs, and message boards online
The Internet is an excellent venue to gather information about the admissions process of various schools and colleges. Online message boards will also give you an idea about the admission process of a specific school where you want to enroll to. If you want to know the opinion of a school’s current students or those of your fellow applicants, you can go to student forums online. You can also post questions regarding the admission staff, the interview, and the questions frequently asked by the admission officers at forums and blogs.
* Ask students, admission officers, and alumni
Aside from the various blogs and message boards, you can also access first hand information about the application process from people who are currently studying in the school where you want to apply. Other sources of relevant information are the alumni of your dream school. It is also helpful if you get information from other applicants who are either passers or non-passers. This way, you will have an idea about the mistakes you have to avoid when you do your own application. The admission officers are also among the best people whom you can inquire about the admission procedure.
Another helpful thing you can do aside from asking people is practicing admissions exams online. It is also a great aid if you read an excellent sample personal statement essay and use it as a guide in writing your own.
The interview is one of the most important factors that could make or break your admissions into college, graduate school, or a certain job position. Through your interview, the admissions committee will know a great deal about your personality. So it is very important that you create a good impression during an interview. The following are some tips on how to survive and succeed in admissions interviews:
Research about relevant information
One of the primary steps in preparing for your admissions interview is to research about the necessary information such as the schedule and the venue of your interview. It is also advisable that you research information about the program you want to take. In this way, you can answer questions with confidence.
Practice answering interview questions
When you write your personal statement, you use a sample personal statement essay to guide you. In preparing for your interview, you should also find something to guide you. There are sample interview questions and answers online that you can use as guides. If you can find many websites that have sample personal statement essay, you will also find websites that offer sample interview questions and answers. You can use these questions and answers in preparing for your admissions interview. Like in the sample personal statement essay, you can take note of the structure, tone, and delivery style of the sample interview answers. You just have to practice answering the sample interview questions so that you can do well during your actual admissions interview.
When the time comes for your actual interview, you have to bear in mind the following tips:
* Arrive earlier or on time. In case you will be late, be sure to inform the interviewer about this.
* Dress properly. You should also maintain proper decorum during the interview. And you have to treat the interviewer with respect.
* Show the interviewer that you are confident. Try to be at ease and comfortable during the interview. Explain well or clarify some things if neccesary. It is also better if you ask some questions.
* Be honest and sincere in your answers. Don’t just copy the sample answers you found online. You have to reveal your own experiences, views, and knowledge during the interview.
* Do not forget to thank the interviewer when the interview is done.
Bearing these things in mind will increase your chances in gaining admissions to the school or job you desire.
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In the United States, the ranking of the best law schools are based on a lot of factors. It may be based on the quality of education, availability of facilities, qualification of professors, or organization of programs. For aspiring lawyers out there who are still undecided on which law school to apply in, here is the list of the top ten law schools in America:
1. Yale University
2. Harvard University
3. Stanford University
4. Columbia University
5. New York University
6. University of California-Berkeley
7. University of Chicago
8. University of Pennsylvania
9. Northwestern University
10. University of Michigan
As of 2008, Yale Law School is the number one law school in America. Having one of the lowest student-to-teacher ratio in classes, Yale Law School offers a healthy learning environment to its students. With its scholarships and outreach programs, Yale Law School proves to be more than just a law school for Ivy Leaguers but also an organization for the less privileged.
Finishing behind Yale Law School is Harvard Law School. With a curriculum that covers everything from a topnotch Bachelor in Law to one of the countries best programs in Doctor in Juridical Science, Harvard Law School offers only first-rate education to its students.
Coming at third place is Stanford University. Established fifteen years after the institution of the university’s law department in 1893, Stanford University not only offers a topnotch law education training but also an impressive library containing over a million books available as resources.
The fourth placer in the list, which is New York University School of Law, will forever be known for being one of the first law schools in America to accept female students. Founded in 1835, New York University School of Law makes another mark in history for being the first law school ever established in New York City.
Number five on the list is New York University School of Law’s neighbor, Columbia Law School. With practicing lawyers for professors, students of Columbia Law School will have firsthand advice on what it takes to survive law school.
University of California’s very own Berkeley School of Law also makes its mark in the list by establishing the best intellectual property program in the world for the eleventh year running. Because of its student-faculty collaborated journals, University of Chicago Law School grabs the seventh spot on the list of top ten law schools in America. Another Ivy Leaguer, University of Pennsylvania comes in at number eight because of their brilliant cross-disciplinary studies program. With an accelerated JD Program, Northwestern University Law School secures a ninth place finish. Wrapping up the list of the top ten law schools in America is the University of Michigan Law School, which is number five on the list of the most number of law school professors in America.
The top ten law schools in America have been named and what makes them the best in the country has already been laid out. Now, it’s your turn. Start preparing your application forms, sample personal statement essay and other entry requirements. You may browse through the different sample personal statement essay available in each school’s official website or other college-help websites to get tips on how to write law school-worthy personal statements. Well-written sample personal statement essay that accurately reflects your individuality may just be your yellow brick road to law school admissions.
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A great sample personal statement essay is one with coherent ideas, concise facts, engaging stories, relevant information, and interesting introductions. These qualities are exactly what the admissions committee look forward too before going over the insurmountable pile of admissions essay they receive every year. Over the years, the admissions committee of different academic institutions has been noticing trends in how a sample personal statement essay is composed. Here are three most commonly used themes in sample personal statement essay writing:
1. Rise from adversity
2. Quotable quotes
3. Life as a metaphor
Rise from adversity
Everybody loves the underdogs. People easily sympathize with tragedy-stricken individuals who climbed high mountains, swam wide seas, and crossed windy roads just to overcome the challenges of life. Every year, college applicants take advantage of this fact by composing an admission essay that centers on how they rose from adversity. This adversity, which may be the loss of a parent or the acquisition of a disability, is always used to tell a good story.
The admission evaluators, however, are not after the cinematic qualities of your story. A well-written sample personal statement essay about how you transformed from the token chubby classmate to the school homecoming king is enough to secure you a slot in your chosen university. You have to support your movie-worthy story with the life-changing lessons you learned along the way. How did you overcome your fears? What did you to improve your way of living? How did you handle your problems? Like any underdog story, the ending of your sample personal statement essay is already predictable. You have to remember that people are not so much interested on how a story ends but how the protagonist made it through the closing credits.
Quotable quotes
One of the most commonly used introductions in a sample personal statement essay is a quote. Whether it is something Thomas Jefferson mentioned or something Angelina Jolie said, a quote will always be present in at least 50% of the total number of sample personal statement essays submitted every year. Many applicants start their admission essays with a specific quote that made a difference to their lives. Most types of sample personal statement essay that started with a quote usually centers on the same quote throughout the essay.
When writing a sample personal statement about a quote, you have to explain how the meaning of the quote changed your life. Quotes are all inspiring but the admissions committee is more interested on discovering why the quote means so much to you. It is not enough for you to mention the quote and give an overview of the person who said it. You have to explain its relevance to your life. How did the quote inspire you? What did you learn from the quote? Quotes are included in a sample personal statement for a special reason, and by that, I don’t mean an attention-grabbing introduction.
Life as a metaphor
My life is an elevator – one minute I’m up, the next minute I’m down. Sounds familiar? Well, it should be because describing life as a metaphor is one of the most commonly used themes in writing a sample personal statement essay for college. Like quotes, applicants have a huge tendency to compare their life with other objects. Some are rosaries that are full of mysteries while some are journals that are full of secrets.
A sample personal statement essay featuring metaphorical references is promising yet dangerous at the same time. It is promising because a well-written admission essay with lots of impressive metaphorical concepts will reflect your creativity and philosophy. It is also dangerous because poorly explained metaphors, no matter how brilliant the ideas are, will only confuse the readers.
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Plagiarism is the most unforgivable sin you can commit in the world of writing. Copying another’s literary work is like stealing the answer to question number five from your classmate. The same thing goes for the sample personal statement essay. Plagiarizing a sample personal statement essay you found on the Internet can actually cost you your college education.
A wide variety of sample personal statement essay is available on the Internet. Some are especially written for medical school applicants while some are specifically made for law school applicants. The collection of sample personal statement essay is posted on websites to act as a guide, not as a template.
Many school applicants are guilty of committing the crime of copying a sample personal statement essay they found on the Internet. Unfortunately for them, the members of the admissions committee who evaluate their essays have a knack for distinguishing plagiarized essays from original work. To save yourself from sheer embarrassment, write your own sample personal statement essay that will tell you apart from the rest of the bunch.
You can find a huge collection of sample personal statement essay on the Internet, but they all have one thing in common: they all share the goal of helping you write an effective sample personal statement essay for college. Because college applicants have different backgrounds and goals, each sample personal statement essay is written to inspire a specific group of applicants. Aspiring doctors may find the sample personal statement essay for medical school helpful, but business majors will find the sample personal statement essay for MBA students more useful.
Sample personal statement essay as guides
It is a fact that an admission essay must reflect not only the applicant’s resume but also his individuality. In contrary to popular belief, an admission essay is not a way of showcasing your impressive traits and important achievements. An admission essay is a reflection of your personality. Who are you? What do you believe in? What makes you different? One of the best ways to write an impressive admission essay is to find a good sample personal statement essay to base your work on.
“Base” being the operative word, a sample personal statement essay must be treated only as a guide. It is not a “copy-paste” template that you can modify a little to suit your story. A sample personal essay must be used as a guide that will tell you which stories to write in your essay and which information to leave out. It will show you how to present stories or facts without being too arrogant, too boring, or too obvious. A sample personal statement essay must be used an inspiration for writing an interesting yet effective admission essay that will help you secure your college education.
Specific theme of the sample personal statement essay
Another noticeable similarity among all types of sample personal statement essay is their specific theme. One sample personal statement essay may focus on “adjusting life in a foreign land” while the other may concentrate on “overcoming the challenges of peer pressure,” depending on which topic is assigned by the school or which subject is chosen by the applicants. Like any literary piece, admission essays have to be written with a single theme. Adding anecdotes or facts unrelated to the central theme will only cause confusions to the evaluators and incoherence to the essay.
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It is important to find a balance between modesty and arrogance when writing a sample personal statement essay. Although it is never wise to sound like a senatorial candidate in a sample personal statement essay, it’s not also advisable to sound like you’ve never achieved anything in your life. The type of sample personal statement essay that can secure you a slot in the college or university of your choice is the one that highlights your good points without being too conceited.
A sample personal statement essay should not be treated as just another school admission requirement. It is a reflection of who you are as a person. Schools use your sample personal statement essay to evaluate your character, values, beliefs, and traits. Your individuality, among all factors, is the most important criterion that school admission evaluators consider when making their decision on whether to accept you into their institution or not. A well-written sample personal statement essay, and not good grades, is your best shot in securing a slot in college admissions.
Writing an effective sample personal statement essay
A sample personal statement essay, which is also referred to as an admission essay, is a written school requirement that reflects the student’s individuality. An excellently written sample personal statement essay may actually help students get admitted to the college or university of their choice.
The admissions committee responsible for evaluating your sample personal statement essay will carefully critique the way you constructed your essay. The admissions committee’s interpretation of the essay is not necessarily similar to what you wish to convey, so you have to be extra cautious in writing a sample personal statement essay. You may write about your achievements with pure modesty but it may appear too conceited for the admissions committee.
Instead of discussing your glorious moment or instant popularity, try explaining the hardships you’ve faced on your way to success. Discuss how you discovered new things, learned new lessons, or developed new values because of the experience. Mention how thankful you are for being blessed with such an overwhelming recognition. It is not wrong to write about your achievements but you have to divert the focus of your sample personal statement essay from the achievement to the humbling experience.
A sample personal statement essay should not focus on achievements alone. In fact, you can also write about your personal weaknesses and support them with explanations about your desire to overcome them. One of the things that appeal to admissions committee the most are the students’ ability to admit their shortcomings. By pairing your shortcomings with your desires to be a better person, you can almost guarantee yourself with a school acceptance letter.
Ruining your school admission chances by being too modest
As weird as it may sound, revealing too much modesty in your sample personal statement essay may even cost you that precious slot in your dream college or university. Which one has a higher chance of admission? An overly modest straight-A student or an overachieving student leader? Try to find the balance between modesty and self-promotion and write the sample personal statement essay that will secure your college education.
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