Thanks Natnael for stopping by. Most students I met feel it’s an uphill battle to standout among thousands of applicants. And they are right —- it can be if a student ends up writing a wrong essay.
Thanks Zara. You are right. Students need some reminders as they juggle the application cycle. It’s not always made clear to them what to put on their essay and how to use (or not use) AI.
Exactly. Especially, if an applicant doesn’t have a special tutor to navigate the process, it can be a challenge to even figure out what exactly the prompt is asking.
But there are two issues here. First of all good tutors are incredibly expensive. And second, many people might not even realize they NEED a tutor for that.
This clearly helped me know the differences between the two. The prompt, on the other hand, is what I was looking for, so thank you for that. I used it on my SoP, which is due tomorrow. Would you care to find out how it turned out? I can share it with you.
Appreciate this practical breakdown, Mahelet! The distinction between looking back (Personal Statement) and looking forward (SOP) is spot on.
On the topic of looking forward: it would be amazing to read a future post from you on the 'step zero' mental roadmap—evaluating whether to attend grad school at all.
Insiders providing a candid look at the real pros/cons, opportunity costs over a 2–7 year horizon, and how to avoid the 'overqualified for entry-level, under-experienced for industry' trap upon graduation would be a game-changer for prospective students!"
That’s a great question. I would say it’s a hybrid and as the name indicates we want to learn about how motivated or committed the student is to this particular program; and how can he/she pitch for themselves; why are they the best fit. Having said this the best approach is to follow the hint given by the prompt. Because some school was you to focus on your professional side while others are more curious about your personal and cultural background.
Another point to consider is to ask whether the essay (either SOP or personal statement) would be used for admission purpose only or for allocating scholarships.
“A useful resource for learning how to organize ideas and write a strong essay
Thanks Natnael for stopping by. Most students I met feel it’s an uphill battle to standout among thousands of applicants. And they are right —- it can be if a student ends up writing a wrong essay.
well-written and authentic essay can truly make a difference. Your advice is very helpful for students like us. 🙏
When to get to this point of writing an essay, and if you need some one to look over DM through the inbox feature of Substack.
You explained it so clearly, I wish your text could be handed to all the applicants.
Thanks Zara. You are right. Students need some reminders as they juggle the application cycle. It’s not always made clear to them what to put on their essay and how to use (or not use) AI.
Exactly. Especially, if an applicant doesn’t have a special tutor to navigate the process, it can be a challenge to even figure out what exactly the prompt is asking.
That’s true. Especially if the applicant is not a native speaker. Tutors or mentors also help a great deal.
But there are two issues here. First of all good tutors are incredibly expensive. And second, many people might not even realize they NEED a tutor for that.
This clearly helped me know the differences between the two. The prompt, on the other hand, is what I was looking for, so thank you for that. I used it on my SoP, which is due tomorrow. Would you care to find out how it turned out? I can share it with you.
I am glad it helped. Let me know how it goes.
Appreciate this practical breakdown, Mahelet! The distinction between looking back (Personal Statement) and looking forward (SOP) is spot on.
On the topic of looking forward: it would be amazing to read a future post from you on the 'step zero' mental roadmap—evaluating whether to attend grad school at all.
Insiders providing a candid look at the real pros/cons, opportunity costs over a 2–7 year horizon, and how to avoid the 'overqualified for entry-level, under-experienced for industry' trap upon graduation would be a game-changer for prospective students!"
Thanks Radu. That deserves a post of its own. 🤓
Another question is, what about motivation letters? How do they compare?
That’s a great question. I would say it’s a hybrid and as the name indicates we want to learn about how motivated or committed the student is to this particular program; and how can he/she pitch for themselves; why are they the best fit. Having said this the best approach is to follow the hint given by the prompt. Because some school was you to focus on your professional side while others are more curious about your personal and cultural background.
Another point to consider is to ask whether the essay (either SOP or personal statement) would be used for admission purpose only or for allocating scholarships.