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Whoever first said that you should worry only about the
things you can control was not helping to ease the
concerns of the student writing his or her application
essay. By that criterion, the student-writer should be
very worried indeed. The
scariest aspect of the admissions essay is that you have
total control over it. With EssayEdge's help, however,
you will learn to see the essay-writing process not as a
daunting obstacle but as a stimulating opportunity. When
you send out your application, you will--in theory--have
nothing left to worry about, knowing that you have
capitalized on all the means available to you.
Business school students face a uniquely difficult
challenge, because most programs require a series of
essays rather than a single, comprehensive personal
statement. This fact alone should indicate the
importance that business schools place on your written
responses. Part of the reason for this extra required
writing is that business schools also place a stronger
emphasis on practical experience. Academic ability may
still be the number-one factor, but it's not enough to
get you into a school, just as it's not enough to
guarantee your success in the business world. Business
schools pay close attention to personal qualities,
including your leadership, communication skills,
initiative, vision, and many more. Grades and scores do
not explain this side of you, and neither does a resume.
Thus your admission will depend largely on your ability
to convey your experiences and goals in written form.
Self-assessment is a significant part of this process,
as is a careful review of both your life and what you
have done professionally. Many successful professionals
have simply never had to articulate their
accomplishments before and now for the first time must
communicate this information in a very clear, concise,
powerful manner that is accessible to anyone, even
without knowledge of their field. Being able to convey
both the substance and significance of one's work life
is crucial for all applicants.
These lessons will familiarize you with the most common
questions on business school applications and explain
some possible strategies for handling them. However,
there is no single way to approach any of these
questions, as they are often open-ended and leave a
great deal of room for creativity. In fact, browsing a
section for a question you don't have can still be
useful, because you might discover a strategy that you
can apply to an entirely different question.
Our goal is to focus on actual essays rather than make
abstract suggestions, because you can learn more from
illustrative examples than from principles that may not
apply to your case. The insights we gain from analyzing
these sample essays should inform rather than dictate
the approach you choose to take.
The number-one mistake that writers make is to stick to
formulas and, therefore, end up blending in with
everyone else. The purpose of this guide is not to teach
formulas but rather to give the necessary direction for
you to create an original and effective essay.
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