{"id":13893,"date":"2012-08-28T14:52:05","date_gmt":"2012-08-28T21:52:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/?p=13893"},"modified":"2012-09-13T11:35:08","modified_gmt":"2012-09-13T18:35:08","slug":"writing-a-lead-that-pops","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/writing-a-lead-that-pops\/","title":{"rendered":"Writing A Lead That Pops"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"reading<\/a>How many times have you wandered through a bookstore, opening up a book to read the first few lines only to quickly close it again? How often have you read one of those free samples on your Kindle, only to decide after a paragraph that you\u2019re glad you didn\u2019t buy it?<\/p>\n

Similarly, how many times have you met someone for the first time and made a judgment in the first five minutes \u2013 whether it\u2019s based on how they look, speak, or carry themselves? Even if you know it\u2019s wrong to do so, how many of us have said to ourselves, \u201cthey just don\u2019t seem like my type\u201d and started to look at the clock before you\u2019ve even ordered coffee?<\/p>\n

We all do this, dozens of times a day. Unfortunately, we have to. In our extremely fast-paced world, we are forced to make quick decisions: whether it\u2019s which brand of pasta sauce to buy at the store, which book to buy or which movie to watch. There\u2019s always another link to click on if we\u2019re not grabbed right away, or another pair of shoes right next to these ones. We can often only base our decisions on a \u201csnap judgment\u201d: a two-minute movie trailer, the marketing on the pasta sauce jar, or the first few lines of a book.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, admissions committee people often have to make very<\/em> quick decisions; they simply have too many applications to wade through. For all of you application essay writers out there (and that is anyone on this site \u2013 from an MBA or law applicant to PhD or college) the message is this:<\/p>\n

Make those first few lines count. Make them sing. Grab your reader\u2019s attention before their attention wanders, or walks away.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Now, I know this can sound like a lot of pressure, and in a way, it is. Much like a movie trailer or first few lines of a newspaper article, you only have a short space in which to convince your reader to keep reading.<\/p>\n

Try thinking of it as a fun challenge. Think of it as catching a fish: you must \u201chook\u201d your reader first before reeling them in. You do this in a brief, to the point, compelling few sentences that start the essay<\/a> off with a punch. This is called a lead<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

In my opinion, the strongest leads are usually personal anecdotes about YOU. Not the details of your GPA, or the technical facts of what you researched in the lab, but a STORY<\/a> that makes the reader sit up and say, \u201cAh! An interesting human being, with a voice!\u201d For many of you, the essay will be the main way to \u201cintroduce\u201d yourselves to the admissions committee, and it may be the only way that they get to \u201cmeet\u201d you. So, it needs to really shine.<\/p>\n

A good lead:<\/p>\n

-gives your reader an idea of your \u201cagenda\u201d or main points \u2013 i.e. who you are, your story, and at least a strong hint as to what you are interested in doing with your life\/career\/studies.<\/p>\n

-uses some sort of creative detail or description.<\/p>\n

-makes your reader interested in reading the rest of the essay.<\/p>\n

Here are some examples of interesting first lines:<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was absolutely pitch black outside\u2026\u201d
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cMoney was flowing\u2026out the window.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/strong>Finding a green, scratched 1950s Cadillac in a dump last summer was the moment I realized that mechanical engineering was for me.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Many clients have expressed fear when I suggest this idea of an anecdotal introduction, as if it appears too \u201csoft,\u201d too \u201cpersonal\u201d<\/a> or \u201ccreative.\u201d I would argue that it should be both creative and yet very strong if it\u2019s the right anecdote: the story that ties where you\u2019ve been to where you\u2019re going. And, a bit of descriptive language can go a long way to spice up a straightforward story.<\/p>\n

So, how do you start?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019d suggest that you first make a list of some turning point moments<\/strong> in your life that<\/strong> relate to the professional goal(s) you now have.<\/strong> These can be taken from anywhere--from recent or older work experiences, cultural background, to \u201caha moments.\u201d An engineering applicant could describe the first moment he experienced a lack of light in his rural home and realized he wanted to become an electrical engineer; an MBA applicant might have had a very profound experience in a recent work situation that made her see why she wants to pursue a career in the nonprofit sector; a law school applicant might have witnessed a courtroom scene during an internship that inspired him to pursue a certain type of law\u2026the list goes on and on.<\/p>\n

As you make your list of anecdotes, try to jot down as many small, precise details as you can about each memory or experience. Why was this moment important on your journey towards your dream career or school? How did it help shape you, and what did it teach you?<\/p>\n

Then, try starting your essay with the anecdote itself. This \u201chooks\u201d the reader with a real-life human experience<\/a>, adding in some needed color, personality, and, ideally, voice.<\/p>\n

Think about the time in the bookstore when you simply had<\/em> to know what happened on the next page, so you bought the book and read it straight through. You want the admissions people to feel the same way. Once they\u2019re hooked, you can take them anywhere you please.<\/p>\n

\"Eliot<\/a>By Eliot Sloan<\/a>, Accepted.com editor. Eliot is a college writing professor specializing in the personal narrative, a journalist, writing coach, and admissions counselor. She has helped applicants gain acceptance to Ivy League schools and other top programs.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Accepted.com's experienced admissions consultants<\/a> can help you create the most impressive application possible with comprehensive packages<\/a>, <\/em><\/strong>or provide targeted assistance from picking perfect programs<\/a> to designing a dazzling resume<\/a>, constructing engaging essays<\/a>, or preparing for intense interview<\/a>s<\/a>\u2026and more! Accepted.com has guided thousands of applicants to acceptances at top MBA programs since 1994 \u2013 we know what works and what doesn't, so contact us<\/a> to get started now!<\/p>\n

This article originally appeared on the Accepted Admissions Consulting Blog<\/a>, the official blog of Accepted.com.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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