{"id":34499,"date":"2016-09-12T15:41:23","date_gmt":"2016-09-12T22:41:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/?p=34499"},"modified":"2016-09-12T15:41:23","modified_gmt":"2016-09-12T22:41:23","slug":"tone-up-your-writing-confidence-vs-arrogance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/tone-up-your-writing-confidence-vs-arrogance\/","title":{"rendered":"Tone Up Your Writing: Confidence vs Arrogance"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Download<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cTone\u201d is often one of the aspects of writing that applicants find most difficult to pin down. And yet, when you\u2019re writing, it is also one of the most important to control so that you maintain an appropriate tone for your purpose.<\/p>\n

One way to think about \u201ctone\u201d is to understand it as conveying your attitude toward your subject. Two key steps can help you become more aware of your tone. First, pause and consider who your audience is and what you are trying to communicate to them. Second, read your writing aloud: hearing your words can enable you to recognize connotations and overtones that you missed on the page.<\/p>\n

What type of tone should you strive for in your admissions essay<\/a>? And how can you ensure your writing conveys the right attitude?<\/p>\n

Your tone should be confident, professional, and courteous. It should convey your spirit of intellectual curiosity\/inquisitiveness and your collaborative mindset.<\/p>\n

Confidence<\/h3>\n

Let\u2019s start with the issue of confidence<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

How can you make sure your tone is confident \u2013 without sounding arrogant? Here are five tips for just-the-right tone:<\/p>\n

1.<\/strong> When you describe your skills and qualifications, do so with self-assurance. Don\u2019t diminish or hide your contribution \u2013 and don\u2019t sound uncertain of yourself.<\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> At the same time, focus on showing what you did, how you contributed, and what you learned from it, instead of simply making unsupported statements<\/a>. For example, instead of just saying \u201cI have strong communication skills,\u201d illustrate those skills in action: \u201cAs a research assistant, I met regularly with all members of the research team and made formal presentations of my findings each week.\u201d<\/p>\n

3.<\/strong> Quantify whenever possible and provide relevant, impressive specifics. \u201cLed team of 5 on 3 continents\u201d is better than \u201cLed team.\u201d<\/p>\n

4.<\/strong> Beware of words and qualifiers that make you sound uncommitted to your position. (\u201cSeems,\u201d \u201cappears,\u201d \u201cmight be,\u201d etc.) If you mean \u201cis,\u201d say \u201cis.\u201d Better yet, use strong verbs. (If you\u2019re describing provisional research findings, provisional-sounding words are ok!)<\/p>\n

5.<\/strong> Remember what you\u2019re interested in. What truly attracts you to this program?<\/a> Highlight your real enthusiasm, and let your confidence shine.<\/p>\n

To summarize:<\/em><\/p>\n

\u2022 Back up your assertions with illustrations and details.
\n\u2022 Watch out for words that weaken your position by making you sound uncertain.
\n\u2022 Find the source of your confidence: the reasons you\u2019re applying to the program in the first place.<\/em><\/p>\n

Arrogance<\/h3>\n

The negative flip-side of confidence is arrogance<\/strong>. It is an application killer and a quality you must avoid.<\/p>\n

We can\u2019t really overstate how important it is to root out any whiff of arrogance in your essay. Since so many grad programs rely on teamwork, adcoms are looking for candidates who will be good colleagues. it\u2019s critical to come across as someone who works well with other people. How can you avoid errors in tone that project arrogance?<\/p>\n

Here are six tips to eradicate arrogance from your essays:<\/p>\n

1.<\/strong> As you describe your contribution, don\u2019t make your team\u2019s work sound less important, inflate your work, or (explicitly or implicitly) describe yourself as being smarter or better than your colleagues.<\/p>\n

a. Most people don\u2019t make this error explicitly, but I have seen essays where people wrote some variation of \u201cI left this job because I was so much more advanced than my colleagues there.\u201d Please don\u2019t write that or anything close to it.<\/p>\n

b. If you\u2019ve left a position, express the decision in a positive way: instead of saying, \u201cI was more advanced than my colleagues there,\u201d or \u201cI didn\u2019t like the environment,\u201d write that you moved to the new position in order to do XYZ, or develop your skills in ABC, or because it gave you more responsibility.<\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> Don\u2019t present yourself as being the only qualified candidate. No matter how great you are, there are a lot of other great candidates. So don\u2019t say things like \u201cI am the only one to\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

3.<\/strong> Don\u2019t belittle other people. If you excelled or had a great opportunity, talk about that opportunity and what you did; don\u2019t imply that other people from your school or company were not as successful, ambitious, or prepared. In other words:<\/p>\n

i. Instead of: \u201cComing to college was a revelation, because I had been surrounded by unmotivated students all my life.\u201d<\/p>\n

ii. Try: \u201cIn college, I was in my element, surrounded by other motivated students.\u201d<\/p>\n

4.<\/strong> Don\u2019t boast about test scores, grades, or other info that probably shouldn\u2019t be in your essay anyway (ie, things that are on your CV or application form).<\/p>\n

5.<\/strong> Avoid words that can connote arrogance, especially if you use then primarily in reference to yourself and your own accomplishments. (Words like \u201csuperior\u201d or \u201cexceptional.\u201d)<\/p>\n

6.<\/strong> Similarly, make sure you convey genuine enthusiasm about the program: don\u2019t write as though they should be lucky to have you, but as though you know that it is the right place<\/a> for you.<\/p>\n

To summarize:<\/em><\/p>\n

\u2022 Don\u2019t belittle other people.<\/em>
\n \u2022 Don\u2019t exaggerate your contribution.<\/em>
\n \u2022 Remember the adcom is considering you as a potential colleague \u2013 not just weighing your stats.<\/em><\/p>\n

As I said above, a helpful way to check your tone is to read your essay aloud. Ask yourself: Do I sound confident? Do I sound like I am making a judgment about something I don\u2019t really mean to be judgmental about? Have I used \u201cI\u201d too much when talking about a group project?<\/p>\n

This is also where it\u2019s very helpful to ask someone else to read your essay. Ask them to pay attention to your tone, and mark any places that sound negative or un-collegial.<\/p>\n

Next time, I\u2019ll address how to maintain a professional tone.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"5<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

\"Rebecca<\/a>By\u00a0Dr. Rebecca Blustein<\/a>,\u00a0Accepted.com consultant since 2008, former Student Affairs Officer at UCLA\u2019s Scholarship Resource Center, and author of the ebook,<\/i>\u00a0<\/em>Financing Your Future: Winning Fellowships, Scholarships and Awards for Grad School<\/a>. Dr. Blustein, who earned her Ph.D. at UCLA, assists our clients applying to MS, MA, and Ph.D. programs. Want Rebecca\u00a0to help you get accepted? Click here to get in touch!<\/a><\/i><\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Related Resources:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2022 From Example to Exemplary [Free Guide]<\/a>
\n\u2022\u00a0Generic-itis Prevention [Warning: If Untreated, Can Cause Rejection]<\/a>
\n\u2022\u00a0Writing Techniques From a Pro<\/a><\/p>\n

This article<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>originally appeared on\u00a0<\/span><\/i>blog.accepted.com<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Applying to a top b-school? The talented folks at Accepted have helped hundreds of applicants get accepted to their dream programs. Whether you are figuring out where to apply, writing your application essays, or prepping for your interviews, we are just a call (or click) away.<\/span><\/p>\n

Contact us, and get matched up with the consultant who will help\u00a0you\u00a0<\/i><\/span>get accepted<\/span><\/a>!<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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