{"id":36812,"date":"2017-04-17T07:00:03","date_gmt":"2017-04-17T14:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/?p=36812"},"modified":"2017-04-16T12:33:26","modified_gmt":"2017-04-16T19:33:26","slug":"admissions-tip-be-yourself-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/admissions-tip-be-yourself-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Admissions Tip: BE YOURSELF!"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

One of things admissions committee members tell us again and again is that they wish \u2013 really, truly wish \u2013 that applicants would not try to write what they imagine the adcom wants to hear, and instead would just be themselves. Admissions committee members time and time again say they wish applicants would answer their questions, if they are asking a specific question, and in all cases reveal what they really want admissions committee readers to know about them.<\/p>\n

Be yourself. Be authentic. Stand out. It sounds simple, but when you\u2019re facing a blank screen\u2026well, not so easy, right? It\u2019s not you \u2013 a personal statement is a challenging essay to write<\/a>!<\/p>\n

How can you be yourself in your admissions essay? How can you let your authentic voice shine through, so that the person reading your essay feels they\u2019ve met you \u2013 and want to get to know you better?<\/p>\n

1. Write About the Right Experiences<\/strong><\/p>\n

One tip has to do with what you write about: choose experiences that mean something to you<\/a>. Don\u2019t try to be someone you aren\u2019t, just because you think it will impress the adcom. Everyone has a unique set of experiences and perspectives \u2013 embrace them, and you\u2019ll stand out.<\/p>\n

And when you tell your story, also say why<\/em> it\u2019s significant. What was the impact on others? The \u201cother\u201d can be an individual, a team, a group, an employer, or your company. And why is it important to you and your development? How will it add to the readers\u2019 understanding of you as an individual, a potential member of their community, and a future professional and alum?<\/p>\n

2. Be Truthful<\/strong><\/p>\n

Another tip: don\u2019t exaggerate or falsify anything in your profile. That\u2019s automatically not being yourself! And it\u2019s a ticket to the \u201crejection\u201d pile.<\/p>\n

3. Find an Authentic Voice<\/strong><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t change your voice for the sake of the essay. Some people worry about their word choice \u2013 they want to use sophisticated vocabulary to dazzle the adcom. Here\u2019s the thing: it\u2019s best to write like a human being. If you don\u2019t know those words and wouldn\u2019t normally use them, skip them. Don\u2019t sound stilted \u2013 let your voice through. Along related lines: if you\u2019re not naturally a funny person, it\u2019s probably not the best time to try to crack jokes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Your unique experiences, perspective, and goals will help you stand out in a crowded field, as long as you convey what is special about you. And then you will be You.<\/p>\n

One way to get a sense of how effectively your essay is introducing you is to ask someone else to read it. We\u2019ve read thousands of application essays and successfully coached people like you to success. We have the extensive admissions experience to know which parts of your profile make you stand out \u2013 and how you can present yourself so that you seem like a real person. We can give you a professional evaluation of your essay, and specific advice on how to strengthen it before you apply<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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

\u2022 Leadership in Admissions<\/a>, a free guide
\n\u2022 Standing Out in Your Application<\/a>, a podcast episode
\n\u2022 Podcast Interviews with MBA Adcom Members<\/a>; Med School Adcom Members<\/a>; Grad School Adcom Members<\/a><\/p>\n

This article<\/a>\u00a0originally appeared on\u00a0<\/i>blog.accepted.com<\/a>.<\/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.<\/p>\n

Contact us, and get matched up with the consultant who will help\u00a0you\u00a0<\/i>get accepted<\/a>!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One of things admissions committee members tell us again and again is that they wish \u2013 really, truly wish \u2013 that applicants would not try to write what they imagine…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,939,775,113,243],"tags":[90,1030,883,87],"class_list":["post-36812","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mba","category-accepted","category-admission-consultants","category-applications","category-blog","tag-application-essay","tag-business-school-essays","tag-mba-essay-tips","tag-personal-statement","entry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\t\t\n