Information Repeated Accross Your Application

Question

So, I know this is pretty random but I was working on my resume this week and as I'm writing about work, activities, etc I got to thinking.... A lot of the stuff on my resume will be repeated in essays and other parts of my application. For example, under work experience I have bullets that summarize and quantify my most significant work achievements - but then one of those achievements (my best one) is likely to be the basis for one of my essays. Also, under my activities I made a brief comment for each about my most significant accomplishment there. One of those is my best leadership example - so I'm sure that will be an essay. Plus, the activities info will probably be repeated again on the application data forms.

So, my question is this - Is it bad to have information repeated accross your application like this? Does it make it look like you have a limited number of accomplishments and therefore need to mention them over and over again? If it is bad, how do you fix it? It seems like I would want to list my biggest work and EC accomplishments on my resume right? But then I would also want to write about my biggest accomplishments in my essays too. Maybe its ok because resume/data forms are brief summaries and essays are where you expand (on the same events/accomplishments, etc)? Oh and btw, I feel like I should mention that there are of course other points/accomplishments, etc that are mentioned on my resume that will NOT be the basis of an entire essay (for these the resume will be the only place on my application that these accomplishments appear - unless my reccomenders talk about a couple of them).

I know it's kind of random but its just been really bugging me.

nick_sun · Answer

IMHO, it's not bad at all to mention the brightest moments of your career in the resume (even though you have already described some of them in your essays). If you still feel uneasy with these repeatitions, just thoroughly rephrase the lines ("managed the project on acquisition of the international company" => "led a group of 5 analysts and 3 lawyers to negotiate and close the deal regarding $500 mln purchase of the global healthcare business") so that your essay points will not automatically pop up in the adcom minds

Sure, add your EC to the Additional Information section of the resume. Your interviews can be blind, so that the only source of info the interviewers will have will be your resume. Even if your recommenders will talk about something and it reflects your valuable experience, mention it in the resume. But DO NOt repeat the phrases used by the recommenders. One essential thing about the resumes is that your points there should be short and sweet but at the same time they should show your quantifiable leadership and management potential (you "led", "managed", "coordinated the work" of "5 auditors", "400 employees", "3 assistants" etc.)

IHateTheGMAT · Answer

Thanks Nick, your answer was really helpful

kryzak · Answer

It's totally ok to repeat things across your application, but just make sure you don't repeat things too much in your essays. Each of your essay should attack one accomplishment/EC/theme, and repeating anything else will take away from your ability to bring some other aspect of your candidacy to light.

for Activities/EC, there are usually places in an application you can put that in, along with office positions and maybe a short description of the work you did. I would also put a mention on the resume so your interview could bring it up if he/she wants to.

Good luck with the apps!

IHateTheGMAT · Answer

Thanks kry! Now, I really feel like I can put this issue to rest.

Information Repeated Accross Your Application

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