How to Write the Perfect Personal Statement: Write powerful essays for law, business, medical, or graduate school application (Peterson's Perfect Personal Statements)

The admissions process for graduate and professional school is more competitive today than ever before. How to Write the Perfect Personal Statement will de-mystify critical aspects of the admissions process by providing insight into how to create and write personal statements that respond to the questions that appear on the applications of many popular graduate schools, whom to approach for letters of recommendation, and how to make the best impression at the interview.--from publisher description PART 1 CREATING PERFECT PERSONAL STATEMENTS THE QUESTIONS PREPARING TO WRITE YOUR ESSAYS WRITING YOUR PERSONAL STATEMENT: CONTENT AND THEME THE ULTIMATE TEST FOR CONTENT WHAT THEY ARE REALLY LOOKING FOR ALMOST EVERYONE MAKES THIS MISTAKE GETTING CREATIVE—ESPECIALLY IN YOUR OPENING REMARKS TAKING RISKS IN EXPRESSING YOURSELF DISCUSSING YOUR BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE DISCUSSING WHAT MAKES YOU DIFFERENT OR UNIQUE DISCUSSING YOUR MINORITY STATUS OR DISADVANTAGED BACKGROUND DISCUSSING YOUR MOTIVES AND ASPIRATIONS DISCUSSING WHY YOU WANT TO ATTEND THIS PARTICULAR SCHOOL EXPLAINING DEFICIENCIES, INCONSISTENCIES, AND BLEMISHES DISCLOSING SKELETONS IN YOUR CLOSET DISCUSSING YOUR RECOMMENDERS AND OTHER“INFLUENTIAL” PEOPLE WRITING YOUR PERSONAL STATEMENT: STYLE AND FORMAT INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPHS AND CONCLUSIONS/SUMMARIES UNCONVENTIONAL AND GIMMICKY WRITING STYLES UNCONVENTIONAL AND GIMMICKY FORMATS AND PACKAGES TYPEFACE, TYPE SIZE, AND HANDWRITTEN ESSAYS (PAPER-BASED APPLICATIONS ONLY) PAGE LIMITS AND WORD LIMITS OBTAINING ASSISTANCE IN WRITING AND EDITING YOUR PERSONAL STATEMENT SUBMITTING OR REFERENCING SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS THE TOP 10 DO’S AND DON’TS FOR WRITING PERSONAL STATEMENTS TOP 10 RULES TO WRITE BY TOP 10 PERSONAL STATEMENT PITFALLS PERSONAL STATEMENTS AND MEDICAL SCHOOL APPLICATIONS THE AMCAS APPLICATION FORM THE AMCAS “PERSONAL COMMENTS” ESSAY “SUPPLEMENTAL” OR “SECONDARY” APPLICATION ESSAYS APPLYING TO LAW SCHOOLS VIA THE LSAC WEB SITE PART 2 RECOMMENDATION LETTERS AND IN-PERSONS INTERVIEWS RECOMMENDATION LETTERS WHAT THE SCHOOLS WANT TO KNOW FROM YOUR RECOMMENDERS SELECTING YOUR RECOMMENDERS APPROACHING AND ASSISTING POTENTIAL RECOMMENDERS UNDERGRADUATE PLACEMENT FILES AND CREDENTIAL SERVICES IF THE SCHOOL DOES NOT REQUIRE RECOMMENDATION LETTERS SUBMITTING FEWER OR MORE LETTERS THAN REQUIRED “SEALED” RECOMMENDATION LETTERS WAIVING YOUR RIGHT OF ACCESS TO RECOMMENDATION LETTERS SUBMITTING A “DEAN’S CERTIFICATION” THE LSAC LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION SERVICE (FOR LAW SCHOOL APPLICANTS) COMMITTEE LETTERS FOR MEDICAL SCHOOL APPLICANTS THE AMCAS LETTERS SERVICE FOR MEDICAL SCHOOL ADMISSION THE GRE PERSONAL POTENTIAL INDEX (FOR MASTER’S AND PH.D. APPLICANTS) IN-PERSON INTERVIEWS ARRANGING FOR AN INTERVIEW INTERVIEW FORMAT AND DRESS CODE WHAT TO EXPECT DURING THE INTERVIEW PART 3 THIRTY GREAT PERSONAL STATEMENTS BY SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS ESSAYS THAT RELATE A PERSONAL ANECDOTE ESSAYS THAT ADMIT SHORTCOMINGS ESSAYS THAT CONNECT THE APPLICANT’S PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE ESSAYS BY RISK-TAKERS WITH DISTINCTIVE POINTS OF VIEW ESSAYS BY APPLICANTS CLEARLY FOCUSED ON GOALSs ESSAYS BY APPLICANTS WITH UNIQUE LIFE EXPERIENCES ESSAYS THAT EXPLAIN WHY THE APPLICANT CHOSE THIS SCHOOL ESSAYS THAT EXPLAIN DEFICIENCIES OR BLEMISHES ESSAYS BY APPLICANTS WHO ARE COMMITTED TO A CAUSE ESSAYS BY MULTIFACETED APPLICANTS PART 4 ADVICE FROM THE EXPERTS ADVICE FROM LAW SCHOOLS BERKELEY LAW (UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY, SCHOOL OF LAW) CORNELL UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY LAW CENTER UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN LAW SCHOOL THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN SCHOOL OF LAW UCLA SCHOOL OF LAW ADVICE FROM BUSINESS SCHOOLS COLUMBIA BUSINESS SCHOOL, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY THE FUQUA SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, DUKE UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS M.B.A. PROGRAM LEONARD N. STERN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AT NEW YORK UNIVERSITY STANFORD UNIVERSITY, GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AMOS TUCK SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (DARTMOUTH COLLEGE) ADVICE FROM MEDICAL SCHOOLS STANFORD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN MEDICAL SCHOOL PRITZKER SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON The admissions process for law, business, medical, or graduate school is more competitive today than ever before. Peterson's How to Write the Perfect Personal Statement provides essential tips on how to create and write personal statements that respond to the questions that appear on the applications of many popular graduate schools. The guide also offers great insight on whom to approach for letters of recommendation and how to make the best impression at the interview. How to Write the Perfect Personal Statement features 30 actual samples of successful application essays as well as recommendations from admissions officers on winning strategies that have guaranteed students admission into business, law, medical, and graduate school. How to Write the Perfect Personal Statement offers step-by-step instructions on style, format, concept, and theme; preparation strategies for the personal interview; tactics on whom to ask to write letters of recommendation; top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for writing the essay; tips from admission officials from Columbia, Michigan, and other high-profile schools; and much more! The admissions process for law, business, medical, or graduate school is more competitive today than ever before. Peterson's How to Write the Perfect Personal Statement provides essential tips on how to create and write personal statements that respond to the questions that appear on the applications of many popular graduate schools. It features 30 actual samples of successful application essays as well as recommendations from admissions officers on winning strategies that have guaranteed students admission into business, law, medical, and graduate school. Inside you'll also find step-by-step instructions on style, format, concept, and theme; preparation strategies for the personal interview; tactics on whom to ask to write letters of recommendation; top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for writing the essay; tips from admission officials from Columbia, Michigan, and other high-profile schools; and much more! Offers tips on writing an effective personal statement for graduate school, including thirty successful examples; instructions on style, format, concept, and theme; and preparation strategies for an interview