Written by margaret procter, writing support when you write a letter or personal statement as part of applying for graduate or professional school, you will make your case as much by the way you write as by what you say. Is the real question why you want to be a lawyer, or is it why you will make a good one? if the prompt is very general or the questions scattered, decide what point you want to make overall: that you are a proven achiever, or that you can deal with challenges, or that you have something special to contribute to the profession. Don't just write about law or medicine in general that is extremely boring to the readers. A clearly organized letter can create a picture of a clear minded and sensible person.

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At least check the topic sentences of each paragraph in your finished piece to see if they make a logical sequence. See over for types of structure and for books that give further advice about writing. You need to make an impression concisely, so don't use your letter just to repeat the facts set out in other parts of the application.

Provide explicit answers for the question that arises in the mind of any reader looking at a hundred or more similar documents so what? use nouns and adjectives that name qualities outgoing, curiosity, confident and verbs that show action coordinated, investigated, tried . Make an effort to find the exact right ones to suit the evidence you are offering. Refer to the fact lists in other parts of your application as my academic record shows , but be sure to offer enough examples in your letter so that it can stand on its own. Say that they are just instances, not your whole proof an incident from last summer is an example.

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The concrete language you use for these specific references will also balance the generalizing words of your interpretive points. In effect, the readers have asked you to tell stories, mention details, expand on facts. So mention things you might not have put into the rest of the application your ethnic background or political interests, if you wish and if they are relevant.

Don't be afraid to mention problems or difficulties stress how you overcame them. Use i rather than phrases like this writer or my experience or was experienced by me. A stylistic tip: to avoid monotony, start some sentences with a subordinate clause such as while i scrubbed floors or because of my difficulties then go on to i did or i learned. judge by the clues on the application form and by the nature of the profession or discipline what kind of logical structure you could use to tie your points together into a coherent whole. You may see indications you are expected to tell stories, or be self analytical, or to enter into discussions in the discipline. Here are some standard patterns for prose exposition: narrative: this has the virtue of being linear, and thus easy to organize. It progresses from a beginning to an end, and you can divide up the middle into manageable sections. Make sure, too, that you balance interpretive points with specific facts analytic: to deal with the central question why you are a good match for the program, give an overall answer about yourself and then discuss the elements that contribute to your engagement with the discipline and predict your contributions.

Break into memorable stories at times, using specific details, and use verbs to put yourself in action. technical: to indicate your research or professional interests, show your involvement with a specific issue. Don't just outline the topi you want to work on write about your summer research job or independent study project, or your program on student radio or your volunteer experience. Emphasize what you learned from these activities, and indicate how your studies will extend that learning. style: don't give your readers any excuses to eliminate your letter. Proofread carefully for missing details as well as errors in grammar or punctuation. Use the books below available in robarts library and college libraries as reference works on matters of correctness, and read relevant parts to review what people consider interesting and readable style.

Pe 1429 z5 specific guidebooks: a number of books give advice specifically on writing admissions letters for american universities. Look for those that refer to graduate admission letters, not the kinds that high school students need to write. Take their advice and samples with a grain of salt, and above all don't copy suspected plagiarism or obvious imitation make for a quick rejection. Has a binder on applying to grad school educ 3.1 and a number of reference books. graduate school: winning strategies for getting in with or without excellent grades. lb 2371 m85 1997 robarts, vic, uc, utm h.w. how to write a winning personal statement.lb 2351.52 u6s74 robarts, smc, vic, uc, utm online help. have a look at this other online advice, again remembering that none will exactly fit your situation.

A good summary of standard advice, mainly directed at high school writers seeking admission to undergraduate colleges. It includes several examples from the stelzer book above, and comments from experienced readers of admission statements. University of wisconsin gives thorough advice on application essays and personal statements. It offers guidance on the whole process, from researching readers' expectations to generating ideas, organizing your ideas, and revising for maximum impact.

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Psychweb sets out insiders' advice on the whole process of applying to graduate programs in psychology, including getting the right reference letters useful for people in other fields too. University of wisconsin at milwaukee has sensible tips on what to ask for in letters of reference. This page suggests questions you should ask yourself about your own interests, and lists questions you should send to the programs you're considering. Nonprofit charitable orgs expert joanne fritz has worked in the nonprofit world for most of her 30 year career beginning with teaching at the secondary, college, and university levels.