I have to write three essays for my graduate school application. I don't have any ideas about either of the topics. I am concerned about the "tell us about yourself" essay. I am supposed to focus on non-school experiences such as work, volunteer efforts, travel and professional endeavors. Thinking about this essay makes me realize how boring my life is. Yes, I was in the Peace Corps and I'm teaching in English in Korea, but neither of those things are as exciting as they sound. Any ideas on how to make me sound more appealing to a graduate school?
16 Years
6 days ago
7 Comments:
Tell them about your traveling while you have been in all those places and all the people you deal in your travels.
Also tell them how you made posters for WWF. That should impress them.
Your life would be more exciting than someone that just got out of school and worked 8-5 at a desk job.
And if they don't believe you have them talk to your mother.
Mom
"I have committed the past two years of my life to serving areas of the world where my education and talents can have value. While living in Suriname, working for the Peace Corp I faciliated X, I managed X. As part of a team of volunteers, we coordinated X. A key component of our work included maximizing X alongside specific efforts to insure that X"
"In the past year, my work has included teaching X to X. In the routines of my daily work I not only do the "average everyday work of a school teacher" - but, additionally, I foster X, I create X, I balance X."
"I have learned what it means to become a person with a global perspective, not limited by the confines of personal and ethnocentric, Western ways for viewing the world."
"Becoming aware of different styles of dress, habits, culture, stereotypes and bias in the world has instilled in me an awareness of my own perspectives, fostering for me a spirit of expansive diversity."
"While I work with people who may in some places have more intelligence than I [this makes you sound humble and admits you're not *all* that], I have found that I have particular skills in working with people. I am frequently told that I have a personality that is warm and open, that invites conversation and hospitality."
"My experiences around the world have put me in a variety of situations that have challenged my core convictions and forced me to reconsider things as mundane as daily and simple as basic practices cooking and cleaning, acqusition of goods and resources. On X occasion, when X happened, I learned what it means to think creatively to overcome obstacles of X in order to achieve X outcome."
"Finally, my name is Dalene Rovenstine, and I'm the nicest person you'll ever meet."
Hope this helps.
There's one essay for you.
Who is Dalene? That's what they want to know. Resume, Schmesume. I think that being a great professional is all about what YOU bring to the different circumstances you will encounter. I don't think the right question is "how did your experiences change you." I think the right question is "how did you change your experiences?" Basically, what do you bring to the table. I don't know. These are MSG-fueled thoughts.
I mean, Dalene, you're the all American Girl, and you've been classic Dalene in every circumstance. THAT is noteworthy. I'm being sincere. You haven't changed, and that is quite extraordinary.
WHY IS THAT? What is at your core? It's more than Christianity. It's a character trait that is in you. Some sort of gift or something in your upbringing. Identify that trait.
Again, this was free advice, so please, by all means take it for what it's worth. Nada.
Wow, Marty wrote your essay for you. haha. I'm going to have to talk to him when I go into grad school.
you should have just asked Marty no one else needs to answer for you
what if you refer them to you blog?
Just kidding! Marty had some great ideas...I think they would want you to focus on this exerpt of his post..
"I have learned what it means to become a person with a global perspective, not limited by the confines of personal and ethnocentric, Western ways for viewing the world."
That is an impressive feat for anyone. Let them know that you have gone outside of yourself to make the community around you a better place.
I'm sure it will be wonderful...you are a great writer.
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