Application Essays Specific Fields

Specific Fields

• Some things don’t change.
  • These schools are looking for the same things more general schools are looking for (preparation, talent, and fit).
  • These schools are asking the same kinds of questions that more general schools are asking (for more details, see Lesson 2 on prompts and how to answer them).
• Do your research—you will be asked why you want to be a doctor, lawyer, etc. You might as well have a well-informed answer.
  • Read the school’s website before answering the prompt. What do they think is an important part of becoming a doctor, lawyer, PhD, etc.? Write about that.
  • Talk to people in your goal profession. You’ll probably hear at least one thing about your intended field that you’ve never heard before. That could be the seed of a great essay.
• Craft a Major-Specific Resumé
  • Pick out the relevant parts of your background and focus on them.
  • Get the intangibles, too—elements of your life that align with the school’s and profession’s values.
  • Be creative! If you don’t have a perfect resumé, write about the elements of your background, however unorthodox, that doalign with your goals.
• When in Doubt, Tell a Good Story
  • Make a prioritized list and focus on the most interesting/useful parts of your background.
  • Humans are wired to understand and remember stories. If you can create a narrative, people will remember you more clearly and more favorably.
  • Telling a good story will also show off your writing abilities—remember, the application essay is as much a test of thatas anything else.
• When in doubt:
  • Remember the basics.
  • Do your research.
  • Craft a major-specific resumé.
  • Tell a good story.
  • Read, read, read.
  • Have fun!