Happy Friday, Reader, you made it! Last week I mentioned the most common question from a workshop I led on how to apply to graduate school: “What should I actually ask admissions before applying?” Let’s dive in. Admit It: You have a question for an admissions representative… and you’ve talked yourself out of sending it. I did the same thing. The first time I applied to my master’s program, I never contacted admissions. I was a first-generation college student who grew up believing I needed to...
12 days ago • 4 min read
Happy Friday, Reader, you made it! This week, we’re talking about one of the most important paragraphs in your personal statement, and how to make it read as fit versus flattery. Admit It: Your “why this program” paragraph started off as a list of the program’s highlights from their website. Reviewers often skim this paragraph because, when written that way, they already know everything it says. When an applicant writes about a program’s renowned faculty, rigorous curriculum, or exceptional...
19 days ago • 3 min read
Happy Friday, Reader, you made it! This week, we’re talking about what parts – or how much – of your story are appropriate for a personal statement. Admit It: You’ve written and deleted the same paragraph three times because you can’t tell if it’s too much or just enough. Let’s make a quick distinction. There are two types of oversharing in personal statements for graduate school. One is packing in too much content, like every job, award, and transition in life. The other is going too deep by...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Happy Friday, Reader, you made it! Today, we’re talking about the decision before the application. Admit it: There may be outside forces in your graduate school decision-making. Maybe it's your workplace, a mentor, or the people around you who have the degree you're considering. FOMO (fear of missing out) is real, and it can be a strong influence. Here's what almost no one says out loud: Being capable of something isn't the same as needing to do it. And a reason that comes from outside you...
about 1 month ago • 4 min read
Happy Friday, Reader. Before we jump in, today marks 25 years since September 11th, 2001. Today holds memories and meaning for many of us in the United States. Wherever you are, take care of yourself and the people around you. This week, we’re covering personal statement stories. Admit it: You’ve seen 30-second movie trailers and thought “got it, I’ve basically seen the whole thing.” A reviewer often sees the same three or four personal statement openings multiple times a week. (The worst...
about 2 months ago • 4 min read
Happy Friday, Reader, you made it! This week, we’re covering GPAs as part of your application story. Admit it: You’ve been wondering if your GPA is high enough to get into graduate school. That’s not actually the right question. (Record scratch.) Yes, your undergraduate GPA does matter. But reviewers are asking a completely different question. Here's what they're really thinking: “What does this number make me wonder?” “Is this person able to handle graduate coursework?” So even if your GPA...
about 2 months ago • 4 min read
Happy Friday, Reader, you made it! I hope your week is on the upswing after the Dolly Parton news… truthfully, I’m still recovering. Her education advocacy was next-level. Last week, we covered how to turn your experience into evidence for admissions committees. This week, we’re zooming back out to make sure your full application is telling a cohesive story. Admit it: You’re approaching your application one piece at a time. To be fair, every program’s page gives you a to-do list of what you...
2 months ago • 4 min read
Happy Friday, Reader, you made it! I hope you’re enjoying the back-to-school vibes of late August. Last week I covered “fit” and how to show application reviewers you’re aligned with what they value. Today, we’re talking about the next step: turning your experiences into evidence. A few strategic lines can be the difference between graduate school acceptance and a waitlist. Admit it: It feels like your work experience should speak for itself. And it often does! … to the people who know those...
2 months ago • 3 min read
Happy Friday, Reader, you made it! It’s magically mid-August, be sure to pencil in some final summer fun on your to-do list. Today, we’re talking about the elusive concept of “fit.” It’s how admissions committees determine who to accept - and it’s up to applicants to figure out what it means for each program. Admit it: “Fit” makes way more sense for jeans than it does applying for graduate school. It gets thrown around as often as “holistic review," usually with a lot of pressure to prove...
3 months ago • 3 min read