It’s time to make a decision. The exams will be over, and then what? What to do next? High school? College? Vocational training?
Regardless of which you choose, you will have to write a short essay stating your purpose in applying to the school. You’ve probably never done anything like this before. It’s scary, but no one knows you better than you do. You have the opportunity to show that the decision you made is absolutely the right one, and you are going to succeed in your studies.
The main purpose of writing is to piece together all the information about you and in doing so, you must remain a living person, not a collection of numbers. I call it putting your personality on the page.
It doesn’t matter where you write your essay, you need to think about what makes you stand out from the crowd.
So where to start?
The first thing to do is to write down the words on a blank sheet of paper. As many as possible. Anything that comes to mind. Why you are applying, what gets you excited, what drives you. Be emotional and positive, don’t write negative things.
Avoid the following statements:
“I decided to take this course because most of my friends made that decision.”
That is not a positive goal. Forget about your friends now. You are writing about yourself.
Or
“There are so many things in your program that I would like to…” Instead, try, “I want to join your program because of the psycho-educational diagnostic center available…”
IMPORTANT: You can write a different essay for each application, then the committee will know that you’ve done your homework and know about them, and are interested in them specifically.
You don’t want them to think you wrote the same essay for 10 different universities, do you?
Next, why do you want to go to them?
Go to the website of the university you are striving to get into to see exactly what they expect from an applicant, what their requirements for applicants are, what skills are needed.
You should explain to them why you are applying, show that you have been studying a particular subject for some time, and want to continue your education in that field.
Also, that you are fascinated by new things, want to be part of their team, and associate your future with this discipline.
Show them that you are confident in what you are doing and you know exactly what you want to do in the long run, you have thought it through and you have made a firm decision!
Let them know that the thought of your future profession gets you excited, that you were inspired by something else in school, and then attended an open house or an event or talked to someone and finalized your decision. That’s what they’re waiting for.
Then you can list your existing experiences and interests, whether it’s working, volunteering, participating in school projects, hobbies, or reading special literature on the discipline you’re going to apply to. List all the examples on paper. Be emotional.
Skills
Once you have written down what you are applying for, move on to describe your skills and abilities that will help you in your studies. For example, you’re good at writing essays, you’re outgoing, some practical skills. Just list everything on paper, then choose what you need. If you have difficulty, ask your friends and family for help. They usually advise something sensible. Avoid phrases like, “Friends say I’m calm and balanced.
Then think about what people might like about you that makes you a unique and interesting person. Remember, something may seem insignificant to you, but it’s what might catch the admissions committee’s attention.
Perhaps you like computer games, or gardening, or playing soccer. Your competitors may be into the same things, so it’s important to distinguish yourself. Don’t just write, “I like to play soccer. Better yet, “I’ve enjoyed playing soccer for my high school team for the past four years. I enjoyed working on the team. It contributed to the fact that we won most of our games.”
But don’t brag too much and write the truth.
Structure
The next thing you have to do is to take that piece of paper with all those words and turn it into something resembling an admissions essay. That means compressing it and shortening it. You should start with a short but effective and catchy paragraph. In it, you’ll let the committee know how excited you are about what’s going on and how you want to do it, and most importantly, you understand why you’re doing it.
Then move on to the next paragraph. It will be a little bigger and full of various details and information proving your interest in applying. You should also draw the admissions committee’s attention to your skills and qualifications so that no one has any doubts about your competence.
Now move on to the final paragraph. And here you have to specify your individual characteristics. In this paragraph you need to prove that you are a unique person, list all your hobbies that will help you learn and become part of the team.
In the paragraph, you should prove that you are a unique person, list all of your hobbies that help you learn and be part of the team.
When writing you should
- before writing your motivation letter, STUDY the requirements of the particular university;
- be honest and write in your own words;
- highlight any career aspirations you have and show how the course will help you achieve them;
- use accurate grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Don’t hesitate to use essay proofreader;
- reread your letter several times and ask a friend or relative to read it.
So, what to avoid…..
First, water. You need to focus and show that you don’t have time for idle chatter. Be clear in your thoughts and write only to the point, this is very important.
Second, don’t be arrogant. It is very good when you prove your words with many relevant examples, but do not overdo it. Avoid florid turns of phrase. Write in plain English, because the commission needs to understand what you mean. Language should be simple, but don’t use someone else’s thoughts, they will immediately understand it, and your application will look in a very bad light.
In your essay, show that you understand what you are applying for. Show how much you like everything that is going on. Your words need to be backed up with examples, make sure your essay combines reason and feeling. Be sincere and focused, but full of enthusiasm. That’s what the admissions committee wants to see. You don’t have to push yourself right away, just move toward the main point gradually.
