| For those who decide to apply to an English graduate program, the application process can be a full-time job, and the waiting for a response from the schools can be an agonizing experience. To make the process much simpler, and to maximize an applicant's chances of getting into the best graduate program, there are a few simple yet effective strategies to follow.
Develop the Best Personal Statement Possible
The personal statement is, without a doubt, the most important aspect of the graduate application is the personal statement, which is the applicant’s opportunity to explain why s(he) would make an ideal addition to that particular department. This is especially important for more prestigious English programs, who often have to weed out huge numbers of applicants based, in large part, of the way that they present themselves. Let them know what it is about English study that the applicant finds most appealing and why he has made it a choice of career.
There are a number of ways to make knowledge of the program as clear as possible. Particularly effective methods include mentioning particular faculty a student is interested in working with, courses the student finds particularly interesting, and particular aspects of the program that he thinks would be especially beneficial to professional development.
Although each individual program will have particular requirements for purpose statements, there are some general rules to follow, the most important of which is to make sure that the applicant stands out. Also, it is important to give the admittance committee some sense of what students want to study in their graduate program and why. This will not only give them a sense of the students' academic purposes, but also let the know in what particular ways they will add to the intellectual life of their particular department.
Thoroughly Revise the Writing Sample
The writing sample (which can range anywhere from 10-20 pages, depending on the program,) is also an important aspect of the graduate school application, as it gives the committee a sense of an applicant's ability to engage in critical discourse. Therefore, it is especially important to revise the paper – which usually comes from one’s work in a particularly thorough and challenging undergraduate course – to make it acceptable for a graduate school admittance committee to review.
Some important things to keep in mind during the revision process are: does the thesis make a specific claim or argument? Does this paper contribute in some meaningful way to a critical conversation that is already going on about this particular topic? Are all points and claims developed thoroughly throughout the paper? Paying especial attention to these details will ensure that the graduate committee has a strong sense of the applicant's critical abilities.
Although applying to a graduate program can be a quite taxing and exhausting endeavor, there are some things that can be done to make this much easier. Paying attention to particular aspects of the application ensures that an applicant's chances of getting into the best programs are as high as they can possibly be.
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