Sneak Peek: Application Essays

In the summer, our attention is pulled in many different directions.  Each of us is working on some special projects — the type that require a little more time and a little more focus than we have at other points in the year — but we are also starting up the day-to-day nitty-gritty admissions work for the next cycle, even as we conclude our work with September’s incoming students.  That workplace schizophrenia will show through in the blog, too.

Today’s post is the first of the 2009-2010 admissions cycle.  While Roxana finalizes changes to our application for 2010 admission, I thought future applicants might want to take a peek at the application essays.  Before you peek, note that now is NOT a good time to start your application.  What you’ll find on the Admissions web site today is the past year’s application.  We’ll switch over to the new application in August.

The changes to the Personal Statement aren’t major, though we’ve increased the word limit a bit.  But we made significant changes to the Supplemental Essays.  Every few years, we need to shake things up — there are only so many hundred essays on the same topic we can enjoy reading.  So here you go:

Personal Statement (600 to 800 words. Times New Roman, 12 point font)

Fletcher’s Committee on Admissions seeks to ensure that there is a good match between each admitted student and the School.  Please tell us your goals for graduate study at Fletcher and for your career.  Why is The Fletcher School the right place to pursue your academic objectives and to prepare you to meet your professional goals?  Why have you selected the degree program to which you’re applying?  If you are planning to pursue a joint degree, please be sure to address this interest in your personal statement.

Supplemental Essay — Choose one of the following essay topics to tell the Admissions Committee something about you that does not fit elsewhere in the application. (500 words (maximum) Times New Roman, 12 point font)

-Share something about yourself to help the Admissions Committee develop a more complete picture of who you are.

-Tell us more about how you first became interested in international affairs, or in pursuing an international career.

-Describe the elements of your personal, professional, and/or academic background that have prepared you for your chosen career path.

As you think about the questions, here are some tips to keep in mind.

1.  Make sure you answer the question.  Might seem obvious, but every year there are applicants who miss the mark.

2.  Keep to the word limit, and use the type size/font we request.  Really, this is a very small techno-task for you, but it is a huge help in saving our eyes and paper.

3.  Don’t waste space in the Personal Statement with information that would fit nicely into one of the Supplemental Essays.

4.  Remember that these essays are about YOU.  Don’t waste space with details about your university professors, famous world leaders, or anyone else.  Everything you write should point straight at you.  When we ask why Fletcher is “the right place,” we want to know what makes it best for you — there’s not much value in quoting our own marketing language back at us.

We’ll have more tips for you during the year, but these should help you get started.  Go ahead and write a draft of the essays.  I’ll try to post a note when the new application is up and ready for you to upload what you have written.

2 thoughts on “Sneak Peek: Application Essays

  • June 25, 2009 at 8:56 am
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    We sure do! Applications for January 2010 enrollment will be due by October 15.

  • June 24, 2009 at 5:25 pm
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    Quick question – Do you also accept applicants for Spring 2010?

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