Thursday, October 3, 2024
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GRAD SCHOOL EDITION PAGES 1-9
By Reilly Ackermann Asst. Campus Editor
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L
ong gone are the days of staring at blank Google Docs — or Microsoft Word; to each their own — when tackling graduate school applications. As deadlines draw closer, students may struggle with how to approach the UHSHWLWLYH F\FOH RI ¿OOLQJ RXW DSSOLFDtions. A large part of the process is crafting a personal statement — an essay meant to showcase university applicants’ backgrounds and personalities. In a large sea of applicants, LW PD\ VHHP GL̇FXOW WR VWDQG out from the crowd. Even so, %ULDQ 2UH¿FH DVVLVWDQW GHDQ of graduate studies, said in an email that though many applicants have similarities — especially in areas like grades, extracurriculars and coursework — the personal statement gives them an opportunity to highlight their “unique journey.” 2UH¿FH VDLG FXVWRPL]LQJ WKH SHUVRQDO VWDWHPHQW WR EHWWHU ¿W LQdividual institutions will also help strengthen an application. He recomPHQGV DSSOLFDQWV EH VSHFL¿F LQ WKHLU statement, whether that be by identifying faculty members who conduct
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UHVHDUFK LQ WKHLU VSHFL¿F ¿HOG RI VWXG\ or by including information distinct to the applicant’s university of choice. “The more you can do to make the connection explicit between how your LQWHUHVWV DQG TXDOL¿FDWLRQV PDWFK WKH mission/values of the graduate program to which you are applying, the EHWWHU ´ 2UH¿FH VDLG Matthew Page, senior assistant dean for Graduate Student Experience, said in an email the personal statement R̆HUV DGPLVVLRQV FRPPLWWHHV D ³PRUH holistic view” of an applicant. “As interviews are often not a part of the graduate admissions process, a personal statement may help to tell the applicant’s story in a way that isn’t fully apparent in an application form,” Page said. Page said he suggests that applicants use the prompt as a guide when tackling their personal statement response. )XUWKHUPRUH 2UH¿FH VDLG FUDIWing a detailed personal statement will help supplement other parts of the application process, such as letters of recommendation. He said programs typically ask for three letters of recommendation from faculty members who FDQ VSHDN WR DQ DSSOLFDQW¶V TXDOL¿FDtions, so forming strong relationships ZLWK HGXFDWRUV LQ DQ DSSOLFDQW¶V ¿HOG RI
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SPORTS 6 FOOTBALL The Buckeye offense will clash with a stout Iowa defense in Ohio State’s toughest matchup to date
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