Murder Meals Business

Archive for the ‘Law School Admissions’ Category

When you are working on your application for graduate school, you will inevitably reach this area: the Graduate School Personal Essay. This summary is an influential and powerful statement that may hold more influence than test scores or previous education.

A concise and eloquent statement tells the admissions staff many things about you. This is your opportunity to highlight all your positive qualities. Are you attempting to further your career to help others? To open opportunities for communities or other areas that are currently in need? Are you determined? Ambitious? Would your drive match the demands of graduate school?

When you have developed your strongest points, briefly elaborate on them using real-life examples. Be certain to include any information on experience as it relates to this goal. The essay can also be used to explain difficulties found in your transcripts.

You should approach this essay in drafts. Pre-write and brain storm on creative ways to set yourself apart through the essay. There are several standard areas you should discuss in your paper. Why does the school fit you? What does their program offer that no other programs do? Where do you want your career to go? What is your previous experience in the field? Do you have any research or dedicated experience?

What is your history of career related experience? Have you taken coursework already related to the field? What was it?

Ideally, you want a well-written and clear essay. You want to prove your aptitude and ability to communicate with the faculty and your peers. Don’t fill up the pages with half-negatives (i.e. might, possibly, would like to, have thought of, etc). Be determined and deliberate on your goals. This does not set your future in stone so you shouldn’t tell the faculty you may want to do this today, and possibly change to that tomorrow. Indecision does not appear professional on paper.

The accepted essay lengths vary by institution, but you should expect a length between one and two pages. This will give you ample room to make your statement and elaborate, without going overboard. A length restriction ensures that your work will be concise and poignant without being wordy and long-winded.

One good element to really elaborate is how you first gained an interest in the field you are pursuing. Your essay will be autobiographical and you should expect to promote yourself. Give an insight into what inspires you and what you believe are the rewards of your efforts.

When you complete your essay, you will need to edit and polish. You may consult with any standard grammar guide for assistance. Watch your punctuation and usage throughout the essay. Can you shorten a phrase? Would the sentence appear with more action instead of adverbs? Are your modifiers limited or are they scattered through your work? There are also reference books devoted solely to the process of writing the Graduate School Essay. They can provide much greater aide and offer insight you may not find online.

Your graduate school essay will be a challenge to write. You will have a predetermined length, your essay will require focus, and your material must show both your ability as well as your determination. If you utilize the advice of others, study relevant articles and books, and learn when you should give yourself a break, the chore of authoring this essay doesn’t have to be grueling. Pace yourself and your graduate essay will far simpler than you expect.

A personal statement is a crucial part of your graduate school application, but writing it can also be one of the most stressful things on your to-do list. Many students do not consider writing to be their strong suit, and matters are only made worse due to the intense importance of this particular essay.

It may help many students to remember what the purpose of the personal statement is. The grad school admissions board uses it to determine two things:

? Whether you will be an asset to the graduate program

? Whether you will be an asset to the school itself

Graduate schools are typically judged by the performance of their students. As a result, no school wants to admit a student who will be a black mark on its record. Your personal statement’s purpose, therefore, is to convince the admissions board that:

? You are deeply motivated to learn about (and excel in) your chosen area of study

? You are a capable student who will perform well in your studies

In order to accomplish these tasks, there are several points that almost every personal statement must cover (unless, of course, asked to do differently by the admissions board itself). You also have the challenge of trying to make your personal statement stand out from the hundreds of other applicants, who will all be saying basically the same thing.

For more information on how to write a winning personal statement, follow the guidelines below.

What Should a Personal Statement Include?

Not every personal statement should look the same. Different graduate schools have different expectations of what you should include in your personal statement. First and foremost, your responsibility is to make sure your essay answers the questions asked.

In general, though, most personal statements should include five things:

? Area of study – This should be a given, but you would be amazed by how many students focus so much on answering other questions that they forget to state which program they are interested in. Don’t leave your reader to figure it out by deduction – make sure your chosen area of study is clearly stated in your personal statement.

? Your interest in the subject – By discussing the basis for your interest in the subject, your personal statement will prove you have a genuine interest in your chosen area of study. However, don’t simply say, “I have always wanted to be a ______.” Instead, use a personal experience to show – rather than tell – what drives your interest.

? Related experience – Graduate schools also look at your experience in the field in order to determine your interest level. For example, if you are pursuing a graduate degree in psychology, the admissions committee will expect you to see some combination of related courses, research work, internships, volunteer work, membership in related organizations, and/or other extracurricular activities.

? Your interest in the school – Many people choose a graduate school because it has a program that interests them. This should go into your personal statement. However, make sure you go beyond general flattery – the committee will want to see that you have actually researched the program. For instance, if you admire the work of a professor who teaches in the program, mention this and discuss why you would like the opportunity to study under him or her.

? Post-graduation plans – In order to choose the graduate program that is right for you, you should have a general idea of what you will do with your degree. Be sure to convey your career goals in your personal statement, as this proves that you have given some serious thought to your future, and therefore are more likely to finish the program.

How Do I Make My Personal Statement Stand Out from All the Rest?

Once you have outlined how you are going to answer the question or cover the five points listed above, you need to figure out how you will make your personal statement memorable. Remember, there are most likely hundreds of other applicants, all of whom will say more or less the same thing. Here are a few ways to make sure your stand out from the crowd.

? Make it personal. A successful personal statement should not read like a description of your resume. Instead, use stories and examples from your life to illustrate why you became interested in your chosen area of study, and your experiences as you have pursued it thus far.

? Make it organized. A personal statement is not a term paper, but it should still be well organized. Make sure your sentences flow well from one paragraph to the next.

? Make it between one and three pages. Like a resume, it is hard to say how long a personal statement should be. Some admissions boards may only ask one question to be answered, allowing your personal statement to be as short as 250 words. On the other hand, more complex answers may require as many 750 words.

? Have a theme or thesis. Like any other personal essay, your personal statement should have a unifying theme. The anecdotes you use to illustrate the above five topics or answer the admission board’s question should also support your theme.

? Maintain a professional tone. As a graduate, you are no longer just a student – you are also a professional in your field. Your personal statement should reflect your professionalism and dedication to your studies.

? Gear it toward the specific school. While you may be able to reuse certain sections of your personal statement for other schools, sending out the same essay to every school is a major faux pas. For one thing, many schools differ in their requirements: They may impose a different maximum or minimum length, or ask that different questions be answered. Make sure that your personal statement is written for the specific requirements of the school you are applying to.

? Proofread your work. Nothing will turn an admissions board off faster than sloppy writing. If you are going to convince them that your graduate degree is one of your top priorities, then your personal statement should reflect your level of dedication. Take the time to perfect your work, eliminating typos and grammatical errors as well as fine-tuning the overall message.

Writing a Winning Personal Statement

While it’s true that there is a lot riding on your personal statement, this does not mean that it needs to be difficult to write. By understanding the purpose of the exercise, making sure that it concisely yet thoroughly covers the necessary information, and minding details such as organization and grammar, anyone can write a winning personal statement.

Medical malpractice is all too common, yet few of us are prepared for it or know what to do if it happens to us or to someone we love. The impact can range from a minor inconvenience to death. The nature of the error and the severity of your injuries will determine what you must do. Here are some basic steps you should take.

Obtain all of your medical records

Do this as soon as possible to avoid any changes or falsification being made in your records. Alterations are rare, difficult or impossible to prevent, and difficult to prove, but if proven there are stiff penalties involved. A doctor can lose his or her license and institutions, such as hospitals can be fined or sanctioned. In some cases, if a health care provider cannot or will not provide medical records in court, the court will rule in your favor on that basis alone.

Obtain an independent medical evaluation

Your attorney will advise you on obtaining an independent medical evaluation. This is one of the most important steps in a medical malpractice case. It may be necessary for you to be evaluated by a specific practitioner.

Document your experience

Write down everything that you can remember about your experience from your first contact with the health care provider to the last, including but not limited to:

• Symptoms you spoke about any actions they recommended in response

• Any and all communications with staff

• Voicemails you left, whether or not you got a response, and, if so, how long it took to get a response

• If injuries or physical decline are visible take photos, and have before photos on hand as well

Financial records

While you may not be compensation or reimbursed for every loss or expense, it is important that you, your attorney, and the courts have an accurate picture of the financial impact of your injuries. Keep a record of any financial damage you have incurred due to the incident including:

• Lost wages

• Additional medical care or procedures you have required as a result of the malpractice

• Travel expenses required for obtaining additional medical care

• Therapy, counseling, or any other services required to deal with the emotional and psychological trauma

• Special equipment needed to deal with disabilities or impairment

• In-home care

• Other necessary paid services including housekeeping and childcare (unfortunately help from family members does not usually count, with the rare exception of wages lost due to providing direct care to the victim)

• Moving expenses should your injuries require moving to obtain ongoing care, due to physical limitations, or due to loss of income

Journaling

You may be entitled to compensation for pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life. Keep a journal of how the medical malpractice affects your daily life including:

• Physical pain and limitations

• Psychological and emotional impact, such as depression, anxiety, fear of seeking additional medical care

• Cognitive, memory, and speech difficulties

• Social impact (especially in cases of disfigurement)

• Impact to your relationship with your loved ones and spouse (including sexual dysfunction)