#but first! writing sample for fellowship applications

[aliasknives]

ok I have to HAVE to finish a fic or I will start seeing the hat man

[miyasmagnolias]

𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐫𝐞𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 ⋆｡𖦹

miya atsumu x f!reader

when you get rejected from your dream job, you do everything in your power not to tell atsumu right away. too bad he can read you like an open book.

part fourteen of the in close quarters series, a friends-to-lovers college AU featuring you, atsumu, and the ten months you spend living together senior year.

The email arrived in your inbox first thing Monday morning.

Dear Y/N, it read. Thank you again for taking the time to interview with us for the Summer Editorial Fellowship at Pastiche. We deeply appreciate the thoughtfulness, creativity, and insight you brought to every stage of the application process.

After careful consideration of all final-round candidates, we regret to inform you that we will not be moving forward with your application at this time.

You reread that last sentence. Once. Twice for good measure. You rubbed the sleep out of your eyes and skimmed the rest of the email — something about this cycle being 'extremely competitive' and how they 'sincerely hoped' you'd apply again next year.

It didn't stop the sharp pang of defeat now twisting into your stomach.

You had spent the past several weeks knee-deep in the interview process for Pastiche, their coveted fellowship a top opportunity for graduates looking to work in the magazine industry. Alumni of the program called it a golden ticket, a guaranteed foot in the door. It was a miracle you'd gotten an interview with them at all.

Still, you couldn't help but feel stupid for all those hours you'd spent researching the publication, perfecting your sample writing assignment. You'd even forced Atsumu to ask you interview questions until he'd fallen asleep on the couch.

"They'd be stupid not to want ya, babe," he'd mumbled when you tried to shake him awake. "Yer practically a shoe-in."

His words now filled you with shame as you dragged yourself out of bed and forced yourself to get ready.

Forty minutes later, the door to your go-to diner spot jingled open as a sweaty, post-run Atsumu made a beeline for your table.

"Babe babe babe," he said, clamoring into his seat and nearly knocking over the cup of coffee you'd ordered for him. "Guess who I just got off the phone with!"

"Uh...Vin Diesel called and asked for his tank top back?" you teased. A flicker of confusion crossed Atsumu's face.

"What? No.�� He blushed as you openly admired his exposed biceps from across the table. "That was my coach. Apparently, a recruiter from the MSBY Black Jackals will be comin' to tonight's game. Said she’s interested in watchin' me and Sakusa play!”

"What?! Tsumu, that's amazing!" you exclaimed, reaching for his hand across the table and squeezing it tightly. "That's, like, your dream team!”

"I know! Coach says we might even get to meet her afterwards.” He took a swig of his coffee like it was a shot of whiskey. “I'm actually shittin' bricks right now, I’m so nervous.”

"You're gonna do great."

"How's my hair look?"

"Your roots are showing a little."

"Shit. I knew I should've touched ‘em up over the weekend — I'ma look like a fuckin' idiot out there!"

"Tsumu," you laughed. "I doubt they'll care about that. They're gonna take one look at your incredible sets and immediately sign you on."

"I hope so," he murmured, rubbing the back of his neck. "I've only had their posters tacked up on my wall since grade school."

You were so excited for him that you almost forgot about the email you'd received earlier that day. Almost.

In fact, as the waiter topped off your coffees and took your order, you found yourself shoving the news down until it became a dull, numbing pain in the back of your mind. You didn't need to dampen the mood with your job rejection. If anything, you wanted Atsumu to be 100% focused on his game tonight. You would tell him later. Definitely later.

That didn't mean it was easy to hide, though.

"Ya okay?" he asked you halfway through breakfast. You flinched beneath his brown-eyed stare. The suspicion behind it.

"Yeah! Why wouldn't I be?"

"I dunno,” he said behind a mouthful of scrambled eggs. “Ya seem a lil' out of it, is all."

"I'm just tired. I didn't get very good sleep last night," you fibbed, helping yourself to one of his home fries. Atsumu shook his head.

"Ya can't push yerself too hard, babe," he argued, shoveling several more onto your plate. "How many hours did ya get last night?"

"I dunno. Four? Five?" At Atsumu's disapproving stare, you said, "I’m not a D1 athlete with an annoyingly healthy sleep schedule, okay? I'll go into hibernation once the semester is over.”

"Yeah, if yer not dead by then," he retorted. You shot him an offended glare. "Look, babe. I know yer busy tryin' to find a job and finish yer thesis, but I don't want yer health to suffer. It ain't worth it."

"Fine. I’ll go to sleep early tonight," you conceded. You folded your arms across your chest and frowned. "Were you always this preachy?"

"Were ya always this hard-headed?"

You stabbed a potato with your fork. “Touché."

The day chugged onward at a glacial pace. You attended office hours with your TA to review the final draft of your thesis. You scrolled through LinkedIn, each new job announcement from your classmates making you feel progressively worse about yourself. You even tried reading your new romance novel, but even Emily Henry's whip-smart prose couldn't distract you from the sinking feeling that you had failed.

By the time Atsumu's game rolled around, you didn't know whether to feel disappointed or grateful that Osamu and Suna couldn't make it. The crowd roared as you slid into your seat in the student section of the stadium, Atsumu's old jersey swallowing you whole as you propped your feet up on the seat in front of you and tried to focus on the match.

As always, Atsumu was electric. Your eyes never left him as he set to each player with mathematical precision, dug for each ball like his life depended on it. And, in a way, it did.

Here he was, pouring his heart out onto the court for a recruiter who could very well change his life.

All the while, you couldn't even secure a measly job offer.

The thought was quick. Involuntary. You blinked back at the way it stung your subconscious. Unraveled into something uglier.

Did you seriously think you had a chance at that fellowship? you chided yourself. All you're good for is writing glorified smut. You know it. Your professors know it. Hell, maybe Atsumu knows it, too.

Your throat tightened, fingernails digging into your palms as you tried stuffing the thoughts down. They only grew louder.

He's going to outgrow you, you know. You won't see a trace of him once he signs on with that team. By this time next year, you'll have become a distant memory to him. An old roommate. A momentary fling.

A footnote in the grand story of his life.

The buzzer broke through your thoughts, jolting you back into reality. Your team had won, 35-33 in the third set. Atsumu had invited you to post-game drinks regardless of the outcome, but as the crowd fractured into a thousand tiny pieces, all you could think about was crawling into bed.

Not feeling too well! Going straight home after the game, you texted him. PLEASE lmk how the meetup with the recruiter goes.

Then: Great game today. I'm so proud of you.

You added a pink heart emoji and hit send.

Meanwhile, Atsumu felt the entire court burst into motion around him. A towel was thrown around his shoulders, a branded water bottle shoved into his hand. He searched the crowd of dispersing fans, hoping to find you. But his coach was already pulling him and Sakusa back through the stadium tunnel.

Their introduction with the MSBY recruiter went well enough. She asked about their backgrounds, the summer training camps they'd attended. If Atsumu were being completely honest, he'd blacked out during most of the conversation. He must've said something intelligible, though, given the way she shook his hand afterwards and promised to keep in touch.

He saw your texts as soon as he returned to the men's locker room.

"You going to Cain and Able's after this?" Sakusa asked, pulling on a fresh t-shirt before slamming his locker door shut.

Atsumu merely squinted at his phone and said, "Think I’ll pass."

The wing spiker unapologetically glared down at his teammate's screen and rolled his eyes.

"Just ask her to be your girlfriend already. Sheesh."

Atsumu's keys jangled as he let himself into the apartment thirty minutes later, the gentle drone of Kiera Knightly's Pride and Prejudice filling the otherwise quiet space. You'd folded yourself into the couch wearing nothing but boxers and a hoodie, the warm colors of the television flickering across your wan expression.

"Hey, darlin'," Atsumu drawled, kicking off his shoes and folding his arms across his chest. "Are those my boxers?"

"I ran out of shorts. I hope you don't mind," you replied sheepishly, forcing a smile onto your face. He could tell by the way it barely reached your eyes. "How'd the conversation with the recruiter go?"

"Good! I mean, I'm pretty sure I entered a fugue state, so I can't say for sure. But I think she liked me."

"Good. That's good." A glimmer of warmth returned to your eyes as you said, "See? Even with your roots showing, you're still charming as ever."

Atsumu snorted, gym bag hitting the floor as he sank into the couch next to you.

"Ya feelin' okay?" he asked. A heavy sigh escaped your lips.

"Yeah. Yeah, just tired," you murmured, raking a hand through your greasy hair. You both fell silent as Kiera Knightly and Matthew Macfadyen danced together on-screen, the tension palpable as they orbited each other in the midst of the crowded ballroom.

The violins swelled through the speakers as Atsumu asked, "Are ya gonna tell me what's really goin' on?"

You stiffened at the question. "What?"

"Ya don't need to put up a front with me, ya know," he said gently. Sternly. "I know somethin's botherin' ya. Yer actin' all distant, bailin' on victory drinks. Ya even put on Pride and Prejudice."

"I...it's a really good movie, okay?"

"Yeah, and the last time ya watched it, it was 'cause yer favorite contestant got kicked off The Bachelor."

"I was sad!"

"Exactly!" Atsumu cried, scrubbing his hair out in frustration. "I — is it me? Did I do somethin' wrong?"

"What? No — !"

"Then what is it?" he asked, his stare pressing into yours. "And don't tell me it's yer sleep schedule, 'cause I know for a fact ya can yap to me on four hours of shut eye."

His words were blunt, disarming. You slumped further into the couch and felt your face grow hot with embarrassment.

"...I didn't get the job at the magazine."

Atsumu's expression softened in an instant.

"...are ya serious?" he asked. Your bottom lip quivered as you nodded. "Shit, I'm sorry, babe. C'mere."

He closed the space between you and immediately drew you to his chest, your body crumbling beneath the pressure you'd been carrying around with you all day. Shoulders shaking, a slow trickle of tears slid down your cheeks as you pressed your face into his shoulder and wept. He held you like that for a long while, the television dampening the sound of your cries.

"When did ya find out?"

"...this morning. Before breakfast."

"Jesus, babe," Atsumu breathed. "Why didn't ya tell me sooner?"

Sniffling, you confessed, "I didn't want you to worry about me!"

"Screw that, babe! If somethin' happens to ya and ya need me, then need me. I could be playin' in the Olympics, and it wouldn't matter. I won't let ya go through shit like that alone."

You wiped your nose with your sleeve and laughed miserably. "Would you believe me if I said I was also a little embarrassed to tell you?"

"Embarrassed? Why?"

"Because!" you exclaimed, gesturing toward him like it should have been obvious. "Because you're you!"

At his dubious expression, you fell back against the couch cushions and sighed.

"I dunno," you said, fiddling with the drawstrings of your hoodie. "It's just...you've been doing really well lately. Winning games. Getting scouted by national teams. When you told me about the recruiter this morning, I was so incredibly happy for you. But I also felt...behind. Stuck. A little intimidated, to be honest."

Atsumu was floored.

"You? Intimidated by me?" he balked. You nodded. "Babe, do ya know how intimidated I feel around you sometimes? Ya read more books in a week than I have in my entire life! All I do is set a ball and run around!"

You shook your head. "Don't underestimate yourself like that."

"I'm serious, though. Yer, like, the smartest person I know. And if this magazine ain't bright enough to recognize that, then maybe they don't deserve ya in the first place." His eyes hardened in resolution. "It's their loss, babe. Seriously."

His words were enough to make the tips of your ears turn bright red.

"Thanks, Tsumu," you sniffled. "I needed to hear that."

You crawled into bed with him later that night, his sheets rustling as he pulled your body flush against his and engulfed you in his arms. Sharing a bed with him had become second-nature to you over the past month. Sometimes it was yours. Other times it was his. Either way, you never took for granted the nights you fell asleep together. No away games, no late-night writing sessions. Just you two. Heartbeats lulling each other to sleep.

"Yer gonna get somethin' soon," Atsumu murmured into your hair, voice thick with exhaustion. "And I'm not just sayin' that 'cause I like ya. I'm sayin' that 'cause I believe it."

Your heart ached at the sincerity in his voice.

"Thanks, babe."

You could practically hear him grinning through the dark.

"...ya called me babe."

"Thought I would try it out," you murmured into his chest.

"And?"

"...I still feel a little silly," you admitted around a yawn. "But I think I can get used to it."

It was the best sleep you'd gotten in weeks.

@miyasmagnolias, 2025

[doctormohansamira]

I feel like a lot of times, Robby gets more grace than he probably should on grounds that he was having a bad day, but I think one instance in which I think he actually gets a fair amount of flak that I don't think is warranted is about the fellowship he recommended Langdon for.

I've seen a lot of posts along the lines of "he recommended Langdon and not Collins for a job Collins would be a better fit for", and I really don't think that's the implication here. It was a fellowship. There's a CV and personal statement that needs to be written, multiple letters of recommendation, an academic writing sample – some programs even involve a match like residencies. It's an application that Langdon had to submit. There is no chance that Robby just recommended him without him having to ask. That's not how this works. Langdon's surprise, such that it was, was about what Robby had written, not that he'd written a recommendation. And we have no indication that Collins was interested in that position, that she applied, or that Robby didn't write her a recommendation.

Like, I think there's certainly criticism of Robby in this area – the fact he's taking this time to be so encouraging of Langdon and praising him many times for his job performance while being so critical of all his female residents for whom it wasn't their first day on the job and only offering perfunctory praise – I talk about it the most with Samira, of course, and I think he's the worst to her overall, with the absolutely never apologizing being unique to the two of them, but he's also a huge asshole to McKay and Collins – is really not a good look. It's reminiscent of the way out of all the people on their first day, the one he singled out to encourage throughout the day was Whitaker, even after he witnessed Langdon screaming in Santos's face. But I don't think not recommending Collins for the fellowship is a part of that.

Santos revealed something new about Langdon, that he doesn't know how to deal with push back. Robby has this flaw, too – it's a running issue in his relationship with Samira, McKay, Collins – he just has a little more of a handle on it. That's another issue, though. What is a part of this issue is that until Robby saw the way Langdon interacted with Santos, I don't think we really have a reason to believe that either Collins or Langdon was more qualified for the role. They both had the necessary skills. It only becomes apparent that Collins might be a better fit because of Santos.

There was one fic I read that suggested Robby wrote them both recommendations, and Langdon's was glowing, while Collins's was just good. That I find very believable! Or that Robby brought up the fellowship as something he might want to apply for, while Collins came to Robby to ask about it. Or that Collins wasn't interested at all because medicine is a second career for her, and she'd like to start practising independently ASAP, rather than spending another two years training with mediocre pay. There are a lot of things that I find compelling. And I'm certainly not saying there's nothing to explore about how Robby views Langdon and Collins very differently and expresses more investment in Langdon's career. I think it's a hugely rich topic! But I think the "Robby didn't recommend Collins" line of thought isn't all that fair.

[strangebiology]

Free Resources I Made for Nonfiction Book Writers - $$$

If you're writing a nonfiction, non-memoir book, you're welcome to join my free monthly video chat group Authors of Nonfiction Books in Progress (ANBIP.) If you join you'll get the recap emails and the invites to meetings, but if you don't like meetings, then just enjoy the emails. Note that it's sort of a professional group so we talk about book writing as more of a job than some universal higher calling or whatever.

Through that, I've had a few people ask me for some of the following documents in this journey, so I decided, why not just make a copy for sharing so that anyone can find them, instead of just people who email me? Feel free to use these as samples, share them, whatever. But first:

What I wish I had known before the book: While I'm here, before you start your book proposal, I learned too late that you can get paid $80,000 to write one at a journalism fellowship! People do that at the Knight Science Journalism Fellowship, The Scripps Fellowship at the Center for Environmental Journalism, and probably the other Knight Journalism fellowships that I haven't looked into. So, keep your ears open for fellowships if you're thinking of starting a nonfiction book proposal.

To the resources...

Results from my agent search Note: most people suggest Publisher's Marketplace, so, even though I didn't like my results from looking there, there is surely a reason everyone else does.

My Book Proposal & how I contacted the agent Result: contract with MIT Press to write a book about dead animals and $50,000 advance.

My Proposal for the Sloan Grant Result: I got $56,053 for the book Carcass. Also, at least two other people in my group got the grant, and one mentioned that she never would have known about it if it weren't for ANBIP, nor would she have applied!

List of suggested grants to apply to Note: most of these book grants--and most legit ones in the world--require a traditional contract. I find a lot of "prizes" for people without trad contracts are not grants at all, but an effort to get you to think you "won" what is, in effect, a contract. That's fine if the contract is fine, but don't let them stroke your ego with the words "you won" if you think you could get a better contract elsewhere. A grant is more like free money.

I also got $500 and some free resources--and miiiiight get some more money in the future?--from a program called Investing in Wyoming's Creative Economy, so, maybe your state has something similar. IWCE is brand new (started in 2023) so we'll see if it even continues on. MANY funding opportunities only exist for a few years before they run out.

My contract with my fact-checker

How I found Science Advisors & how I described their task Note: I really just made this up, as with the contract with the fact-checker. I'm just some person and I'm only giving these to you because I couldn't find anyone else's that may have been done better! Make a copy, read through it carefully, and make all the changes you need to yours. Or if you already have a better one to look to, send it to me and LMK if I can send it to my colleagues at ANBIP!

Spreadsheet National Park Artists in Residences Applications Note: I have never got any of these, and most don't pay or work well for writers, TBH. But I know a science writer who did get one. Also, I only included the ones I liked in this spreadsheet and left out the historic parks. Here's a map of more and the National Park Arts Foundation. I only apply to free ones because I noticed that one residency said they got 800 applications and the fee was $120, which, mathematically, is like paying $96,000 to do it (and that one paid $4,000 to the winner.) Also: state parks and BLM land have Artist in Residence programs!

Copy of #PublishingPaidMe spreadsheet (I didn't make this, and I don't recommend making graphics or pivot tables from this as some of the numbers are def wrong)

Book Progress thermometer

That's all for now! If you found this helpful, just pay it forward by being open with your experience for the next people who ask you.

PS. My next task is finding events to hire me to do talks about the topic of my book, which is dead animals. I know some authors make plenty of money on speaker fees after their book is launched! But I'm struggling to find events/places to speak because I mostly only want to go places where I am paid, but I also worry about a conflict of interest if I'm paid by organizations I've covered--or even, orgs that promote or protest anything that I've covered in general! I don't want to be a PETA-funded journalist or a Safari Club International-funded journalist either. If you have experience with setting up a book tour where you profited financially and were journalistically clear, I'd love to hear your story!

[dionysus-complex]

one thing nobody told me about academia was how much goddamn time you spend trying to convert one genre of writing into another genre of writing - i.e. maybe you have a 40-page dissertation chapter draft but you need a 20-page writing sample for a fellowship application and you're like "oh, I'll just use the first half of this chapter," but then you spend an entire workday or two just trying to reframe that half of the chapter as something that makes sense as a self-contained paper. or maybe you have a nice perfectly self-contained seminar paper from a few years ago and want to incorporate it into your dissertation because it's a good argument and supports your thesis but you have to do a massive amount of extra writing and rewriting just to make clear how it demonstrates the main overarching point of your dissertation. and that's not even to mention the whole dissertation-to-first-book thing

[achieveyouracademicgoalswith]

What Academic Services Recommend When Selecting Thesis Topics for Law Students

What Academic Services Recommend When Selecting Thesis Topics for Law Students

Introduction

Selecting suitable thesis topics for law students is the most crucial step towards building an actual academic and professional life. You may be studying towards an LLB, LLM, or a PhD in law, but whatever you decide to study tells as much about what you are interested in, as it does your knowledge of the law, analytical skill, and research trajectory.

Too often, however, students have to make this choice in circumstances of stress. Law is a broad and constantly changing subject, and it's hard to select a topic that's robust in scholarship terms and topical in the world outside. Academic services come into play there—enlightening, organizing, and specialist expertise to assist students making more informed choices in the first place.

Why It Is Important to Choose the Right Thesis Topic in Legal Research

Selecting a right thesis topic in law is far more than just fulfilling a college requirement. Your thesis is a reflection of your competence in recognizing areas of legal lacunae, practicing correct legal analytical thinking, and generating solutions that resonate with common legal discourses.

Academic programs look at the originality, content, and timeliness of your research. A good legal thesis will also prove to be a valuable writing sample for job opportunities, fellowships, and publication. On the other hand, a bad topic choice—one that is too general, outdated, or with not enough legal literature—will undermine your work and render your research doubtful.

Some mistakes students usually make are:

Choosing old or generic legal topics

Choosing themes without research area or precedent in law

Not considering their own career objectives or specialisation while making a theme choice

Common Struggles Law Students Face with Topic Selection

Motivated law students normally wrestle with the challenge of choosing a suitable law topic. Among the most commonly encountered issues are:

Lack of knowledge about the proper or current areas of legal research

Difficulty in narrowing down from general areas of law

Lack of adequate guidance in terms of a "research-worthy" topic

Pressure from university demands to choose an original but feasible topic

Without adequate guidance, all such problems may be the cause of delay or declined proposals. Most students seek academic services to provide expert suggestions on customised law topics to prevent such problems.

How Academic Services Help Law Students Make Smarter Topic Choices

Academic assistance provides professional assistance through strict topic selection methods. Through linking students with research legal practitioners, assistance provides access to information that is sometimes difficult to obtain on their own. Here are ways they assist:

Expert knowledge: Professionals possess thorough knowledge concerning legal specialities and recent developments.

Current sources access: They gain access to current databases, journals, and legal bulletins to render information pertinent.

Individual consultation: The students are counselled based on their goal, specialisation, and study level.

Topic validation: All topics are screened for ease, workability, and appropriateness with institutional needs.

Students, counselled by experienced academic staff, may have access to research topics that are not only captivating but strategically well-chosen for achievement. 

Criteria Academic Services Use When Suggesting Topics

Academic writing firms do not pick topics haphazardly. They have a strict model of selection to guarantee quality and applicability. On topic suggestions, they consider a number of factors:

Relevance to developing legal issues: Topics have to be relevant to developing legal argument or reform movements.

Feasibility: Statutes, case laws, and peer-reviewed material have to be available.

Originality: Topics have to be open to argument, critique, or reinterpretation of new legal stances.

Publication potential: The most probable specializations can be developed into articles or conference papers.

Alignment to specialization: Specialization areas such as environmental law, for example, cannot be funneled into criminal law themes except where justified.

This customized methodology makes sure that the specializations selected are worth it for academia and relevant to the individual.

Expert-Recommended Thesis Topics for Law Students

The following are a few thesis subjects under specializations. They are researchable, applicable, and appropriate for students of different levels.

Criminal Law

Digital Evidence in Cybercrime Investigations

Constitutional Law

Freedom of Speech vs Hate Speech: Indian Legal Perspective

Judicial Activism and the Separation of Powers

Intellectual Property Law

Patent Infringement in the Pharmaceutical Sector

The Role of AI in Copyright Law

Environmental Law

Legal Framework on Climate Change in India

Environmental Impact Assessment: Implementation Challenges

International Law

Role of International Courts in Conflict Resolution

Violations of Human Rights in Armed Conflicts: A Legal Study

These examples illustrate how well-crafted thesis topics for law students can lead to interesting, publishable, and effective research studies.

Why Students Opt for Academic Services for Topic Choice and More

To most students, LLM guidance or PhD help is a thoughtful decision that makes learning better and more successful. The following are the reasons why such academic assistance is most sought after:

Complete support: From topic selection to final proofing, support includes all stages of the research.

Efficient use of time: Rather than wasting weeks developing ideas, students have already tested and screened out topic ideas.

Personalized suggestions: Suggestions are made based on consideration of student interest, course requirements, and institutional needs.

Enhanced outcomes: Quality topics increase supervisor acceptance rates and journal publication.

If you need to protect your proposal or just need assistance in selecting a great topic that will serve your future career goals, professional assistance can prove to be very helpful. 

Conclusion

The choice of appropriate thesis topics for law students is not simply an intellectual exercise but a professional-making choice that steers direction in research, individual reputation, and professional development. The process, however, is full of breakdowns, ranging from indecision in choosing law topics to a failure in consulting experts.

Academic services make the process easier by providing expertly handpicked topic choices, one-on-one advising, and full alignment with your academic objectives. With the right expert support, selecting the perfect legal thesis topic becomes a strategic step toward academic success.

[msfairyprincess]

OFFICIAL PHD APPLICATION ROUNDUP!

September:

started working on statement of purpose

started reaching out to potential recommendation writers

October:

finalized list of schools

finalized rec letters

started reaching out to faculty members at schools I liked

November:

spoke with 7/9 programs on my list

got denied from my first program after the coordinator told me they all loved me

applied to speak at a conference to strengthen my application

December:

submitted most applications

took the GRE

got accepted to the conference!

cultivated patience

January:

submitted final applications

waited anxiously

didn’t know what to do with my free time

got accepted to my top school!!

February:

got accepted to two more programs!

got rejected from two also ◡̈

asked a billion questions to all the coordinators about funding and assistantship workload

got offered a prestigious fellowship at one program!

panicked about what program I should go to

March

got offered a prestigious research assistantship at my top program!

accepted my offer of admission!!!

sent nice emails to all the other schools letting them know I wouldn’t be attending/wanted to withdraw my application

presented at the conference where I met people from my new school

got accepted to another program literally on the same email thread where I said I’d committed elsewhere

got rejected from my final program

Total stats:

Schools Applied: 9

Schools Accepted: 4!

What I learned:

TALK TO FACULTY AT PROGRAMS YOU WANT TO GO TO

no that’s the whole thing

reach out to the programs you’re interested and set up a call

I only learned that some of the programs I applied to were not at all what I wanted by talking to faculty

I also learned that my top school was my top school by getting more info out of the coordinator than the website details

obviously make sure your writing samples and statements are good but it comes down to fit and you can’t assess fit via paper

ALSO! Ask the program what they’re looking for in the statement of purpose! Sometimes they want super specific dissertation ideas; sometimes they want you to be passionate yet somewhat vague so they know they can shape you

Sometimes amazing programs are housed in unexpected universities, look at everybody

Give it 100% and you’ll be good ◡̈

[rgpsychology]

IT’S HERE! The third edition of “DON’T TRIP: QUICK TIPS FOR APPLYING FOR YOUR PSYCHOLOGY INTERNSHIP, FELLOWSHIP, AND FIRST JOB.”

The BOLDED sections are the new additions in the book. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Major Tips

Know What You Want

Have Experience and Enthusiasm

Address Glaring Gaps

General Tips for Both Internship and Fellowship

Do Not Do It Alone

Do Not Make These Mistakes

How Are My Application Materials Judged?

Internship

Introduction

Websites You Will Need

Timeline / Checklist

Pre-Application Process

Choosing Sites to Apply to

Curriculum Vitae

Cover Letters

Sample Cover Letter – Continuing Previous Experiences

Sample Cover Letter – Applying for New Experiences (#1)

Sample Cover Letter – Applying for New Experiences (#2)

Sample Cover Letter – Mentioning Being an International Student

Essays – Part 1

Essays – Part 2 <;——— SAMPLE ESSAYS

Letters of Recommendation

Submitting Applications

Military Internships

Traveling

Interviews – Part 1

Interviews – Part 2

Interviews – Part 3

Interviews – Part 4

Interviews – Part 5

Writing a Thank You

Ranking Sites

Waiting for Ranking Results

Preparing for Internship Move

Fellowship

Introduction

General Starting Tips

Timeline / Checklist

Curriculum Vitae

Letters of Recommendation

Sample Cover Letter – #1

Sample Cover Letter – #2

Sample Cover Letter – #3

Interviews – Part 1

Interviews – Part 2

Interviews – Part 3

Interviews – Part 4

Interviews – Part 5

Writing a Thank You

Choosing Site 

If You Do Not Get an Offer

Preparing for Fellowship Move

First Job

Introduction

Timeline / Checklist

Ways to Look for Jobs

Sample Cover Letter

Interviews – Part 1

Interviews – Part 2

Writing a Thank You

Choosing Site

Negotiating Offers

Preparing for First Job Move

Extra Cash <——— (side gigs) 

Starting Private Practice

Check it out at Amazon! Good luck!!

Buy book here! (click link below)

Don't Trip books

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[bettsfic]

accepting new clients!

so good news, i'm making writing coaching my full time job. i even filed an LLC, which i probably should have done sooner since i've been doing this now for two years. Going Legit, babey. pro zoom subscription and everything.

here's my cool new logo by the amazing @significationary!

what i can do:

break out a novel idea and provide accountability through the writing process until you have a draft ready to send out

the same as above but with fanfic

help with the agent querying process if you're interested in traditional publishing

provide ongoing developmental (big picture) feedback on your work as well as your overall writing

brainstorm solutions to said feedback

once a piece is structurally ready, i can offer sentence-level edits and also go over them with you to explain my reasoning

help you prepare a writing sample and apply to creative writing MFAs, workshops, residencies, fellowships, and awards

come up with practical, process-based solutions for completing work for those who are neurodivergent or struggle with executive function

help you narrow down a daunting wip list, or develop ideas that you've had on the backburner for a while

offer reading recommendations of work in conversation with yours

for real, wherever you're at in your writing life, i'll meet you there. i've worked with established authors, people just starting out, and writers at all stages in between. to me what's most important is helping you get on the page exactly the things that are in your brain in a way that you can feel proud of, and coaching you toward your goals as a writer by providing ongoing accountability, feedback, and clear-cut tasks to complete each month.

here's how it works:

you can just straight-up book a session. you don't even need to talk to me first (though you can always feel free to DM me).

you send me some of your work to read ahead of time (optional).

we get on zoom. i ask you questions about your writing life. you answer them. i take notes. if applicable, i offer feedback on your piece, plus reading recommendations and, if you're interested in ongoing coaching, an action plan for moving forward with your writing goals.

i shoot you an invoice via paypal after the call. you book another session whenever you're ready to talk again. most of my clients meet with me monthly, but i can make exceptions to meet more frequently. i also have several clients who only meet with me once or twice a year. (no pressure on frequency. everyone moves at their own pace.)

boom. all your dreams come true*

*might take a while though

i have 1.5 graduate degrees in creative writing pedagogy, and i've taught writing at the university level for 5 years. obvs i'm also an avid fangirl with a deep respect not just for fanfiction, but for all creative pursuits. to get a better idea of my writing beliefs, you can scroll through my writing advice tag.

for more of my credentials, feel free to click around my website. you can also check out the testimonials from my clients.

if you don't want a full consultation, i still have a few commissions open on ko-fi for line edits or a crit letter.

please don't hesitate to reach out via ask or DM if you have any questions. i'm also on twitter, and i have a monthly-ish lowkey writing-related newsletter.

reblogs are welcome!

[steampoweredshow]

Dr. Elanor Bell is a senior research scientist at the Australian Antarctic Division where her role combines a passion for conservation and the polar marine environment, with her experience of coordinating multi-national research and translating the outcomes to policy. Throughout her career, Elanor has wintered twice in Antarctica studying some of the smallest organisms on the planet (microbes) and now works on the largest creatures on the planet, Antarctic blue whales.

In our conversation, we talk about microbial ecology, seahorses, whales, and working in Antarctica.

Watch this episode on YouTube. Listen to it on Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Breaker, Castbox, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, or  RSS.

Show Notes

[00:00:45] Elanor's interest in environmental biology. [00:00:57] Wanting to make a difference. [00:01:22] Combining her love of marine biology and plants. [00:02:48] Field work in Scottish woodlands. [00:03:28] Envisioning a future in the tropics. [00:04:11] Discovering the beauty in microbiology. [00:05:46] Discovering polar ecology. [00:06:07] Unexpectedly ending up doing a PhD in Antarctica. [00:07:50] Being far from home in an isolated environment. [00:09:00] Preparing to go to Antarctica. [00:09:07] Intensive scientific training. [00:09:37] Intensive field training for working and living in Antarctica. [00:11:00] Elanor's outdoor passion and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award providing foundations. [00:11:33] The psychological and interpersonal training. [00:12:58] Elanor's experience on her first deployment. [00:13:54] The cold and being out on the ice. [00:15:30] From lakes in Antarctica to seahorses. [00:16:41] Coming time to write up the PhD. [00:17:20] The struggles of writing a PhD. [00:19:03] Needing a literal sea-change from pure science. [00:19:31] Looking for conservation work, something more applied. [00:19:57] An opportunity to work with seahorses in Canada. [00:22:07] Taking chances with new experiences. [00:22:57] Project Seahorse. [00:23:31] The various aspects of conservation work. [00:24:39] Conservation is more than just the message, it's giving back to the communities involved. [00:26:07] The purposes seahorses have been fished for. [00:28:03] Returning to microbial ecology. [00:29:02] Taking a chance on a postdoc in Germany on extremophiles. [00:32:00] The opportunities and flexibility to explore different work. [00:32:50] On the scope and flexibility of postdoctorate work. [00:34:48] Being able to design a marine conservation course incorporating Elanor's past work experiences. [00:35:36] The desire to pursue more applied sciences. [00:35:53] Needing to solve the two-body problem. [00:36:27] Relocating the family to Australia. [00:36:36] Submitting a manuscript as she went into labour. (!!) [00:38:26] Returning to the Australian Antarctic Division to study whales. [00:38:49] Wanting to do research that would contribute to conservation. [00:39:27] Writing job applications with a baby sleeping on you in the middle of the night. [00:41:08] Balancing field work with young children. [00:41:45] The struggles of breastfeeding while travelling for work. [00:42:51] Being able to see the science applied at a policy level. [00:43:09] Timing the longer journeys and being selective about the work related travel. [00:43:28] Combining eco-tourism outreach with research. [00:45:02] Communication with Antarctica is so much easier than it used to be. [00:45:56] Researching minimally invasive techniques for studying marine mammals. [00:46:53] Using sonobuoys for scientific research purposes. [00:48:22] Other methods and technologies used to collect data about whales. [00:49:28] Learning about the populations and population health through biopsies. [00:50:52] Getting a picture of Antarctic Blue Whale population health. [00:52:09] The project is a multidisciplinary study: The whale/krill relationship. [00:53:15] Socialisation and feeding behaviours. [00:54:38] The impact of the krill industry on whales. [00:55:19] How all that ties back in to conservation. [00:56:16] Everything you wanted to know about whale toileting behaviours but were afraid to ask. [00:57:21] The sampling process and analysing the impact of fertilisation. [00:59:27] The cycle of productivity. [01:00:21] The impact of smaller whale populations on local productivity. [01:01:11] Bonus Question 1: What hobby or interest do you have that is most unrelated to your field of work? [01:02:37] Bonus Question 2: Which childhood book holds the strongest memories for you? [01:02:40] Elanor's father reading to them at bedtime. [01:03:07] Elanor's relationship with The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. [01:05:00] Bonus Question 3: What advice you would give someone who wants to do what you do? Or what advice should they ignore? [01:05:09] You don't need a plan, but you should enjoy what you do. [01:05:27] Gone is the ivory tower. [01:06:31] Find a mentor and a support network. [01:07:41] Finding mentors. [01:09:52] Finding out more about Elanor's work.

Topics/Resources/People Mentioned

St Andrew's University

Gatty Marine Laboratory (wiki)

Daintree Forest

Diatom (wiki)

British Antarctic Survey

La Trobe University

Australian Antarctic Division

Duke of Edinburgh's Award

Nottingham University

Project Seahorse

McGill University

The Shedd Aquarium, Chicago

Extremophile (wiki)

Heliozoa (wiki)

Potsdam University

Two-Body Problem (wiki)

Life at Extremes by Elanor Bell (BookDepository)

International Whaling Commission (IWC)

Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR)

The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkein (GoodReads) (BookDepository)

The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkein (GoodReads Book 1) (BookDepository)

Additional Information

Life at Extremes by Elanor Bell (BookDepository)

Connect with Elanor

Australian Antarctic Division

Facebook (@AusAntarctic)

Twitter: (@AusAntarctic)

Instagram: (@AusAntarctic)

Follow STEAM Powered

YouTube Facebook Instagram Twitter Patreon Ko-Fi

[sfsucw]

Emory University's Theater Department and Creative Writing Program: Job Announcement

Emory University's Theater Department and Creative Writing Program have announced a job search for a two-year Fellowship in Playwriting starting Fall 2021. 

Description: Beginning in Fall 2021, the Fellowship offers a $45,000 salary, health benefits, and $1000 annual travel fund.  

The Fellow will have a 2-1 teaching load, including both playwriting workshops and literature courses such as "Contemporary Drama." The Playwriting Fellow will give a public reading for the Creative Writing Reading Series, and work with Theater Emory and its Playwriting Center, including the contribution of a new play to the "Brave New Works" New Play Festival.  

Fellows may be asked to direct honors theses and/or other student mentoring activities.

A two-year commitment is assumed but the contract renewal for the second year is contingent on a positive review of the first year. Qualifications: Required:  MFA in Playwriting, or equivalent degree, within the past 8 years, and related teaching experience. Desired:  Promising record of production and/or play development in regional or national theater. Application Instructions:

Application Instructions:

Submit electronic dossier, cover letter, CV, two letters of recommendation, and a writing sample to http://apply.interfolio.com/79213.

Writing sample should be submitted without identifying name and should be a full-length play.

In your cover letter, or in a separate statement, please reflect upon how the fellowship will facilitate your professional development, and your teaching experience and philosophy. Include your experience and vision regarding the teaching and mentorship of students from diverse backgrounds.

The December 1st deadline is firm. Late applications will not be considered.

[thefairefolk-rp]

Welcome, Finn! Your application for Ambrose Gold has been accepted!

OOC INFORMATION:

Name/Nickname: Finn

Age: 25

Preferred Pronouns: He/Him

Timezone: GMT-4

Activity and Availability: I do have a full time job but am able to make time to roleplay. As an active duty service member there may be times where I need to disappear for a weak or two but I will know ahead of time when such things occur. Overall I’d say my ability is an 8 out of ten. I will always log in to check either after work, or during the weekend.

Writing Sample:

The weather was hardly what many would hope for. Dark clouds and the distant booming of thunder on the horizon spelled disaster for many who wished to spend their days outside frolicking like pesky little beasts, Ambrose, however, found it an all too charming set of events. It was in these moments he found an almost therapeutic calmness in the falling of rain, the flashing of hellish lighting.  Moments such as these were a time he often found himself slipping into satisfying meditation, a time to reflect on himself and the many people and events in his life.

To this day he smiled at the memory of his bride giving birth to his first son, proving to be every bit as potent as himself.  When he held Tybalt for the first time he knew he had finally found it, a vassal to impart himself upon, this child would be his loophole, his rebellion at the cruel world. Through his child he would live forever, the lessons he taught, the memories he shared, they were who he was at his very core, and soon they would be his son’s. Of course, the more his child grew there was a certain wild nature in his eyes Ambrose had never once possessed, something he made certain to reign in whenever possible.  Tybalt may be his greatest disciple, but he would never hope to surpass his father, not so long as he breathed. Never would any hope to get the better of him, for what serpent could hope to best a dragon?

It was then Lord Gold spoke to one of his subordinates. “ If it would please you, fetch me my coat won’t you dear? I fancy a time to walk amongst the wind and water.”He gave a soft chuckle at the sight of the girl taking off in an instant to do as she was bid, she was a good little dove, whether it was a fair work ethic, respect, or fear of him that she did so well it mattered very little. Indeed, the intent behind actions mattered very little, only the results.

Oddly enough none questioned the duke’s actions, so prone had he always been on doing the unexpected, having never been a man who cared for what was ordinary.  Perhaps some felt private treacherous thoughts that he might meet his end in the storm? How amusing, to think others were so bloated with self importance that they could replace him.

It took the duke nearly an hour to ready himself, by that time the rain was pouring down, the thunder booming like a god’s labors, and the wind howling like a mighty predator. The sky once having been blue with distant darkness on the horizon had taken for itself a shade of regal violet, the clouds swirling and hanging from the air, one even sinking to the earth with a destructive kiss of doom.

As he made his way through a nearby patch of vegetation, he marveled at the power the elements had. The darkness that had fallen from the sky seemed to follow him, it’s dark visage roaring like a beast mightier than the forces of hell, it’s wind tearing branches from a nearby tree, hurling them like spears through the air, and finally ripping the old growth towards the heavens. Catching a single leaf between his thumb and index finger, Ambrose smiled as he looked upon it. So many years had the tree grown, only to be so easily uprooted, it’s proud weight falling into a heap of nothing in some distant land.  The beast of swirling darkness was not unlike himself, all consuming, domineering, and divine. Those who thought themselves untouchable, ever sturdy and reinforced through resources, blackmail, and connections would inevitably fall at his leisure.  It was he who would decide who lived and who died, he who chose who would prosper and who would fall into the depths of poverty.

Here before this wicked creature, this abomination of wind and dirt he finally felt something he had always secretly longed for. Not love, not happiness, but something far more simple, something so many had taken for granted.  Fellowship. The wind ever fierce and almighty was more like him than any man could hope to be. All his life he had wondered why he couldn’t feel, why he cared so little for others, why he disregarded his wife’s murder, why was it so simple to bring others to ruin?  What reason could it be that he’d been born void of any true empathy and tenderness?

The answer was simple. Ambrose was no man, but rather a young god imprisoned in the contemptible flesh of a mortal, his thoughts concluded as he tossed the leaf away with a chuckle.

[cloudsmmorg]

Resume lab master

Resume lab master registration#

Resume lab master professional#

Resume lab master free#

Technologies like data-science, machine learning, and natural language processing VMock, a 24-7 online resume review tool, leverages to help you create a powerful resumeĪnd accelerate your career journey. Walton Career Services partners with VMock Inc. Resume Feedback Application: VMock SMART Resume Platform Please visit for the University Career Center's OptimalResume login instructions. I'm not a business major, can I use OptimalResume?.

Resume lab master registration#

You will need to pay the one year registration fee of $29.00 directly to OptimalResume I'm a graduate of the Walton College, can I use OptimalResume?.What's the log in page for returning users?.Create your profile and continue with the OptimalResume prompts.(Alumni should click "Alumni Click Here" and follow the outlined registration steps.) Follow the instructions in the email to create your account. You will then receive a confirmationĮmail from the system. Enter your UARK email address and click "Continue".OptimalLetter works much like OptimalResume in that studentsĬreate letters section by section with stepwise instructions and examples. Letters: Through OptimalResume, students also have access to OptimalLetter, an online letterīuilder that makes it easy for you to create almost any kind of letter with custom.Existing Resume: If you have an existing resume, you don't have to redo it - simply cut and paste.To enter the required information and provides helpful samples and suggestions on Step-by-step, OptimalResume helps you constructĪ resume that is appropriate for your career or employment objective. First Resume: Even if this is your first resume, OptimalResume makes the process fast and easy.Check out the OptimalResume and Letter first time user guide. You don't have to finish your document in one sitting, and you can check your Scratch or improve an existing resume/letter. Through the system, students can create a resume/letter from

Resume lab master free#

For more information on creating and formattingĬVs and cover letters, please review the following or contact the Writing Center: The Paper CV, The Online CV, and The Cover Letter.Įnrolled Walton College students have free access to an online resume and letter building

Resume lab master professional#

While resumes and CVs are both written accounts of academic and professional experiences,Ī CV is a longer and more involved accounting of academic and professional involvement, The job description), so they are ready when a potential employer calls them to askĪbout your work performance. References know when you have applied for a position (perhaps even sending your references You have it ready to provide to employers when asked. If so, develop a separate references page to accompany your resume so that Had a professional working relationship to see if they will serve as a positive referenceįor you. (past and present), current professors/teachers and other people with whom you have However, it is a good idea to ask your job supervisor You do not need to include references with your resume when you apply for a position To make an impression, so make it a good one. Your resume may be the only chance you get If your resume has grammatical errorsĪnd/or is not well structured, the employer/reader will notice, and you, most likely, To the type of job for which you are applying. Through your resume, so the content of your resume must be clear, concise, and targeted An employer will usually spend 6 to 20 seconds reviewing/skimming Your resume represents YOU on paper, so you need to spend some time developingĪ quality document that will impress the reader. School admission committees, scholarship or fellowship committees, or other professional A resume is a brief, concise document, usually only one page in length, that presents,Īnd effectively sells, your skills and experiences to potential employers, graduate

[greshamconcretecontractor]

Graduate College Application Essays

Samples Of Personal Statement For Graduate School Application Essays Application Graduate School Essay Sample Statements Distinguished Fellowships. And in fact the new grad student will “hone writing abilities” — is not that. Sometimes this is known as a “personal statement,” nevertheless it might also. Admission Essay, Personal Statement companies are primarily based particularly on. Writers low cost plane atom for peace essay writing canadian justice system essays preuss faculty ucsd utility essay. FOR GRADUATE SCHOOL AND FELLOWSHIPS. The stakes are high, so listed below are some methods for writing a robust one.

As you start to write your first draft, let the phrases flow.At this stage, don’t fixate on grammar or discovering the proper word– simply get your thoughts on paper. You will finesse and polish your essay in the second draft. The essay portion of the applying is your opportunity to increase beyond your transcript and resume. Share your distinctive strengths, your background, your progress, or whatever else makes you a powerful candidate for Johns Hopkins Carey Business School. We strive to take part in a global educational mission.

Each pattern is followed by a quick evaluation permitting you to know the editorial decisions made by our skilled writers in designing each sample software, and which can function ideas in crafting your personal utility. As the next samples illustrate, the selective and cautious presentation of an applicant’s life historical past and experiences is a robust component in many profitable purposes. This is a characteristic that our custom application writing service provides to our shoppers. Then, we provided three sturdy graduate school private statement examples for various fields, along with analysis. Note, nevertheless, that these are all essays that particularly worked for University of Chicago law school.

A nice assertion of function makes use of particular examples for instance its key messages. Above all, a great private statement communicates clear messages about what makes you a strong applicant who is likely to have success in graduate school. So to that extent, think about a few key points that you simply wish to talk about yourself after which drill down on how one can best communicate those factors. Other than Google, I really like the pattern admissions essays in Graduate Admissions Essays by Donald Asher. If you’re a DIY kind of individual, Asher’s advice for the complete graduate admissions course of is superb.

Describe your aspirations and the way your Stanford GSB expertise will allow you to notice them. If you might be applying to each the MBA and MSx packages, use Essay B to handle your curiosity in each programs. Other components of the application give perception into your educational and professional accomplishments; the essays reveal the individual behind those achievements. https://thedisruptiondepartment.org/team/ Any special conditions that are not revealed elsewhere in the utility, similar to a significant workload outside of school.This, too, must be followed with a constructive statement about yourself and your future. Your distinctive preparation and fitness for examine in the subject.Correlate your educational background along with your extracurricular experience to show how they unite to make you a special candidate.

While the reply to this query varies from school to highschool and college member to faculty member, some general statements could be made. The committee is using the application to understand how you comport yourself. Despite the all too frequent nervousness endemic to the appliance course of, committees tend to assume that candidates are “putting their best foot forward” when they write their functions. After all, committees know that you know that they use the appliance to get an “impression” of you. Applications without a personal statement following these guidelines will be rejected.

“I really have supervised undergraduate and graduate college students and done greater than my share of correcting, advising, and grading papers.” “I really have a nice deal of experience helping these making use of to law college and LL.M. applications.” “I truly have a singular perspective on the school admissions process and on the job utility course of.” This is an essential a part of your application package, so make sure to speculate enough time in writing it.

However, some topics could also be inappropriate for a grad school application essay as a end result of they could alienate sure readers or make them lose curiosity. Outlining is an important step in creating a compelling and memorable grad faculty personal assertion. Just as architects need a blueprint to design and build a skyscraper, grad school candidates want a roadmap to prepare and write their essays. Grad faculty essays ought to make clear how nicely students reply to criticism of their work. Also, graduate college supplies a setting the place individuals can discover various theories and perspectives. To this end, admissions personnel search for clues about students’ openness to completely different viewpoints and their capacity to express their ideas in written kind.

The post Graduate College Application Essays appeared first on Gresham Concrete Services.

from Gresham Concrete Services https://greshamconcretecontractor.com/graduate-college-application-essays/

[graceducation-blog]

Expert Admissions Preparation Institute for MBA

If you hold an MBA degree from one of the top institutions, your career will be off to a great start. However, gaining admission is becoming increasingly difficult. A candidate must prepare for and score well on GMAT admission entrance exam, submit clear, well-written essays motivating his decision to apply to business school, as well as demonstrate strong oral expression during interviews before he is admitted. . He or she must do, not just well, but exceedingly well. This is where expert assistance comes in very useful for prospective candidates. Choosing the right admission consulting agency can ensure success.

Grace Education is one such admission consulting institute owned and operated by a Harvard graduate with over 5 years of experience in this field. This is the best recommendation: Get coached by experts.

One of the prerequisites for top MBA business school admissions is that you have excellent GMAT test scores. However GMAT preparation alone is no guarantee for MBA acceptance. How many times have we heard of candidates who have top GMAT scores who sadly did not get into their dream business school? Business schools have a limited number of places and the number of applicants to top US programs has been on the rise since 2016.

APPLICATION INCREASES DRIVE DOWN ACCEPTANCE RATES AND DRIVE UP GMAT SCORES

Grace goes beyond just GMAT preparation. Priding itself with a 97% student acceptance rate, this admission consulting institute takes a holistic approach towards admission consulting. At Grace, students are at heart of its services.

Upon choosing Grace Education, students are assigned personal Grace Education admission coach and together the two will begin a several month relationship that   often turns into a  friendship.  During brainstorming sessions and consultations between the student and his Grace Coach, the two make an in-depth examination of a student's academic/professional C.V. as well as his future career aspirations. From this ongoing dialogue, consultants and students establish a list of business schools.  The student then begins the arduous task crafting his essays. These writing samples must be well-structured, cohesive, and above all convince the admission committee of an applicant's worthiness to attend business school and demonstrate his potential to be a successful businessman upon graduation. Usually the student's essays respond to several questions in which they are asked to define their short and long-term future career goals as well as describe their business and leadership experience.  Students must write essays on their own. However, Grace Coaches offer students complete guidance on how to best represent their past achievements, leadership skills, and business potential. After three to four drafts, final essays are not only reviewed by a student's personal Grace Coach, but also by alumni from the business school where the student is applying.

Take a look at a paragraph from the first draft of a Grace student's essay as well as side-by-side comments from his Grace coach

  Excerpt of Grace student first draft of personal essay Grace coach commentary 1.      How will the Wharton MBA help you achieve your professional objectives? (400 words)(408)

After MBA graduation, I aim to work for the Equity Capital Market (ECM) Department of an Investment Banking Division. In ECM. My focus will be on analyzing a business’ value and make use of the best method to introduce it to the market. After 3-5 years in ECM, I plan to leverage my skills in business valuation, financial market insights and established network with market stakeholders and have a focus on second-round financing solutions. Ultimately, I will set up my own PE dedicated to serve smaller-sized clients covering China and South-east Asia with less than $50m revenue p.a. and provide diversified financing solutions and exit options by giving them wide exposure to the financial market.

Despite the analytics skills and finance knowledge I already gained from 3 years of banking career with BNP Paribas, I am fully aware that a Wharton MBA is the irreplaceable next step for me.  Wharton MBA is unique – it has advantage in nearly all areas of studies. Wharton’s MBA program with quantitative emphasis and individualized concentration on Information: Strategy and Economics would add great value to my career through the course Change, Innovation and Entrepreneurship by professor Rosenkopf.

                              Hey M,

A solid first version of this essay What we need to focus on is bringing out your RIICH LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND POTENTIAL by better detailing your short and long-term goals, and, more importantly, how WHARTON will help you achieve these goals.

No worries we’ve given you lots of comments/guiding questions to complete for your next rewrite.

Let’s diig in. How will the Wharton MBA help you achieve your professional objectives? (400 words)(408)

After MBA graduation, I aim to work as cite position title for the Equity Capital Market (ECM) Department of an Investment Banking firm such as cite bank.   My focus will be on analyzing a business’ value what types of businesses? Small, mid cap, large? From what country? What industry?  and make use of the best method to introduce it to the market which market? What index? NYSE? FTSE? HSI? . After 3-5 years in ECM, I plan to leverage my skills in business valuation, financial market insights and established network with market stakeholders and have a focus on second-round financing solutions. Ultimately, I will set up my own PE dedicated to serve smaller-sized clients covering China and South-east Asia with less than $50m revenue p.a. and provide diversified financing solutions and exit options by giving them wide exposure to the financial market.

Despite the analytics skills and finance knowledge I already gained from 3 years of banking career with BNP Paribas, Let’s toot your horn and cite your impacts on company profits. You might wanna say something like, “With a proven track record of success by increasing profits/generating cost savings by X%, I have gained skills and knowledge in the following areas: (cite them). To meet my short-term goal of working as (give position title) in ECM, I need to further develop skills in (cite skills).  You might wanna add your contact with Wharton alumni here. Taking your sentence you could say something like, “Confirmed by my interaction with Hong Kong Wharton alumni during an information session, Wharton’s MBA is unique – it has advantage in nearly all of the above areas of I hope to study.  Taking “Change, Innovation and Entrepreneurship” by professor Rosenkopf would enhance my skills in cite skills.

Hey Ma, are there one or two additional courses that would help you meet your short and long term goal? Now’s, the moment to list them.

Essays are only one component of an MBA admission's application. Professional/academic recommendations letters are another extremely important one. Grace coaches offer students advice on whom to solicit for these letters as well as editorial services if recommenders request student-written draft material.

The final component is the interview. Its importance in the MBA admissions process depends on who you speak to. Some claim it’s an integral, make or break element of your application, while others say it’s a mere formality, that the school has already decided they want you and just need to check that you’re not a complete ill-fit.

The reality is somewhere in between. According to interview coach Margaret Buj, on average 35% of the application process is weighted towards the interview. “There are thousands of applicants who look great on paper, who have perfect grades, have aced the GMAT exam and have some great professional experience. But schools want that rare balance of academic prowess and interpersonal strengths, and this is what’s tested during interviews.”

Grace Coaches gives provide each of its students personalized counseling, detailed constructive feedback as well as unlimited simulated practice sessions with real questions used during MBA admissions.  Furthermore, for students whose native language is not English, they will be appointed a Grace coach qualified in teaching English as a second language.

The extent of services usually results in students becoming successful in gaining admissions to prestigious MBA institutions. However, it does not end there. Students may be eligible for grants or scholarship or fellowship programs. The Grace professionals assist students to obtain scholarships and reduce their financial burden. This is but one of the several reasons why successful students have sought assistance from the Grace Education website. It always pays to get expert assistance from experts. It can make the difference between receiving admission and being denied one.

Are you currently applying to business school? Why not send us an email at contact@graceducation.com  for a free consultation or free edit of one essay you are writing.

[nyfacurrent]

The Art of the Application | NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship Application Feedback

Here are tips for making your next grant application stand out from the crowd, courtesy of the NYFA Grants team.

For the 2017/2018 application cycle alone, The New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) received a total of 3,071 applications for the NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship. In total, we reviewed 12,100 pages of manuscript, nearly 19,710 images, and more than 1,980 minutes of video excerpts! Due to the high volume of applications we received, in this cycle and in others, we are unable to give applicants individual feedback. However, we wanted to provide some general insights gained from our panel review process to help you with future grant opportunities. 

Start your work samples off strong! 

If you’re submitting images, choose one of your strongest works as your first image. During the NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship panel, the moderator reads aloud the title, date, and dimensions of your 1st and 6th images. If you decide to present two bodies of work, the 6th image is a good place to introduce the second series. For literary artists, manuscripts should begin with a paragraph that creates a strong sense of place or character, and does not necessarily have to be from the first page of your writing. If you are working in video/film or audio, your excerpts will be reviewed first, so make sure they start exactly where you want panelists to begin watching or listening.

Take time to document your work. 

Your work sample is only as strong as your documentation. Make sure your work samples properly and professionally portray your work. Images that include unnecessary background clutter are distracting. Hang a painting on the wall to document it and leave space around a piece so the image shows the edges of the work. If possible, ask a friend or hire a professional photographer to document your work for you. If you’re an Interdisciplinary artist working in a time or movement-based practice, be sure to submit video/audio work samples alongside your images so that the panel can get a real sense of your work. If your work is an installation or is interactive, use enough work samples to convey the scope of the project. 

More is not necessarily better.

Panelists often comment that applications that cram in too much actually detract from the stronger works. The panel wants to see a cohesive application with work that shows integrity, conviction, and a clear vision. We recommend applicants do not include more than 2 or 3 projects or series in their applications. You do not need to reach the work sample limit if you feel your work is represented well with fewer pages, images, videos, etc.

Your supporting statements should be as strong as your work samples.

Panelists are usually most taken with applications that show strength in overall presentation of the work, including the statements. Statements should be original and specific to the application to which you are applying. Be clear and concise, and avoid using language that is overly theoretical, poetic, or experimental. Use as much space as you need, but again, less may be more. It is better to have a shorter statement than to stretch the full word count by going off topic, repeating ideas, or speaking about work that isn’t in your application.

Provide additional information if allowed.

If an application allows you to add titles and descriptions to your work samples, you should. A well-used title or material description can sometimes be the thing that gives a panelist an “ah-ha” moment, and helps move an application into the next round. The additional information section is also your opportunity to briefly note any elements that may not be apparent in the work samples themselves, and which will give the panel more context for understanding your work.  

Give yourself plenty of time to upload your work samples and submit your application.

Though NYFA considers every application for review, panelists will quickly disregard applications where the videos didn’t properly upload, images were too small or terribly pixelated, or the wrong manuscript was uploaded.

Make sure to check for spelling and grammatical errors before you submit.

A simple mistake can be detrimental to your application. Have a friend or colleague read through your manuscript and/or support statements before you submit. 

Try not to get discouraged.

Applying for arts opportunities and funding is a practice in itself, and is often as much a part of being an artist as being in the studio. Keep in mind that panels are always changing, and every year offers a new opportunity. The majority of artists apply multiple times before receiving not only the NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship, but most awards or grants. Just because you were not selected for an award doesn’t mean your application wasn’t strong or that your vision isn’t worth pursuing. As Sejal Shah, a 2018 Fellow in Fiction, said:

“If your stories are like mine, they might be described as non-traditional, experimental, and poetic. You might start to doubt that what you do has relevance, that it is understood, and worth reading. It doesn’t fit neatly into a category. The news about the NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship came after I had received a few rejections in a row for other things. I mentioned this string of rejections to a friend, and she said whenever that happens to her, it means there’s a big yes around the corner. It turned out that was true in this case.”

- Hannah Berry, Program Associate, NYFA Grants

Find out about additional awards and grants here. Sign up for our free bi-weekly newsletter NYFA News to receive announcements about future NYFA events and programs.

Image: Derek Fordjour (Fellow in Painting ‘18), Rally Finale, 2017, oil, acrylic, graphite, newspaper, and foil on wood panel