S01E05 -- Writing a Personal Statement and What if you are Contacted for an Interview?

Summary: As Part Three of the Applying to Graduate School Series, The Unlikely Academics discuss the components of a common element of many graduate applications also known as the Personal Statement or Personal Narrative. They also discuss making it through the first stage of the application process to the next phase called the interview. Both of these can take many different forms depending on the type of graduate program one applies to and can differ wildly. The Unlikely Academics discuss common themes which can strengthen a Personal Narrative including honesty, finding connections between life experience and framing one’s experience as a linear progression toward graduate aspirations. The Unlikely Academics then shift to the topic of graduate interviews and visitation days where the applicate is being considered for graduate school along with others and is meeting the faculty to discuss their interests and demonstrate competency as an applicant for the program.