Graduate School Archives - Page 2 of 6

The Role of Authenticity In Personal Statements

In my eighteen years of helping people earn admission into their dream schools, two kinds of applicants are quite common. The first type sees their application as merely a means to an end. They want...

Colorful cartoon of a hopeful graduate school applicant at a desk, surrounded by thought bubbles depicting their journey, meeting with professors, library research, future career aspirations, considerations of finances, and overall happiness

Dos and Don’ts of Graduate School Applications

After nearly 20 years of helping people get into the graduate schools of their dreams, I have a clear sense of what works and doesn’t. Since most graduate programs open their admissions portals in the...

Cartoon of a young South Asian man, animatedly telling a story to a captivated, diverse audience in a modern conference room. He is dressed in a smart business suit, gesturing with his hands as he speaks. The audience, consisting of various ethnicities and genders, shows expressions of engagement—some are leaning forward, others are laughing, and a few are clapping. A projector screen displaying a presentation is visible in the background, adding to the lively atmosphere of the interaction.

Storytelling Mistakes on Your Personal Statement (and how to avoid them!)

In nearly 20 years of helping people get into their dream schools, I’ve made a point of working with clients to create essays that are both engaging and substantive. This balance is the key to...

Cartoon of Frankenstein sitting at a desk, writing a personal statement with a quill, portraying a humorous juxtaposition of a monstrous figure engaged in a scholarly task

What is a Frankenstein Essay, and Why Will It Destroy Your Application?

After nearly 20 years of reading, assessing, revising, and consulting on personal statements, I have seen every variety of mistake an applicant can make. More importantly for you, though, is that I am pretty good...

A vibrant illustration depicts a man in a sweater, cheerfully popping out from an oversized green recycling bin brimming with papers, in a whimsically messy office. The bin is humorously adorned with a 'RECYCLE' emblem, emphasizing the theme of reusing. Papers flutter through the air, mimicking the man's buoyant spirit towards the concept of repurposing content. The chaotic desk, cluttered with documents and a computer displaying a text document, signifies the multitasking involved in tailoring personal statements for various applications. The room is adorned with academic certificates, hinting at the academic nature of the applications, while a night sky visible through the window implies dedication to the task, regardless of the hour.

Can You Use a Personal Statement for Multiple Applications?

As the flowers bloom and spring arrives, many of you are planning your MBA applications. One of the most common questions I get as an MBA personal statement consultant is whether and how to reuse...

Scientist in a dimly lit lab, surrounded by scientific instruments, deeply focused and slightly frustrated while writing on a piece of paper, with notes and open books around, symbolizing the challenges of research and discovery.

The Importance of Strong Writing in STEM Grad School Applications

At Gurufi, we help hundreds of applicants every year get into top Masters and PhD programs. If you’re applying to a STEM program, we have editor-consultants with the experience and skill to transform your personal...

Cartoon of a pensive MBA applicant with three thought bubbles overhead, each labeled with the names of top business schools: 'Harvard Business School,' 'Columbia Business School,' and 'Wharton.' The applicant appears slightly stressed, symbolizing the challenging decision-making process involved in choosing among prestigious MBA programs.

Expert Tips for Choosing the Right Program After Admission Success!

When I checked my email this morning, I remembered why this is my favorite time of year! Two of my favorite clients got into their dream schools, and my back-and-forth emails with a client who...

Should I Write a Different Personal Statement for Every Graduate School I Apply To?

Applying to graduate school is a ton of work. GRE, letters of recommendation, revising work samples, and personal statements… Moreover, people rarely apply to just one school; when I applied, I applied to a dozen....

How Specific Should You Be In Your Graduate School Personal Statement?

I recently wrote about how important it is to be specific about your plans for graduate school. Since founding Gurufi in 2006, we have helped several thousand clients get into their top-choice Ph.D. and Master’s...

graduate student writing personal statement

Statement of Purpose vs. Personal Statement

Most graduate programs require only a personal statement, but many (particularly, some of the BigTen schools) require both a personal statement AND a statement of purpose. Many applicants can find the distinction confusing, so we’re...