Roundup: The application advice posts that helped me when I was applying

Following up on my last post with tips for strengthening your application (which you can find here), here are some helpful SIPA Admissions blog posts on the application process. When I was applying to graduate schools, I spent a lot of time surfing the SIPA Admissions blog. These are my favorite posts that helped me with my application:

Personal Statement

• Admissions Director Shares the Top 3 Mistakes in a Grad App Personal Statement
• Personal Statement: What We Look For
• A Common Mistake with Personal Statements: Being Overly Romantic
• Tips for Writing Your Personal Essays: Time to Find Your Cornerstone
• Things to Avoid if Writing About the COVID-19 Pandemic
• What’s in an App: Personal Statement

Optional Essays

• About the Optional Diversity Essay
• Use the Optional Essay to your Advantage
• What’s in an App: Optional Essay
• Some Advice on the Optional Essay Prompt

Recommendations:

• Asking for Recommendations
• How to Ask for Recommendation Letters
• How to Plan for Your Recommendation Letters

Professional Resume:

• What’s in an App: Professional Resume

Quantitative and Language Resume

• Demystified: The Quantitative and Language Resume

Video Essay:

• Surviving (and Thriving) the Video Essay
• What’s in an App: Admissions Video Essay
• For Those of You with Video Essay Issues

GRE/GMAT (remember that it is not required for the 2022 application):

• You Can Waive the GRE/GMAT Requirement Now. But Should You?
• 4 Tips to Ace the GRE
• Niara’s Advice on Preparing for the GRE

General:

• Tips for Managing Stress During the Application Process
• Do’s and Don’ts on Your SIPA Application
• Planning - Start Early! 4 Things Applicants Should Do Now
• Planning - Struggling to Plan for Applications? Here’s My Timeline.
• The Waiting Game - The January 5th Deadline Has Passed. What Happens Now?
• Communicating with SIPA - 3 Tips for Efficient Communication with Our Office

I hope these articles are as useful for you as they were for me when I was applying! Also, remember that if you have any questions, feel free to reach out to the Admissions team. We are here to help you!