International students who may not be familiar with writing application essays may not know that an addendum can be included with these graduate school essays — or how to use it effectively.
As an international student applying to graduate programs in the U.S. in the fall of 2011, I realized that my experience was not typical of most applicants. Because of my special circumstances, I had attended more than one undergraduate program before earning my bachelor’s degree and my standardized test scores were not as strong as they should have been.
While I felt strongly that I would excel at the graduate level, I had to be able to convince admissions officers that this was the case. Each application has its own specific requirements and unique instructions, and a strong application follows these guidelines carefully. But as I was preparing my application for the Master of Arts program at Columbia University, I realized that I needed to share more information than what I could in the strictly defined boundaries of a statement of purpose essay.
In a typical statement of purpose, students are prompted to answer two questions: “Why am I choosing this school and program?” and “Why am I a good fit and one of the few who should be selected?” In my case, the statement of purpose was limited to two pages and I used up this space just in answering the two questions. It was then that I reached out to the admissions office for help and they advised me that I could disclose extra information in a form called an addendum.
[Understand these critical considerations for international grad students.]
I had never heard of an addendum — but I found out that it’s a sort of bonus essay, usually up to two pages long, where applicants can discuss noteworthy aspects of their background that might make them stand out among other applicants. I believe that being able to include this addendum and explain why my accomplishments and abilities were greater than what was encapsulated in the standard application forms was ultimately what helped me to gain admission into the program at Columbia.
Now, before you get too excited and start scribbling your own addendum, here are a few pieces of advice .
1. Make sure that the school you are applying to accepts addendums: If not, try to rearrange your statement of purpose so that you have room for a paragraph or two at the end, where you can draw attention to a significant matter. Then, begin this section with a phrase like: “In considering my application, please note … ”
2. Weigh a personal history statement instead: Some schools ask for both a statement of purpose and a personal history statement, which is an essay that asks the applicant to describe aspects of his or her background that makes that student unique. You can use this latter essay in place of the addendum.
As an international student, the personal history statement o r the addendum can be especially important in allowing you to explain any circumstances that you may have had to face that would not be typical for a student from the U.S. These can include differences in the educational system or restricted access to educational programs, among others.
[Learn how international students can budget for grad school.]
3. Think carefully before you start writing: This is not the place to dwell on an unfortunate past but to highlight your personal assets. Talk about how you have overcome obstacles. For example, when I addressed my standardized test scores, I wrote about how I had work and volunteer experience that strengthened my skills in the areas tested and how my most recent grades reflected how I had developed.
4. Get to the point: It may be difficult for international students to avoid beating a round the bush and just get to the point, especially if English is not their first language. Admissions officers have a large number of applications to read through in a short amount of time. Use the addendum not to tell your life story but to highlight your positive attributes.
[Get insight into U.S. grad schools from Fulbright scholars.]
So, when it comes time for you to fill out your applications, ask yourself the following: “If the school will accept an addendum, what additional accomplishments of mine is it essential that they consider?” “If they will not accept an addendum, how might I tailor my statement of purpose to address these points?”
After that, I advise you to take a deep breath, collect your thoughts and then write your addendum. Remember, everyone applying to the program want s to be accepted; your job is to convince the admissions officers not that you want it more but that you have the aptitude to excel as an international student.
More from U.S. News
Studying at a U.S. Graduate School
4 Ways Studying in the U.S. Challenges Students
Understand the Value of an Addendum for International Grad Students originally appeared on usnews.com
