Application Essays

Graduate and professional schools typically require application essays as part of the admission process to assess your skills, background, interest and motivation for their programs. Use the tools below for help with writing your essays.

Download a Guide Professional School Personal Statement (pdf)
Statement of Intent: Academic Master's & Ph.D. Programs (pdf)
Read Guide Books

Come into our office to read step-by-step explanations for writing your admission essay and review examples from various fields.

General:

  • Graduate Admissions Essays
  • Get Into Graduate School
  • How to Write a Winning Personal Statement for Graduate & Professional School

Health and Medicine:

  • Get Into Medical School
  • Medical School Admissions: The Insider’s Guide
  • Medical School Essays that Made a Difference
  • Write for Success (Health Professions and Medicine)

Law and Business:

  • Business School Essays that Made a Difference
  • How to Get Into the Top Law Schools
  • Get Into Law School
  • Law School Essays that Made a Difference
  • The Ultimate Guide to Law School Admission

Psychology and Mental Health

  • The Complete Guide to Graduate School Admission: Psychology, Counseling and Related Professions
  • Getting In: A Step-By-Step Plan for Gaining Admission to Graduate School in Psychology
Get Your Essay Critiqued Drop off a typed, double spaced draft of your essay in the Career Services Center for a critique. Or mail it in with a self-addressed, stamped envelope for return to:

UCSD Career Services Center
Essay Critique Service
9500 Gilman Drive, Dept. 0331
La Jolla, CA 92093-0331

Include your name, PID, email address, phone number and the essay prompt, and your critiqued essay will be ready after seven working days.