Application Form And Pre-Interview Task (Pdf: Fill & Download for Free

Assuming you are a beginner, I would classify learning Python in 3 major stages.Stage 1: Learning the syntax & basics.Stage 2: Learning libraries & frameworks.Stage 3: Building projects.Let’s start with stage 1:Learning syntax & basics.Python is one of the easiest language to learn in terms of syntax.Go get started learning the syntax, first make sure to install Python on your machine.Just head to Python’s official site, download the latest version and you are good to go.Once the installation has completed, you may use IDLE to write and run Python code.Let’s directly jump into some code examples and learn Python basics right away:Writing a hello world program in python:print(‘Hello World!’)  Mathematical operations in Python can simply be performed as follows:Arithmetic operationsAddition: Adding values on either side of operator 1+2 Subtraction: Subtracts values on either side of operator 2–1 Multiplication: Multiplies values on either side of operator 2*10 Division: Divides the left operand by right operand 10/2 Modulus: Divides left operand by right operand and return the remainder 10%2 Exponent: Calculates power of the operand 10**2 Floor division: Divides the left operand by right and then removes the digits after decimal point. 7//2 Other related important topics to learn: Assignment operators, Comparison operators, Logical operators, Bitwise operators.Accepting user input:name = input(‘Enter name’) The above code simply accepts a string from user.Data structures in Python:Here are the built in data structures in Python:List, Tuples, Dictionaries, Strings, Sets.Lists in Python:Lists in Python are like arrays in other programming language.They maybe used to contain data types like strings, integers and objects too.They are an ordered structure and all the elements in a list are indexed.Here is how to create a list in Python:list = []  fruits= [‘Apple’,’Mango’,’Banana’] Tuples in Python:They are very similar to lists but tuple manipulation is much faster as compared to list as tuples are immutable.Here is the syntax to create a tuple:tuple = () fruits =(‘Apple’,’Mango’,’Banana’) As you may have noticed, the syntax for creating a tuple is slightly different as compared to list, instead of using [], we use () to represent a tuple.Dictionaries in Python:A sequence of item where each item is a key value pair, using the value of a key you may access any value in a dictionary.Here is how a dictionary is created in Python:a = {‘name’:’John’,’surname’:’Ford’} Here you may access the name of a person from a dictionary asa[‘name’] Other important topics to learn: Strings, Sets.Loops & Control structures in Python:While loop:count = 0 while (count<5):  count = count + 1  print("Hello there!") Python does not use curly braces, but instead uses indentation to indicate the code inside the while block.For loop:For loops may be used to iterate a list in Python.Here is an example to create a list and to print its elements using a for loop:fruits= [‘Apple’,’Mango’,’Banana’] for x in fruit:  print(x) This would print every element in the list by iterating over each item.Functions in Python:A snippet of code can be enclosed inside a function definition.Here is how to define a function in Python:def function_name(parameters):  #some code  return expression Here is how to call the above function:function_name(parameters) Other topics to learn: Lambdas, Map, Filter & GeneratorsObject oriented programming in Python:Python is a multi-paradigm language, meaning that it supports multiple programming approaches.A proper way to solve some programming problems is to create objects by using Object Oriented Programming also called as OOP.You may creates classes and objects in Python as it supports OOP.Here is how to create a class in Python:class Classname:  pass A class may have attributes and methods, an attribute is nothing but the properties of the class.Methods are simply a snippet of code just like a function but they belong to a particular class.Here is another example of class with a class attributes, __init__ method and a class method:[code]class Classname: #Class Attributes  message= "Hello"      #instance attributes  def __init__(self,name,age):    = name  self.age = age    #class method  def class_method():  print("This is a class method")   #instantiating the class: object1 = Classname("John",35) object2 = Classname("Jim",40) #calling a class method: object1.class_method() [/code]Other important topics related to OOP: Inheritance, Encapsulation, Constructors.Apart from this, there are other important topics to be learned in Python basics i.e Regular expressions.Let’s now move on to stage 2.Learning libraries & frameworks:Now that you have enough skills to write and understand basic Python syntax, you may now start learning different Python libraries or frameworks depending on what you want to do with Python.Python has a good collection of modules, packages, libraries and frameworks which you may use for various applications.These libraries, frameworks and packages make it much easier to build things without having to reinvent the wheel.Here are some of the popular Python libraries and frameworks listed as per their applications:Django:It is a high-level Python web framework used for rapid development. If you want to build web applications with Python then Django is your best bet. If you are a startup looking forward to quickly build an MVP or want to build commercial web software with Python then Django should be your first choice. Its primary goal is to make it easy to develop database-driven websites.Tkinter:If you want to build desktop applications with Python then Tkinter is one of the easiest way to do so. Tkinter is a standard Python interface to the Tk GUI toolkit shipped with Python.Flask:A lightweight WSGI web application framework which was designed to make getting started easy. Has the ability to scale complex applications. With the flask-sqlalchemy your Flask app may now communicate with a SQL database. Flask is one of the most suitable frameworks if you wish to develop a simple and lightweight web application.Numpy:It is an array-processing package and provides high-performance array object. It is widely used for scientific computing with Python and provides the essential features.Pandas:A popular open source Python library that is used for data analysis. It is a high-level data manipulation tool built on top of the Numpy package. Using this library, data manipulation becomes a much easier task. One of the most important data structure it provides is the DataFrame.OpenCV:OpenCV also known as open source computer vision supports multiple programming languages like Java & C++ and also does support Python. It could be used for image and video processing, facial recognition, gesture recognition, motion tracking and a lot more computer vision applicationsSelenium:Although selenium is a free and open source tool used for testing, it can be also used to automate browsers which really comes into handy while writing Python scripts to automate something on the web. Using selenium you may automate your social media or any other web based application.Django Rest Framework:Want to built that REST API for your webapp? Django Rest Framework is here to the rescue. If you have built your webapp with Django as backend then you can use Django Rest Framework to easily create API endpoints for the same app.PyQt:It is a GUI widgets toolkit and is one of the most powerful cross-platform GUI library. It combines Python programming and the Qt library. It can be used to design graphical user interfaces for a desktop application.Depending on which domain you want to get into, you may pick and learn the libraries/frameworks you wish to.Apart from the above mentioned libraries, there are plenty other libraries and frameworks as well but the one mentioned above are the most popular ones and are widely used.Now let’s move on to the final stage.Stage 3: Building projects.You wont be considered good enough in Python unless you are able to develop complex projects on your own.The best way to test your programming skills is by working on a complex project which solves a problem.Once you know the syntax and once you learn the above mentioned libraries, you may put this knowledge and skills to good use by working on projects.To start with, you may begin by working on simple projects like creating a calculator, a simple crawler and could eventually move to more complex projects.Complex projects may include:Fully functional E-commerce site.Web based crawler which dynamically crawls a specific webpage.Online CV generator which generates CV’s in PDF format from raw text.Apart form this, you may work on building any application/tool which you think would be helpful for you in your daily life.Here is why you should focus on project based learning:It instills confidence in you, being able to complete a project on your own is a great feeling as a beginner. Nothing else will make you feel more confident about your skills.You may add these projects to your portfolio which makes you stand apart from the other candidates while in a job interview. Its easier to tell anyone that you have worked on this Django project rather than just saying I am experienced with Django.Projects really sharpen your skills. While working on a project you will face multiple hurdles, challenges and difficulties and while you work on overcoming them you gain a good amount of skills.With a good amount of practice and a couple of projects under your belt, you will get good enough with Python.

Here are the ABCs to help you know the basics of an Applicant Tracking System.Streamlining the Recruitment ProcessThe key word in the term applicant tracking system is “applicant.”The applicant tracking system is a tool to manage the workflow and data associated with candidates once they have applied for specific jobs and are therefore now considered to be active. Prior to that, they are candidates. Some may be passive candidates who need to be proactively reached — but that’s beyond the capabilities of an applicant tracking system.When you look back at how paper job applications were sent by mail, there was a clear cost to the applicant for each additional letter sent. The natural limit on recruiting resources was the candidate’s limited capability to apply for jobs.Almost 25 years ago, this limit was lifted with the advent of the Internet and the spread of job boards. There is currently no incremental cost, other than time, for applicants to distribute additional copies of their resumes.That’s why, in today’s market, the volume of resumes a company receives is directly proportional to the visibility of its brand. The better known the company, the more resumes it gets. That’s why some of today’s leading companies are flooded with applicants.Complicating the problem even further are a host of regulatory requirements that vary by state and country. The applicant tracking system is not only the system of record for regulatory purposes, but it is also the primary tool for executing and recording details of the recruiting process from application to disposition.It’s worth noting that the Internet is full of claims, including: “85 percent of companies are looking to replace their applicant tracking system” or “70 percent of all recruiters hate their applicant tracking system.” It’s true that the applicant tracking system suffers from the worst aspects of any administrative tool and, as with any piece of technology, if you pick one that doesn’t meet your needs, you’ll have plenty to dislike. But, the average replacement cycle is around 7 years. In other words, as disliked as they are, they don’t often get replaced.By some estimates, there are as many as 500 different applicant tracking system vendors. Recruiting varies widely by region, industry, profession and other factors. It can get complicated, which is why it’s important to pay attention to these key features.Features of an Applicant Tracking SystemIt’s crucial to understand some of the key features to look for in an applicant tracking system.1. Application process: There is a range from simple resume submittal to full employment website capabilities. In either case, the applicant tracking system is the point of demarcation for determining whether someone is an applicant. The rule of thumb is that the status changes from candidate to applicant once the person’s data is in the applicant tracking system.2. Resume parsing: Resumes — and increasingly, social media data — are submitted as free form text in a variety of file formats (pdf, doc, docx, etc.). The parsing process then extracts the text and places it into a structured and more readily searchable form. There are a few parsing companies that are universally used.3. Resume storage and tagging: Original resumes along with the parsed versions are stored in a database. In countries outside of the U.S., there are noteworthy regulations regarding how long a resume can be kept and under what conditions. More advanced systems allow the resumes to be tagged for categorization purposes.4. Search: One of the key factors that distinguishes applicant tracking system providers is the quality of search. Think about it: Email is email, but there are major differences between what Gmail offers versus what Outlook may offer; it’s similar with applicant tracking systems. The more robust the search capability, the more usable the system.5. Screening, assessment and other pre-hire screening: If you think that 500 applicant tracking system vendors seems like a lot, there are thousands of pre-hire screening, assessment, reference-checking, drug-testing and personality-testing companies. The applicant tracking system needs to be able to handle and store this sensitive information.6. Recruiting workflow: Recruiting — which includes the interviewing process — involves the reciprocal negotiation between recruiters and hiring managers, as well as between recruiters and candidates. The recruiting workflow encompasses all of the back and forth between the recruiter and the candidate beginning with a group and narrowing down to an individual. The applicant tracking system tracks scheduling and completion of these tasks, including scheduling interviews and reviewing resumes.7. Hiring workflow: The hiring process refers to the ongoing conversation between recruiters and hiring managers. The applicant tracking system tracks, monitors and documents this process.8. Interfaces (onboarding and payroll): One of the final steps of the recruiting process is when a new hire gets handed off to the rest of the HR software suite.9. Data and analytics: The most up-to-date applicant tracking systems have data and analytics tools that allow recruiting teams to analyze their own performance and deliver reports to key stakeholders.

A personal statement is useful to colleges because it essentially serves as a self-manifested demonstration of the applicant's unique qualifications. The personal statement also provides a glimpse into your writing ability, creativity, and career goals. So, admissions committees look to personal statements to gain insight about the applicant and understand their motivations as they relate to school and career choices.The personal statement is designed to:1. Tell the reader(s) something about you and why you should be accepted to the school that they cannot learn from reviewing your transcripts, test scores, CV, or other materials.2. Demonstrate that you can write clearly, coherently and effectively.A personal statement is required for most college applications including those for admission as an undergraduate, a transfer student, or a graduate student.Personal statements can range in length from 350 words to several pages. Most are between 500 and 2000 words, which means you have limited space to describe your experiences, achievements, and goals.Generally, personal statements fall into two categories:1. The general, comprehensive personal statement, which allows you maximum flexibility in terms of what you choose to write about.2. The response to very specific questions like, “Explain why you’re a good fit for X Program,” that are more frequently used for graduate school statements of purpose and short response essays.Who reads your personal statement?So, I’ve seen the question pop up over and over again from applicants wanting to know who is actually reading their personal statements.For most undergraduate applications, personal statements and the applications overall, are read by admissions office staff members or admissions committee members who have specialized training and experience reading and reviewing college applications. Usually between one and three professional admissions staff or committee members will read your application.I began my work reading and assessing college applications for the University of Washington as a graduate student, so it’s also not unheard of to have your personal statement read and evaluated by trained student employees or temporary admissions office staff members.The admissions committees for graduate programs are usually composed of professors and staff members of the program or department you’re applying for. They will want to know why you’re choosing a major in their specific profession and why you think you will do well in it for the long term.Still, it’s nearly impossible to know for sure who will read your application, especially at large universities, so consider that anyone could be looking at your personal statement. This includes people from a range of backgrounds, ages, and belief systems.Nonetheless, each person who reads your application is working on behalf of the college or university and are eager to accept students who are a good fit. The personal statement is your opportunity to make your case for admission.Understanding the PromptBefore you start writing your personal statement or college admissions essay, you need to understand the essay prompt. As simple as it seems, this can be difficult if you can’t figure out exactly what the prompt is asking.Remember, there are generally two types of personal statements: the general, comprehensive kind and the type that answer a specific question.Regardless, of what type the college you’re applying to calls for, there are a number of holistic questions you should consider when trying to understand your college essay prompts.What does the prompt ask about me?Academic and Personal Goals. A typical question might be “How will attending X College help you achieve your goals?”Academic History. For example, is there anything in your academic history that warrants further explanation like a dip in grades junior year or a withdrawal from a core class.Previous Learning Experiences. Consider listing applicable research, projects, and work experience.Extracurricular Activities. Discuss your involvement with extracurricular activities, clubs, or community programs (don’t include anything from before high school).Financial Situation. Questions about financial situation, ability to pay tuition, or fund your education in general, most commonly appear on scholarship essay prompts.What does the prompt ask about the school I’m applying to?Program Fit. Example - What makes you a good fit for the MA program at University X? Colleges want to know how your unique skills and experiences will align with their program focus and values.College Fit. More generally, universities are also interested in WHY you want to attend their school and how that desire aligns with the culture and atmosphere of the college. A common question you might see is “why do you want to attend Y university”?What keywords does the prompt use?For the most part, there’s little difference in the meaning of the words listed here as examples, but I still advise writers to carefully consider and do exactly what the prompt requires. This is especially important if you re-use essays or templates.Examples:DescribeShareListAnalyzeEvaluateWhat official requirements does the prompt include?Word Count or Page Length. Don’t go over the limit and expect essay readers not to notice.Online Form vs. Email Submission. Which does the application require - submission via an online application or website? Or a pdf or doc file sent to the admissions office contact email?Formatting. Consider the requirements for font size, spacing, page margins, and headings. These requirements shouldn’t be considered just suggestions and I recommend sticking to any formatting rules the application lists. Don’t tick off the person reading your application by leaving off the title for your essay to save space when the instructions strictly call for one.After carefully considering the prompt, it’s time to choose a topic.Choosing a TopicAnd so, here comes the difficult part about writing a personal statement.You must choose a topic.My number one recommendation - Write about something that reflects your life authentically and communicates what you’re passionate about. Admissions officers don’t want to read in personal statements what they can read on a resume or transcript. So, when choosing a topic for your personal statement, pick something to write about that motivates you, intrigues you, or exhibits a part of yourself that you would be incomplete without.That being said, you also have to choose a topic that addresses the essay prompt. It’s not easy to do both, but it’s definitely possible after a bit of brainstorming and pre-writing.The topic of your personal statement may span multiple years of your life or cover a single event, like your 1st place win at the State Robotics tournament. The personal statement is just that, personal. As we stated earlier, it’s your opportunity to show your writing ability, creativity, and goals.For this reason, the topic you choose should allow you to communicate a personal story that clearly indicates your ability to write and be vulnerable about who you are and who you want to be.Still, it’s important to be reflective in the telling of your story through the topic you choose as a way to create distance between you and the experience and demonstrate both the maturity and insightfulness admissions officials expect from students who eventually enroll at the university.So, choose wisely.As a guide, here are some questions to consider when brainstorming a topic, story, or focus for your personal statements.Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Start WritingWhat are your short term and long-term career goals?What challenges in the workplace have you faced that have prompted you to return to school?How have you already learned about this field that prepares you for the next step?Have you been employed in any capacity or volunteered in your chosen field? If so, what have you learned from that experience?What is your undergraduate major? Who or what has inspired you to pursue this major?Are there any gaps or discrepancies in your academic record that you should explain (great grades but mediocre LSAT or GRE scores, for example, or a distinct upward pattern to your GPA if it was only average in the beginning)?What are your major accomplishments, and why do you consider them accomplishments?How have you been challenging yourself in school to prepare for graduate school?Why are you interested in pursuing graduate study in this field? Are there any courses and/or extracurricular activities you have completed to get you started in this area?What skills (for example, leadership, communicative, analytical) do you possess?Why might you be a stronger candidate for admission—and more successful and effective than other applicants?What are the most compelling reasons you can give for the admissions committee to be interested in you?What makes you special?What is impressive about your experiences or life?What are your future goals?What skills/characteristics of yours will contribute to your success in the field?Where were you born? Your ethnicity?Are you the first in your family to attend college?Have you overcome any personal or economic struggles?Who or what was your motivation to continue your education?What are the opportunities and/or challenges you find in your community?Personal Statement Considerations for Undergrads, Transfers, Veterans, Grad Students, and Job SeekersAs you apply for college programs at various points in your life, your personal statement should differ as a result. Admissions committees expect a personal statement for a transfer student to be much different from a college admissions essay for an incoming freshman student. With that in mind, here are some unique considerations to keep at the forefront of your thinking when writing personal statements as an undergrad, transfer, veteran, graduate school applicant, or job seeker.Writing a personal statement for undergradWhen applying for undergraduate admission, you should primarily focus your essay on what has shaped your interests throughout your life, specifically over the last four years of high school. You should also focus on your academic studies and experiences in high school as well as how they’ve prepared you for a college-level curriculum. Another important topic you should write about for your essays is how you will fit into the culture of the college and what unique attributes you’ll bring to campus. For diversity and supplemental statements focus on your community, personal identity, and any adversity you’ve experienced in your life.Writing a personal statement for veteransAs an active-duty veteran, I’ll be the first to say that in the military we get accustomed to writing in a very specific military-style, which is characterized by communication of the bottom line up front and a focus on informing the reader. This concise and straightforward style is essential for military communications but doesn’t work well for writing personal statements that are meant to be somewhat creative and introspective. So for veterans, remember to inject your personality into your writing and ditch the objectivity characteristic of the military writing style. Further, most college admissions committees are comprised of civilians with little experience working with military personnel or reading military correspondence. So, avoid using military jargon or translate military speak to the civilian equivalent.Some schools might also expect you to discuss your military service and how those experiences have influenced your educational and career goals. I recommend including this type of information in your personal statements in so far as you would with any other job you’ve had in the past, especially if the experience has been a significant part of your life over the last few years.Writing a personal statement for transfer studentsAs a transfer student, you should have a bit of a different focus for your personal statement than the average high school senior. For instance, you might want to discuss the specific reasons you wish to leave your current college/university or program of study. You might also devote space in your statement to explaining your current academic interests and what prerequisites you will complete before transferring.Personal statements from transfer students should reflect the experience and maturity of someone who has already attended college. It should also demonstrate your understanding of the effort it takes to pursue a college education, and balance competing demands in a university setting.For transfer students, the college application essay is also your opportunity to take responsibility for less-than-perfect grades, recognize academic challenges, and explain the steps they have taken to conquer them.Writing a personal statement for graduate schoolOften, the readers of your graduate school statement of purpose want to see you answer three general questions:Why us?Your graduate school admissions essay should hone in on the specifics of why you want to study in the program you’re applying to. Why are you applying to this school, department, internship, or program and not some other? What is special about them? Are there specific professors you’d like to work and conduct research with and why? What are your connections to the program’s location?Why you?What is special about you? What is in your background, interests, or achievements that shows you are an ideal candidate? Remember though that grad schools, more than undergrad program, also expect to benefit from having you as a student, so it’s important to also explain how you will contribute to the culture, reputation, and work of the program through your research and leadership activities.Why now?Grad school admissions committees and department heads are also hoping to understand why you’re applying at this point in your life, whether that is straight out of undergrad or after a 10-year career. More importantly, they want to know how the decision to pursue a graduate education right now fits in with your long-term goals?Your answer to these questions should continuously circle back to how studying in the program will help you attain your academic and career goals.Writing a personal statement for a job or internshipA personal statement for a summer job or internship will differ than a personal statement for college admissions in that it should stress the qualifications that will make you successful in the workplace or lab. Your focus for these essays should be on the skills, experiences, and education that makes you a good fit for the job. Include content that explains the personal strengths and traits that have prepared you to be successful in the position you’re applying for.My recommendation is to take the job listing, write out the key attributes and skills the position calls for, and to focus your essay narrative on describing the particular experiences and learning that has prepared to fulfill those criteria.Using Style in Your Personal StatementThe style you choose to use for your personal statement offers important clues about you and your character. Much like your high school English class essays, the style of your personal statement can reveal your ability to write, your attention to detail, and how you choose to communicate. Alternatively, a statement of purpose that fails to convey an appropriate style demonstrates undesirable characteristics like laziness, an inability to communicate appropriately, or a lack of real interest in the application process.Personal statements and other college admissions essays are meant to communicate your admirable traits while at the same time describing your background, skills, and experiences that make you an ideal candidate. For this reason, I recommend you stick to using 1 of 2 styles when writing your college admissions essays: the narrative essay or the persuasive essay.In narrative writing, the main purpose is to tell a story - your story. In telling your story, you communicate to admissions officers details about your background, life, and experiences that aren’t otherwise obvious on your resume or transcript. A narrative is personal by nature, so it works well as a means to convey what makes you unique and offers a glimpse into how you see yourself and the world around you.Key Characteristics:Your story is told by you through first person/ your own point of viewYour essay uses elaborate detail that uses the five senses to convey feelingsYour personal statement has characters and/or dialogueYour essay has definite and logical beginnings, intervals, and endingsYour essay uses situations like actions, motivational events, and disputes or conflicts which are eventually resolvedYour essay has a conclusion that relates back to your academic or personal goals, interests, or motivationsIn using a persuasive writing style for your college admissions essay your main purpose should be to convince the reader of why you’re the best-qualified candidate for admission. To convince others to agree with your point of view, persuasive writing contains justifications and reasons like a description of your skills, previous jobs, relevant certifications, and applicable honors. This type of writing is typically used for cover letters and letters of application and thus are also a good fit for graduate school statements of purpose which should follow a similar format.Key Characteristics:Your statements are equipped with reasons, arguments, and justifications for why you should be admittedYour essay attracts attention, stimulates interest, and maintains the focus of the admissions readerYou ask the reader (admissions team member) to agree with your reasoningYou ask the reader to do something (admit me!)There are many different styles of writing to choose from when writing college admissions essays. A narrative style or persuasive style provides the most useful format for structuring your essay as they help to convey the information about you admissions officers want to know most. So, stick to one of these two styles and you’ll be set in writing a top admissions essay.Using the Narrative Essay StyleA personal narrative works great when writing a personal statement because it allows you to relay the authentically relay your thoughts, feelings, and experiences about a certain event. Since a personal statement serves as your opportunity to communicate your individuality and what inspires, the narrative should be a go-to format for your college admissions essays.In writing a personal narrative as the primary basis of your college admissions essay or personal statement, your goal should be to construct a coherent story from the facts of a situation or series of events. Ideally, this narrative consists of a beginning, middle, and end. In personal narratives, you are both the storyteller and the main character.The beginning of your narrative essay should draw the reader in with an exciting start which introduces the story you’re telling. There are numerous ways in which you can write this opening. For instance, you can:Write in chronological order, starting at the beginning of the situation or series of eventsStart in the middle of the action filling in gaps later using dialogue or recollectionsStart with a fact about your life, background, or community that will take on a larger meaning as you piece together the narrativeNext, you should give relevant details about the story or event. The middle of your story can detail a series of events or facts that occur in the narrative you’re telling. This is also the place where the characters in your story change or grow and you begin to resolve any the prevailing issue(s). Be careful not to lose your reader at this stage of your narrative by following these guidelines:Be descriptive by using sensory details to better convey feelings and help the reader visualize your storyShow, don’t tell as means of avoiding sounding preachy, moralistic, or coming off as pretentiousBuild to the climax of your story tying together the individual detailsLastly, you want to write the ending of your essay. Ideally, this coincides with the final part of your narrative which should:Reveal what lessons you learned in living through the experience you relatedDescribe how the events or situations changed you in a positive way or how your thinking has evolvedRelate a revelation about the situation or event that speaks more broadly about your beliefs and motivationsInclude a statement that looks ahead towards the future especially as they relate to your personal and academic goalsUsing the Persuasive Style for the Cover Letter Essay or Statement of PurposeThe statement of purpose, or what I like to call the cover letter essay because of its similar structure, is generally used for graduate school applications, takes on a persuasive style and focuses much more on describing the skills, experiences, and education that has prepared you for the program you’re applying to than a personal statement would. Its main purpose concentrates less on telling your story through a narrative and more on communicating the qualities that make you a perfect candidate. Ideally, the statement of purpose should convey your genuine interest in and enthusiasm for the program of study you’re pursuing, and what you have done in the past to nurture that passion as a way to persuade the admissions committee of your unique fitness to be admitted.Here are 4 steps for writing a statement of purpose or college admissions essay using a persuasive style:1. Start off your statement of purpose by describing your motivations for applying for and how it fits in with your academic and personal goals. Basically, you should be answering the question - what makes me want to learn more about this subject?2. Next, you should communicate the past subjects you’ve studied, previous jobs you’ve held, and relevant skills and certifications you’ve obtained that prepare you for the curriculum or program of study. This is the part where you really get to brag on yourself in discussing your relevant qualifications and unique skill set that ideally prepare you for success in the field you’ve chosen.3. Follow that up by communicating your interest in attending the particular university you’re applying to. It’s important to articulate why you’re choosing X school or Y program at every level of education. As an example, you might state your interest in working with Prof. Baker who is an expert in a rare 16th-century form of restoring ancient artifacts. Admissions officers and committee members want to know that you did your research and have a compelling and personal reason for wanting to attend their institution. In this section, be sure to also include statements about what you can bring to the university’s campus and how you will contribute to the prevailing culture of the college or grad program. Again, think, why should they pick me?4. Lastly, don’t forget to include in your statement what attributes and traits make you special because, yes, it matters to admissions committees what kind of person you are and student you will be. As an example, you could focus on describing the parts of your personality that demonstrate your ability to learn and think as well as your desire to collaborate and communicate effectively as a student-scholar. Colleges want to know that you possess the traits that will contribute to both your growth and the betterment of the department and university community. One of the important things to remember is that the best way to communicate your traits is to use an anecdote or experience from your past, that shows rather than just lists what makes you a top candidate.No matter what, remember to be authentic and your uniqueness will shine through in your statement of purpose. Follow these 4 steps and you’ll be on your way to writing a winning statement of purpose.Using Tone Effectively in Your Personal Statements and Other College Admissions EssaysTone is more than what you write, it’s how you write it, and the tone of your personal statement can significantly impact your college application. Your choice of words, level of formality, and the writing style you choose to use comprises your writing tone and can reveal a significant amount about how you view yourself, your academic/career path, and your community. It’s easy for an essay reader to forgive flaws in your writing style as multiple styles can work. It’s less easy to forgive a tone that is too harsh, moralistic, or pretentious.Writing a personal statement usually calls for a semi-formal, conversational tone in order to convey the right attitude to admissions readers. Think how I would tell my story to my YouTube audience vs. how would I tell it to my best friend. The difference is, with an audience, there’s still some separation between you and the people you’re talking to, whereas with your best friend you’re not really holding anything back. In personal statements, you should be vulnerable and introspective. With your best friend, you can be a sloppy crying mess.Too informal and generic: When I was in 9th grade, me and my friends used to get together to work on math homework after school.Better: As a freshman, my friends and I would often stay around after school ended, working on our math homework, and forming what we liked to call our “Math Club”.How to Use Tone in Your Personal Statement:Avoid an overly formal or ceremonious toneAvoid sarcasm or being highly condescendingDon’t make generalizationsDon’t “otherize” your peers or people from different backgrounds or culturesDon’t use slang, especially words that are regional or generationalAvoid pop culture references. Often times, what you think of as universal knowledge, really isn’t and the reader will have no idea what you’re referencingTone Can Be Established in a Number of Ways:How you talk about yourselfHow you talk about your peersHow you talk about your community and the world around youWhat you choose to reveal about yourselfWhat people you choose to include in your essaysOther Notes on Tone:Be specificIt’s better to discuss one interesting and relevant experience than to gloss over a bunch of mediocre events that don’t really add to anything to your narrative.Communicate confidence, without being arrogantIt’s important to demonstrate your confidence in your ability to be successful in adding to the campus culture and completing the curriculum. Don’t go overboard though in describing your qualifications. As an example, you can say you that “I was happy to be among the top students in my graduating class” instead of stating that you were “among the most accomplished and educated scholars within the graduating class at my undergrad institution.”Everything in moderationThe key is not to be too extreme in your commentary as you typically don’t know who will end up reading your college admissions essay. You shouldn’t take on the task of explaining the rationale for any extreme ideologies, good or bad, that it would be impossible to really explain the nuances of in 650 words or less.Overall, the tone you use in your personal statement should mirror the tone you would use when giving a briefing or presentation - be interesting and be aware of your audience. With this combination, you’ll do great when writing your personal statements and college admissions essays.The Diversity StatementToday, almost all college applications for school in the U.S. require applicants to submit a diversity statement, or short response essay related to diversity, with their application submission. In addition, providing a personal statement, the University of Washington, for instance, asks freshman applicants to respond to the prompt:“Our families and communities often define us and our individual worlds. Community might refer to your cultural group, extended family, religious group, neighborhood or school, sports team or club, co-workers, etc. Describe the world you come from and how you, as a product of it, might add to the diversity of the UW.”But why do colleges want you to submit a diversity statement in the first place you ask?Well UW states on their website, that the university “strives to create a community of students richly diverse in cultural backgrounds, experiences, values and viewpoints.” For this reason, admissions officers look to admit applicants who will embrace and enrich the multicultural and intentionally inclusive environment colleges strive to be. So, without a face to face interview, submitting a diversity statement is the most straightforward means to assess your openness and ability to foster a culture of diverse identities and viewpoints on campus.As an admissions professional, I sometimes get asked the question, “For someone who is white and middle class, how can I write about how I will bring diversity to a school?” Well, let me tell you. It’s possible to do and it’s possible to do it without treating the diversity statement as a throwaway part of your application. Don’t simply write about, for example, how you like to eat ethnic food or play soccer with people of color. These topics, for the most part, don’t show a genuine interest or commitment to diversity and equity.As a means of jump-starting your brainstorming process, here are 5 ways to write an effective diversity statement for your college admissions applications:1. Show what you know.Show that you have a deep understanding of the true costs of social inequity in the world. If you were born upper class with two well-educated parents, this might mean writing about how you recognize injustice in the world and that it's imperative to dismantle injustice and oppression. You can supplement this information by sharing your core values, especially those that relate to inclusion, diversity, and equity for all people.2. Provide examples.Provide examples of experiences that demonstrate your commitment to fostering the success of marginalized and oppressed people including people of color, women, LGBTQ folks, religious minorities, and other groups. Discuss any volunteer work, projects or research you’ve done on behalf of marginalized communities. Did you build an app that helps disabled people navigate city streets? Did you create a nonprofit that donates school supplies to kids who families who can’t afford to buy them?3. Relate your professional goals.Talk about how your professional goals will promote equity and diversity in your community and more largely, in the world. For instance, if you want to be a doctor, discuss the lack of access to adequate healthcare around the globe and how your goal is to work to eliminate socioeconomic and cultural barriers that prevent people from receiving care.4. Discuss your travels.Share your experiences traveling or living abroad and relate how the communities and cultures you saw and experienced differed from your own lifestyle or changed your previously-held beliefs. Just be sure not to “otherize” the places and people you discuss. Also, be sure to avoid clichés or describing your experiences as shocking in some way. You don’t want to come off as naive or judgmental to admissions officers. Try relating how your travel experiences informed your personal development and impacted your views on culture and diversity. If you grew up outside the United States, you might discuss what cultural aspects of living and going to school in the U.S. interest you.5. Share your story.If you have overcome personal adversity to get to where you are, you should discuss it in your diversity statement. Some examples of personal adversity include being bullied in school because or your sexual orientation, experiencing homelessness, or enduring racism in your community. If, on the other hand, you were raised with relatively little to no adversity, socioeconomic or otherwise, it’s important to acknowledge your privilege. It's possible to talk intelligently about diversity, even if you are a straight white male, by demonstrating that you have the awareness and desire to work to dismantle inequity, and encourage diversity as a means of promoting inclusion.Overall, keep your statement focused on communicating your beliefs about diversity, equity, and inclusion, and no matter who you are, you should be able to write an effective diversity statement.How to Effectively Revise Your College Admissions EssayThe revision process is one of the more critical steps in writing effective personal statements and essays. Still, you make ask WHY EXACTLY is revising my essay important? Three main reasons:To develop better contentTo correct formatting and grammatical errorsTo become a better writer over timeSo, how should you go about revising your essay. Here are some tips:1. Put it down for a whileIt’s important to have fresh eyes when you’re ready to start making revisions. Otherwise, you won’t notice errors or mistakes that need to be fixed.2. Read your essay out loudYour writing should sound both conversational and professional, especially when it’s meant to provide a glimpse into your personality.3. Check the topic of the paperDo you still agree with it? Do you stay on track throughout the essay? Did you answer the prompt as it was asked? Yes, should be the answer to each of these questions.4. Check for flow and logicYour essay, like those you wrote in high school English class, should have a beginning, middle, and end and flow logically as they reader moves through your essay.5. Add detailAnyone who doesn’t know you should be able to read your essay and understand your experiences.6. Check and fix grammatical errorsThis should be one of your final steps. Feel free to use services built into programs like Microsoft Word or Grammarly to save time.7. Verify that you’ve met all the official requirementsEnsure your paper is formatted properly (font, margins) and complies with the stated word limit.Good writers will use all of these methods to craft a good personal statement. To make the most of the revision process, it's important that you get an early start on your papers so that you have time to complete any large-scale revisions your paper might need.Ultimately, revising is an ongoing process that takes time and effort.——Whether you’re writing a personal statement for undergraduate admissions or grad school, the process can be perplexing if you don’t plan in advance and give yourself plenty of time to think about what you want to write. Remember, the personal statement is your opportunity to show who you are outside of what can be read on your transcript or resume, so think of it as your chance to show off what makes you unique.Make the most of our personal statement by demonstrating your creativity, passion, and personality. Don’t forget to be both vulnerable and introspective. And remember colleges want to admit a talented, holistic group of students, so remember to be yourself when writing your personal statement and what makes you a perfect fit for the college will shine through.