Brief introduction
Eligibility
Criteria for selection
Application form
Participating Universities
Timeline
Tips for Writing an Admissions Essay
Related Websites and Useful resources
List of UEP Scholarship Recipients

TIPS FOR WRITING AN ADMISSIONS ESSAY

Before writing your essay:
1. Set a timetable for yourself.
2. Identify your purpose.
3. Focus on what makes you different.
4. Make a list of your activities, jobs and experiences.
5. List your strengths and weaknesses.
6. To think of ideas, write without stopping for 30 minutes.
7. Think about how you will structure your essay.
8. Outline your essay informally.

When you write your essay:
1. Show - don't tell; use examples instead of stating things explicitly.
2. Write in the active voice.
3. Sound like yourself; use words you use normally.
4. Be clear, concise and direct.
5. Be careful not to repeat an idea too many times.
6. Each word should be meaningful.
7. Link your paragraphs with transitions.
8. Don't have too many different ideas in your essay.

Writing a winning personal statement requires more than the mere ability to write clearly and concisely. These are basic threshold skills, which are required for any type of writing. An effective personal statement, however, requires the applicant to ably communicate his/her unique characteristics and experiences in a way that will distinguish himself/herself from the rest of the applicant pool. This is a very demanding, often onerous, task because it compels the applicant to a) analyze his/her personality and personal history, b) prioritize and organize personal traits, experiences and accomplishments tailored to the structure of school admission criteria/requirements, c) fit all this prioritized information into a narrative structure, and d) craft an organized essay into a convincing composition. All of this must be done under the added constraint of being bound by how narrow or specific the particular personal statement question is framed.

Above all, the successful applicant must focus on substantive strategies and concerns in order to stand apart from others who have approximately the same grades, comparable accomplishments, awards and/or life experiences. While the rest of the candidate pool may be able to write clearly and competently, the smart candidate writes with the intent to beat the competition by differentiating him/herself from others. This is where creative, innovative, and engaging writing comes into play.