How to Write a Doctoral Admissions Essay
Writing your doctoral admissions essay may feel like a daunting task. Here are the basic elements required, followed by some doctoral admissions essay tips.
Whether you are applying for study in Touro University Worldwide’s Business Management, Human and Organizational Psychology, Physician Assistant, or Business Administration program, there are three basic components required for an acceptable doctoral admission essay:
- Biography
- Career plan
- Goals for pursuing a doctorate at Touro University Worldwide
With this basic essay structure in mind, let’s take a deeper dive into each element and how to craft and submit your essay.
Writing a Great Doctoral Admissions Essay
Each of the previously mentioned elements builds on the other to create a solid foundation for defining who you are, your experience and interests, and how you will use the doctoral program to advance your career and research goals.
Taken in a thoughtful, step-by-step approach, the essay you write will help clarify your own intellectual and career ambitions as well as demonstrate to Touro University Worldwide why you are a good candidate for the doctoral program.
Biographical component:
This section should include prior learning, both formal and informal. Describe the type of learning experiences you’ve had and the outcomes of your study. Include relevant work experience and any previous scholarly research.
Your personal story should highlight your talents, passion, motivation, and general career goals. How does doctoral study dovetail with your personal narrative?
Career plan component:
This section is used to describe your career plan in detail. Explain how pursuing the doctoral program integrates with your background and experience. How will these combined elements further your career goals?
Doctoral program goals:
Start with why you are pursuing doctoral study. Discuss the reasons you’ve selected Touro University Worldwide’s doctoral program as opposed to any other such programs. Make sure to demonstrate your understanding of the requirements for doctoral study at Touro University Worldwide.
Additionally, describe what goals you anticipate achieving through completion of the doctoral program. Discuss your intellectual curiosity and interest in research. Talk about your particular strengths, experiential and intellectual insights, as well as skills you want to develop further. List potential ideas for your dissertation or research project.
Finally, show how all this makes you uniquely suited for study at Touro University Worldwide.
Doctoral Admissions Essay Tips
Expect to write at least three drafts of your essay: (1) rough draft, proofread, and edit; (2) revised draft, proofread and edit; and (3) final draft, proofread and submit. Even the best writers are their own worst editors. After carefully reading your essay, try to have someone else read it before submitting the final draft.
Your doctoral admissions essay should be a balance of information and compelling biographical narrative. The essay is a reflection of who you are and how you think, so make sure to be organized, writing with clarity and concision.
Finally, when submitting your essay, include a cover letter, title the essay “Doctoral Admission Essay,” provide the date of submission, and address the packaged documents to Touro University Worldwide.
Applying for doctoral study is an exciting step in your career and intellectual life. Adhering to the guidelines and tips outlined here will ensure a rewarding experience as you embark on this worthwhile journey.
