Tips on writing your application essay

Agricultural education

Gather information:

Research and read about the program.
Meet with a program adviser to gather more information (i.e., ask adviser if there is a current student you can talk with).
Visit the Exploratory, Transition, and Career Services center in 127 Appleby Hall to help you edit your essay or to learn more about the program.

Write two to three paragraphs describing your reason for choosing an education-related career and your long-term and short-term professional goals:

Introduce yourself and the purpose of the essay.
- State your name, the college, and major/program to which you are applying.
What are your career/academic interests and how does this relate to your reasons for choosing an education-related career in general, and specifically agricultural education?
Highlight your past and current experiences related to this major and talk about what you hope to accomplish as short-term (two to three years) and long-term (three to four years and more) professional goals.
- Example of short-term goal: I hope to be enrolled in the agricultural education program and learn about ____ (insert) ____. I hope to earn my bachelor's degree in agricultural education and secure a position as or with _____ (insert) _____.
- Example of long-term goal: After earning my bachelor's degree in agricultural education, I plan to secure a position as or with ____ (insert) ____ for a few years. I hope to, in the further future, pursue a master's degree so that I may ____ (insert) _____.
How will the agricultural education program in CEHD help you to achieve your goals?
- Write a summary statement such as: “As highlighted above, I believe that the agricultural education program in the College of Education and Human Development will help me to achieve my goals because ____(insert your thoughts)_____.”

December 2006