Tips on writing your application essay and résumé

Family social science

Gather information:

Research and read about the program.
Attend an info session to gather more information. If you can't make it to a session, contact Arien Telles, transfer admissions coordinator.
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.

A double-spaced, one to two page typewritten statement addressing the following four questions:

Why did you choose the FSoS major? What academic preparation and what experiences have influenced your decision?

Talk about your past and current interests, experiences, and/or training that have influenced you to choose the FSoS major. Make sure to talk about how the academic classes you have taken or any experiential learning (i.e., volunteer, internship) have influenced your decision to pursue this major.

What are some pressing social issues (both local and global) that you find compelling and want to study more about?

Talk about social issues within your community, nationally and/or globally, that you feel are important (i.e., lack of certain services for families). These social concerns and interests are usually what lead students to want to pursue a FSoS major. Share why you are interested in these social concerns and relate it to why you would want to study more about them.

What is your experience with and understanding of diversity - including diversity of people, cultures, and ideas - that you bring to your academic study?

Talk about what diversity means to you. Within this discussion, highlight your personal and working experiences with diverse populations and how this might contribute to or enhance your academic study.

What are your personal and professional goals? How will the FSoS major prepare you for these goals? How will you contribute to assisting individuals and communities in your professional future?

This is where you combine all your above thoughts! Remind the reader why you chose the FSoS major (this was in statement #1). Remind the reader of the social issues that you want to study and how it relates to your personal and professional goals. For example, the goal of "wanting to learn more about a social issue" might be so that you can contribute to making the issue better, or the practical/application side (i.e., advocacy work or working with families in certain capacities such as counseling, support programs, etc.). Explain how you plan to reach your goals and how the FSoS major can help prepare you to reach these goals (i.e., specific skills, knowledge, etc.).

Specific instructions by the FSoS program on what to include in your résumé: a résumé highlighting knowledge and experience relevant to the field.

January 2007