Sometimes, incorporating a famous quote (or perhaps a lesser-known quote by a well-known person) into one of your application essays can add a little something special to the story you are trying to tell. If the quotation truly enhances your message in a significant way, it can serve as an effective tool, making your submission that much more compelling. Consider the following examples:<\/p>\n
Example 1:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they do it.\u201d
\n<\/i>\u2013 Theodore Roosevelt<\/p>\n
Roosevelt\u2019s words are as true today as when he spoke them. The essence of a manager is\u2026<\/i><\/p>\n
Example 2:<\/p>\n
As Peter F. Drucker said, \u201cManagement is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.\u201d I have found the distinction between management and leadership especially important\u2026<\/i><\/p>\n
However, some candidates may be tempted to use a quotation as a kind of crutch, essentially relying on someone else\u2019s clever or poignant wordsmanship to take the place of their own. Think of this option as a way of enriching an already interesting narrative, rather than as an easy shortcut to a more impressive essay.<\/p>\n
Before using a quotation in your writing, ask yourself these three questions:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Does the quotation fit the essay\u2019s main theme?
\n\u2022 Does the quotation reflect who you are or what you believe?
\n\u2022 Does the quotation truly enhance the essay?<\/p>\n
If you can answer \u201cyes\u201d to all three questions, making the quotation a part of your essay might be a good idea. But first make sure that your story is sufficiently strong to stand on its own, even without the quote, and limit yourself to just one quotation per application<\/i> (not per essay).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"