There are tons of articles on the Internet about how to write a motivation essay. However, most of them provide too general tips like “take your time”, “follow the university requirements”, “ask professional writers for help with editing” etc. Of course, they are very important and helpful. We’d say it’s essential to take a moment and google “edit my essay for me” to find someone who will make sure some tiny mistakes you haven’t noticed won’t bring your whole writing down. However, some of the applicants still can’t understand what exactly they should write about to make their motivation essay outstanding. It depends on the major you choose.
So, in this article, we covered a few majors from different fields to help you understand what can make you look like the right candidate for a particular program.
Arts
Art and design. Name an artist or designer you admire and reflect on exhibitions or galleries you have recently visited that have influenced your work. Of course, members of the admissions committee need to understand your perspective on modern art, but it is much more important to see the uniqueness of your hands-on experience. Remember that a motivation letter is a kind of supplement to your portfolio: you can refer to specific pieces of work you’ve submitted, and projects you’ve done, and talk about what went into them.
Photography. Talk about how you interact with the visual arts, and what forms your professional interest (photographers, exhibitions, magazines, and even websites), but don’t limit yourself to the field of photography – perhaps artists or writers inspire you as well. Don’t forget to refer to your work: the admissions committee values those applicants who can tell what’s behind the objects in the picture, what ways the author used to convey his idea, and how they went out of their comfort zone. However, be careful to specify a narrow specialization (e.g., fashion photography) if you apply for a course with a universal curriculum – it can reduce the chances of admission.
Performing arts. It would seem that motivation letters for such creative specialties, which in general can be called performing arts, should demonstrate the greatest degree of creativity. However, it is here that most of the clichés occur, which no one is surprised to hear: “I am a born dancer,” ” on the stage I become a different person,” “music is my life,” “music is a universal language,” and so on. When talking about your practical experience, it’s worth remembering that your desires and abilities to perform and to play are good, but not enough for the university level. You need to understand the professional development of the degree you want to pursue. The admissions committee expects applicants to have analytical skills, the ability to think critically, and to interpret dance, theater, and musical works.
Dance. As the experts point out, the student’s experience not only in dance, but in anything that has to do with movement, be it sports, martial arts, or even circus, may be important here. The main thing is to show how it led to the chosen course. Recall what dance groups you participated in as a performer or organizer, and what lessons you learned.
Theater (Drama). Write your essay with an awareness of what program you are applying for, especially the intended balance of theory and practice. Think about the areas of interest: directing, acting, designing, editing, or performing arts.
Music. Music is the basis for a range of fields, from creating techniques to performing on stage, from writing lyrics for songs to writing journalistic reviews, from pop music to opera. Be prepared to justify your passion for a particular area, not music in general.
Architecture and building
Architecture. Considering that architecture is a creative field, many admissions committees insist that applicants creatively present themselves and their motivations. For others, it’s important to hear what specific buildings you like. But avoid a dry listing of touristy places – look for reasons. Identify the architects whose work you are interested in, their distinctive features, and your opinion of them.
Construction, Civil Engineering (Building). Remember that each program is unique: if you are applying to Architectural Technology, do not say that you want to be an architect, because that would mean that you do not know the difference and see this program as a backup.
Planning. Explore the social, economic, and political aspects of urban design and its relationship to design and environmental factors. Find out what problems professional planners deal with and what ethical and practical challenges the profession may have to face for you.
To summarize
Writing a winning motivation essay takes time. You can not write it in one shot the night before the deadline. These tips will help you to understand what you should write about but you also need some time to think about how you can apply them to your situation. Sometimes, you will even need to start over again. Sometimes, not even once. So, you should stay patient. If you are running out of time you can always use the hand of CertifiedWriters to do the editing of your grammar, spelling, and clarity. Write from your heart, follow the advice and you will get accepted to the college of your dreams for sure!
