Types of Admission Essays - UG, MBA, Scholarship & Gap-year Essays
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Types of Admission Essays - UG, MBA, Scholarship & Gap-year Essays

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Aishwarya
Aishwarya Bhatnagar
Study Abroad Expert
Updated on Sep 28, 2024 13:00 IST

Once you start your application process, you will come across several documents that you will need to submit along with your transcripts, financial documents, visa papers and application form. One of them is the Admission Essay. These essays are fairly easy to draft as the university has already provided you with certain requirements, and guidelines you just need to write accordingly. Check out the article and understand everything about the types of admission essays. 

Types of Admission Essays

The Admission Essay is one of the most important documents of the application that the applicant needs to submit for various undergraduate (UG) and graduate programs. The universities have specific prompts, with guidelines and word limits, for the admission essays. The university will either ask for a statement of purpose (SOP) or admission essays. There are different types of admission essays aimed at gauging the different personality traits and strengths of the candidate.

Essays Specific to Program/Course 

The program/course that you apply to will decide the type of admission essay you need to answer. Based on the type of course/program, the admission essays can be divided into two types: UG essay prompts and MBA admission essays. Each of them has different requirements and follows a specific guideline. Check out - Shiksha Guidelines for Admission Essays

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Undergraduate Essay Prompts 

  • Your academic interest 
  • Why this course/college/university 
  • Tell us about yourself 
  • Important current issue/s and how you would solve it/or views on them 
  • Activity essay 
  • Your post-program goals 
  • Amaze us with your cleverness and creativity 
  • Important risk or event in your life

MBA Admission Essay: 

Another type of admission essay is the MBA essay, which focus on the leadership abilities, professional experience, career progression, learning, and future goals of the applicant. Some MBA essay prompts are: 








  • Cultural Shock Essay 
  • Achievements Essay 
  • Travel Experience Essay 
  • Failure Essay 
  • Diversity Essay 
  • Why this Business School/ University 
  • Ethical Dilemma Essay 
  • Situation Essay

The Nature of Admission Essays 

Another crucial factor is the nature of the essay prompt as it decides the response to the essay. The applicant’s answer should be based on the way the topic is presented. In case the essay prompt is a question, the applicant must take a stance. Thus, the answer should have supportive observations and facts. These types of admission essays are: 







  • Argumentative: For these types of admission essays, the applicant must present his viewpoint on the statement or topic, thereby proving the same with facts and evidence that are convincing. 
  • Autobiographical: These autobiographical essays are written in the first person, where the applicant presents a brief description of his/her life. This entails highlighting the academic, personal, professional, and social experiences of the applicant’s life. 
  • Descriptive: In this, the applicant is required to describe a topic in detail. It can be based on the travel experience, cultural diversity, or any incident. 
  • Narrative: The applicant may write a narrative essay, to showcase a course of events, anecdotally. You may narrate various events that depict your varied experiences and lessons learnt from the same. 
  • Persuasive: In the case of persuasive essays, a literary work, news clipping, or a particular extract from an article can be given for you to state your opinion on it. The answer should be persuasive enough to convince the readers of your perspective. 

Other Types of Admission Essays 

In addition to the types of and samples of admission essays discussed above, there are other admission-related essays that you may be required to provide with your application. Now, these types of admission essays are conditional and you should draft them only if the university has asked for the same. These essays are: 

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  1. Scholarship Essays: Some universities offer various forms of scholarships. In case the applicant is eligible for any of them, he would be asked to write a scholarship essay based on the requirements of the university. However, this is not mandatory for all universities. The essay can be your chance to convince the admissions committee (Ad Com) why you deserve the scholarship over other applicants having the same qualification/ eligibility. 
  2. Gap-year Essays: The gap-year essays are mostly required by universities for undergraduate candidates, who have one or two academic gap years after completion of their schooling. For such essays, the applicant must explain his/her reason for the break, and also discuss how he/she utilized that time, and what activities or courses they took up during that time.

Also, read:

Types of Admission Essays: FAQs

Q. What are the types of admission essays required for an applicant?

A. The types of admission essays depend on a number of factors. There are undergraduate and MBA essays that cover various aspects of the applicant’s personality and different topics. Furthermore, there are some other categories as well like scholarship essays and gap-year essays, for specific conditions.

Q. What topics can I expect in a UG essay?

A. The various topics for UG essays are:  

  • Your academic interest 
  • Why this course/college/university 
  • Tell us about yourself 
  • Important current issue/s and how you would solve it/or views on them 
  • Activity essay 
  • Your post-program goals 
  • Amaze us with your cleverness and creativity 
  • Important risk or event in your life 

Q. Is there any way that I may explain my gap years in the admission essay?

A. Yes, there are gap-year admission essays where you may explain any break in your academic or professional life. In such types of admission essays, you may discuss the reason for the break, how you utilized that time to learn something, or the activities or courses you undertook during the gap years.

Q. What are the different topics of MBA essays?

A. MBA prompts may require you to write essays on topics such as diversity, ethical dilemma, career goals, achievement, failure, why this university, and cultural shock, among others. The Ad Com will gauge different aspects of the applicant’s personality and perspectives to see if he/she will be a good fit for the program/ university, and vice versa.

Q:   How can I get admission in the University of Manchester?

A:

The application process at the University of Manchester may vary depending on the course and level of study. However, here is the application process for UG and PG courses: 

The Undergraduate Application Process:  

Step 1:  You can apply through the UCAS common application portal.

Step 2: Go to the website and select the course you are interested in.

Step 3: Ensure you meet the Entry requirements (Academic qualifications, English proficiency, etc.

Step 4: Once you decide on the course, submit documents such as SOP, Transcripts and personal statements. 

Check out:  tips to improve your SOP

Step 5: You can track the application's progress through your given credentials by UCAS. 

Step 6: Once the applicant submits the application to UCAS, it forwards to the University, and the admission teams carefully analyse the application document.

Step 7: The university will send you an offer letter once selected. Hence keep checking your UCAS portal for your application status.

The Postgraduate application process: 

Step 1: Select the postgraduate course you are interested in from the University of Manchester.\

Step 2: Ensure you meet the entry requirements for the chosen program, as they vary depending on the course.

Step 3: Complete the online application by providing your personal information.

Step 4: Upload the required documents, such as Academic transcripts and proof of English language proficiency ( TOEFL/ IELTS). experience in your fields and references (depending on the course). You also may require Two LORs depending on the course. 

To make your admission better, check out the following: How Admission Officers Evaluate your application. 

Step 5:  If your application is successful, you will receive an offer from the University of Manchester. 

Q:   Is university of West of Scotland good for international students?

A:

The University of the West of Scotland has five modern and diverse campuses in United Kingdom. The University has welcomed more than 3,000 international students which are representing 1/3 of the globe. They also have 130 European partners who are actively in global study and exchange options through the Commonwealth universities programmes. The University also offers study abroad opportunities for UWS who are eligible for the same and also have more than 20 transnational education partners worldwide which helps them deliver UWS Bachelors and Masters Degrees around the world.

Q:   What is University of Wales, Trinity Saint famous for?

A:

University of Wales, Trinity Saint (UWTSD) was founded in 2010, is a public institution for higher education and research at multiple locations. It was set up under the 1828 royal charter of Lampeter, the institution was the result of the merger between Trinity University College and the University of Wales. The institution merged with the Swansea Metropolitan University in 2013.

  • Top Ranked University: The UWTSD is not ranked by any major ranking body, however as per the university ranking given on the official website of the university, it is ranked among:
  1. #1st in Wales and UK Top 5 Film Production and Photography
  2. #1st in Wales and UK Top 5 Fashion and Textiles
  3. #1st in Wales and UK Top 20 Graphic Design
  4. #1st in Wales and UK Top 5 Education
  5. #1st in Wales and UK Top 20 Sports Science
  6. #1st in Wales and UK Top 20 Mechanical Engineering
  7. #1st in Wales for Fine Arts
  • Variety of Courses: UWTSD offers more than 300 programs at various levels including undergraduate, postgraduate degrees as well as multiple online courses.
  • Highly distinguished and learned faculties: the faculty at UWTSD    is highly learned and distinguished which enables students to be the best in their field of study.
  • High Placements: According to Graduate Outcome data 2019-2020 quoted by the UWTSD, more than 95% of its graduates were found to be employed within 15 Months of graduation. The average salary of a graduate is not explicitly released by UWTSD, however, as per some unofficial sources the average salary of the graduates of UWTSD is approximately INR 30-35L. with the highest salary being reported as high as INR 66.5L for jobs in Financial Services.

Q:   What is Hult International Business School - UK famous for?

A:

Hult International Business School, UK, is famous for its global perspective and multicultural environment. The school is known for its focus on practical education, offering undergraduate, postgraduate, and executive education programs across multiple campuses located in prominent cities around the world, including Boston, San Francisco, London, Dubai, Shanghai, and New York. It is also recognised for its diverse student body, with over 128 nationalities represented among its students. The school has received positive reviews for its competent faculty, practical approach to business education, and the opportunity for students to interact with a wide network of contacts

Q:   What rank is Wolverhampton University in UK?

A:

The University of Wolverhampton is one of the best universities in the United Kingdom. The university is consistently ranked among the best universities nationally and globally. For nearly 200 years, the University of Wolverhampton has been consistently providing a quality of education to students and producing highly skilled graduates. The national rankings of the University of Wolverhampton are given below:

Ranking Body Ranking
The Guardian University Guide 2024 #101
The Complete University Guide 2024#117

Q:   Does the University of Essex require IELTS?

A:

International students whose native language is not English must meet the University of Essex English language requirements to get admission. The university accepts IELTS scores as proof of English language proficiency. Mentioned below are the IELTS scores required for UG and PG admission at the university:

English Language Test

 Score

IELTS

Overall score of 5.5 to 8.0 with minimum of 5.5 to 7.5 in each section

The university also accepts the score of other English language tests such as TOEFL and PTE for admission to undergraduate and graduate programs:

English Language Test

 Score

TOEFL iBT

Overall score of 72 to 114

PTE

Overall score of 59 to 84 with minimum of 59 to 80 in each section

Also read: Required IELTS Score for UK Universities

Q:   Why indian students choose to study at Hult International Business School - UK?

A:

Indian students choose to study at Hult International Business School in the UK for several reasons, including its highly ranked programs, global outlook, and career support. Hult offers a range of full-time master’s degrees, immersive bachelor's programs, and MBA options that prepare students to excel in the global job market. The school is the largest and top-ranked global business school, providing students with an incomparable universal outlook. Additionally, Hult's focus on experiential learning, extensive career support, and the opportunity to study at multiple campuses around the world are attractive to Indian students seeking a global business education. Furthermore, the school's emphasis on innovation and meeting the needs of students and employers may also contribute to its appeal to Indian students

Q:   How to prepare for UK 10th board exam 2025?

A:

Those who are preparing for the UK Class 10 exam 2025 are recommended to follow the tips below.

  • Know the exam pattern
  • Make a proper time table as per the syllabus
  • Solve previous year question papers
  • Make short notes of important formulas and theorems
  • Revise regularly
  • Figure out weaker areas and learn them well

With proper planning and hard work, students can easily clear the UK 10th board exam.

About the Author
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Written by
Aishwarya Bhatnagar
Study Abroad Expert

Aishwarya is a professional Writer currently working as a Study Abroad Expert in the Editorial Team at Shiksha. She has over 5 years of experience and is skilled at creating Online Content with leveraged knowledge i... Read Full Bio

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