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Prewriting
　　The Prewriting section contains information and tips on getting started with writing your application essay as well as general information about the application essay.
　　For students who have just started considering studying abroad or who do not really know the point of writing application essays, let Bob give you a brief introduction:

Introduction to Essay Writing and the Application Process
　　The admissions procedure for graduate schools in the United States is somewhat different than that for graduate schools in Taiwan. When you apply to an American graduate school, not only are you required to send the school your transcript and test scores, you are also required to submit one or more written essays. Different schools and programs require different essays. No matter what the essay requirement is though, the essay is always an important part of the application.
　　The application essay is your chance to introduce yourself to the graduate schools to which you are applying. Your essays should present information that you think is both important to express and is not sufficiently detailed elsewhere in your application. Therefore, writing an essay is not only a test of your English ability but also a test of your judgment.
　　The essay reveals your ability to survive and succeed in graduate school. While test scores and grades demonstrate your ability to comprehend a subject, essays help demonstrate how clearly you have thought out your academic and career goals as how serious you are about pursuing them.
　　Graduate school admissions committees look carefully at BOTH quantitative criteria (test scores and grades) and qualitative criteria (essays and recommendations) in deciding if whether or not to admit an applicant. For many business schools, essays are even more important than either grades or test scores.
　　Regardless of how important the schools you apply to treat the application essay, by the time you do apply your grades and work experiences will already be fixed. It will be too late to improve these qualifications. The essay will be the only part of the application that you still have control over, and a well-written essay will greatly improve your chances of getting into graduate school.

The Different Types of Application Essays
　　There are two basic types of graduate school application essays, personal statements and response essays.
　　A personal statement is an essay in which an applicant has a lot of freedom in choosing the topic. Application to doctoral programs often require personal statements on the applicant's field of interest and intended plan of study. This type of personal statement is sometimes referred to as a "study plan." Some master's programs have similar essay requirements. Some schools, such as many law schools, allow the applicant complete freedom in choosing the essay topic. Personal statements are generally one to three pages in length. Schools that require applicants to write personal statements often have no additional essay requirements.
　　A response essay is an essay that answers a question on a very specific topic or issue. They are often required for business school applications and other specialized master's programs. Response essays are generally limited to one page or less. Graduate schools that require applicants to write response essays generally require more than one response essay, sometimes up to eight or nine.