2018-2019 U of T Brief Personal Essays

[sandorclegane]

Hey guys,

Just wanted to share that the Brief Personal Essays are out for this application cycle. There is a limit of 250 words for each question. These are the questions:

1) Write a letter to an editor of a newspaper to express your support of Canada’s role in promoting women’s reproductive health in developing countries.

2) Discuss the role of listening in cross-cultural communication to better understand the perspectives of people of different backgrounds.

3) How have you used your resilience and coping mechanisms to make the most informed and rational decisions when faced with difficult circumstances?

4) What type of feedback do you prefer to enhance your learning in and outside of academic environments? Why?

Good luck!

From,

A Fellow 2T1er

[habromania]

thanks! also...woof ;(

[insomnias]

8 hours ago, sandorclegane said:

1) Write a letter to an editor of a newspaper to express your support of Canada’s role in promoting women’s reproductive health in developing countries.

I do support the promotion of reproductive health, both in Canada and around the world, but... what would one's answer to this question tell the admissions committee? The fact that we paid attention in Grade 12 English class and know how to write a letter to the editor?

[ysr]

Should be 2017-2018 no?

[gangliocytoma]

1 hour ago, insomnias said:

I do support the promotion of reproductive health, both in Canada and around the world, but... what would one's answer to this question tell the admissions committee? The fact that we paid attention in Grade 12 English class and know how to write a letter to the editor?

No, but rather the fact that you understand why it's an issue..

[robclem21]

9 hours ago, insomnias said:

I do support the promotion of reproductive health, both in Canada and around the world, but... what would one's answer to this question tell the admissions committee? The fact that we paid attention in Grade 12 English class and know how to write a letter to the editor?

It will tell those reading your response whether you:

  a) understand the issue

  b ) can provide good support for and against your argument (of which there are several points here),

  c) have any experience doing this before, and  

  d) whether you can do both of those things clearly, concisely, and convincingly in 250 words or less.

Don't be fooled and misinterpret the point of these questions. Obviously UofT isn't out to check whether you can write a letter to an editor or not. Missing the point of the question is the most common mistake I've seen when people try to answer these.

[masterofnone]

On 7/14/2017 at 8:12 AM, robclem21 said:

It will tell those reading your response whether you:

  a) understand the issue

  b ) can provide good support for and against your argument (of which there are several points here),

  c) have any experience doing this before, and  

  d) whether you can do both of those things clearly, concisely, and convincingly in 250 words or less.

Don't be fooled and misinterpret the point of these questions. Obviously UofT isn't out to check whether you can write a letter to an editor or not. Missing the point of the question is the most common mistake I've seen when people try to answer these.

do you think discussing the other side of the argument is critical? its tough to fit into a 250 word limit if you are also interested in touching on other angles of the same side.. :/

[robclem21]

On 9/17/2017 at 3:55 PM, masterofnone said:

do you think discussing the other side of the argument is critical? its tough to fit into a 250 word limit if you are also interested in touching on other angles of the same side.. :/

This is where you need to use your best judgment.  There is no right or wrong answer and no single way to approach these essays.