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Victors in Grad School

Victors in Grad School

By: Dr. Christopher Lewis
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 Victors in Grad School explores what you can do to find success in your own graduate school journey no matter what you plan to do. Through experts and individual interviews you will be introduced to what it means to find success and tips on achieving success in graduate school.2024
Episodes
  • How to Share Obstacles You've Overcome in Your Personal Statement (Without Sounding Clichéd)

    How to Share Obstacles You've Overcome in Your Personal Statement (Without Sounding Clichéd)
    Apr 20 2026
    There's a question I hear often from graduate applicants—and it usually comes with a long pause and a little uncertainty: "Should I talk about the obstacles I've overcome in my personal statement?" And then the follow-up question: "What if it sounds… cliché?" If you're asking that, I want you to know: you're already thinking like a strong writer. Because the truth is, many applicants do write about challenges in ways that feel generic or overly dramatic. And that can make an essay blur into the background—especially when admissions reviewers are reading dozens (or hundreds) of statements. But here's the good news: You can absolutely write about obstacles you've overcome in a way that feels authentic, powerful, and professional. In fact, when done well, it often becomes the most compelling part of the essay—not because it's dramatic, but because it shows the real qualities graduate programs value: resilienceself-awarenessmaturityproblem-solvinggrowth So today, I'll show you how to present challenges you've faced without sounding cliché, without oversharing, and without turning your personal statement into a "sad story." Instead, you'll learn how to turn obstacles into narrative strength—while still clearly showing you're ready for graduate school. First: Yes, you can talk about obstacles (and sometimes you should) Let's begin by addressing the concern directly: You are allowed to talk about obstacles in a graduate school personal statement. Graduate programs understand that people don't arrive at graduate school with perfectly smooth paths. In fact, sometimes a challenge is what shapes a person into the kind of student and professional who thrives in graduate-level work. But there is one key principle to keep in mind: Your obstacle should not be the centerpiece. Your growth should be. This is where many essays go off track. Why some "obstacle essays" feel clichéd Let's talk honestly about what makes a challenge story land poorly. Obstacle stories often become clichés when they: rely on generic phrasesfocus too much on pain without reflectionjump to a "happy ending" without showing the processmake the reader do the work of connecting the dotssound like an inspirational movie trailer instead of a real person You've probably seen phrases like: "I learned that everything happens for a reason.""This challenge made me stronger than ever.""I never gave up on my dreams.""Through hard work and determination, I overcame…" None of these are inherently wrong—they're just vague. They don't show anything specific about you. Graduate programs don't need a motivational quote. They need clarity. They want to understand: what happenedwhat you didwhat you learnedhow it changed youhow it prepared you for graduate study The most important shift: Move from drama to meaning If you want to avoid clichés, here is the simplest and most powerful advice I can give: Don't write your obstacle story like a headline. Write it like a reflection. Instead of making the reader think: "Wow, that sounds hard." You want the reader to think: "This person learned something important, responded with maturity, and is ready for the next level." The heart of your obstacle story isn't the obstacle. It's the decisions you made and the growth you gained. What graduate programs want to see in an obstacle story When admissions reviewers read about a challenge, they're usually looking for signs of: coping and resilienceresponsibility and ownershipproblem-solvingability to seek helpself-awareness and reflectionforward movementreadiness, not fragility This is important: The goal is not to convince them you've suffered. The goal is to show them you can succeed, even when life is difficult. The best structure to use: Situation, Action, Growth, Connection This framework is the simplest way to write about obstacles without sounding cliché. I call it: SituationActionGrowthConnection Here's what that looks like. Situation Briefly describe what happened, with just enough context to understand the challenge. Keep this section short. You are not writing a memoir. Action What did you do in response? This is the most overlooked part of obstacle essays. Your response is what shows maturity. Growth What did you learn? Not a generic lesson—something specific that shows insight. Connection How does this connect to your goals and graduate readiness? This brings it back to admissions. What to include (and what to leave out) Let's make this practical. Include brief, relevant contextyour response and choiceshow you adaptedskills you developedhow it influenced your directiongrowth you can name clearlyforward-facing mindset Leave out or minimize overly detailed personal informationblame toward otherslong emotional descriptionsmedical or mental health specifics, unless necessary and handled carefullyunresolved hardship presented as ongoing crisisanything that makes the program ...
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    11 mins
  • Can Your Letters of Recommendation Come From Outside of Academia?

    Can Your Letters of Recommendation Come From Outside of Academia?
    Apr 13 2026
    If you're applying to graduate school, you've probably reached the part of the application that feels surprisingly stressful: Letters of recommendation. Not because you don't know anyone—most applicants do. But because the requirements often sound like they were written for one very specific kind of student: someone who graduated recentlysomeone who still has professors who remember themsomeone currently working in an academic environmentsomeone who has research experience and faculty mentors And if your path looks different than that—if you've been working full-time, changed careers, raised a family, served in the military, or simply graduated a while ago—you might be wondering: "Can my letters of recommendation come from outside of academia?" In other words: Can my supervisor write one?What about a colleague?A nonprofit director I volunteered with?A clinical supervisor?A mentor in my profession? If you've asked these questions, you're thinking smartly—and you're not alone. So today, I'm going to answer this clearly and thoroughly, from the perspective of someone who works in graduate admissions and supports applicants every day. By the end, you'll know: when non-academic letters are acceptable (and even preferred)who makes the strongest recommender outside academiawhen you should prioritize academic referenceshow to choose recommenders strategicallyand how to request letters that actually help your application Let's jump in. The short answer: Yes—often they can In many cases, yes. Graduate programs understand that applicants come from diverse paths, and many strong graduate students are: professionals returning to schoolcareer changersadult learnersmilitary-connected studentsfirst-generation studentsparents or caregiversapplicants who have been away from academia for several years And those applicants may not have recent professors who can write meaningful, detailed letters. Here's the important detail, though: The best recommendation letters are not about where the recommender works. They are about what the recommender can say about you. A strong letter—academic or professional—does the same job: it shows evidence of your readinessit highlights strengths that match graduate-level expectationsit provides examples of how you work, learn, and contribute Why graduate programs ask for recommendation letters It helps to understand what these letters are supposed to accomplish. Graduate programs use letters of recommendation to answer questions like: Can this applicant succeed in graduate-level work?Are they dependable and responsible?Can they write, think, communicate, and problem-solve at a high level?Do they have the maturity for advanced study?Will they contribute positively to the program community? A good letter gives the committee a perspective they can't get from: gradesresumespersonal statementsor test scores Recommendation letters are third-party credibility. They confirm that your application isn't just well-written—it's true. When letters from outside academia are absolutely appropriate Many graduate programs accept professional references without hesitation, especially when the applicant has been out of school for a while. Professional letters are often ideal if: you graduated more than 3 to 5 years agoyou're applying to a professional or practice-based programyou've gained substantial work experience in a relevant fieldyour work responsibilities demonstrate advanced skillsyou have supervisors who can speak to your performance Examples of programs where professional letters are often strong: MBA and business programseducation leadership programssocial workcounseling and clinical programspublic healthnursing and healthcare programsnonprofit managementinformation technology, cybersecurity, and applied STEM fieldsMPA and public administration For these programs, real-world performance matters—and professional references can be incredibly persuasive. When academic letters are strongly preferred Now, there are some circumstances where academic letters are still the best choice. Programs often prefer academic references when: you are applying to a research-heavy graduate programyou are applying to a PhD or thesis-based master's programthe program requires evidence of academic writing and research skillyou are applying directly from undergrad or have recent courseworkthe program explicitly states faculty references are required In these cases, the program wants letters that can specifically address: academic writingintellectual curiosityresearch potentialcritical thinkingclassroom contributionscholarly habits Academic letters can be hard to replace when the program is evaluating research readiness. The real key: choose recommenders who can provide specific examples Here's something I tell applicants all the time: A letter from a famous person who barely knows you is weak. A letter from a direct supervisor who truly knows your ...
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    13 mins
  • How to Include Specific Examples in Your Graduate School Essay (and Still Stay Within the Word Limit)

    How to Include Specific Examples in Your Graduate School Essay (and Still Stay Within the Word Limit)
    Apr 6 2026
    If you've ever tried to write a graduate school essay, you've probably experienced this exact moment: You're writing along… feeling good… and then you check the word count. And suddenly your heart sinks. Because you're either: 400 words over the limit or200 words under the limit orright at the limit… but your essay feels vague and generic And the biggest source of frustration is usually this: "I know I need to include specific examples… but examples take up so many words." If that's where you are, I want to reassure you: You're not a bad writer. You're just experiencing what almost every graduate applicant experiences—because great examples are what make an essay strong, but word limits are what make essays feel impossible. So today, I'm going to show you how to do both: include specific examples (the kind admissions committees actually remember)and stay within the word limit Let's jump in. Why examples matter so much in a graduate school essay Let's start with the "why," because it's important. When admissions committees read essays, they're not only looking for good intentions. They're looking for evidence. Examples are evidence. Examples show: what you've donehow you thinkhow you solve problemswhat you've learnedwhat you're ready for Without examples, an essay becomes a list of claims. And the problem with claims is that anyone can make them. For example: "I'm a leader.""I'm passionate about equity.""I'm committed to community impact.""I'm ready for graduate-level work." All of those statements might be true. But admissions committees are quietly asking: "Can you show me?" That's where examples matter. The core challenge: examples increase detail, and detail increases word count This is the tension you're feeling: Specific examples make your essay strongerBut you only have 500–1,000 words (sometimes even less) So the goal isn't to remove examples. The goal is to learn how to write examples efficiently. Think of it like this: You don't need more examples. You need better examples. And you need to write them in a way that delivers maximum impact in minimum space. The golden rule: one strong example is better than three weak ones Many applicants go over the word limit because they try to squeeze in everything they've ever done. But a strong grad essay usually needs: 2 to 4 strong examples total That's it. Not 10. Not your full resume. A few examples, chosen intentionally and written clearly, will always outperform an essay full of scattered experiences. Choose examples that do double (or triple) duty This is one of the most powerful strategies. A great example should demonstrate more than one strength at once. Instead of choosing examples that only show one thing, choose examples that show: skillimpactgrowthand alignment with your goals Here's what that looks like: Weak example choice: one example for leadershipone example for researchone example for community serviceone example for teamwork That becomes too much. Stronger approach: Choose one experience that includes multiple dimensions. Example: A capstone project might show: research skillscollaborationcommunicationproblem-solvingcommitment to a populationreadiness for graduate study That's a high-value example. Use the 3-sentence example formula This is one of my favorite techniques for staying within the word limit. When you include an example, limit yourself to three sentences: what you didwhat you learnedhow it connects to your goals Here's a template: Sentence 1: I did ________ in ________ setting.Sentence 2: This taught me ________ or helped me develop ________.Sentence 3: This connects to my goal of ________ and prepares me for ________. Here's how that sounds in real writing: "During my internship in student support services, I helped launch a peer mentoring program for transfer students. Through this work, I strengthened my ability to design support structures, analyze engagement patterns, and communicate across diverse stakeholder groups. This experience shaped my goal of pursuing graduate study in higher education to build equitable student success initiatives grounded in data and community needs." That's three sentences. Clear. Specific. Connected. And most importantly, efficient. Replace long storytelling with "high-density" details This is how you keep examples specific without writing a novel. Instead of spending 8 sentences describing the background, use details that condense the story. For example: Instead of: "I was working at a nonprofit and we were trying to help community members and there were many challenges and I learned a lot…" Use: "In my role as program coordinator at a community nonprofit, I managed outreach initiatives supporting first-generation college students." That one sentence includes: rolesettingpurposepopulation That's high-density detail. When applicants run out of words, it's often because they are writing ...
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    13 mins
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