Share your ideas before writing a full essay draft

Clients often tell me that my most significant value is as a brainstorming partner, and I need time to think and gather creative ideas. Before writing a complete essay, please share your bullet points or rough outlines so I can help you select the best story mix. In our session, we can discuss these options and pick the best one to write a full draft. 

After we confirm the ideal contents for each essay, I encourage you to write a complete draft without worrying about the word limit. In subsequent drafts, we can add juicy details. As a final step, we look for places to cut unnecessary words.

For now, please share three options with pros and cons for each. 

Here is one possible structure for sharing your ideas. When you share your ideas, present a "frame" or outline, like this (modify, as you like): 

STORY OPTION A

1. Situation – Where were you (and when)? What was happening? What was the problem?
2. Target – What was your idea for how to solve the problem?
3. Action – What steps did you take? Why was your greatest challenge? How did you overcome it? 
4. Result – What impact did your efforts have on others? Can you quantify your results with $ orf % and qualify your impact by showing how others were motivated to follow your example?

+ Pros (merits, reasons to use this story)
(-) Cons (demerits, reasons NOT to use this story)

STORY OPTION B

1. Situation – Where were you (and when)? What was happening? What was the problem?
2. Target – What was your idea for how to solve the problem?
3. Action – What steps did you take? Why was your greatest challenge? How did you overcome it? 
4. Result – What impact did your efforts have on others? Can you quantify your results with $ orf % and qualify your impact by showing how others were motivated to follow your example?

+ Pros (merits, reasons to use this story)
(-) Cons (demerits, reasons NOT to use this story)

STORY OPTION C 

1. Situation – Where were you (and when)? What was happening? What was the problem?
2. Target – What was your idea for how to solve the problem?
3. Action – What steps did you take? Why was your greatest challenge? How did you overcome it? 
4. Result – What impact did your efforts have on others? Can you quantify your results with $ orf % and qualify your impact by showing how others were motivated to follow your example?

+ Pros (merits, reasons to use this story)
(-) Cons (demerits, reasons NOT to use this story)

RELATED

http://www.vinceprep.com/blog/how-to-frame-mba-admissions-essays

https://www.vinceprep.com/services/planner/writing/outline-your-essays

https://www.vinceprep.com/services/planner/writing/make-a-fresh-start-with-each-new-mba-application 

How can I improve the transitions between my ideas?

TRANSITIONS

What is a transition?
· Transitions indicate the connections and relationships between your ideas and sentences.

Why are transitions important?
· Transitional words and phrases help you write clearly and coherently. Moreover, such transitions help the reader follow the text, stay focused, and understand how your main ideas are related to one another.

Why are transitions dangerous?
· Improper transitions can confuse readers. For instance, the use of the transition "Here, …" (see line 52 on page 2) in the sample is not correct because it indicates direction, but that is not the author's intention. This choice confuses the reader. Better to use a transition that indicates consequence, such as "Therefore,” or “Thus,”.

Which transitions should I use?
· The following list illustrates categories of "relationships" between ideas, followed by words and phrases that can make the connections:

1. Addition: also, again, as well as, besides, furthermore, in addition, likewise, moreover, similarly
2. Consequence: accordingly, as a result, consequently, for this reason, for this purpose, hence, otherwise, subsequently, therefore, thus
3. Contrast and Comparison: conversely, instead, likewise, on one hand/on the other hand, on the contrary, rather, similarly, yet, but, however, still, nevertheless, in contrast
4. Emphasis: above all, chiefly, especially, particularly, singularly
5. Exemplifying: chiefly, especially, for instance, in particular, markedly, namely, particularly, including, specifically, such as
6. Illustration: for example, for instance, as an example, in this case
7. Sequence: at first, first of all, to begin with, in the first place, at the same time, for now, for the time being, the next step, in time, in turn, later on, meanwhile, next, then, soon, the meantime, later, while, earlier, simultaneously, afterward, in conclusion, with this in mind
8. Similarity: comparatively, correspondingly, likewise, moreover
9. Summarizing: after all, all in all, all things considered, briefly, by and large, in any case, in any event, in brief, in conclusion, on the whole, in short, in summary, in the final analysis, in the long run, on balance, to sum up, to summarize, finally

Which transitions should I NOT use?
· Try to avoid “restatement” transitions in formal writing. Rather than writing phrases like “in other words,” “that is to say,” or “to put it differently,” try improving your writing so you can express yourself effectively in the first place.

Exception: you might want to use transitions like “in other words” in TOEFL writing, since you might get extra “points” for additional content (longer is better as long as quality is high). Since you are unlikely to have time to edit your TOEFL writing, restating your key ideas using phrases like “in other words” might help your reader / grader understand your main idea. By contrast, when submitting papers for publication (or to your professor), you have to time to proofread and edit. Therefore, take time to produce clear, concise writing when submitting papers for a grade and/or publication.


Exercise

· Find and circle the transitions in your paper.
· Ask yourself, "Do my transitions express the connections between my ideas?"
· Are my transitions misleading in any way?

Homework: Re-write your transitions so that they best express the connections between your ideas.

Make use of transitional words and phrases. They help you write clearly and coherently. Moreover, such transitions help the reader follow the text and stay focused.

Transitions enhance logical organization and understandability and improve the connections between thoughts. They indicate relations, whether within a sentence, paragraph, or paper.

This list illustrates categories of "relationships" between ideas, followed by words and phrases that can make the connections:

• Addition: also, again, as well as, besides, coupled with, furthermore, in addition, likewise, moreover, similarly
• Consequence: accordingly, as a result, consequently, for this reason, for this purpose, hence, otherwise, so then, subsequently, therefore, thus, thereupon, wherefore
• Contrast and Comparison: but, by the same token, conversely, however, in contrast, instead, likewise, nevertheless, on one hand, on the other hand, on the contrary, rather, similarly, still, yet
• Direction: beyond, nearly, opposite, under, above, to the left, to the right, in the distance, here, there, over there
• Diversion: by the way, incidentally
• Emphasis: above all, chiefly, with attention to, especially, particularly, singularly
• Exception: aside from, barring, beside, except, excepting, excluding, exclusive of, other than, outside of, save
• Exemplifying: chiefly, especially, for instance, in particular, markedly, namely, particularly, including, specifically, such as
• Generalizing: as a rule, as usual, for the most part, generally, generally speaking, ordinarily, usually
• Illustration: for example, for instance, for one thing, as an illustration, illustrated with, as an example, in this case
• Restatement: in essence, in other words, namely, that is, that is to say, in short, in brief, to put it differently
• Similarity: comparatively, coupled with, correspondingly, identically, likewise, similar, moreover, together with
• Sequence: at first, first of all, to begin with, in the first place, at the same time, for now, for the time being, the next step, in the meantime, in time, in turn, later on, meanwhile, next, then, soon, later, while, earlier, simultaneously, afterward, in conclusion, with this in mind,
• Summarizing: after all, all in all, all things considered, briefly, by and large, in any case, in any event, in brief, in conclusion, on the whole, in short, in summary, in the final analysis, in the long run, on balance, to sum up, to summarize, finally

How to write monetary abbreviations in resumes and CVs

HOW TO WRITE MONETARY ABBREVIATIONS IN RESUMES AND CVs

Thanks to my AIGAC colleague Laura Freedman, who shared some great advice regarding numerical abbreviations in resumes.

How to use abbreviated numbers in resumes for international MBA programs and companies

PREFERRED BY INSEAD (and understood / acceptable at any top MBA program)
(from the CV self-review style guide INSEAD gives to incoming students)

Suggested numerical abbreviations:

• k for 1,000 (thousands)
• mn for 1,000,000 (millions)
• bn for 1,000,000,000 (billions)
• tn for 1,000,000,000,000 (trillions)

For Indians – avoid lakh and crore. For Japanese – avoid man. These terms suggest you're going to have difficulty adapting to an international corporate environment.

For currencies - we use currency code, but for major dollar denominations, we prefer US$ and SG$, CN$, AU$, and NZ$. The $ next to the number makes it easier to distinguish the currency from the number and is a symbol most people recognize, e.g., US$30k vs. USD30k, or CN$60mn vs. CAD60mn. Note that a common error is USD$ - either D or $ is fine but using both is not.

For other currencies, I prefer £ and € to EUR and GBP for readability. € is unique to Euro, and £ is dominant enough that nobody is going to mistake the currency for e.g. Cypriot pounds (unless you are from or worked in Cyprus, in which case it's best to use GBP for clarity).

As a general rule, convert currency amounts to US$, since it's a universally understood international currency. It's also OK to use the currency for the market you are targeting, recognizing that that signals you want to be in that market. Best to avoid other currencies. Most prospective employers (or B-schools) are not going to understand PEN40mn (Peruvian Nuevo Sol), or DZD246mn (Algerian Dinar), for example.

More tips on how to write numerals here