Countless hours in the library, years of living on nickels and dimes, and what seemed like a lifetime before it was finally over, finishing grad school marks the end. But for some, it's just the beginning to an academic career. Law and medical schools have some of the most competitive admissions standards in the country, and if just making the grades wasn't stressful enough, now you have to write the perfect essay. Websites that offer assistance tools like a graduate school statement from AdmissionsEssays.com are a popular resource for some help, but still prospective students will spend more time than is healthy crafting an essay they feel will guarantee them admission. Before you lose an unreasonable combination of hair and sleep over the matter, consider these facts about what makes the essay important, but also why you can breathe easy about it.

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Why the Essay is Important

Anyone can fill out the application with a hearty list of academic achievements, but an essay requires thought, skill, and time. Because of its importance in the admissions process, it must be well written. Applicants must use interesting content, logical progression, excellent grammar, and proper spelling. A poorly written essay can ruin a student's chances of getting into the school of their choice. But as bad as it seems now, it is getting easier...

How Essay Requirements Are Changing

Harvard Business School recently announced essay changes that provide good news for future applicants. Instead of four essays with 2,000 total words, applicants now submit two essays totaling 800 words. The essays answer two questions. First, "Tell us something you've done well," and "Tell us something you wish you had done better."

For applicants who make the first cut, they must submit a third essay within 24 hours. This one answers the question, "What do you wish you had said during the interview but didn't?" Potential students receive this additional opportunity to offer the final say and pitch themselves as a quality candidate for the program of their choice.

Other colleges are following Harvard's example. As programs require more introspection from students, the essay requirements reflect these ideals. Make sure you understand the difference between each essay requirement, though. Every school uses different questions to gauge the caliber of their applicants.

How To Make An Essay Stand Apart

For medical and law school admission, applicants must not slack in this area of the application. The submission must engage the reader and answer the question within the word count. For the best results, a professional editor can proofread the essay before submission.

Additionally, applicants must allow their personality to shine. The essay is a chance to show personality, apart from academic performance. It should not merely rehash academic qualifications. Most of the other applicants also have excellent grades. The essay allows an individual to promote him or herself and personal anecdotes or stories make a favorable impression.

Because the admission essay plays such an important role in the application process and indicates an applicant's preparedness for the graduate school program, many applicants hire professional writers to create a good impression. With new essay requirements, hiring someone to write an admission essay could be challenging, especially since the admissions counselors want to hear from the individual applying for the program.

Why Applicants Shouldn't Stress

The admissions counselors want applicants to succeed. Because the process can be grueling, the change in essay requirements eases the burden on qualified students. Regardless, applicants should take their time, engage the readers and spell check. They should be themselves and use the essay to share personality and individuality. With this approach, the essay requirements for law or medical school can be less stressful experience.