What to Talk About

The list below is here to inspire, but by no means do you have to discuss all of the components of your experience. You’ll have to choose which elements are most important to your academic story, particularly in your Final Academic Statement.

Curricular Activities This is the “meat and potatoes” of your degree—what you did in your classes, where you gained depth and breadth, how you are developing your thinking, and how you chose your academic pathway. These are the things we traditionally think of when asked what an education is all about.

• Area of Emphasis

It is almost always important to signal to readers some subject in which you have focused your studies. How deep did you go? Why did you choose it? How many credits do you have in this subject? Earning 45 or more credits in a field allows you to call it your area of emphasis, and 32 credits in a field could be considered a minor area of emphasis. An area of emphasis is not listed on your transcript, but you are allowed to refer to it on resumes, applications, and your Academic Statement. If you have questions about declaring an area of emphasis, visit Academic Advising or the Career Development Center in LIB 2153 or call (360) 867-6312 for an appointment. See the Area of Emphasis worksheet on page 20 for more. • Very Influential Classes

Sometimes a course or program exemplifies a common theme in your education, helps to define your emphasis, or provides a significant shift in your perspective. Including these can give a helpful timeline and context, and can also be used to direct your reader to positive or important evaluations. • Projects/Capstones

Often a program description or faculty evaluation will not do justice to a large project or capstone experience. If a project was successful and relevant to your emphasis or future goals then it can be helpful to discuss it in an Academic Statement. This is especially true for projects that span multiple programs or even years. • Internships or Independent Learning Contracts

Internships and Independent Learning Contracts provide a different kind of experience than programs and are often more self directed and hands-on. They are often very meaningful experiences for students and usually cultivate many practical skills. • Research Experience

Discussing the particulars of what your project entailed right at the beginning of your transcript can be advantageous. Research experience is a competitive quality when it comes to applying for many graduate schools and jobs.

Co-Curricular Activities A well-rounded student does more for their education than collecting credits and leaving. Being an involved and engaged student means taking advantage of opportunities all around you. Many aspects of campus life can provide you with valuable experiences and connections. It can be helpful to have these things in your statement because they might not otherwise appear in your transcript or resumé.

• Clubs

Being involved in a student club can be a driving social or academic force in your life. Clubs can also connect you to mentorship opportunities and provide you with leadership experience.

This can be impactful and relevant enough to include in an Academic Statement. • Sports

For many students, athletics is a big part of the college experience and their lives before college.

Most employers and graduate schools value someone who can work cooperatively with others, and some students exemplify this through sports experiences. • Student Organizations and Volunteer Work

Including these experiences can be a great way to diversify and add practical experience to your Academic Statement. These may already appear on your resumé but can be relevant since they exemplify community involvement and application of learning—just use your word counts carefully. • Student Employment

Many campus jobs and internships provide practical training relevant to areas of study.

Describing the way that your employment helped inform your education is a great opportunity to show off your experience and interdisciplinary connections. If you tutor a subject related to your area of emphasis or work as a lab or studio aid you might want to write about it.