“Can you write me my application for this event?” – this is a strange question that a friend asked me. The explanation was sophisticated and convincing but the point was that it is not easy to write an application. The reason why it is so difficult is that it has to be original but at the same time – giving information. It has to be true but also full of smiles. It can be really crucial at the moment when you apply for a Summer University. Because you have only one chance to catch your place. Thus in this text you will receive some advice.
The first thing is to like what you apply for. If you apply for a Summer University that is with a special theme like Ecology, Human Rights or Public Relations, be sure you do not hate the topic. Because it can be visible in your application letter!
If you do not mind the topic but just do not know anything about it you should not worry. Be honest and confess “this sin” in your application. But also read carefully the advertisement of the event. If it is written in more a “casual” and informal style then do not pretend that you are a professor at Harvard. Just write it in the same style. Even if you include the same words it subconsciously will lead the organise
rs to choose you.
If you apply for more leisure events or such, that do not require you having some knowledge or skills in advance, then it is a real creative-writing-time. So if you are not creative enough then just steal good practices. In the art fields this is called sharing, so exchange some ideas with Frederick Begbeder or another famous writer. Keep in mind the structure. It should have a grasping opening and a smiley ending. Everything between is “bla bla”. You get the place during the first five seconds. Of course you have to write important things about yourself but do not share everything. It is just like a first date. Show enough to be interesting and at the same time mysterious. You can use the same opening a few times, because whoever reads it is different. However, I have been an organiser and must say there is nothing better showing you have payed special attention to this event than quoting something from the country. A simple example – I live in a small country (Bulgaria) with a unique language and we have only one Antenna (AEGEE-Sofia). So in the moment when somebody writes “здрасти” in his application it means he has spent some time googleing and searching.
Another important detail is the form of the motivation. After reading 30 letters starting with “My na-
SuperCroative team
me is…” it is really a sip of fresh air to watch a video or have some other creative innovation.
If you miss some original sentences or quotes then use a book, movie titles or lyrics from songs.
One big mistake you should avoid is to be chaotic. When you start writing you have to know what you want to say and where in the text to put it. The application is not more than 2/3 of the page so there is not a lot of space for words. Write short and full of meaning. After that if you got inspired then start writing a book. Members of the AEGEEan can give you advice for that too, but maybe next time.
See you in Europe!
Written by Liliya Buyukliyska, AEGEE-Sofia
Featured photo by Jannes Rupf, AEGEE-Heidelberg
Other pictures by Liliya Buyukliyska, AEGEE-Sofia