Weakness vs Development Need: How "Areas of Improvement" Can Show Strength

Hello everyone,

A client recently sought our advice on a classic 'areas for improvement' essay question. While the essay topic may seem short and simple to some, it was/is deceptively tricky and should be managed with deft forethought and strategy.

The prompt read as follows:

Areas of Improvement Essay:
Each year our students target for themselves areas of improvement. Other than the acquisition of new knowledge, what personal area do you think needs strengthening? Design a plan as to how you could improve it. Please limit your essay to 500-1000 characters.

The clients potential ideas were (generally) as follows:

1. Seizing learning opportunities outside of the classroom
2. Looking at things from others' perspective
3. Focusing on task at hand, and removing other distractions
4. Learning new ways of dealing with differences with others

What did we prescribe? First of all, it's important to acknowledge the 'personal' dimension of this prompt, which does NOT ask for applicants to expound on how they plan to strengthen their aptitude. A personal area is typically 'softer' in character.

To that end, option #1 struck us as too much of a "hard" area. Option #2 is better, but for prospective physicians, the ability to think from another person's perspective (e.g. be empathetic) is a prerequisite--so that one can be ruled out. Option #3 is simply boring--who wants to read about a plan for removing distractions??? Option #4 is interesting, particularly given the status of this applicant (he is a residency applicant). Medical residents have already endured rigorous college and medical school educations, and they are ready for the next steps in their careers: deeper clinical experience, increased collaboration with medical teams, etc.

In the end, we actually recommended the client combine options #1 and #4. By doing so, he is able to convey a true personal development need, and also subtly highlight areas where XXX residency program will help him to grow and evolve. He can describe a systematic, compelling PLAN which is steeped in knowledge of the program itself.

You may run into these types of questions with any type of application--medical, MBA, law school admissions writing or otherwise--but it's important to construct the most thoughtful, targeted answer.

Corporate America's diplomatic way of calling a 'weakness' a 'development need' is actually very valuable to recall here: bottomline, you are trying to convey how a specific program will give you what you need to move forward. With some solid brainstorming, you can select areas of improvement that actually highlight your self-awareness, and help accentuate your strengths!

Best,
Janson
Ivy Eyes Editing
www.ivyeyesediting.com