Sometimes I imagine graduate school being just like undergraduate school. I'll make amazing friends, live with people I love, be active in a church community, experience new things, take advantage of freedom...

And then there are other times where I feel that graduate school will be nothing like what I imagine. It'll be hard work. It'll be actually learning complex things and defining and refining a career path. It'll be thesis writing and working part-time.

Why is it that I feel this way? Other than memorizing 80 words a day for the GREs, I've also been preparing what to write for admission essays. I decided to apply to a total of eleven schools (yowza, maybe it'll be less) and have been compiling all their admission requirements together. The gist of my statement of purpose essay has to answer the following questions:

1. What are your future career goals?
2. How will this graduate program prepare you for your career objectives?
3. Describe your previous educational and employment experiences.
4. How did your development of interest in this field come about?
5. What are your areas of interest in city planning?
6. What will be your contributions to the graduate program?

It's been so hard to even begin outlining what to write because I seriously don't even have concrete answers to any of these questions. I think I really have to sit for a day or two and reflect and contemplate why I want to pursue urban planning and what my particular passions for it are.

Another thing is that this isn't applying for undergraduate schools. These essays actually have to be well thought out, well written, and have analytical and purposeful meanings. My senior year of high school I wrote about life being my stage (both metaphorically and literally), Chinese speech, architecture camp, and journalism. RIDICULOUS!

I think I'm stressing, but wow, what is it that I want to do with urban planning!? Most graduate students average around the age of 25 years, most already having some professional experience. I barely have any and I have to compete against them? Here it goes....