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March 20, 2024

Four Tips for Displaying Teamwork in Your Application Essays

Teamwork – and its close cousin leadership – are highly prized by graduate programs and universities. But if you haven’t worked in a team on any regular basis, don’t worry! You’ve probably got a number of examples of teamwork in your back pocket that you didn’t even realize were there. Consider the following four ideas when you are writing an essay about teamwork.

1. Teams come in many flavors and sizes.

Unless you’ve been living like a hermit for the past several years, you have undoubtedly participated in various groups . Maybe you were a member of a sports team; a dance, music, or theater troupe; or a youth group through your church, synagogue, or community center. You might have been a member of a committee, either as a volunteer or at work. Perhaps you helped organize an event, tutored, been part of a Scout group, or volunteered to be a Big Brother or Big Sister. 

In any of these cases, you likely worked with other people. Even if your interaction was with only one other person, you have material you can discuss in a teamwork personal statement. Yes, working with just one other person, as a mentor or guide, counts! 

2. Show that you were an active listener.

Teamwork and collaboration require effective listening. Discuss a time when you stopped to listen – really listen – to others, patiently and skillfully. Unfortunately, and perhaps unfairly, many young people today have gained a reputation for not being willing to listen to others and for quickly becoming agitated by differing views. Demonstrate to the adcom that this isn’t who you are. Show that your ability to listen to others, to take in other points of view, and to express your understanding of those views helped eased tensions and increased collaboration. This can be an impressive example of your teamwork skills.

3. Discuss morale boosting and conflict resolution.

Have you ever been involved in a project when enthusiasm was flagging, but you found a way to inject renewed excitement into it? Have you brainstormed an idea to strengthen a group, club, or assignment? These are also examples of teamwork. Perhaps you found a way to make peace between two warring members of a group who couldn’t agree on the direction your project or plan should go. If you mediated this conflict and got the two individuals to start working together, that was surely teamwork (and worthy of a peace prize!). 

Any time you proactively got involved with other people (especially when they were being difficult), discovered a better way to get things done, found a middle ground, or thought of a creative new idea, that was teamwork.

4. Consider experiences in your personal life for material.

A client once wrote about her efforts to heal a serious rift in her family after her father passed away. Siblings were fighting for control of the successful family business, and an ugly succession fight ensued. The client patiently coaxed cooperation, even in this personal and emotionally charged environment. She used both shuttle diplomacy and active listening among battling family members, leading to everyone’s agreement to use a mediator to reach a final resolution.  

Another client wrote about having organized a trip with a few friends and how he dealt with a dispute between two of them. Their  bickering had threatened to ruin the long-planned trip. His effective listening and creativity in figuring out an activity that neither of the “combatants” would be able to resist helped defuse the situation and saved the trip from becoming an outright disaster for everyone. In both these situations, the “teams” were small, but the stakes for those involved were high.

We hope you now see that you’ve been working in teams more often than you thought! No doubt you’ll have strong options to choose from when writing a teamwork personal essay.

Watch: Linda Abraham discusses two main ways you can show the adcom that you are a leader .

Our expert admissions advisors can help you identify your teamwork experiences and guide you as you write about them, or assist you with any other component of your application. Schedule a free consultation today!

By Judy Gruen, former Accepted admissions consultant. Judy holds a master’s in journalism from Northwestern University. She is also the co-author of Accepted’s first full-length book, MBA Admission for Smarties: The No-Nonsense Guide to Acceptance at Top Business Schools . Want an admissions expert to help you get accepted? Click here to get in touch!

Related Resources:

• Fitting In and Standing Out: The Paradox at the Heart of Admissions , a free guide
• Proving Character Traits in Your Essays
• Strategy for Writing an Accomplishment Essay (with examples)

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Tips for Displaying Teamwork in Application Essays

December 6, 2023 by Diane Taylor

Whether for college, graduate school, scholarships, fellowships, or internships, application essays require condensing your best qualities into a compelling personal statement. With limited space, choosing which experiences and attributes to highlight is crucial. UK-based reviews of candidates praise those who demonstrate teamwork skills. When selecting your focal points, the ability to work effectively within a team should feature prominently. Stellar teamwork skills are hugely valued across all fields. Admissions officers and selection panels want candidates who uplift those around them and move groups forward through collaborative efforts. Your application essay needs to conclusively demonstrate your team player credentials.

Illustrate Leadership Within Team Frameworks

Attempting to present yourself as the stereotypical “natural leader” who single-handedly takes charge can backfire, sparking perceptions of arrogance. But modestly illustrating how you have stepped up to provide direction in team contexts can work very well. Maybe you quarterbacked a struggling project group towards an innovative solution. Perhaps you gave a pep talk that rallied the spirits of frustrated teammates. Or you could have facilitated smoother team dynamics by mediating conflicts. Choose clear examples where your leadership specifically enabled group cohesion and collective success rather than your own glory. This shows maturity and influence.

Do not be shy about owning moments when you guided team discussions or planning sessions towards positive outcomes. Quiet, gentle leadership that puts team priorities first leaves a very positive impression. Admissions staff want to see that you can recognize when teams are veering off track and respectfully provide the necessary course corrections to align activities with larger shared goals. Weave in details about how you reflected on team needs before taking action. They will admire this measured, conscientious brand of leadership.

Highlight Assistance You Provided to Struggling Teammates

Some of your strongest demonstrations of teamwork likely involve supporting struggling group members. Think of moments you realized a colleague was having difficulties and took action to help them rebound for the overall good of the team. Maybe you patiently provided extra coaching to an overwhelmed teammate who was slowing down collective progress. Or perhaps you volunteered to shoulder a heavier workload to let someone regroup and refocus when they were drained. Choose a compelling example and emphasize how the group achieved its goals thanks to this team-first mentality. Let your group assistance take the spotlight rather than your solo performance. Admissions staff will find this very impressive.

Do not shy away from being very specific in describing exactly how you aided a struggling peer. Did you talk through concepts one-on-one during lunch to boost their confidence? Did you utilise your different strengths to divide workload more equitably? Were you an empathetic sounding board when they felt frustrated? Vivid moments of supporting teammates in adversity make your teamwork abilities memorable and concrete. Admissions officers see right through generalised bragging but respond strongly to tangible demonstrations of work ethic applied towards boosting group morale and effectiveness. So be generous in illustrating the small assists that added up to shared victories.

Spotlight Feedback You Sought Out From The Group

Even teams full of highly skilled members can fail without open communication channels. Seeking out constructive feedback from the group generally leads to improved outcomes by correcting blindspots. Effective leaders know this instinctively. So when describing a successful team you were part of, spotlight any occasions when you actively elicited feedback or assessments from teammates to make sure you were not missing anything. Perhaps you scheduled regular check-ins to ask peers how you could best support them moving forward. Or maybe you requested teammates critique your leadership style and ideas. This two-way communication approach demonstrates maturity and wisdom which admissions committees will appreciate.

Do not just say you valued feedback but spotlight specific language you used to elicit useful critiques from colleagues. What thoughtful questions did you pose to spark reflective discussions empowering everyone to voice concerns, leading to better decisions? The best essay writing service in the UK praises word-for-word quotes of how you activated feedback channels to reveal so much about your emotional intelligence and leadership abilities. And contrasting early bumps from lack of transparency with later cohesion after implementing feedback systems demonstrates coveted self-awareness and growth mindsets in action. If you shine light on even messy behind-the-scenes group dynamics eventually leading to success, admissions staff gain confidence that you will replicate such team communication excellency within their programs.

Share How You Supported Morale and Camaraderie

Teams perform best when morale and connections between members are strong. This requires intentional cultivation of goodwill and positivity. Discuss memorable moments when you aimed to boost group morale amidst exhaustion or frustrations. Maybe you planned a fun break activity to inject laughter and ease tensions during stressful crunch times. Or perhaps you made sure to recognize everyone’s special contributions so no member felt underappreciated. Look for engaging anecdotes that cast you as a spreader of team morale rather than solely task-focused. The bonds you help forge between members say a lot about the collaborative environments you will perpetuate in the future.

Do not just broadly claim you uplifted team spirits. Demonstrate your people skills through stories revealing both emotional intelligence and creativity applied to nurturing group chemistry. Perhaps you boosted morale by making caricatures playfully spoofing each member’s quirks during late night study sessions. Or you brought a homemade snack representing everyone’s cultural backgrounds to celebrate diversity within the team. Vivid and clever examples will stick in the minds of application reviewers far more than vague statements aboutbeing “good with people.” When crafting your narrative, transport admissions officers right into scenes demonstrating the warmth, empathy and insightfulness you pour into team interactions.

The Golden Rule of Teamwork Essays

Admissions officers have finely tuned radars for exaggerated or outright false claims of stellar teamwork ethics. So above all else, make sure any example you provide aligns with reality and speaks authentically to your character. A feel-good anecdote crafted solely to impress will inevitably ring hollow under scrutiny when compared against your actual past behaviors and demonstrated priorities. But integrity and truthfulness still matter. Lean towards stories that show you striving in good faith for team growth over individual greatness. A single vivid, honest example carries far more weight than detached bragging ever could.

Ask past teammates, colleagues and mentors which concrete moments they feel best encapsulate your team-centered mindset and ethic of service. Their external perspectives and observations of your day-to-day behaviors may surface even better examples than you would choose solo. The most compelling testimonials to who you are within teams will come directly from those around you, not your own curated PR.

Ultimately, moving hearts rather than highlighting superficial accomplishments should guide your teamwork essay. Demonstrate through concrete lived experiences how supporting those around you brings out your best self. This leaves an impression which no amount of resume lines or accolades could ever achieve on their own. Admissions staff are not solely box-checking your depth of experiences and skills. They are looking for sparks that your values and character will enrich collaborative environments on campus. So write your essay almost as a tribute to the teams you have learned from over the years rather than a showcase of your own solo excellence. This humble framing will convey precisely the right message.

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Teamwork Essay: Examples, Tips, & Ideas

These days, leadership and ability to work in a team are the skills that everybody should possess. It is impossible to cope with a large educational or work project alone. However, it can also be challenging to collaborate in a team. You might want to elaborate on importance and difficulties of such collaboration in your teamwork essay.

In the article, you’ll learn:

• Pros and cons of working in a team;
• Teamwork college essay prompts;
• Tips for writing your paper’s introduction, body, and conclusion;
• Ideas for writing about teamwork;
• Short teamwork essay examples for students.

Have you already decided on the main idea and an excellent way to complete your essay? If not yet, then do not waste your time and check several suggestions from our writers .

• ☝️ Pros and Cons
• 🏆 Its Importance
• 🤔 What Makes a Team?

📝 Teamwork Essay Examples

• 🔥 Essay Topics

🔗 References

☝️ writing about teamwork: pros & cons.

Considering the benefits and drawbacks of working in a group is essential for writing any paper on the topic. You have to understand what makes the issue multifaceted. In particular, if you’re going to compose the advantages and disadvantages of a teamwork essay, research on the subject is crucial.

📋 Teamwork Essay Outline

A well-crafted essay outline makes it easier to organize thoughts and stay focused while writing your essay. It also ensures that your text has a logical structure.

Keep reading to learn about different essay parts and their components.

Teamwork Essay Introduction

One effective way to engage the reader is to start your introduction with a hook . A hook is a captivating opening line or statement that can be an interesting fact , a thought-provoking question , or a powerful quote . You should also provide some background information on teamwork to give the reader context.

Here are some ideas on what to include in your teamwork essay introduction:

Thesis Statement about Teamwork

A thesis statement in an essay is a concise, arguable claim or central point that sets the tone for the entire paper. A good thesis statement is debatable , specific , and provides a clear focus for the essay. Remember that it should also be supported by evidence relevant to the topic.

Have a look at these ideas for a thesis statement about teamwork:

Teamwork Essay: Main Body

Here’s how to structure your essay’s main body:

• Each body paragraph typically begins with a topic sentence that introduces the main idea or argument of the paragraph.
• This is followed by evidence , such as quotes, statistics, or examples, which support the topic sentence.
• After presenting the evidence, you should provide an analysis by explaining how the evidence supports the thesis statement.
• A paragraph should end with a sentence that summarizes it and transitions to the next paragraph.

For more information about writing the main body, check out our 5-paragraph essay guide and the essay length guide .

Teamwork Essay Conclusion

At the conclusion of an essay, you should restate your thesis statement and summarize the essay’s ideas. It’s also essential to leave the reader with a lasting impression by offering a thought-provoking insight, a call to action, or a suggestion to explore the topic further.

Consider these ideas for a teamwork essay conclusion:

🖊️ Teamwork College Essay: How to Write

If you’ve been assigned to write an essay on teamwork, there are some of the most common approaches you can use. So, when thinking about essay topics, take a look at these. In the following sections, we will break them down separately.

Besides, you can see some points explored in detail in teamwork essay examples.

🏆 The Importance of Teamwork

You may have to elaborate on teamwork in a college essay, though it may concern its different types. Dealing with tasks in groups can be an option both in educational institutions and workplaces. We’ll look at them separately in the following sections.

See how to write an essay about the importance of teamwork here.

Teamwork in School and College

You can introduce various points while explaining the importance of teamwork in an essay when it concerns educational institutions.

• It helps learn essential social skills. Working in a team can teach you necessary social skills, such as listening and speaking. You’ll have to act cohesively to get anything done. Additionally, teamwork experience will make you learn how to communicate information to others effectively.
• It enhances self-confidence . Teamwork in school and college teaches individuals that their voices are heard and valued. That helps people improve their self-esteem and enhance the working process.
• It diminishes bullying . Improved self-confidence will help a student to rise above the bully. Moreover, team members are more willing to support each other than other classmates. Discussing it in a student teamwork essay can be quite profound.
• It establishes the ground for student’s success in the future. Effective teamwork may contribute to breakthroughs outside the classroom. An early introduction to such experiences creates more opportunities for people to be productive and satisfied as a part of the group. When looking between teamwork and individual work experience, hiring companies value the former more.

Teamwork in the Workplace

You may be assigned to write an essay on teamwork in the workplace and its importance. In that case, you should consider the following arguments:

• Teamwork is crucial for the project’s success. The ability to work within a group increases your chance of getting and keeping the job. Moreover, the capacity to cooperate with colleagues can help you achieve better results. That’s the reason why companies have team-building activities. They can help improve the teamwork in the workplace and thus improve effectiveness.
• Teamwork is critical for personal growth. Working with different people in one group can enhance the personal strengths of each person. For instance, the team’s cultural diversity can help you learn how to communicate with people from different backgrounds. You can see this argument explored in various teamwork essay examples .

🤔 Writing about Teamwork: What Makes a Good Team?

For some reason, you need to compose a paper on creating or managing a team. Describe the whole process in your essay about teamwork. The main question you should answer is, “What makes a good team?”

To do that, discuss the following points in your paper:

• primary goals and purposes of your team;
• members of the team and duties of each member;
• a leader of your team;
• ways of achieving good relations and agreement between all members of the group.

The overall success of a team depends on each particular member. So, what a team member should be like? It is another good question to answer in essays about teamwork.

You may consider the following characteristics of a team member:

• an ability to meet the deadlines;
• an ability to adapt to changes quickly;
• good communication and diplomatic skills;
• optimism and a positive attitude, etc.

Explain the importance of each trait in your essay on teamwork. Add other personal features that you believe are significant.

Looking for some teamwork essay examples? Find a collection of links below! You are welcome to use these samples for inspiration. We ho hope that you will write an A+ paper!

• Mattel’s Workforce Strategy: Fostering of Teamwork
• Cultural Diversity in Teamwork: Research Process
• Teamworking Skills in Healthcare
• Teamwork During Product Design and Launch Process
• Diversity in the Workplace, Teamwork and Leadership
• Teamwork Organization and Experiences
• Team Communication’s Importance for Successful Teamwork
• Trader Joe’s Stores’ Teamwork and Motivation
• Apple Company’s Teamwork Benefits
• Management: Effective Teamwork Role for Organizations Performance

Short Essay on Teamwork: Example

For your inspiration, we have prepared a short example of a teamwork essay. Check it out to gain ideas on how to effectively structure your paper.

Teamwork essay introduction

Over the last few decades, effective teamwork has become a key factor in business success. Companies hire diverse employees with unique skills to work together toward a common goal. The synergy created by such teamwork can lead to amazing achievements.

Thesis statement about teamwork

Effective teamwork helps achieve organizational goals by fostering collaboration and enhancing productivity.

Teamwork’s first advantage is improved collaboration among team members. When people with different perspectives work together, they can use their collective knowledge to address challenges, make better decisions, and come up with innovative ideas. For example, research and development teams have scientists and engineers collaborate and develop new technologies. Important inventions and breakthroughs can only be possible with their combined efforts.

Teamwork also enhances productivity by combining the team members’ strengths. Teams can optimize their performance and achieve better results when they assign tasks based on each member’s skills. For instance, in a marketing team, one member may excel in creative design while another is skilled in data analysis. The team can combine their skills to create memorable campaigns that resonate with their audience.

Teamwork essay conclusion

Teamwork is crucial for organizational success because it promotes collaboration and enhances productivity. Only by working together can companies overcome challenges and achieve their strategic goals.

🔥 Teamwork Essay Topics

• Importance of teamwork for medical social workers.
• Describe the cooperation challenges of teamwork.  
• Examine the relation between the effectiveness of the teams and the performance of the organization.  
• Analyze what challenges the leader of a change team meets.  
• Essential role of interprofessional team development in healthcare. 
• Explain who are leaders from behind and how they affect the teamwork.
• Describe the key elements of positive teamwork .
• Is teamwork more productive than individual work?
• How to achieve successful collaboration and teamwork within a unit.
• The advantages of military mindset for business team.
• Discuss how different leadership styles affect teams.  
• Describe your experience of group work .
• The importance of successful managing of team members’ capabilities.
• Why it is essential to learn the teamwork from the childhood.
• Lessons of the Marshmallow Challenge as a model of teamwork .
• Explain why collaboration is the essence of teamwork .
• How to avoid social loafing in teamwork.
• Analyze the methods of managing the team resources.
• Discuss the pros and cons of team-based approach .
• The crucial role of emotional intelligence in successful teamwork.
• Appraisal system and its impact on team performance.  
• What are the stages of team development ?
• Is it difficult to build trust between team members?
• How to create an effective team.
• Describe the most effective strategies for virtual team communication.
• The role of strategy in team development.
• The main aspects of effective teamwork .
• Explain the difference between a work group and a team .
• The essential role of cultural literacy for managing a global team.
• Analyze how proper motivation affects the team performance.
• Is psychology important for formation of a sports team?
• Discuss the principal elements of group management.
• Transitional leadership and its importance for teamwork.
• Describe the ways to improve teamwork within an organization.
• Examine the mutual impact of team members on each other.
• How properly managed conflict can help a team develop and improve.
• Discuss whether team building is important in nursing.
• Teamwork and successful collaboration in healthcare .
• Explain what personal qualities will make working in a team comfortable.
• What tools and strategies can help managing a remote team?
• Analyze the advantage of diverse teams for a company.
• Can building of an effective team improve quality of healthcare?
• The difficulties of working in a virtual team.
• Role of a nurse team in caring for patients with breast cancer. 
• The challenges of decision making in project teams. 
• The crucial role of good leadership for team performance.  
• Effective interprofessional communication and its importance for a healthcare team.
• Analyze the effect diversity has on global sales team.
• Explain the meaning of a performance-driven team.
• Describe advantages and disadvantages of team decision making .

Thank you for reading this article! We hope that this information was useful for you. If so, leave the comments and share this article with your friends.

This might be interesting for you:

• How to Write an Impressive Discursive Essay: Tips to Succeed
• Friendship Essay: Writing Guide & Topic Ideas about Friendship
• Compare and Contrast Essay Writing Tips and Examples
• Transportation Essay: Writing Tips and Brilliant Topics
• 4 Reasons Teamwork is Important in the Workplace: Career Training, YTI Career Institute
• Teamwork, Mastering Soft Skills for Workplace Succes: Skills to Pay the Bills, U.S. Department of Labor
• Essay Structure: Elizabeth Abrams, for the Writing Center at Harvard University
• The Basics of Essay Writing: UNSW Current Students, UNSW Sydney
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Please, give me a teamwork short essay.

Hi! Just wanted to thank you for these excellent ideas for my essay on teamwork. I’ll use them in my writing!

It’s nice to think that there are people who want to help you with your academic writing problems! Want to thank every writer who creates these fantastic posts! You always help me with my papers, and this time with an essay on teamwork.

Teamwork - Free Essay Examples And Topic Ideas

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Teamwork College Essays

Teamwork is a crucial aspect of success in various fields, including sports, business, and academics. When it comes to writing an essay on teamwork, it requires a deep understanding of its importance and how it applies to different areas of life. It is a popular topic in college and an opportunity for students to reflect on their experiences and share their perspectives on the topic.

Sample essays on teamwork typically discuss the importance of teamwork in achieving common goals and objectives, as well as the benefits of working together. To write a compelling essay on teamwork, it is essential to showcase how it has impacted your life positively. You can start by outlining how teamwork has helped you achieve your goals or overcome obstacles. Additionally, highlight how working in a team has improved your communication, problem-solving, and leadership skills.

A great teamwork college essay example could be a personal experience where you worked collaboratively with others to achieve a common goal. It could also be an analysis of a successful team’s dynamics and how they work together to achieve success. Alternatively, an essay on teamwork could explore the challenges of working in a team and how they were overcome.

If you’re struggling to find a suitable topic for your essay, consider exploring how teamwork affects employee productivity, how to build effective teams, or the role of teamwork in sports. These topics can provide a fresh perspective on the subject and make your essay stand out.

In conclusion, teamwork is a critical aspect of achieving success in various areas of life, and writing an essay on it can be an insightful and meaningful experience. By using teamwork essay example and analysing various essay topics, you can develop a comprehensive understanding of the concept and write an excellent essay. Check out WritingBros for inspiration and guidance on writing your essay on teamwork.

The Importance of Teamwork in an Organization

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Overview of the Qualities of a Good and Effective Team Member

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The Essential Role Of Teamwork Versus Individual Work

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The Effective Implementation Of Teamwork Rather Than Individual Work

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Best topics on Teamwork

1. The Importance of Teamwork in an Organization

2. Overview of the Qualities of a Good and Effective Team Member

3. My Experience Working in a Group: a Reflection

4. The Essential Role Of Teamwork Versus Individual Work

5. The Effective Implementation Of Teamwork Rather Than Individual Work

6. Building Strong Teamwork From Individual Work

7. The Role of Leadership and Effective Listening in the Efficiency of a Team

8. The Primary Model of the United Nations

9. How to Handle Gossip in the Workplace

10. Promoting Improvement – A Key to Teamwork Excellence Article Analysis

11. The Wolves Performance Review: A Mastery of Teamwork

12. Analysis of Organizational Behavior in the Film “The Devil Wears Prada”

13. Coworking Spaces: Culture, Communication, and ICT for Development

14. Communication Collaboration and Teamwork in the Critical Analysis

15. Collaboration in a Team: The Importance to Compromise

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Best Ways to Display Teamwork in Application Essays

Teamwork is one of the most sought-after skills in job applicants today. Employers want to know that you can work effectively with others to achieve shared goals. Application essays give you a chance to demonstrate your teamwork abilities. In writing application essays, showcasing the essence of teamwork becomes paramount, and if you ever find yourself needing expert guidance, don’t hesitate to ask professionals to write your essay with precision and finesse. Here are some of the best ways to showcase your collaborative spirit in essays:

Table of Contents

• 1 Describe a Time You Succeeded Through Teamwork
• 2 Explain How You Contributed to a Team
• 3 Share How You Supported Team Members
• 4 Tell How You Handled Team Conflict
• 5 Emphasize the Value of Teamwork
• 6 Use Active Verbs and Vivid Details
• 7 Quantify Results

Describe a Time You Succeeded Through Teamwork

One of the most straightforward ways to highlight your teamwork skills is to discuss a specific example. Describe a team project, extracurricular activity, or job where working together with others led to success. Make sure to emphasize not just your role but how the entire team functioned. For instance, you could say, “As part of a five-person committee for the school science fair, I spearheaded the advertising efforts. We brainstormed different approaches together during multiple meetings, assigned tasks and timelines to play to each person’s strengths, and met weekly to ensure we stayed on schedule. Our collaborative promotional efforts led to record attendance at the event.”

Provide plenty of vivid details to help the admissions officers visualize how you and your teammates interacted. Describe meetings, brainstorming sessions, work plans, and any conflicts or challenges that arose. Explain how you compromised, supported one another, and celebrated group achievements. Quantify results when possible to demonstrate the success of your coordinated efforts.

Explain How You Contributed to a Team

While you don’t want to focus only on yourself, it is important to detail your contributions to the team. Discuss your specific responsibilities while noting how they fit into the group’s overall goals. You might state, “On group projects for my software engineering course, I enjoy being the taskmaster who makes sure we meet deadlines. I create schedules and timelines, track progress in spreadsheets, send regular reminders, and hold team members accountable to complete their agreed-upon tasks on time so we can successfully deliver our final product.”

Provide examples of different team roles you have played: organizer, creative lead, editor, quality checker, pep talker, peacemaker, etc. Explain how your particular skills and tendencies translated into responsibilities that were vital for your teams. However, always emphasize that it was the collective efforts that led to success.

Share How You Supported Team Members

Good team players uplift others and create a positive team culture. Share anecdotes about how you helped motivate teammates, provided constructive feedback, or put egos aside to compromise. For example, “When a teammate was struggling with their part of a presentation, I offered to help them rehearse and gave suggestions to improve their delivery. I wanted to make sure all group members could effectively convey their parts so our overall presentation would succeed. My teammate ended up impressing the judges with her smooth delivery, and our presentation won first place.”

Illustrating effective teamwork is pivotal for success, and for those seeking a comprehensive understanding of essay-writing services, an Academized.com review can offer valuable insights into the support available. Provide examples that demonstrate patience, empathy, and commitment to bringing out the best in others. Show that you take an interest in teammates’ development and are willing to invest extra time to help everyone excel. Stories of team members successfully overcoming challenges with your support make your teamwork abilities shine.

Tell How You Handled Team Conflict

Conflicts naturally arise when working closely with others. Discussing how you positively managed team disagreements or uncooperative members demonstrates leadership and maturity. You could write, “When two teammates had conflicting ideas about our group project, I initiated a problem-solving discussion. I acknowledged each person’s perspective, found common ground, and helped find points of compromise that allowed us to incorporate elements of both visions into an innovative final product that impressed our teacher.”

Detail how you created solutions, mediated disputes, and restored harmony in times of tension. Emphasize patience, empathy, optimism, and strong communication skills. Share lessons you learned for becoming an even more effective team leader. Discussing conflict resolution shows you have the relationship abilities to handle team challenges.

Emphasize the Value of Teamwork

In addition to specific examples, you can reinforce your teamwork abilities by emphasizing the collaborative mindset you bring. Note how you recognize the strengths diversity brings and actively create an inclusive environment. For example:

“I believe teamwork produces better outcomes than individual efforts. Gathering different perspectives allows groups to think more critically and creatively. I always make sure to listen to my teammates’ insights and opinions, even if they contradict my own. By ensuring all voices are heard, we develop comprehensive solutions. I encourage quieter members to share their ideas and make sure credit is distributed equitably for group achievements.”

Discuss how you leverage teammates’ diverse strengths while upholding positive team dynamics. Demonstrate emotional intelligence and an understanding of group psychology. Admissions officers will be impressed by your commitment to collaborative values and creating supportive, high-functioning teams.

Use Active Verbs and Vivid Details

Sprinkle active verbs like “led,” “spearheaded,” “mediated,” and “unified” throughout your essay. Vivid details like the science fair example above help admissions officers visualize how you collaborate. Avoid generalities—show your teamwork in action with stories and anecdotes. Describe settings, other participants, goals, interactions, challenges, emotions, and results. Helping the reader feel part of the team’s journey makes your abilities memorable.

Quantify Results

Include numbers and figures to demonstrate tangible team achievements. For instance, you could state, “The attendance at the science fair increased by 25% over the previous year thanks to our savvy promotional efforts.” Concrete results prove you and your teammates successfully reached goals through collaboration. Provide statistics about improvements, wins, revenues, efficiencies, and other benefits your teams achieved.

With thoughtful examples, vivid details, and quantified results, you can convincingly convey your stellar teamwork abilities in application essays. Admissions officers will come away impressed by your capacity to collaborate, contribute, resolve conflicts, support teammates, and lead groups to success. Make your essays stand out by spotlighting this critical skill in a compelling, memorable way.

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Four Tips For Displaying Teamwork In Your Application Essays

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Teamwork and its close cousin  leadership  are highly prized by graduate programs and universities. But if you haven’t worked in teams on any regular basis, don’t worry! You’ve probably got a number of examples of teamwork in your back pocket that you didn’t even realize were there. Consider the following four ideas when you are writing an essay about teamwork:

In any of these cases, you would have worked with other people. Even if your interaction was with only one other person, you have material you can discuss in a teamwork personal statement.

• Show how you were an active listener. Teamwork and collaboration require effective listening. Discuss a time when you stopped to really listen to others patiently and skillfully, and explain to the adcom how doing so eased tensions and increased collaboration. This can be an impressive example of your teamwork skills.
• Discuss morale boosting and conflict resolution. Have you ever helped inject excitement into a project when enthusiasm was flagging? Brainstormed an idea to strengthen a group, club, or project? These are also examples of teamwork. You might have been involved in a project and found a way to make peace between two warring members of the group who couldn’t agree on the direction forward. If you mediated this conflict and got the two individuals to start working together, that is surely teamwork (and worthy of a peace prize!).

Any time you took the initiative to get involved with other people (especially when they were being difficult), discover a better way to get things done, find a middle ground, or think up a creative new idea, it was teamwork.

• Consider experiences in your personal life for material. Effective teamwork can also be shown through experiences in your personal life. A client once wrote about her efforts to heal a serious rift in her family after her father passed away and an ugly succession fight ensued. Siblings were fighting for control of the successful family business. The client patiently coaxed cooperation even in an emotionally charged environment through shuttle diplomacy and active listening among battling family members.

Another client wrote about having organized a trip with a few friends and how she dealt with a dispute between two of them, whose bickering threatened to ruin the trip. Her effective listening and creative figuring out of an activity that neither of the “combatants” would be able to resist helped defuse the situation and saved the trip from becoming an outright disaster for everyone. In both these situations, the “teams” were small, but the stakes for those involved were high.

We hope you now see that you’ve been working in teams more often than you thought! No doubt you’ll have strong options to choose from when writing a teamwork personal essay.

Questions about this article? Email us or leave a comment below.

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By accepted.com - Oct 9 , 09:00 AM Comments [0]

Teamwork, and its close cousin,  leadership , are highly prized by graduate programs and universities. Haven’t worked in teams on any regular basis? Don’t worry! There are more ways than you may realize to prove your chops in this area. Consider the following 4 options:

1. Remember: No Man is an Island

Unless you’ve been living alone on an island for the last several years, you have undoubtedly participated in various groups . You may have been a member of a sports team or dance troupe, a member of a committee on either a volunteer or workplace basis, helped to organize an event, planned a triathlon, or been a tutor, Big Brother, or Big Sister. In each case, you were working with other people, even if it was only one other person, and had opportunities to display teamwork.

2. Put Your Listening Ears On

Teamwork and collaboration involve effective listening, so if you can discuss a time when you took the time to listen to others, patiently and skillfully, and how doing so eased tensions and increased collaboration, that will demonstrate your teamwork abilities.

3. Discuss Morale Boosting and Conflict Resolution

Talk about the steps you took to improve morale or motivate. If you helped to generate enthusiasm for a project when enthusiasm was flagging, or brainstormed an idea to strengthen a group or project, that’s also teamwork. If you were a member of a committee and figured out a way for two warring members of the committee to stop fighting and start working together, that would also constitute teamwork. Any time you took the initiative to get involved with other people (especially when they are difficult!) to find a better way to get things done, find a middle ground, brainstorm a new idea, it’s all teamwork.

4. Think Small

Effective teamwork can also be shown in very small groups. A client once wrote about her efforts to heal a serious rift in her family after her father passed away and siblings fought for control of the successful family business. An ugly succession fight was underway. The client’s ability to patiently coax cooperation in such an emotionally charged environment, including her “shuttle diplomacy” and active listening among family members, displayed skilled teamwork and leadership. Another client wrote about having organized a trip with a few friends, and how she dealt with a dispute between two of the participants whose bickering threatened to ruin the trip for everyone. Her effective listening, and creatively figuring out an activity that both of the “combatants” would not be able to resist, helped defuse the situation and save the trip from descending into a hellish situation for everyone. In both these situations, the “teams” were small but the stakes for those involved were high.

So do not feel stymied when asked for examples of how you have displayed teamwork – as you now see, you’ve been working in teams more often than you realize!

Related Resources:

•  How to Prove Character Traits in Your Application Essays • Two Ways to Reveal Leadership in Your Applications  [Short Video] • The Importance of Teamwork

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Writing a great Common App personal essay is key if you want to maximize your chances of getting admitted.

Whether you're a student working on your Common App essay, or a parent wondering what it takes, this article will help you master the Common App Essay.

What are the Common App Essay Prompts for 2023?

There are seven prompts for the Common App essay. Remember that the prompts are simply to help get you started thinking.

You don't have to answer any of the prompts if you don't want (see prompt #7 ).

Here's the seven Common App essay questions for 2022, which are the same as previous years:

• Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
• The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
• Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
• Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
• Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
• Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
• Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

The last prompt is a catch-all prompt, which means you can submit an essay on any topic you want.

Use the Common App prompts as brainstorming questions and to get you thinking.

But ultimately, you should write about any topic you meaningfully care about.

What makes an outstanding Common App personal essay?

I've read thousands of Common App essays from highly motivated students over the past years.

And if I had to choose the top 2 things that makes for incredible Common App essays it's these:

1. Being Genuine

Sounds simple enough. But it's something that is incredibly rare in admissions.

Authenticity is something we all know when we see it, but can be hard to define.

Instead of focus on what you think sounds the best to admissions officers, focus on what you have to say—what interests you.

2. Having Unique Ideas

The best ideas come about while you're writing.

You can't just sit down and say, "I'll think really hard of good essay ideas."

I wish that worked, but it sadly doesn't. And neither do most brainstorming questions.

The ideas you come up with from these surface-level tactics are cheap, because no effort was put in.

As they say,

"Writing is thinking"

By choosing a general topic (e.g. my leadership experience in choir) and writing on it, you'll naturally come to ideas.

As you write, continue asking yourself questions that make you reflect.

It is more of an artistic process than technical one, so you'll have to feel what ideas are most interesting.

25 Common App Essay Examples from Top Schools

With that, here's 25 examples as Common App essay inspiration to get you started.

These examples aren't perfect—nor should you expect yours to be—but they are stand-out essays.

I've handpicked these examples of personal statements from admitted students because they showcase a variety of topics and writing levels.

These students got into top schools and Ivy League colleges in recent years:

Table of Contents

• 1. Seeds of Immigration
• 2. Color Guard
• 3. Big Eater
• 4. Love for Medicine
• 5. Cultural Confusion
• 6. Football Manager
• 9. Mountaineering
• 10. Boarding School
• 11. My Father
• 12. DMV Trials
• 13. Ice Cream Fridays
• 14. Key to Happiness
• 15. Discovering Passion
• 16. Girl Things
• 17. Robotics
• 18. Lab Research
• 19. Carioca Dance
• 20. Chinese Language
• 21. Kiki's Delivery Service
• 22. Museum of Life
• 23. French Horn
• 24. Dear My Younger Self
• 25. Monopoly

Common App Essay Example #1: Seeds of Immigration

This student was admitted to Dartmouth College . In this Common App essay, they discuss their immigrant family background that motivates them.

Although family is a commonly used topic, this student makes sure to have unique ideas and write in a genuine way.

Common App Prompt #1: Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. (250-650 words)

I placed three tiny seeds, imagining the corn stalk growing while the pumpkin vines wrapped around it; both sprouting, trying to bear fruit. I clenched a fistful of dirt and placed it on them. “Más,” my grandpa told me as he quickly flooded the seeds with life-giving dirt.

Covered. Completely trapped.

Why This Essay Works:

Everyone has a unique family history and story, and often that can make for a strong central theme of a personal statement. In this essay, the student does a great job of sharing aspects of his family's culture by using specific Spanish words like "yunta" and by describing their unique immigration story. Regardless of your background, sharing your culture and what it means to you can be a powerful tool for reflection.

This student focuses on reflecting on what their culture and immigrant background means to them. By focusing on what something represents, rather than just what it literally is, you can connect to more interesting ideas. This essay uses the metaphor of their family's history as farmers to connect to their own motivation for succeeding in life.

This essay has an overall tone of immense gratitude, by recognizing the hard work that this student's family has put in to afford them certain opportunities. By recognizing the efforts of others in your life—especially efforts which benefit you—you can create a powerful sense of gratitude. Showing gratitude is effective because it implies that you'll take full advantage of future opportunities (such as college) and not take them for granted. This student also demonstrates a mature worldview, by recognizing the difficulty in their family's past and how things easily could have turned out differently for this student.

This essay uses three moments of short, one-sentence long paragraphs. These moments create emphasis and are more impactful because they standalone. In general, paragraph breaks are your friend and you should use them liberally because they help keep the reader engaged. Long, dense paragraphs are easy to gloss over and ideas can lose focus within them. By using a variety of shorter and longer paragraphs (as well as shorter and longer sentences) you can create moments of emphasis and a more interesting structure.

What They Might Improve:

This conclusion is somewhat off-putting because it focuses on "other students" rather than the author themself. By saying it "fills me with pride" for having achieved without the same advantages, it could create the tone of "I'm better than those other students" which is distasteful. In general, avoid putting down others (unless they egregiously deserve it) and even subtle phrasings that imply you're better than others could create a negative tone. Always approach your writing with an attitude of optimism, understanding, and err on the side of positivity.

Common App Essay Example #2: Color Guard

This student was admitted to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill . Check out their Common App essay that focuses on an extracurricular:

Sweaty from the hot lights, the feeling of nervousness and excitement return as I take my place on the 30-yard line. For 10 short minutes, everyone is watching me. The first note of the opening song begins, and I’m off. Spinning flags, tossing rifles, and dancing across the football field. Being one of only two people on the colorguard means everyone will see everything. It’s amazing and terrifying. And just like that, the performance is over.

Flashback to almost four years ago, when I walked into the guard room for the first time. I saw flyers for a “dance/flag team” hanging in the bland school hallway, and because I am a dancer, I decided to go. This was not a dance team at all. Spinning flags and being part of the marching band did not sound like how I wanted to spend my free time. After the first day, I considered not going back. But, for some unknown reason, I stayed. And after that, I began to fall in love with color guard. It is such an unknown activity, and maybe that’s part of what captivated me. How could people not know about something so amazing? I learned everything about flags and dancing in that year. And something interesting happened- I noticed my confidence begin to grow. I had never thought I was that good at anything, there was always someone better. However, color guard was something I truly loved, and I was good at it.

The next year, I was thrown into an interesting position. Our current captain quit in the middle of the season, and I was named the new captain of a team of six. At first, this was quite a daunting task. I was only a sophomore, and I was supposed to lead people two years older than me? Someone must’ve really believed in me. Being captain sounded impossible to me at first, but I wouldn’t let that stop me from doing my best. This is where my confidence really shot up. I learned how to be a captain. Of course I was timid at first, but slowly, I began to become a true leader.

The next marching season, it paid off. I choreographed many pieces of our show, and helped teach the other part of my guard, which at the time was only one other person. Having a small guard, we had to be spectacular, especially for band competitions. We ended up winning first place and second place trophies, something that had never been done before at our school, especially for such a small guard. That season is still one of my favorite memories. The grueling hours of learning routines, making changes, and learning how to be a leader finally paid off.

Looking back on it as I exit the field after halftime once again, I am so proud of myself. Not only has color guard helped the band succeed, I’ve also grown. I am now confident in what my skills are. Of course there is always more to be done, but I now I have the confidence to share my ideas, which is something I can’t say I had before color guard. Every Friday night we perform, I think about the growth I’ve made, and I feel on top of the world. That feeling never gets old.

Common App Essay Example #3: Big Eater

This Common App essay is a successful Northwestern essay from an admitted student. It has a unique take using the topic of eating habits—an example of how "mundane" topics can make for interesting ideas.

This essay uses their relationship with food to explore how their perspective has changed through moving high schools far away. Having a central theme is often a good strategy because it allows you to explore ideas while making them feel connected and cohesive. This essay shows how even a "simple" topic like food can show a lot about your character because you can extrapolate what it represents, rather than just what it literally is. With every topic, you can analyze on two levels: what it literally is, and what it represents.

Admissions officers want to get a sense of who you are, and one way to convey that is by using natural-sounding language and being somewhat informal. In this essay, the student writes as they'd speak, which creates a "voice" that you as the reader can easily hear. Phrases like "I kind of got used to it" may be informal, but work to show a sense of character. Referring to their parents as "Ma" and "Papa" also bring the reader into their world. If you come from a non-English speaking country or household, it can also be beneficial to use words from your language, such as "chiemo" in this essay. Using foreign language words helps share your unique culture with admissions.

Rather than "telling" the reader what they have to say, this student does a great job of "showing" them through specific imagery and anecdotes. Using short but descriptive phrases like "whether it was a sum or Sam the bully" are able to capture bigger ideas in a more memorable way. Showing your points through anecdotes and examples is always more effective than simply telling them, because showing allows the reader to come to their own conclusion, rather than having to believe what you're saying.

This student's first language is not English, which does make it challenging to express ideas with the best clarity. Although this student does an overall great job in writing despite this hindrance, there are moments where their ideas are not easily understood. In particular, when discussing substance addiction, it isn't clear: Was the student's relationship with food a disorder, or was that a metaphor? When drafting your essay, focus first on expressing your points as clearly and plainly as possible (it's harder than you may think). Simplicity is often better, but if you'd like, afterwards you can add creative details and stylistic changes.

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Common App Essay Example #4: Love for Medicine

Here's another Common App essay which is an accepted Dartmouth essay . This student talks about their range of experiences as an emergency medical responder:

I never knew I had the courage to talk a suicidal sixteen-year-old boy down from the edge of a bridge, knowing that he could jump and take his life at any moment.

I never knew I had the confidence to stand my ground and defend my treatment plan to those who saw me as less than capable because of my age or gender.

This essay has lots of detailed moments and descriptions. These anecdotes help back up their main idea by showing, rather than just telling. It's always important to include relevant examples because they are the "proof in the pudding" for what you're trying to say.

This topic deals with a lot of sensitive issues, and at certain points the writing could be interpreted as insensitive or not humble. It's especially important when writing about tragedies that you focus on others, rather than yourself. Don't try to play up your accomplishments or role; let them speak for themselves. By doing so, you'll actually achieve what you're trying to do: create an image of an honorable and inspirational person.

This essay touches on a lot of challenging and difficult moments, but it lacks a deep level of reflection upon those moments. When analyzing your essay, ask yourself: what is the deepest idea in it? In this case, there are some interesting ideas (e.g. "when they were on my stretcher, socioeconomic status...fell away"), but they are not fully developed or fleshed out.

Common App Essay Example #5: Cultural Confusion

This student's Common App was accepted to Pomona College , among other schools. Although this essay uses a common topic of discussing cultural background, this student writes a compelling take.

This student uses the theme of cultural confusion to explain their interests and identity:

Common App Essay Example #6: Football Manager

Here's a UPenn essay that worked for the Common App:

This essay has lighthearted moments in it, such as recognizing how being a football manager "does not sound glamorous" and how "we managers go by many names: watergirls..." Using moments of humor can be appropriate for contrasting with moments of serious reflection. Being lighthearted also shows a sense of personality and that you are able to take things with stride.

The reflections in this essay are far too generic overall and ultimately lack meaning because they are unspecific. Using buzzwords like "hard work" and "valuable lessons" comes off as unoriginal, so avoid using them at all costs. Your reflections need to be specific to you to be most meaningful. If you could (in theory) pluck out sentences from your essay and drop them into another student's essay, then chances are those sentences are not very insightful. Your ideas should be only have been able to been written by you: specific to your experiences, personal in nature, and show deep reflection.

Although this essay uses the topic of "being a football manager," by the end of the essay it isn't clear what that role even constitutes. Avoid over-relying on other people or other's ideas when writing your essay. That is, most of the reflections in this essay are based on what the author witnessed the football team doing, rather than what they experienced for themselves in their role. Focus on your own experiences first, and be as specific and tangible as possible when describing your ideas. Rather than saying "hard work," show that hard work through an anecdote.

More important than your stories is the "So what?" behind them. Avoid writing stories that don't have a clear purpose besides "setting the scene." Although most fiction writing describes people and places as exposition, for your essays you want to avoid that unless it specifically contributes to your main point. In this essay, the first two paragraphs are almost entirely unnecessary, as the point of them can be captured in one sentence: "I joined to be a football manager one summer." The details of how that happened aren't necessary because they aren't reflected upon.

In typical academic writing, we're taught to "tell them what you're going to tell them" before telling them. But for college essays, every word is highly valuable. Avoid prefacing your statements and preparing the reader for them. Instead of saying "XYZ would prove to be an unforgettable experience," just dive right into the experience itself. Think of admissions officers as "being in a rush," and give them what they want: your interesting ideas and experiences.

Common App Essay Example #7: Coffee

This student was admitted to several selective colleges, including Emory University, Northwestern University , Tufts University, and the University of Southern California . Here's their Common Application they submitted to these schools:

I was 16 years old, and working at a family-owned coffee shop training other employees to pour latte art. Making coffee became an artistic outlet that I never had before. I always loved math, but once I explored the complexities of coffee, I began to delve into a more creative realm--photography and writing--and exposed myself to the arts--something foreign and intriguing.

This essay uses coffee as a metaphor for this student's self-growth, especially in dealing with the absence of their father. Showing the change of their relationship with coffee works well as a structure because it allows the student to explore various activities and ideas while making them seem connected.

This student does a great job of including specifics, such as coffee terminology ("bloom the grounds" and "pour a swan"). Using specific and "nerdy" language shows your interests effectively. Don't worry if they won't understand all the references exactly, as long as there is context around them.

While coffee is the central topic, the author also references their father extensively throughout. It isn't clear until the conclusion how these topics relate, which makes the essay feel disjointed. In addition, there is no strong main idea, but instead a few different ideas. In general, it is better to focus on one interesting idea and delve deeply, rather than focus on many and be surface-level.

Near the conclusion, this student tells about their character: "humble, yet important, simple, yet complex..." You should avoid describing yourself to admissions officers, as it is less convincing. Instead, use stories, anecdotes, and ideas to demonstrate these qualities. For example, don't say "I'm curious," but show them by asking questions. Don't say, "I'm humble," but show them with how you reacted after a success or failure.

Common App Essay Example #8: Chicago

Here's another Northwestern essay . Northwestern is a quite popular school with lots of strong essay-focused applicants, which makes your "Why Northwestern?" essay important.

To write a strong Why Northwestern essay, try to answer these questions: What does NU represent to you? What does NU offer for you (and your interests) that other schools don't?

This essay uses a variety of descriptive and compelling words, without seeming forced or unnatural. It is important that you use your best vocabulary, but don't go reaching for a thesaurus. Instead, use words that are the most descriptive, while remaining true to how you'd actually write.

This essay is one big metaphor: the "L" train serves as a vehicle to explore this student's intellectual curiosity. Throughout the essay, the student also incorporates creative metaphors like "the belly of a gargantuan silver beast" and "seventy-five cent silver chariot" that show a keen sense of expression. If a metaphor sounds like one you've heard before, you probably shouldn't use it.

This student does a fantastic job of naturally talking about their activities. By connecting their activities to a common theme—in this case the "L" train—you can more easily move from one activity to the next, without seeming like you're just listing activities. This serves as an engaging way of introducing your extracurriculars and achievements, while still having the focus of your essay be on your interesting ideas.

Admissions officers are ultimately trying to get a sense of who you are. This student does a great job of taking the reader into their world. By sharing quirks and colloquialisms (i.e. specific language you use), you can create an authentic sense of personality.

Common App Essay Example #9: Mountaineering

Here's a liberal arts college Common App essay from Colby College . Colby is a highly ranked liberal arts college.

As with all colleges—but especially liberal arts schools—your personal essay will be a considerable factor.

In this essay, the student describes their experience climbing Mount Adams, and the physical and logistical preparations that went into it. They describe how they overcame some initial setbacks by using their organizational skills from previous expeditions.

This Colby student explains how the process of preparation can lead to success in academics and other endeavours, but with the potential for negative unintended consequences.

Common App Prompt #2: The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? (250-650 words)

This essay does a great job of having a cohesive theme: mountaineering. Often times, great essay topics can be something simple on the surface, such as your favorite extracurricular activity or a notable experience. Consider using the literal activity as a sort of metaphor, like this essay does. This student uses mountaineering as a metaphor for preparation in the face of upcoming challenge. Using an overarching metaphor along with a central theme can be effective because it allows you to explore various ideas while having them all feel connected and cohesive.

Admissions officers want to see your self-growth, which doesn't always mean your successes. Often times, being vulnerable by expressing your struggles is powerful because it makes you more human and relatable, while providing the opportunity to reflect on what you learned. The best lessons from come failures, and writing about challenge can also make your later successes feel more impactful. Everyone loves to hear an underdog or zero-to-hero story. But counterintuitively, your failures are actually more important than your successes.

This essay has some nice ideas about focusing only on what's in your control: your attitude and your effort. However, these ideas are ultimately somewhat generic as they have been used countless times in admissions essays. Although ideas like this can be a good foundation, you should strive to reach deeper ideas. Deeper ideas are ones that are specific to you, unique, and interesting. You can reach deeper ideas by continually asking yourself "How" and "Why" questions that cause you to think deeper about a topic. Don't be satisfied with surface-level reflections. Think about what they represent more deeply, or how you can connect to other ideas or areas of your life.

Common App Essay Example #10: Boarding School

This personal essay was accepted to Claremont McKenna College . See how this student wrote a vulnerable essay about boarding school experience and their family relationship:

I began attending boarding school aged nine.

Obviously, this is not particularly unusual – my school dorms were comprised of boys and girls in the same position as me. However, for me it was difficult – or perhaps it was for all of us; I don’t know. We certainly never discussed it.

I felt utterly alone, as though my family had abruptly withdrawn the love and support thatI so desperately needed. At first, I did try to open up to them during weekly phone calls, but what could they do? As months slipped by, the number of calls reduced. I felt they had forgotten me. Maybe they felt I had withdrawn from them. A vast chasm of distance was cracking open between us.

At first, I shared my hurt feelings with my peers, who were amazingly supportive, but there was a limit to how much help they could offer. After a while, I realized that by opening up, I was burdening them, perhaps even irritating them. The feelings I was sharing should have been reserved for family. So, I withdrew into myself. I started storing up my emotions and became a man of few words. In the classroom or on the sports field, people saw a self-confident and cheerful character, but behind that facade was someone who yearned for someone to understand him and accept him as he was.

Years went past.

Then came the phone call which was about to change my life. “Just come home Aryan, it’s really important!” My mother’s voice was odd, brittle. I told her I had important exams the following week, so needed to study. “Aryan, why don’t you listen to me? There is no other option, okay? You are coming home.”

Concerned, I arranged to fly home. When I got there, my sister didn’t say hi to me, my grandmother didn’t seem overly enthusiastic to see me and my mother was nowhere to be seen. I wanted to be told why I was called back so suddenly just to be greeted as though I wasn’t even welcome.

Then my mother then came out of her room and saw me. To my immense incredulity, she ran to me and hugged me, and started crying in my arms.

Then came the revelation, “Your father had a heart attack.”

My father. The man I hadn’t really talked to in years. A man who didn’t even know who I was anymore. I’d spent so long being disappointed in him and suspecting he was disappointed in me, I sunk under a flood of emotions.

I opened the door to his room and there he was sitting on his bed with a weak smile on his face. I felt shaken to my core. All at once it was clear to me how self-centered I had become. A feeling of humiliation engulfed me, but finally I realized that rather than wallow in it, I needed to appreciate I was not alone in having feelings.

I remained at home that week. I understood that my family needed me. I worked with my uncle to ensure my family business was running smoothly and often invited relatives or friends over to cheer my father up.

Most importantly, I spent time with my family. It had been years since I’d last wanted to do this – I had actively built the distance between us – but really, I’d never stopped craving it. Sitting together in the living room, I realized how badly I needed them.

Seeing happiness in my father’s eyes, I felt I was finally being the son he had always needed me to be: A strong, capable young man equipped to take over the family business if need be.

Common App Essay Example #11: My Father

This Cornell University essay is an example of writing about a tragedy, which can be a tricky topic to write about well.

Family and tragedy essays are a commonly used topic, so it can be harder to come up with a unique essay idea using these topics.

Let me know what you think of this essay for Cornell:

My father was wise, reserved, hardworking, and above all, caring. I idolized his humility and pragmatism, and I cherish it today. But after his death, I was emotionally raw. I could barely get through class without staving off a breakdown.

Writing about tragedy, such as the loss of a loved one, is a tricky topic because it has been used countless times in college admissions. It is difficult to not come off as a "victim" or that you're trying to garner sympathy by using the topic (i.e. a "sob story"). This essay does a great job of writing about a personal tragedy in a meaningful and unique way by connecting to values and ideas, rather than staying focused on what literally happened. By connecting tragedy to lessons and takeaways, you can show how—despite the difficulty and sorrow—you have gained something positive from it, however small that may be. Don't write about personal tragedy because you think "you should." As with any topic, only write about it if you have a meaningful point to make.

This essay is effective at making the reader feel the similar emotions as the author does and in bringing the reader into their "world." Even small remarks like noting the the "firsts" without their loved one are powerful because it is relatable and something that is apparent, but not commonly talked about. Using short phrases like "That was it. No goodbye, no I love you..." create emphasis and again a sense of relatability. As the reader, you can vividly imagine how the author must have felt during these moments. The author also uses questions, such as "What did I last say to him?" which showcase their thought process, another powerful way to bring the reader into your world.

Admissions officers are looking for self-growth, which can come in a variety of forms. Showing a new perspective is one way to convey that you've developed over time, learned something new, or gained new understanding or appreciation. In this essay, the student uses the "sticker of a black and white eye" to represent how they viewed their father differently before and after his passing. By using a static, unchanging object like this, and showing how you now view it differently over time, you convey a change in perspective that can make for interesting reflections.

Common App Essay Example #12: DMV Trials

Here's a funny Common App essay from a Northwestern admitted student about getting their driver's license.

This topic has been used before—as many "topics" have—but what's important is having a unique take or idea.

What do you think of this Northwestern essay ?

Breath, Emily, breath. I drive to the exit and face a four-lane roadway. “Turn left,” my passenger says.

On July 29, [Date] , I finally got my license. After the April debacle, I practiced driving almost every week. I learned to stop at stop signs and look both ways before crossing streets, the things I apparently didn’t know how to do during my first two tests. When pulling into the parking lot with the examiner for the last time, a wave of relief washed over me.

This essay does a good job of having a compelling narrative. By setting the scene descriptively, it is easy to follow and makes for a pleasant reading experience. However, avoid excessive storytelling, as it can overshadow your reflections, which are ultimately most important.

This essay has some moments where the author may come off as being overly critical, of either themselves or of others. Although it is okay (and good) to recognize your flaws, you don't want to portray yourself in a negative manner. Avoid being too negative, and instead try to find the positive aspects when possible.

More important than your stories is the answer to "So what?" and why they matter. Avoid writing a personal statement that is entirely story-based, because this leaves little room for reflection and to share your ideas. In this essay, the reflections are delayed to the end and not as developed as they could be.

In this essay, it comes across that failure is negative. Although the conclusion ultimately has a change of perspective in that "failure is inevitable and essential to moving forward," it doesn't address that failure is ultimately a positive thing. Admissions officers want to see failure and your challenges, because overcoming those challenges is what demonstrates personal growth.

Common App Essay Example #13: Ice Cream Fridays

This Columbia essay starts off with a vulnerable moment of running for school president. The student goes on to show their growth through Model UN, using detailed anecdotes and selected moments.

My fascination with geopolitical and economic issues were what kept me committed to MUN. But by the end of sophomore year, the co-presidents were fed up. “Henry, we know how hard you try, but there are only so many spots for each conference...” said one. “You’re wasting space, you should quit,” said the other.

This essay has a compelling story, starting from this author's early struggles with public speaking and developing into their later successes with Model UN. Using a central theme—in this case public speaking—is an effective way of creating a cohesive essay. By having a main idea, you can tie in multiple moments or achievements without them coming across unrelated.

This student talks about their achievements with a humble attitude. To reference your successes, it's equally important to address your failures. By expressing your challenges, it will make your later achievements seem more impactful in contrast. This student also is less "me-focused" and instead is interested in others dealing with the same struggles. By connecting to people in your life, values, or interesting ideas, you can reference your accomplishments without coming off as bragging.

This essay has moments of reflection, such as "math and programming made sense... people didn't". However, most of these ideas are cut short, without going much deeper. When you strike upon a potentially interesting idea, keep going with it. Try to explain the nuances, or broaden your idea to more universal themes. Find what is most interesting about your experience and share that with admissions.

Stories are important, but make sure all your descriptions are critical for the story. In this essay, the author describes things that don't add to the story, such as the appearance of other people or what they were wearing. These ultimately don't relate to their main idea—overcoming public speaking challenges—and instead are distracting.

Common App Essay Example #14: Key to Happiness

Here's a Brown University application essay that does a great job of a broad timeline essay. This student shows the change in their thinking and motivations over a period of time, which makes for an interesting topic.

Let me know what you think of this Brown essay:

Common App Prompt #3: Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome? (250-650 words)

This student's first language is not English, which provides some insight into why the phrasing may not seem as natural or show as much personality. Admissions officers are holistic in determining who to admit, meaning they take into account many different factors when judging your essays. While this essay may not be the strongest, the applicant probably had other qualities or "hooks" that helped them get accepted, such as awards, activities, unique background, etc. Plus, there is some leniency granted to students who don't speak English as their first language, because writing essays in a foreign language is tough in and of itself.

It's good to be confident in your achievements, but you don't want to come across as boastful or self-assured. In this essay, some of the phrasing such as "when I was the best at everything" seems exaggerated and is off-putting. Instead of boosting your accomplishments, write about them in a way that almost "diminishes" them. Connect your achievements to something bigger than you: an interesting idea, a passionate cause, another person or group. By not inflating your achievements, you'll come across more humble and your achievements will actually seem more impactful. We all have heard of a highly successful person who thinks "it's no big deal," which actually makes their talents seem far more impressive.

This essay has some takeaways and reflections, as your essay should too, but ultimately these ideas are unoriginal and potentially cliché. Ideas like "what makes you happy is pursing your passion" are overused and have been heard thousands of times by admissions officers. Instead, focus on getting to unique and "deep" ideas: ideas that are specific to you and that have meaningful implications. It's okay to start off with more surface-level ideas, but you want to keep asking questions to yourself like "Why" and "How" to push yourself to think deeper. Try making connections, asking what something represents more broadly, or analyzing something from a different perspective.

You don't need to preface your ideas in your essay. Don't say things like "I later found out this would be life-changing, and here's why." Instead, just jump into the details that are most compelling. In this essay, there are moments that seem repetitive and redundant because they don't add new ideas and instead restate what's already been said in different words. When editing your essay, be critical of every sentence (and even words) by asking: Does this add something new to my essay? Does it have a clear, distinct purpose? If the answer is no, you should probably remove that sentence.

Common App Essay Example #15: Discovering Passion

Here's a Johns Hopkins essay that shows how the student had a change in attitude and perspective after taking a summer job at a care facility.

It may seem odd to write about your potential drawbacks or weaknesses—such as having a bad attitude towards something—but it's real and can help demonstrate personal growth.

So tell me your thoughts on this JHU Common App essay:

Common App Prompt #5: Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. (250-650 words)

This student uses vulnerability in admitting that they held preconceived notions about the elderly before this experience. The quote introduces these preconceived notions well, while the description of how this student got their job in the care facility is also engaging.

Admission officers love to see your interactions with others. Showing how you interact reveals a lot about your character, and this essay benefits from reflecting upon the student's relationship with a particular elderly individual.

It is good to be descriptive, but only when it supports your expression of ideas. In this essay, the author uses adjectives and adverbs excessively, without introducing new ideas. Your ideas are more important than having a diverse vocabulary, and the realizations in this essay are muddled by rephrasing similar ideas using seemingly "impressive," but ultimately somewhat meaningless, vocabulary.

This essay touches on some interesting ideas, but on multiple occasions these ideas are repeated just in different phrasing. If you have already expressed an idea, don't repeat it unless you're adding something new: a deeper context, a new angle, a broadened application, etc. Ask yourself: what is the purpose of each sentence, and have I expressed it already?

It's true that almost any topic can make for a strong essay, but certain topics are trickier because they make it easy to write about overly used ideas. In this essay, the main idea can be summarized as: "I realized the elderly were worthy humans too." It touches upon more interesting ideas, such as how people can be reduced down to their afflictions rather than their true character, but the main idea is somewhat surface-level.

Common App Essay Example #16: "A Cow Gave Birth"

This Common App essay for the University of Pennsylvania centers on the theme of womanhood. Not only is it well-written, but this essay has interesting and unique ideas that relate to the student's interests.

Common App Essay Example #17: Robotics

This Common App essay was for Washington University in St. Louis .

This student writes about their experience creating and using an engineering notebook to better document their robotics progress. They share the story of how their dedication and perseverance led to winning awards and qualifying for the national championships.

Lastly, they reflect on the importance of following one's passions in life and decision to pursue a business degree instead of a engineering one.

This essay touches on various lessons that they've learned as a result of their experience doing robotics. However, these lessons are ultimately surface-level and generic, such as "I embraced new challenges." Although these could be a starting point for deeper ideas, on their own they come off as unoriginal and overused. Having interesting ideas is what makes an essay the most compelling, and you need to delve deeply into reflection, past the surface-level takeaways. When drafting and brainstorming, keep asking yourself questions like "How" and "Why" to dig deeper. Ask "What does this represent? How does it connect to other things? What does this show about myself/the world/society/etc.?"

Although this essay is focused on "VEX robotics," the details of what that activity involves are not elaborated. Rather than focusing on the surface-level descriptions like "We competed and won," it would be more engaging to delve into the details. What did your robot do? How did you compete? What were the specific challenges in "lacking building materials"? Use visuals and imagery to create a more engaging picture of what you were doing.

The hook and ending sentences of "drifting off to sleep" feel arbitrary and not at all connected to any ideas throughout the essay. Instead, it comes off as a contrived choice to create a "full circle" essay. Although coming full circle is often a good strategy, there should be a specific purpose in doing so. For your intro, try using a short sentence that creates emphasis on something interesting. For the conclusion, try using similar language to the intro, expanding upon your ideas to more universal takeaways, or connecting back to previous ideas with a new nuance.

Common App Essay Example #18: Lab Research

Common app essay example #19: carioca dance.

Having a natural-sounding style of writing can be a great way of conveying personality. This student does a fantastic job of writing as they'd speak, which lets admissions officers create a clear "image" of who you are in their head. By writing naturally and not robotically, you can create a "voice" and add character to your essay.

This student chooses a unique activity, the Carioca drill, as their main topic. By choosing a "theme" like this, it allows you to easily and naturally talk about other activities too, without seeming like you're simply listing activities. This student uses the Carioca as a metaphor for overcoming difficulties and relates it to their other activities and academics—public speaking and their job experience.

Showing a sense of humor can indicate wit, which not only makes you seem more likeable, but also conveys self-awareness. By not always taking yourself 100% seriously, you can be more relatable to the reader. This student acknowledges their struggles in conjunction with using humor ("the drills were not named after me—'Saads'"), which shows a recognition that they have room to improve, while not being overly self-critical.

Common App Essay Example #20: Chinese Language

The list of languages that Lincoln offered startled me. “There’s so many,” I thought, “Latin, Spanish, Chinese, and French.”

As soon as I stepped off the plane, and set my eyes upon the beautiful city of Shanghai, I fell in love. In that moment, I had an epiphany. China was made for me, and I wanted to give it all my first; first job and first apartment.

Using creative metaphors can be an effective way of conveying ideas. In this essay, the metaphor of "Chinese characters...were the names of my best friends" tells a lot about this student's relationship with the language. When coming up with metaphors, a good rule of thumb is: if you've heard it before, don't use it. Only use metaphors that are specific, make sense for what you're trying to say, and are highly unique.

Whenever you "tell" something, you should try and back it up with anecdotes, examples, or experiences. Instead of saying that "I made conversation," this student exemplifies it by listing who they talked to. Showing is always going to be more compelling than telling because it allows the reader to come to the conclusion on their own, which makes them believe it much stronger. Use specific, tangible examples to back up your points and convince the reader of what you're saying.

Although this essay has reflections, they tend to be more surface-level, rather than unique and compelling. Admissions officers have read thousands of application essays and are familiar with most of the ideas students write about. To stand out, you'll need to dive deeper into your ideas. To do this, keep asking yourself questions whenever you have an interesting idea. Ask "Why" and "How" repeatedly until you reach something that is unique, specific to you, and super interesting.

Avoid writing a conclusion that only "sounds nice," but lacks real meaning. Often times, students write conclusions that go full circle, or have an interesting quote, but they still don't connect to the main idea of the essay. Your conclusion should be your strongest, most interesting idea. It should say something new: a new perspective, a new takeaway, a new aspect of your main point. End your essay strongly by staying on topic, but taking your idea one step further to the deepest it can go.

Common App Essay Example #21: Kiki's Delivery Service

Common App Prompt #6: Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more? (250-650 words)

I spent much of my childhood watching movies. I became absolutely engrossed in many different films, TV shows, and animations. From the movie theatres to the TV, I spent my hours enjoying the beauty of visual media. One place that was special to me was the car. My parents purchased a special screen that could be mounted on the back of the headrest, so that I could watch movies on trips. This benefited both parties, as I was occupied, and they had peace. Looking back, I realize this screen played a crucial role in my childhood. It was an integral part of many journeys. I remember taking a drive to Washington D.C, with my visiting relatives from Poland, and spending my time with my eyes on the screen. I remember packing up my possessions and moving to my current home from Queens, watching my cartoons the whole time. I can comfortably say that watching movies in the car has been an familiar anchor during times of change in my life.

I used to watch many different cartoons, nature documentaries, and other products in the car, yet there has been one movie that I have rewatched constantly. It is called “Kiki’s Delivery Service” by Hayao Miyazaki. My parents picked it up at a garage sale one day, and I fell in love. The style of the animations were beautiful, and the captivating story of a thirteen year old witch leaving home really appealed to me. To be honest, the initial times I watched it, I didn’t fully understand the story but the magic and beauty just made me happy. Then, the more I watched it, I began to see that it was more about independence, including the need to get away from home and establish yourself as your own person. This mirrors how I felt during that period of my life,with mehaving a little rebellious streak; I didn’t agree with my parents on certain topics. That is not the end of the story though. As the years passed, and I watched it a couple more times, although with less frequency than before, my view of this movie evolved yet again.

Instead of solely thinking about the need for independence, I began to think the movie was more about the balance of independence and reliance. In the movie, the girl finds herself struggling until she begins to accept help from others. Looking back, this also follows my own philosophy during this time. As I began to mature, I began to realize the value of family, and accept all the help I can get from them. I appreciate all the hard work they had done for me, and I recognize their experience in life and take advantage of it. I passed through my rebellious phase, and this reflected in my analysis of the movie. I believe that this is common, and if I look through the rest of my life I am sure I would find other similar examples of my thoughts evolving based on the stage in my life. This movie is one of the most important to me throughout my life.

Common App Essay Example #22: Museum of Life

Using visuals can be a way to add interesting moments to your essay. Avoid being overly descriptive, however, as it can be distracting from your main point. When drafting, start by focusing on your ideas (your reflections and takeaways). Once you have a rough draft, then you can consider ways to incorporate imagery that can add character and flavor to your essay.

Admissions officers are people, just like you, and therefore are drawn to personalities that exhibit positive qualities. Some of the most important qualities to portray are: humility, curiosity, thoughtfulness, and passion. In this essay, there are several moments that could be interpreted as potentially self-centered or arrogant. Avoid trying to make yourself out to be "better" or "greater" than other people. Instead, focus on having unique and interesting ideas first, and this will show you as a likeable, insightful person. Although this is a "personal" statement, you should also avoid over using "I" in your essay. When you have lots of "I" sentences, it starts to feel somewhat ego-centric, rather than humble and interested in something greater than you.

This essay does a lot of "telling" about the author's character. Instead, you want to provide evidence—through examples, anecdotes, and moments—that allow the reader to come to their own conclusions about who you are. Avoid surface-level takeaways like "I am open-minded and have a thirst for knowledge." These types of statements are meaningless because anyone can write them. Instead, focus on backing up your points by "showing," and then reflect genuinely and deeply on those topics.

This essay is focused on art museums and tries to tie in a connection to studying medicine. However, because this connection is very brief and not elaborated, the connection seems weak. To connect to your area of study when writing about a different topic, try reflecting on your topic first. Go deep into interesting ideas by asking "How" and "Why" questions. Then, take those ideas and broaden them. Think of ways they could differ or parallel your desired area of study. The best connections between a topic (such as an extracurricular) and your area of study (i.e. your major) is through having interesting ideas.

Common App Essay Example #23: French Horn

This student chose the creative idea of personifying their French horn as their central theme. Using this personification, they are able to write about a multitude of moments while making them all feel connected. This unique approach also makes for a more engaging essay, as it is not overly straightforward and generic.

It can be challenging to reference your achievements without seeming boastful or coming across too plainly. This student manages to write about their successes ("acceptance into the Julliard Pre-College program") by using them as moments part of a broader story. The focus isn't necessarily on the accomplishments themselves, but the role they play in this relationship with their instrument. By connecting more subtly like this, it shows humility. Often, "diminishing" your achievements will actually make them stand out more, because it shows you're focused on the greater meaning behind them, rather than just "what you did."

This student does a good job of exemplifying each of their ideas. Rather than just saying "I experienced failure," they show it through imagery ("dried lips, cracked notes, and missed entrances"). Similarly, with their idea "no success comes without sacrifice," they exemplify it using examples of sacrifice. Always try to back up your points using examples, because showing is much more convincing than telling. Anyone can "tell" things, but showing requires proof.

This essay has a decent conclusion, but it could be stronger by adding nuance to their main idea or connecting to the beginning with a new perspective. Rather than repeating what you've established previously, make sure your conclusion has a different "angle" or new aspect. This can be connecting your main idea to more universal values, showing how you now view something differently, or emphasizing a particular aspect of your main idea that was earlier introduced.

Common App Essay Example #24: Dear My Younger Self

Common App Prompt #7: Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design. (250-650 words)

Younger Anna,

• Don’t live your life as if you're constantly being watched and criticized. Chances are, no one is even paying attention to you.
• Wear your retainer.
• Empathy makes your life easier. People who are inexplicably cruel are suffering just as much as the recipients of their abuse. Understanding this makes your interactions with these people less painful.
• Comparing yourself to your classmates is counterproductive. Sometimes you will forge ahead, other times you will lag behind. But ultimately, you’re only racing yourself.
• Speak up to your stepmom.
• Always eat the cake. I couldn't tell you how many times I’ve turned away a slice of cake, only to regret it the next day. If you really can’t commit, do yourself a favor and take a slice home with you.
• Cherish your grandparents.
• Forgive your mother. Harboring resentment hurts you just as much as her. All the time I spent being angry at her could’ve been spent discovering her strengths.

This essay chose a unique structure in the form of a letter addressed to themselves with a list of lessons they've learned. This structure is unique, and also allows the student to explore a variety of topics and ideas while making them all feel connected. It is tricky to not seem "gimmicky" when choosing a creative structure like this, but the key is to make your essay well thought-out. Show that you've put effort into reflecting deeply, and that you aren't choosing a unique structure just to stand out.

This essay is highly focused on lessons they've learned, which shows a deep level of reflection. Your ideas and takeaways from life experience are ultimately most compelling to admissions officers, and this essay succeeds because it is focused almost entirely on those reflections. This student also manages to incorporate anecdotes and mini stories where appropriate, which makes their reflections more memorable by being tangible.

Showing humility and self-awareness are two highly attractive traits in college admissions. Being able to recognize your own flaws and strengths, while not making yourself out to be more than what you are, shows that you are mature and thoughtful. Avoid trying to "boost yourself up" by exaggerating your accomplishments or over-emphasizing your strengths. Instead, let your ideas speak for themselves, and by focusing on genuine, meaningful ideas, you'll convey a persona that is both humble and insightful.

The drawback of having a structure like this, where lots of different ideas are examined, is that no one idea is examined in-depth. As a result, some ideas (such as "intelligence is not defined by your grades") come across as trite and overused. In general, avoid touching on lots of ideas while being surface-level. Instead, it's almost always better to choose a handful (or even just one main idea) and go as in-depth as possible by continually asking probing questions—"How" and "Why"—that force yourself to think deeper and be more critical. Having depth of ideas shows inquisitiveness, thoughtfulness, and ultimately are more interesting because they are ideas that only you could have written.

Common App Essay Example #25: Monopoly

Feeling a bit weary from my last roll of the dice, I cross my fingers with the “FREE PARKING” square in sight. As luck has it, I smoothly glide past the hotels to have my best horse show yet- earning multiple wins against stiff competition and gaining points to qualify for five different national finals this year.

This essay uses the board game "Monopoly" as a metaphor for their life. By using a metaphor as your main topic, you can connect to different ideas and activities in a cohesive way. However, make sure the metaphor isn't chosen arbitrarily. In this essay, it isn't completely clear why Monopoly is an apt metaphor for their life, because the specific qualities that make Monopoly unique aren't explained or elaborated. Lots of games require "strategy and precision, with a hint of luck and a tremendous amount of challenge," so it'd be better to focus on the unique aspects of the game to make a more clear connection. For example, moving around the board in a "repetitive" fashion, but each time you go around with a different perspective. When choosing a metaphor, first make sure that it is fitting for what you're trying to describe.

You want to avoid listing your activities or referencing them without a clear connection to something greater. Since you have an activities list already, referencing your activities in your essay should have a specific purpose, rather than just emphasizing your achievements. In this essay, the student connects their activities by connecting them to a specific idea: how each activity is like a mini challenge that they must encounter to progress in life. Make sure your activities connect to something specifically: an idea, a value, an aspect of your character.

This essay lacks depth in their reflections by not delving deeply into their main takeaways. In this essay, the main "idea" is that they've learned to be persistent with whatever comes their way. This idea could be a good starting point, but on its own is too generic and not unique enough. Your idea should be deep and specific, meaning that it should be something only you could have written about. If your takeaway could be used in another student's essay without much modification, chances are it is a surface-level takeaway and you want to go more in-depth. To go in-depth, keep asking probing questions like "How" and "Why" or try making more abstract connections between topics.

In the final two paragraphs, this essay does a lot of "telling" about the lessons they've learned. They write "I know that in moments of doubt...I can rise to the occasion." Although this could be interesting, it would be far more effective if this idea is shown through anecdotes or experiences. The previous examples in the essay don't "show" this idea. When drafting, take your ideas and think of ways you can represent them without having to state them outright. By showing your points, you will create a more engaging and convincing essay because you'll allow the reader to come to the conclusion themselves, rather than having to believe what you've told them.

What Can You Learn from These Common App Essay Examples?

With these 25 Common App essay examples, you can get inspired and improve your own personal statement.

If you want to get accepted into selective colleges this year, your Common App essays needs to be its best possible.

What makes a good Common App essay isn't easy to define. There aren't any rules or steps.

But using these samples from real students, you can understand what it takes to write an outstanding personal statement .

Let me know, which Common App essay did you think was the best?

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Home — Essay Samples — Life — Professions & Career — Teamwork

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Essay on Teamwork

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Teamwork is the collaborative effort of a group to achieve a common goal or complete a task in the most effective and efficient way. It is an essential element in both the academic and professional worlds, playing a critical role in achieving success and fostering innovation. This essay explores the significance of teamwork, its benefits, challenges, and strategies for effective collaboration among team members, aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding for students participating in essay writing competitions.

Teamwork is more than the sum of individual efforts; it embodies unity, collaboration, and the synergy that emerges when people work together towards a common objective. It is the foundation upon which organizations and societies build their success. Teamwork is not confined to businesses or projects but is a life skill that enhances interpersonal relationships and community participation.

Benefits of Teamwork

• Enhanced Efficiency:  Teamwork accelerates the completion of tasks by dividing the workload among members, allowing tasks to be completed faster and more efficiently than if done individually.
• Increased Innovation: Collaboration within a team generates a diversity of ideas, perspectives, and solutions, leading to greater creativity and innovation.
• Improved Problem-Solving: Teams can leverage collective knowledge and varied skill sets to find solutions to complex problems more effectively than individuals working alone.
• Personal Development: Working in a team fosters personal growth, as members learn from each other, develop interpersonal skills, and gain insights into their strengths and weaknesses.
• Stronger Relationships: Teamwork builds trust and mutual respect among members, strengthening relationships and fostering a supportive and encouraging environment.

Challenges in Teamwork

• Communication Barriers :Effective communication is crucial for teamwork, and its absence can lead to misunderstandings, conflicts, and inefficiency.
• Free-Riding: The issue of some team members not contributing their fair share, relying on others to do the work, can create imbalance and resentment within the team.
• Conflicts and Clashes: Differences in opinions, personalities, and working styles can lead to conflicts, which, if not managed properly, can hinder teamwork and productivity.
• Decision-Making Delays: Reaching consensus in a team can sometimes be time-consuming, leading to delays in decision-making and project progression.

Building an Effective Team

Clear Goals and Roles:Establishing clear, achievable goals and defining specific roles and responsibilities for each team member are crucial for effective teamwork.

• Open and Honest Communication: Encouraging open, transparent communication helps in resolving conflicts, building trust, and ensuring that all team members are aligned with the team’s objectives.
• Mutual Respect: Recognizing and valuing the contributions of all team members fosters a culture of respect and inclusivity.
• Flexibility: Being adaptable and open to new ideas and approaches can enhance team collaboration and lead to better outcomes.
• Supportive Leadership: Effective leadership is key in motivating the team, guiding them through challenges, and ensuring that the team works cohesively towards its goals.

The Role of Teamwork in Education

In the academic setting, teamwork plays a pivotal role in enhancing learning experiences. Group projects, discussions, and activities encourage students to collaborate, share knowledge, and develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Moreover, teamwork in education prepares students for the collaborative nature of the workplace, where teamwork is often essential for success.

Teamwork in the Professional World

In the professional arena, teamwork is indispensable for achieving business objectives, driving innovation, and maintaining a competitive edge. It enables organizations to pool resources, tackle complex projects, and adapt to changing market demands. Companies that foster a culture of teamwork are more likely to attract and retain top talent, ensuring long-term success.

The Global Perspective on Teamwork

In an increasingly interconnected world, teamwork extends beyond local and national boundaries. Global teams bring together diverse perspectives, skills, and expertise, offering unique opportunities for cross-cultural collaboration and learning. However, they also present challenges such as cultural differences and time zone discrepancies, requiring additional layers of communication and understanding.

In conclusion, Teamwork is a fundamental aspect of human interaction that enhances efficiency, innovation, and problem-solving. While it presents challenges, the benefits of teamwork far outweigh the difficulties, making it a critical skill for success in both academic and professional settings. By fostering clear communication, mutual respect, and supportive leadership, effective teamwork can be achieved, leading to improved outcomes and personal growth for all team members. As we move forward, let us embrace the spirit of teamwork, recognizing its power to transform challenges into opportunities and individual efforts into collective achievements. For students entering essay writing competitions, this exploration of teamwork offers a comprehensive overview, highlighting its importance in shaping a collaborative, innovative, and successful society.

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Teamwork Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on teamwork.

Teamwork is working together of people to achieve a certain goal. Teamwork is the basic need for an organization to function. Furthermore, every organization has a division of several teams to perform specific tasks.

Without teamwork nothing is possible. Moreover, if any organization lacks teamwork. Then it will hamper its success rate. Thus the organization will fall. Also, it will affect the environment the people are working in.

Furthermore, the organization has a different hierarchy of teamwork. So that the workload gets divided. And each team has an expert who guides different team members with his prior experience

Hierarchy of Teamwork in an Organization

The organization has a division of three teams – Top Level, Middle Level, Lower Level

The Top Level: This team of the organization decides the goals of the company. Furthermore, they understand the need for different sectors of society. And makes policies to maximize the profit of the company. Moreover, it also works on the development of the company and its employees.

Every company has a certain goal in mind before making any policy. This part of the organization analyzes the goal. So that the company should be certain whether the approaching of this goal is profitable or not. For instance, this part of the organization consists of the Board of Directors , Chief Executive Officers Etc.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

The Middle Level: The middle level consists of the manager and the Supervisors . This team of workers focuses on the implementation of the policies made by the Top-level. Furthermore, the team assigns various tasks to the employee sector, so that they may work towards the goals of the company. Moreover, the Middle level inspects and keeps a regular check on their work.

In short, they bridge the gap between the top level and the middle level. In order to be a part of this team, a person should be qualified enough. Because this ensures that the person is having the knowledge of all the work he is assigning to the employees.

Only then the person would be capable enough to guide the lower level. Above all the main work is to meet the demands of the employee, so that the organization can work in a better way.

The Lower level: The Lower Level consists of the employees. They work on the tasks assigned to them by the Middle Level. The coordination of teamwork is much needed in the employment sector. As the need to submit each task within a period of time.

So that the organization may run smoothly. The base of the organization is the employment sector. As without them, the application of policies isn’t possible.

Importance of Teamwork

Teamwork has the greatest importance in any part of the world. Whether it be an organization or a small business. Teamwork is the key to success. In our schools, we play many sports that enlist teamwork.

Thus from our childhood only we knew about teamwork. Because our mentors understood the importance of teamwork. That is the reason they always guided us on the right path.

At last, the teamwork team generates a relationship between two people. As we all know that human is a social being, so it is beneficial for the environment of a person.

Q1. What is Teamwork?

A1. Teamwork is the working together of a group of people to accomplish a certain goal.

Q2. What is the importance of teamwork?

A2. Teamwork enlists a level of enthusiasm in a person. Moreover it essential to save time, as groups of people work on specific tasks. Which as a whole saves time to a higher extent. Also, it boosts the confidence of a person working in any organization.

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Leadership and Teamwork - Harvard - Free sample college essay

Hometown : Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

High School : Private Quaker school, 84 students in graduating class

Ethnicity : Biracial

Gender : Male

GPA : 3.93 out of 4.0

SAT : Reading 800, Math 700, Writing 770

SAT Subject Tests Taken : U.S. History, World History

Extracurriculars : Cross country / indoor track / outdoor track captain, newspaper editor in chief, literary magazine editor, Monday Series—speaking series and publication founder and editor, Student Religious Life Committee chair, Student Council, Obama 2012 campaign organizer

Awards : Award as top community organizer in country for the Obama 2012 campaign; State champion in cross country, 4 years in a row

Major : History and Literature

Free sample college application essay

When I broke the news to my volunteer team, we were in a church basement, cleaning up after the final event of the summer. I tried to downplay it. I nudged Ms. Diana, the neighborhood leader, in the shoulder, and said, “Guess what I’ll be doing next Wednesday—having lunch with the president.” Her face blazed with a kilowatt smile. Before I could slow her down, she shouted, “Henry’s meeting President Obama next week.”

Eldred dropped his broom, Ms. Sheila left the cups scattered on the floor, and all the others came running over and fusilladed me with questions. Yes, the campaign had chosen me from all the other sum- mer organizers. Yes, I would bring photos for everyone. And yes, we had the strongest team by the numbers—total calls, knocks, voters registered, and events—in the country.

I felt guilty that only I could go and told them so. “I wish that I could bring you all with me. You made nearly all of the calls, brought your friends and family along, and made this what it is. I’ve just been here to facilitate.” The others good-naturedly shouted me down. Then Ms. Melva spoke up. Her words were pressed out against the heaving of her respirator. “Henry, don’t feel bad. You’ll bring us wherever you go in your pocket. Just pull us out when you meet Barack.”

For a long time, I was perplexed by her advice. Then I thought back to the exercise that we employed before any volunteer activity. We sat in a circle and gave our reasons for being in the room, willing to work with the campaign. That way, when it came time to make our “hard ask” on the phones, we would be supported by personal conviction and shared purpose. The “hard ask” is the Obama campaign’s tactic for garnering support or a commitment to volunteer, moving from values and idealism to specific action.

In my work on the campaign, I am reminded of my cross-country coach, Rob. Before every single race, from petty league meets to national championships, Rob taps the spot on his thigh where a pocket would be. We look at our teammates who are lining up with us and tap the same spot. Coach Rob is reminding us, and we’re reminding each other, that we carry “the bastard” in our pockets with us throughout the race. “The bastard in your pocket” is a metaphor for the sum of our efforts to succeed as runners. “The bastard” exists as a sort of Platonic ideal form of the high school cross-country runner, melded from accrued mileage and mental conditioning. My goal in a race is to take this ideal form and to transform it into a reality that lives on the course.

I want an education that fills my pockets. And, perhaps more importantly, an education that prompts hard asks, that demands us to use “the bastard” and that uses the compounded experiences of a group for a single purpose.

Through the two examples of his volunteer work and cross-country experience, Henry is able to depict a nuanced and sophisticated understanding of leadership and a profound dedication to teamwork.

In the opening paragraphs, he describes the moment in which he related news of an invitation to meet the president to his volunteer team. The moment is shown as the culmination of all of Henry’s ef- forts as a summer organizer for the Obama campaign. The mention of the invitation serves as a validation of demonstrable and impressive leadership; further, the reference to members of his team by name displays that his work was meaningful and personal.

Throughout the essay, Henry reveals his passion for forming and being a part of a community as both a goal in itself and as a way to achieve success for the team. This is a point he elaborates upon in his reference to “the bastard in your pocket,” which he presents as an ideal that can be transformed into action in order to achieve success. An allusion to the words of his cross-country coach, he uses this example to expand upon his views toward community and lived experience. He talks about both action and intention, emphasizing his own success in transforming beliefs and ideas into tangible results. The last paragraph in Henry’s essay serves as a succinct but powerful conclusion, one that links the kind of educational experience he seeks with his determined, goal-actualizing mentality.

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Topher began working at Stanford University’s Career Planning & Placement Center in 1998. His career spans 30 years. At Santa Clara University, he managed Bay Area, Los Angeles and Texas territories where he recruited, evaluated, and admitted athletes, freshman, and transfer applicants. At Ohlone College in Fremont, he served as Interim Director of Admission and Records. Since 2011, he has worked in test prep and college consulting, providing guidance to families preparing their children for college.

Topher sees applicants as they are, then inspires and motivates them to step up and into their potential. His clients have enjoyed extraordinary success at institutions ranging from selective Ivies to renowned public universities.

Fulfillment in Neurology - Harvard - Free example college essay

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Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: The Importance of Working Together

Sanjana is a health writer and editor. Her work spans various health-related topics, including mental health, fitness, nutrition, and wellness.

Rachel Goldman, PhD FTOS, is a licensed psychologist, clinical assistant professor, speaker, wellness expert specializing in eating behaviors, stress management, and health behavior change.

Luis Alvarez / Getty Images

Why Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

Characteristics of good teamwork, how to foster good teamwork, how to be a good team player.

You’ve probably seen the phrase “Teamwork makes the dream work” printed on office mugs and motivational posters. But what exactly does it mean and what does good teamwork look like?

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

The phrase “Teamwork makes the dream work” essentially means that dividing tasks and responsibilities among a team can lead to better outcomes than a single person doing the same task, says Sabrina Romanoff , PsyD, a clinical psychologist and professor at Yeshiva University.

The saying was initially coined by American clergyman John C. Maxwell. Maxwell published an eponymous book in 2002, in which he wrote, “Teamwork makes the dream work, but a vision becomes a nightmare when the leader has a big dream and a bad team.” In his book, Maxwell discusses the importance of working together collaboratively and shares some principles for building a strong team.

The phrase caught on and has become popular over the years. In this article, we explore the benefits of teamwork, the characteristics of good teamwork, as well as some steps to help you be a good team player and build a strong team.

Below, Dr. Romanoff explains why teamwork is important and the benefits it can offer:

• Improves efficiency and output: Teamwork is important because much more can be accomplished as part of a team than a single person working alone. Successful teams are much more efficient and effective at completing tasks than individuals.
• Produces better solutions: Teamwork allows the opportunity for diverse perspectives to tackle problems and find solutions that are more resourceful and effective than one person’s input alone. When multiple people are contributing, more knowledge, viewpoints, and feedback are incorporated, helping teammates arrive at more holistic solutions.
• Offers a larger pool of resources: Each member of the team can contribute their efforts, knowledge, abilities, and strengths to the task at hand. The team can tap into the resources each member provides to tackle new challenges.
• Promotes growth and learning: When people work together, there is an opportunity for each member of the team to learn and grow, both personally and professionally.
• Creates strong bonds among teammates: Collaborating on shared tasks, helping others, and working together helps teammates foster strong connections. People bond when they work together toward a common goal in an encouraging and supportive environment.
• Fosters a feeling of belonging: Teamwork also taps into our human need for belonging to a community or group and feeling like we are working towards something that is bigger than ourselves.
• Reduces stress: People tend to feel more supported when they’re part of a team. They often experience less perceived stress because they’re not facing the problem alone.

According to Dr. Romanoff, these are some of the characteristics of good teamwork: 

• Shared goal: A successful team articulates and agrees on a common goal that has meaning to its members. Shared understanding of the goal the team is working toward is crucial so that everyone is on the same page and the team can operate as a cohesive unit.
• Cooperation: It’s important for teammates to actively listen to one another, cooperate with each other, and help one other out when required. A collaborative approach leads to more efficient and effective output.
• Respect: When people feel respected by their teammates, they are able to freely share ideas and opinions without fear of rejection or judgment. This level of safety sets the stage for greater commitment among teammates, originality, and novelty.
• Trust: There is trust that each member will deliver on their role for the team and meet their commitments. Team members take their responsibilities seriously and commit to following through on behalf of the individual members but also for the collective group. Each member is also trusted with placing the team’s interests above their own.
• Coordination: The team is well-organized so everyone is systematically and efficiently working together toward deadlines and shared goals. Effective communication and coordination are the bedrock of good teamwork.
• Strong interpersonal relationships: There are strong relationships among teammates. Team members care about each other and relationships are deeper than just their roles in the team. For instance, there is knowledge and sharing about people’s personal lives, and interest in other’s talents, skills, and interests. Team members take the time to celebrate achievements or have social outings outside of work to get to know each other as people.
• Effective conflict-resolution: Members of the team understand that conflict is inevitable but they are able to successfully manage and resolve them, by prioritizing the team’s goal over individual differences and conflicts. This means addressing issues among team members as they come up instead of pushing them under the rug, while also keeping differences among members in perspective so they don’t override the group’s mission.

Dr. Romanoff shares some strategies that can help you foster good teamwork:

• Define the goal: Define the mission and goal of the team. These can be co-constructed with your teammates, as team members are likely to have more buy-in when they have a role in choosing goals that are personally meaningful to them.
• Regularly ask for and provide feedback: Checking in with team members is the best way to implement needed change. This doesn’t have to be a formal process. Instead, openly discussing how team members are feeling can be normalized as part of the team’s culture.
• Maintain transparency: Be transparent, not just about the goal of the team but the goal of smaller tasks and mandates. This helps people understand how each job and agenda item is contributing to the overall mission of the organization.
• Making learning a continuous priority: Offer trainings, reading material, and resources to team members. Bring in people to teach on new topics and host events where members can share new information and passions with their teammates.
• Recognize accomplishments: Give team members kudos for a job well done and have their good work acknowledged by their peers and managers. 
• Foster a culture of gratitude: It can be helpful to foster a culture of gratitude by having members consider what they are grateful for within the team or in their day, to help them reflect on what they appreciate in another.

If you’re wondering how to be a good team player, Dr. Romanoff has some suggestions that can help:

• Commit to the goal: Commit to the group process and the team’s goal. 
• Take ownership: Take your tasks and responsibilities seriously. Be accountable to yourself and your teammates. Be cognizant of how your actions impact the team.
• Be flexible: Be flexible , open to change, and willing to take on new challenges or responsibilities to help your team.
• Work with your peers, not against them: Don’t compete with your peers. Instead try to work together toward a common goal and help each other out.
• Maintain a positive mindset: Be positive and optimistic. This mindset is contagious and will draw other team members towards you.
• Stay true to your values: Have integrity and speak your mind to advocate for the greater good and values of the group, even if it means going against what other group members are saying.

If you’ve ever been part of a team that just clicked, you know that being part of a team can be engaging and gratifying. Whether it’s at home, at work, on a playground, or in a relationship, working together as part of a team offers several benefits.

Clark W. Teamwork: A multidisciplinary review . Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2021;30(4):685-695. doi:10.1016/j.chc.2021.05.003

Rosen MA, DiazGranados D, Dietz AS, et al. Teamwork in healthcare: Key discoveries enabling safer, high-quality care . Am Psychol . 2018;73(4):433-450. doi:10.1037/amp0000298

By Sanjana Gupta Sanjana is a health writer and editor. Her work spans various health-related topics, including mental health, fitness, nutrition, and wellness.

The Role of Teamwork in Management Essay

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Executive Summary

Introduction, literature review, conclusion and recommendations, reference list.

This report entails an analysis of the role of teamwork in ensuring that individuals are effective and efficient in attaining their goals. The report is composed of a number of sections. In the first section, a background study which illustrates the increased incorporation of teamwork in ensuring that individuals attain their goals is illustrated. The second section entails a literature review on teamwork.

In the review, the report gives a definition of the concept of teamwork. It also considers a number of elements associated with teamwork. One of these issues relates to the factors that make teamwork to be successful. The various factors evaluated include clarity of goals, competence amongst team members, creation of a collaborative climate, incorporation of a result driven structure and ensuring unified commitment.

Other factors include ensuring external support and recognition, standards of excellence and principled leadership. The paper also presents a number of arguments for and against teamwork. In the third section a practical application of the concept of teamwork is illustrated. Finally, a conclusion and number of recommendations with regard to teamwork are outlined.

Background to the study

The success of organizations in different economic sectors is dependent on the effectiveness with which its workforce is managed. According to Price (2007, p.85), the 21 st century is characterized by an increment in the number of challenges that organizations are facing. Some of these challenges arise from the high rate of globalization. Globalization presents a challenge to management teams.

This arises from the fact that it stimulates competition. In order to be successful in attaining their goals, individuals and organizations are considering developing their competitive advantage through incorporation of optimal management strategies. One of the aspects that are gaining prominence relates to human resource management.

Human resource management plays a significant role towards the employees attaining their goals. Human resource management entails bringing individuals within an organization together in order to meet the goals each individuals.

Price (2007, p.86) further asserts that human resource management enables employees to enhance their potential. Human resource management is aimed at ensuring that the employees are efficient and effective in executing their duties so as to improve organizational performance.

There are different human resource management strategies that can be incorporated in order to ensure that the employees are effective and efficient in attaining their goals. One of these strategies relate to teamwork. According Rupar and Rupar (2006, p.239), the concept of teamwork is increasingly gaining prominence in the operation of organizations.

In order to understand why this is so, the author of this report conducted an analysis on the concept that people working in teams always achieve their goals more efficiently and effectively than people working alone.

This report concentrates on the role of teamwork in ensuring that individuals attain their goals more effectively and efficiently.

According to Cohen and Bailey (2001, p.241), a team refers to a group of people who are mutually dependent on each other in executing their tasks. They also share responsibilities. Alternatively, teamwork can be defined to include the cooperative and coordinated efforts through which a group of individuals operate in an environment of trust and responsibility with the objective of attaining a common objective.

Over the few past decades, the concept of teamwork has been a core component of man’s effort to survive and attain personal development. According to Rupar and Rupar (2006, p. 239), the concept of teamwork is becoming prominent with regard to development of individuals.

Individuals have realized that it is difficult to survive by operating on their own. Individuals working together as a team are more effective and efficient in attaining their goals. This arises from the fact that the team members are required to surrender a certain degree of their self-interest and personal ego in order attain a common goal. The success of a team is regarded to be a collective success.

Factors that promote teamwork

Clarity of goals.

According to Isaksen and Tidd (2006, p.186), the success of teamwork is dependent on a number of factors. Firstly, there must be a clear understanding of the common goals in addition to sharing a common vision amongst the group members.

By having a clear understanding of the goals, each member is charged with the responsibility of ensuring that it the goal is attained. This arises from the fact that the benefits of the teamwork would only be achieved if the results are achieved. Having a clear understanding of the goal ensures that each member undertakes his or her task with a high level of clarity.

Competent team members and a collaborative climate

Porter-O’Grady and Malloch (2007, p.286) assert that the success of a team is dependent on the degree of competence and cooperation amongst the team members.

This opinion is also held by Isaksen and Tidd (2006, p.187) who assert that team members must have sufficient skills and a strong drive to collaborate with each other. Despite the existence of diversity amongst the members, teams should utilise the different talents and strengths positively. For this to be achieved, development of a climate of mutual trust is paramount.

Result-driven structure

According to Eugene (2008, p.38), teams within organisations incorporate a result-driven structure in an effort to achieve their goals. Isaksen and Tidd (2006, p.186) further assert that member of a high performing team are more productive.

This arises from the fact that there is a well implemented structure which defines various aspects that the team members have to adhere to. Some of the structures relate to implementing open communication structure so as to ensure that there is an effective and efficient provision of feedback, clarity of tasks and accountabilities. Additionally, the organisation has to ensure that performance is well monitored (Isaksen & Tidd, 2006, p. 186).

Unified commitment

According to Reeves, Lewin, Espin and Zwarenstein (2010, p.51), every individual member of a particular group must have a certain degree of commitment so as to develop unity within the team. Team members should develop mutual support towards other members in order to achieve the desired goal. This results into a high level of motivation amongst the individuals.

In addition to the above factors, there are other factors that promote teamwork. These include; external support and recognition, standards of excellence and principled leadership.

Arguments for working in teams

There are a number of benefits associated with teamwork that contribute towards individuals attaining their goals more efficiently and effectively compared to people working alone. Some of these reasons are discussed below.

By working in teams, individuals’ level of creativity is enhanced. This arises from the fact that teams are composed of individuals who posses diverse knowledge and skills which are shared amongst the members.

Gupta (2007, p.212) asserts that working as a team contributes towards individual attaining continuous improvement. This arises from the fact that members gain knowledge from mistakes and experiences. As a result, a continuous learning environment is created.

For the teams to be successful in attaining their goals, the members are required to share information. West (p.11) asserts that teamwork contributes towards cross-fertilization of ideas. Working as a team also gives individuals access to diverse scientific tools and techniques which contribute towards attainment of efficiency.

Gupta (2007, p.212) asserts that the scientific tools and techniques incorporated in a team enhance resource utilisation. This arises from the fact that wastage of finances, time and materials in executing the tasks is eliminated.

Turner (2001, p.333) asserts that the resultant effect is that the individual team members’ knowledge is enhanced due to the high level of exposure to diverse view points. According to Gupta (2007, p.203), individuals working as a team are more creative and innovative compared to those who have adopted an individualistic approach in executing their duties.

Working as a team also develops individuals’ attitude towards risk. Gupta (2007, p.203) is of the opinion that working as a team motivates individuals to be more risk taking in order to attain their goals. Gupta (2007, p.208) further asserts that working as a team enables individuals to evaluate their strength in dealing with uncertainty, taking calculated risks and taking advantage of the opportunities.

In the event that the degree of risk is high, team members pool their efforts and resources in order to deal with the situation. By working in uncertain situations, individuals become more confident in taking risks.

Working as a team motivates individuals to be continuously innovative in performing their tasks. This enhances the effectiveness with which they attain their goals. Odgers (2005, p.311) asserts that working as a team motivates individuals to accomplish their duties effectively and efficiently. This arises from the fact that team members appreciate their colleagues’ contribution, knowledge and competence.

This creates an environment conducive for working. However, Odgers (2005, p.311) asserts that it is necessary to create a calculated conflict within a team in order to foster creativity amongst team members. Odgers (2005, p.311) asserts that conflict within a group can contribute towards the growth and development of the team members.

Working as a team contributes towards individuals accomplishing all the tasks requirements in addition to their human needs due to the high level of motivation. The resultant effect is that these individuals become more effective and efficient in executing their duties hence attaining their goals.

Working in teams also enables team members to be more committed in designing and implementing various operational strategies. For examples, some of the strategies which the team members incorporate are creative and flexible. Gupta (2007, p.210) assert that working in a team enables team members to be effective in eliminating possible hurdles that may limit attainment of the goals.

Teamwork enables individuals to be positive in countering challenges and taking advantage of the different opportunities presented. Additionally, teamwork leads to creation both formal and informal networks which enhances the effectiveness and efficiency with which individuals achieve their goals.

For a team to operate smoothly, Gupta (2007, p.208) asserts that integration of work standards is paramount. The standards create pressure to individuals to adhere to the standards. This has the effect of enhancing their operational efficiency and effectiveness.

In order to achieve ones goals, it is paramount for one to change. However, Gupta is of the opinion that it is difficult to change working as an individual. This limits the effectiveness and efficiency of attaining one’s goals. On the other hand, working as a team enables individuals to change by effectively identifying the need to change, designing and implementing the desired change (Kandula, 2006, p.118).

Arguments against teamwork

According to Isaksen and Tidd (2006, p.184), teamwork limits individual contribution. This arises from the fact that a group may be characterised by a number of dominant individuals who have a high influence on the decision making. The resultant effect is that the outcome of the team is affected. Additionally, working as a team may result to individuals being forced to conform to certain thoughts.

This means that teamwork enhances group think. However, the quality of decisions made by a particular team may be low thus limiting the effectiveness and efficiency of attaining their goals. Isaksen and Tidd (2006, p.184) further assert that working as a team may lead to conflicting individual biases. The resultant effect is that an unproductive level of competition may be created which may be emergence of ‘winners and ‘losers’.

Practical application of the concept of teamwork

Considering the efficiency and effectiveness associated with teamwork, there are a different ways through which the concept of teamwork can be applied in organisations. According to Mylonas, Harvey and Hodges (2007, p.22), organisational performance is determined by the degree of effectiveness and efficiency in executing different tasks.

In an effort to develop competitive advantage, organisations are increasingly incorporating project management. In order for project management to be effectively integrated in organisations, it has become necessary for firm’s to integrate project teams. The project teams are developed in accordance with the different projects.

Iceland and Ireland (2006, p.489), assert that firms in different economic sectors are facing challenges which require them to be more effective and efficient in executing their duties. One of the ways through which organisations can achieve this is by integrating teamwork in their projects.

Through teamwork, it would be effective and efficient for projects to achieve their goals. This arises from the fact that a high degree of creativity, collaboration, innovation and trust are developed in executing the various tasks.

Despite the limitations of working as a team, the analysis has illustrated that teamwork contributes towards individuals being effective and efficient in achieving their goals. Teamwork enables individuals to become more creative in executing their duties. This arises from the fact that teams are formed of different individuals who possess different skills, information and knowledge.

For example, through collaboration which is a core component of teamwork, individuals’ knowledge and skills are improved. The resultant effect is that their level of competence in executing their duties improved. Additionally, teamwork enhances innovation and continuous improvement amongst individuals. This culminates into a high degree of efficiency and effectiveness of attaining the stipulated goals.

One of the factors that enhance this is the risk taking characteristic of teams. Teamwork also enhances a high level of commitment in attaining the stipulated goals. This is achieved through incorporation of a result-driven structure and standards which individuals are required to adhere to.

In order for individuals to be effective and efficient in attaining their goals, it is paramount for them to incorporate the concept of teamwork. However, the teams should be effectively managed to ensure that they do not deviate from the intended objective.

Cohen, S. & Bailey, D., 2001. What makes teams work; group effectiveness

research from the shop floor to the executive suite. Journal of Management . Vol. 23, issue 3, pp. 239-290. California: University of Southern California.

Eugene, R., 2008. Relationship between teach job satisfaction and teaming structure at the middle school level. New York: ProQuest.

Gupta, B., 2007. Governance and management of technical institutions. New Delhi: Concept Pub. Co.

Iceland, D. & Ireland, L., 2006. Project management; strategic design and implementation. New York: McGraw-Hill.

Isaksen, S. & Tidd, J., 2006. Meeting the innovation challenge; leadership for transformation and growth. Chichester: John Wiley and Sons.

Kandula, I., 2006. Performance management . New York: PHI Learning Pvt Ltd. Mylonas, A., Harvey, J. & Hodges, J., 2007. Business organisations and management for Queensland . South Yarra, Vic: Macmillan Education Australia.

Odgers, P., 2005. Administrative office management; complete course . Mason: Thomson.

Porter-O’Grady, T. & Malloch, K., 2007. Quantum leadership; a resource for health care innovation. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.

Price, A., 2007. Human resource management in a business context . London: Thomson.

Reeves, S., Lewin, S., Espin, S. & Zwarenstein, M., 2010. Interprofessional teamwork for health and social care. Chichester: Wiley Publishers.

Rupar, B. & Rupar, M., 2006. Importance of teamwork for non profit organisations. Slovenija: University of Maribor.

Turner, M., 2001. Groups at work; theory and research . New York: Routledge.

West, M., 2004. Effective; practical lessons from organisational research . Malden, Mass: Blackwell.

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Bibliography

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Secondary Medical School Application Essays: How to Shine

Emphasizing fit and showing authenticity help medical school secondary essays stand out, experts say.

Tips for Secondary Med School Essays

Getty Images | iStockphoto

One of best pieces of advice when writing an application essay is to be authentic.

Key Takeaways

• Secondary medical school essays should highlight why an applicant is a good fit.
• Applicants should submit the essays early without compromising quality.
• It's important to be authentic in essay responses.

After receiving primary applications, most medical schools ask applicants to complete a secondary application, which typically includes additional essay questions. While primary essay prompts ask why you're pursuing medicine, medical school secondary essays focus on you and how you fit with a specific school.

Secondary essay prompts vary by school, but they're generally designed to help med schools learn about you at a deeper level. They may ask you to reflect on what makes you who you are, a time when you worked with a population different than yourself, an occasion where you asked for help or a time when you worked in a team. They may ask how you spent a gap year before applying to medical school or what you did after your undergraduate degree.

"What we are trying to figure out is if this is a candidate that can fulfill the premedical competencies and whether they are mission-aligned," says Dr. Wendy Jackson, associate dean for admissions at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine . “Can they help fulfill the needs that our institution is trying to deliver?”

A lot rides on these essays, but keeping a few best practices in mind can make the process less daunting.

Emphasize Fit

The first thing medical schools look for is whether an applicant will be a good fit for the school’s mission, Jackson says.

“I would challenge someone who is completing a secondary application to understand the mission of the school and envision how they are going to contribute to that,” she says. “The vast majority of schools are going to ask why you chose their institution, so you need to be prepared to answer that.”

Some secondary essay questions are optional, but experts recommend answering them even though they're extra work. For example, the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Tennessee asks applicants what makes them interested in the school.

“We just want to see if they’re a good fit for us and that they’ve done a little bit of homework about Vanderbilt," says Jennifer Kimble, director of admissions at Vanderbilt's medical school. "We want to make sure that the students we admit are going to be happy with their Vanderbilt experience.”

Avoid focusing on what you’re going to gain from the school – schools are really asking how you'll be an asset to the program.

"It’s almost like if you’re trying to date someone and you tell them, ‘Here’s what I’m going to get from this relationship,’ without saying, ‘We’re better off together,’” says Shirag Shemmassian, founder of Shemmassian Academic Consulting. “You have to sell the idea that you’re bettering one another and how you’re better together than apart. I think students often miss that latter component."

Don't Procrastinate

The medical school application process is often compared to a marathon, but the final steps may feel like a sprint. Applicants typically receive secondary application requests in late June, and in some cases schools want those back within a matter of weeks. Others set deadlines months down the road.

Either way, because of rolling admissions , it's best to send essays in as early as possible without compromising quality, Shemmassian says.

The earlier an applicant submits materials, the less competition they typically face, experts say. For example, Vanderbilt receives nearly 7,000 applications per year. Of those, roughly 600 applicants will be asked to interview and around 260 will be offered admission for 96 spots.

"At the beginning of the cycle, our calendar is wide open and we’re very open to who we bring in for an interview," Kimble says. "Down the road when we only have 30 seats left, it’s highly selective who those candidates are that get those coveted 30 interview spots that are left over."

Prewrite Essays

Applicants won't know the specific language of secondary essay prompts until schools send them, but in many cases, essay prompts are similar year to year and the previous year's prompts are often published on a school's admissions website, experts say. Some schools may change or tweak questions, but you can generally get a head start by prewriting essays based on previous prompts.

"As the new ones come out, you can modify as needed," Shemmassian says. "I would say that about 70% to 80% of prompts will remain the same or similar. If they change, you can usually adapt an essay you’ve written for another school."

Secondary essays vary in length and number. Vanderbilt requires applicants to submit an 800-word essay and two 600-word essays. Some schools may require close to 10 secondary essays. Shemmassian says this is significantly more writing than applicants are used to, so budgeting time is crucial.

But applicants should take care when prewriting essays and make sure each is tailored to the specific school with the correct school name, experts say. Jackson says she's read plenty of essays where applicants included the wrong school name and it cost them.

“You may think you can save time by cutting and pasting or taking half of a previously written essay response and making a modification,” Jackson says. “Be careful, because the questions vary from institution to institution.”

Experts say applicants often neglect to fully read prompts in their haste to complete answers. Though there's a time crunch, it's vital to thoroughly read the prompt and answer the question fully without grammatical or spelling errors.

“That seems kind of silly, but I think we can get going down a road when we’re writing and feel like we’ve completed and written something well but look back and never really have a response to the true question being asked," Jackson says.

Be Authentic

Medical school applicants tend to put a lot of pressure on themselves to write something that schools haven't read before, Kimble says. Given that med schools sift through thousands of applicants a year, "we’ve read all sorts of scenarios in life, so take that pressure and put it on the shelf," she says. "That’s not a concern for us. We aren’t looking for something that’s totally innovative."

Experts say schools are mostly looking for authenticity and an organic, genuine tone. The tone "can make or break an applicant," Jackson says.

It may be tempting, especially given time constraints, to rely on outside help – such as ChatGPT or other AI-powered software – to write essays. While some professors and admissions officers have embraced AI to help automate certain processes, Kimble says she strongly discourages med school applicants from using AI to help with secondary essays.

"We had an (application) that you could clearly see was not written by a human voice," she says. "It sounded very computer generated, so we ended up passing on the candidate just because we want to hear their story in their own words."

A Secondary Essay Example

Shemmassian compiles more than 1,000 sample secondary essays each year, using prompts from more than 150 medical schools in various states, and offers them to paying clients. The excerpted example below, created by Shemmassian's team and used with their permission, shows what he considers to be a successful diversity-themed essay in response to a Yale University School of Medicine prompt that asks applicants to reflect on how their background and experiences contribute to the school's focus on diversity and how it will inform their future role as a doctor.

As a child, one of my favorite times of the year was the summer, when I would travel to Yemen… at least until I turned twelve. Suddenly, the traditional and, in my Yemeni American view, restrictive laws for women, applied to me. Perhaps the most representative of these laws was having to cover my hair with a scarf-like garment. Staying true to my values, I decided against returning to Yemen, thereby losing a vital connection to my culture. However, this estrangement did not inhibit my growth.

The 500-word response continues with how the applicant met a Yemeni student who grew up in France and was barred from wearing a headscarf due to a school uniform policy. Where the applicant saw the headscarf as restrictive, the other student saw it as a connection to her roots. The applicant describes how although the same object held different meanings to two people from the same background, she used that to appreciate different perspectives and to advocate for a woman's right to express herself.

Later that year, I applied this lesson in perspective to my work as a clinical coordinator, when a patient walked into the office and handed me a piece of paper explaining she only spoke Arabic...By thinking critically while vernacularly translating the doctor’s advice, I was directly involved in the process of her medical care. Because of my experience in exploring the multi-cultural barriers I faced alongside the Yemeni French student who cherished her headscarf, I spent time talking to this Yemeni patient about the barriers she had faced in receiving care.

This experience motivated me to help overcome cultural healthcare barriers and disparities, showcasing my devotion to equitable treatment by creating a new protocol within the clinic where I work. Now, when scheduling patients over the phone, we ask if they have any language preferences, and we have a series of scripts we can use during each patient’s treatment.

The applicant then drives home why she believes she's a good fit for the school.

My background and experiences will contribute to Yale School of Medicine’s diversity and inform my future role as a physician by creating a student organization that holds informational workshops, utilizing my unique experiences to connect with Yale’s diverse patient population, and working to address healthcare disparities as a future physician. I envision these informational workshops would operate in the Haven Free Clinic patient waiting rooms to empower all patients, regardless of their background.

This essay is successful because it does more than tell essay readers about the applicant's background, Shemmassian says. It shows how the applicant grew "into a more compassionate and culturally humble future physician who will help patients overcome health care barriers."

"Strong diversity essays will always show admissions committees how a unique trait or life experience will help them become a better physician," he says. "This essay is especially successful because the applicant connects their experiences and what they’ve learned because of them to the Yale School of Medicine itself. This is an applicant who is already thinking deeply about not just what they can get out of medical school but how they can contribute to the values and mission of the school they attend."

Searching for a medical school? Get our  complete rankings  of Best Medical Schools.

Medical School Application Mistakes

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English Compositions

Short Essay on Importance of Teamwork [100, 200, 400 Words] With PDF 

In this session, you will learn to write short essays on the Importance of Teamwork. Here I will write three sets of short essays on the importance of teamwork covering different word limits. 

Table of Contents

Short essay on importance of teamwork in 100 words, short essay on importance of teamwork in 200 words, short essay on importance of teamwork in 400 words.

Teamwork is when a team or a group of people work together towards a common goal. Teamwork makes a task simpler and easier. Teamwork is needed among students working on an assignment together, players playing for a particular sports team as well as employees of any organisation working together to fulfil a task.

When a group of people work together, if everyone wants to do the task his way rather than listening to each other, the task will never be finished. That is why teamwork is important. When people listen to each other’s opinions, help each other and put their common goal before personal gain, they have great teamwork. Teamwork helps us achieve goals that can not be achieved alone. 

Teamwork is the combined action taken by a group of people to achieve a common goal. We cannot always work alone. Sometimes, to fulfil a larger goal, many people need to come together and take combined action.

In school, students work as a team to finish group projects. In sports, members of a team must work together if they want to win. In corporations, if every employee is only focused on his personal goals, the corporation wouldn’t be able to function. When a group of people work together, if everyone wants to do the task his way rather than listening to each other and choosing the best way, the task will never be finished. That is why teamwork is important. 

When people work as a team, they communicate with each other. They are free to express their views and opinions and others listen to them. Everyone has a duty assigned to them which they so diligently. It is their responsibility to make sure they are doing their part well or else the entire team will stop functioning well.

When a team has a good leader who is capable of encouraging, motivating, guiding and helping others in the team, teamwork becomes much easier. With good teamwork, a huge task may be finished in no time. Teamwork helps us achieve big goals which cannot be achieved individually.

Not all tasks can be done by a single person. Sometimes, to fulfil a larger goal, many people need to come together and take combined action. In school, students need to work together with their classmates to finish a group project. In sports, be it cricket, football or hockey, all the members of a certain team must work together and support each other in order to win a match.

No organisation can function without teamwork. If every employee is only focused on his personal goals and gains, the corporation wouldn’t be able to finish any of its projects. At home, if family members don’t understand and help each other, it will cause unnecessary issues and create tension.

We can see examples of teamwork even in the wild. Many animals display teamwork by hunting together as a group. While some members of the group distract the prey, others surround it, jump on it and kill it. Many wild animals also stay together to protect themselves and each other from danger as well as to raise their young. 

When we look at large organisations, all the work there is divided and given to different departments. Even in those departments, hundreds of people do different work which is assigned to them by the head. Only when everyone is doing their work well, a department can finish the work assigned to them and in turn, the organisation can flourish. If any one department stops functioning, all other departments have to stop and wait as well.

It is not quite easy to keep working hard, matching the pace of everyone else. One can often get demotivated and slow down. That is why a good leader is very important in every team. A good leader is one who is capable of encouraging, motivating, guiding and helping others in the team. He makes working as a team easier. 

It is very important for children to learn teamwork as it will help them throughout their lives. Teamwork also teaches about discipline and responsibility. When people work as a team, they communicate with each other about their problems. They are allowed to freely express their views and opinions and the other members listen to them.

Everyone has a duty assigned to them which they do very diligently. It is their responsibility to make sure they are doing their part well so that the team can keep functioning smoothly. With good teamwork, a huge task may be finished in no time. Teamwork helps us grow in every field of life and is the key to our success. 

In this lesson, I have adopted a simplistic approach for a better understanding of all kinds of students. If anyone has any doubts regarding this topic, they can post them in the comment section below. I will try my level best to clarify those doubts. 

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11 Benefits of teamwork in the workplace (with examples)

Teamwork is one of the most important tools when it comes to organizational efficiency. Though we can all agree that teamwork is important, not everyone realizes just how impactful it is in the workplace. Teamwork in the workplace is when a group of individuals work together toward a collective goal in an efficient manner. When multiple people work together toward a common goal, your business can flourish. 

We’ve rounded up 11 top benefits of teamwork in the workplace, with examples throughout to help you better understand just how important teamwork is. Ready to work on teamwork? Let’s dive in.

What is teamwork?

Teamwork is the process of working collaboratively with a group of people to achieve a specific goal. It involves the combined efforts of individual members who bring their unique knowledge and skills to the table. Effective teamwork in the workplace relies on key components such as active listening and open communication, and ensures each person's input contributes towards reaching the team's goals.

Why is teamwork important?

Teamwork in the workplace is important because it supports an organization's operational efficiency. Strong team dynamics enable individual members to divide complex projects into manageable tasks, which enhance productivity and enable an organization to function more effectively. Moreover, successful teamwork creates a supportive network that can significantly enhance job satisfaction and employee morale.

Benefits of teamwork in the workplace

1. teamwork cultivates effective communication.

Effective teamwork in the workplace starts with solid communication . In order to work together—whether when ideating or working on a new project—you need to communicate to create cohesion and clear goals.

Communication starts by building camaraderie and team synergy . A great way to do this is by organizing team building activities. This could be a quick icebreaker at the beginning of a meeting or a whole day spent solving fictional problems with teammates. 

A successful team that demonstrates clear communication is more efficient and productive. Not to mention it creates an enjoyable work environment. 

Communication example: Daniella and Kabir are working on a project task together. Kabir is confused when reviewing the project notes so he messages Daniella to ask for help. They hop on a quick call and work through the problem together. By working as a team, they effectively communicated and were able to complete the task the same day. 

Tip: Take communication one step further by keeping tasks and collaboration in a shared digital space. That way, everyone can stay on the same page, no matter where they are.

 2. Teamwork improves brainstorming

Brainstorming is a powerful method that helps teams think outside of the box. It involves individuals working together by communicating ideas for a number of initiatives. These could include projects, processes, products, and services. 

Good teamwork means your team communicates and feels comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas. Without teamwork, your brainstorming sessions could suffer, and, in turn, so could your team’s quality and performance. 

Ultimately, the success of brainstorming sessions relies on solid teamwork in the workplace. By investing time to foster trust and open communication, every individual’s potential can be maximized, benefiting the whole team. You can do this by connecting in a one on one setting regularly and encouraging team members to share their insights. 

Brainstorming example: Kat needs to come up with three design ideas for a new landing page. Instead of ideating by herself, she asks the team to join in on a brainstorming session. Since there are many team members sharing ideas, Kat receives more than enough ideas to get started. 

Tip: Check out 29 brainstorming techniques to help spark creativity within your team. 

3. Teamwork encourages a common goal

Having a common goal in mind is essential when it comes to prioritizing projects and new initiatives. With multiple team members working on individual tasks, a project goal helps keep deliverables aligned and ensures objectives are met. 

There are a number of ways you can communicate a goal in a way that both encourages teamwork in the workplace and promotes collaboration. These include:

Business case : A business case is a document that details the value of a project or initiative. This ensures each team member has the same starting point before diving into a project.

Team meeting: Meetings are a great way to get your team in one place to communicate expectations and work together. Having an initial meeting—as well as a post mortem meeting once the project is over—can help determine deliverables and ensure objectives were met. 

Timeline software : Timeline tools can help your team visualize the work you need to complete and how you’ll hit your project goals. Clarifying task due dates and dependencies unlocks teamwork and allows team members to thrive. 

Goal-oriented example: Kat is leading a meeting on a new process that’s being put into place. Kabir asks what the purpose of the process is. Kat explains that they’ll be adding a new tool to their scheduling process to automate some of the team’s work, like tedious and time consuming tasks. Now, the team understands the underlying goal.

Tip: Align tasks to goals using goal-setting software that helps you achieve progress and keeps team members on the right track every step of the way.

4. Teamwork in the workplace improves problem solving skills

Problems can be difficult to solve on your own. That’s why working together as a team can offer quicker and often more effective solutions. 

Not only does this help create an efficient process for problem solving, but using teamwork creates shared goals.

Problem solving example: Project manager Kat finds out there is an issue with image implementation that’s postponing the project launch date. Instead of trying to solve it alone, she enlists her team in a brainstorming session to come up with solutions. Because she asked her team for help, she was able to co-create a solution in just an hour, as opposed to what could have taken days by herself. 

Tip: Practice problem solving as a group by using team building activites to motivate your team members to feel confident in their solutions. 

5. Teamwork helps build trust

Trust in the workplace is something that is built over time. It takes transparent communication, one-on-one sessions, and support to build that trust with team members. 

A team that trusts each other feels comfortable communicating ideas, collaborating in the workplace , and growing individual strength. Not just that, but they also feel a sense of belonging within the group. 

The absence of teamwork in the workplace can lead to a breakdown in trust. This can result in team members feeling isolated and turning competitive, focusing on individual achievements over team success, which can undermine both morale and performance. 

Trust example: Ray has a task that’s overdue. His manager, Kabir, offers to sit down with him and offer support. Afterward, Ray feels relieved and has the confidence to complete the task. Next time he has an issue, he knows he can reach out to Kabir for support. 

Tip: Building teamwork in the workplace goes beyond the daily tasks; it's about connecting with your team members on a personal level. Figuring out what makes them unique is a great way to build trust over time. 

6. Teamwork improves company culture

Most companies strive for a good organizational culture , but it’s not as easy as having chats at the water cooler or a monthly pizza party. Company culture involves making your team members feel heard and empowered to do their best work while offering them work-life balance and an overall enjoyable work environment. 

To build culture, encourage camaraderie and teamwork in the workplace. Spending time with one another can help build this bond and, in turn, improve working relationships and the culture around the (virtual) office. 

Culture example: Kabir’s team has a huddle every Monday where they share what they did over the weekend and any upcoming projects for the week. Since they get to talk about both personal and work-related topics, the team enjoys their Monday meeting. In fact, communication and overall culture have improved since the team began meeting on Mondays. 

Tip: Build shared values by giving team members the opportunity to share the values they think are important. 

7. Teamwork creates efficiency

From communicating effectively to improving company culture, teamwork drives many benefits, including creating team efficiency . An efficient team works together to quickly manage problems and daily tasks. As a result, efficient teams use resources more effectively and reach their deliverables faster. When it comes to organizational growth, few strategies are as impactful as cultivating streamlined efficiency through teamwork in the workplace. Such cohesion is instrumental in fostering innovative solutions while maintaining consistent quality.

Efficiency example: There’s a new project on the horizon for Ray and his team. Ray’s first instinct was to ask Kat, his senior specialist, to tackle it since she’s the best fit to handle the task. After analyzing the difficulty of the project, he decides to have his entire team tackle it together. To his surprise, they completed the project in just half the initial timeline.

Tip: To encourage efficiency across projects, align your team using one work management tool. That way, everyone can clearly see the goals you’re working towards, the timeline for that work, and who's responsible for what.

8. Teamwork increases employee engagement

A little known secret to fostering long-term happiness and engagement is to nurture teamwork in the workplace. When team members feel part of a supportive group, they're more likely to be content and involved, which naturally boosts their work satisfaction over time. 

To increase employee engagement, encourage teamwork inside and outside of work. Schedule time for your team to connect about more than just work. Your team will feel more open when working in a group, which leads to a higher retention rate. 

Engagement example: Kat’s team has been working hard on a top priority project. Unfortunately, issues arose and now they have to stay late to finish the project before the weekend. Kat knows that she needs to do something to keep the team’s spirits and energy up. She decides to start the evening with a team building activity. This immediately engages the team and gets everyone excited to put their heads together and finish the project off strong.

Tip: Make your virtual meetings more engaging by starting them off with a quick ice breaker question to lighten up the mood. 

9. Teamwork motivates high performing teams

Accountability is a powerful motivator, and teamwork in the workplace is a surefire way to instill this sense of responsibility. It spurs team members not just to meet expectations, but to exceed them and willingly contribute their best ideas to the group's endeavors. The higher performing each team member is, the higher performing your overall team will be, meaning you can create high quality work more efficiently. Not only is a high performing team good for your company, but it also helps job satisfaction, as doing well will motivate individuals to continue growing their skillset.

High performing example: It’s team review time and Kat gets a shoutout at all hands for implementing a new process to increase productivity. Kabir, a new team member, feels empowered to work hard and will receive a superb review next quarter. 

Tip: High performing teams are usually made up of individuals who seek motivation from within, otherwise known as intrinsic motivation . 

10. Teamwork in the workplace develops individual strengths

Teamwork isn’t just about team success—it also supports individual development as well. Team members who grow their individual knowledge can then share that with others during future projects. 

The result: Individual team members grow their own strengths as well as the strengths of the team. These could include your ability to problem solve, effectively communicate , and combat procrastination—all of which are important skill sets to develop in the workplace. 

Individual strengths teamwork example: Kabir is new to the team and working on his first task. He’s a little stuck so he reaches out to a team member for help. Kat shares her tips on how she works on a similar task. She even shares a tool that Kabir didn’t know about. This helps him complete the task more efficiently.

Tip: If a team member can complete a task just as well as you could, delegate it without intervening. This allows your team members to grow their individual strengths and skills. 

11. Teamwork improves decision making skills

While problem solving and decision making sound similar, decision making skills are all encompassing. To be good at decision making, you need the confidence to make quick decisions based on the knowledge you’ve gathered in your role. 

Teamwork in the workplace is invaluable for improving decision-making abilities. It creates an environment where team members are encouraged to tackle questions and make decisions promptly, which is essential for real-time problem-solving.

Decision making teamwork example: Kabir is leading his first team meeting for a new project. As he’s explaining the upcoming timeline and deliverables, an executive asks who will be working on the project. Kabir is quick to answer confidently, as he’s already brainstormed with his team on who will tackle what. 

Tip: Encourage teamwork in the workplace by inviting team members to actively participate in important meetings, such as by presenting their solutions. This gets them used to explaining their thought process in front of other team members. 

How to improve teamwork in the workplace

Improving teamwork in the workplace is about fostering an environment that values the contributions of all team members and encourages collaborative efforts towards shared goals . It involves enhancing teamwork skills across the board. Here are seven steps you can take to foster great teamwork.

Clarify roles and responsibilities. Assign clear goals based on desired outcomes, allowing employees to understand their objectives. For instance, a designer might be tasked with improving user experience, as measured by customer feedback, rather than just completing a set number of designs.

Establish outcome-based expectations. Shift the focus from processes to results, which urges team members to think strategically about accomplishing their objectives. For example, this method could lead a sales team to prioritize closing deals that align with long-term business strategy over merely hitting short-term numbers.

Set standards of excellence. Define what high-quality work looks like for each position and establish performance benchmarks. A customer service rep, for example, would aim for swift resolution times and high satisfaction ratings, setting a clear target to strive towards.

Provide time for self-reflection. Allocate time for individuals to assess their strengths and passions. A software engineer might discover their knack for algorithm optimization, steering them towards new learning opportunities.

Align strengths with tasks. Give individual team members roles that capitalize on their strongest skills. When a marketing analyst with a talent for data visualization is tasked with creating campaign performance reports, their skill set directly enhances the value of the work produced.

Foster an atmosphere of trust and openness. Cultivate an environment that values teamwork in the workplace through sharing and open communication between colleagues. By establishing regular "open floor" meetings, team members can freely exchange innovative ideas and feedback, bolstering team performance.

Encourage continuous improvement. Establish a routine of constructive feedback, supporting personal and professional growth. This approach might involve quarterly performance discussions that not only review past achievements but also set actionable objectives for skills and career development.

Teamwork in the workplace FAQ

What are the benefits of working in teams .

Working in teams is beneficial because it allows for the division of difficult tasks, making complex projects more manageable and enabling solutions that leverage diverse skill sets. Teamwork in the workplace fosters a collaborative environment where each person contributes different perspectives, which can lead to more innovative solutions and shared success.

How do you demonstrate teamwork skills at work? 

Demonstrating teamwork skills at work involves actively listening to colleagues, contributing ideas, and showing reliability. Being part of a team means collaborating effectively, whether in person or virtually, and supporting others in achieving shared goals. Teamwork in the workplace is about being adaptable, communicative, and committed to the team’s success.

What makes a good team? 

A good team operates with a strong sense of unity and shared purpose. Its members possess complementary skills, and there's a balance of roles that ensures all necessary tasks are handled efficiently. Strong teamwork in the workplace embraces open communication, respects each other's contributions, and is focused on achieving collective goals.

Why is teamwork important in business? 

Teamwork is important in business because it brings together different viewpoints and improves problem-solving capabilities. It fosters efficiency and productivity, as tasks are completed faster with collaborative effort. The importance of teamwork in the workplace is also evident in driving innovation, as employees are encouraged to brainstorm and contribute ideas in a supportive setting. Plus, when teamwork is strong, it can lead to improved employee morale and job satisfaction.

Drive teamwork through communication

Teamwork is a valuable tool to use in the workplace that comes with a multitude of benefits. From building trust to encouraging problem solving skills, teamwork brings your team together and creates clear communication. 

If you want to encourage teamwork in the workplace, try work management software. Make working on common goals easier and keep communication streamlined.

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Ananya Udaygiri is the Vol. 265 Video Managing Editor. A sophomore from Houston, TX, she sometimes writes for News -- and on bad days, for Humor.

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Might the Era of Legacy Admissions Be Coming to an End?

Riann winget.

A bipartisan group of senators introduces legislation aimed at ending legacy preference in college admissions.

Nearly three quarters of Americans and the vast majority of college admissions directors opposed the use of legacy preferences in college admissions decisions, as of 2022. Since 2015, over 100 colleges and universities have even voluntarily ended such legacy preference practices in admissions.

And in November, a bipartisan coalition of senators, led by U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.), introduced the Merit-based Educational Reforms and Institutional Transparency Act (MERIT Act), which, if passed, would amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to condition schools’ accreditation on their agreement not to use legacy and donor-related preference in college and university admissions decisions.

Although the movement to end legacy admissions has been gaining traction for many years, the U.S. Supreme Court decisions in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina , which barred the use of race-based affirmative action policies in college admissions, spurred the movement further. After the U.S. Supreme Court decisions, President Joseph R. Biden expressed opposition to the use of legacy preferences in admissions. The U.S. Department of Education also voiced support for ending legacy and donor-relation preferences in a recent report , claiming that these practices reduce diversity, do not relate to merit or potential, serve already-privileged students, and reduce opportunities for disadvantaged students.

The drafters of the MERIT Act target legacy admissions policies through institutional accreditation , a process that is designed to ensure that education provided by institutions meets acceptable levels of quality. Although the Education Department does not directly accredit institutions, it provides oversight of third-party accrediting agencies and maintains a database of accredited institutions. To become an accredited institution under the Higher Education Act, an accrediting agency must regularly inspect , review, and report on higher education institutions’ compliance with standards relevant to providing a quality education, such as student success, curricula, faculty, facilities and student support services.

The MERIT Act, if passed, would require accrediting agencies to assess institutions’ use of admissions practices that “refrain from preferential treatment in admissions based on an applicant’s relationship to alumni of, or donors to, the institution.” For the purposes of the MERIT Act, preferential treatment means “making an admissions decision” or “awarding tangible education benefits” where an applicant’s relationship with alumni, institutional donors, or the institution itself, “serves as the determinative factor.”

Senator Kaine, one of the bill’s co-sponsors, claimed that the bill, if passed, would bring “more fairness to the higher education admissions process, and ensure that first-generation and low-income students are not put at a disadvantage because of their parents’ educational histories or incomes.” Senator Young, the other co-sponsor, lauded the bill as promoting “upward mobility for Americans of all backgrounds.”

The bill contains two caveats to the new requirements, however. First, religious schools would still reserve the right to make admissions decisions “consistent with the institution’s faith-based values,” which the bill’s proponents claim will ensure no infringement on religious freedom. Second, the new accreditation standards, if approved, should not be construed to prevent institutions from considering an applicant’s genuine interest in the institution as part of the admissions process. An applicant may demonstrate interest in an institution by drawing on their “lived experiences” and other personal attributes, so long as the criteria for assessing such interest are clearly defined and the opportunity to demonstrate interest is provided to all applicants, regardless of alumni or donor-relation status.

Although most Americans oppose legacy preferences, the practice still retains support. Critics of the movement to end legacy admissions, such as Williams College Professor Steven B. Gerrard ,   argue that the practice positively impacts an institution’s student body and does not harm its diversity. According to Gerrard, legacy status or relationship to donors is only considered when weighing equally qualified and equally privileged students, so a legacy student would never take the place of a first-generation student in an admitted class, for example.

In addition, Gerrard argues that allowing legacy preference can foster a tighter-knit sense of student and alumni community. This community, in turn, can boost the alumni donations needed to fund the scholarships which pay for the education of low-income or first-generation students. Indeed, one study found that, in 2022, alumni donations accounted for $13.5 billion, much of which was used to provide scholarships. Allowing legacy and donor-related preferences, therefore, may benefit low-income students even more than it benefits the admitted legacy students.

Supporters of the bill, however—including the bill’s co-sponsors— argue that allowing legacy admissions restricts opportunities for deserving, but underprivileged, students, while providing “unmerited advantage to the most connected individuals in our society.” Furthermore, under current admission practices, studies have shown that legacy students at some universities, including two Ivy League colleges, outnumber Black students at those institutions.

Ultimately, “America is a land of opportunity, not a land of aristocracy,” stated Senator Young in a recent press conference about the need for the MERIT Act. And as the Education Department noted , continuing to prefer legacy and donor-related applicants can limit vital educational opportunities for those who need it most.

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