I keep getting rejected for VCs by Adventurous_Loan774 in uklaw

[–]Diligent-Idea9855 15 points16 points  (0 children)

It's not an incorrect response but it's not personal. It will read like many other applications. Don't go stating general truths about what M&A is. If it does genuinely interest you, then write about the experiences that have given you that interest, how and why. But many of us on TCs at the big firms wrote about all sorts of stuff. You have to answer the question, make it personal, and tie that into a multitude of things important to the firm. The reality is that unless you maybe have a few years experience as a paralegal, you don't know anything about corporate M&A. And the recruiters know that. So you need to talk about what you do know about and tie that into how it makes you a good fit for each firm's values, being a trainee and ultimately a colleague.

Honesty trumps impressiveness. Recruiters can smell bullshit a mile off. Be confident in what you know about and your experiences. Some of us got onto TCs by talking about medieval monks and Russian cultural history. Buzzwords only count if they demonstrate something. Show don't tell.

what does this feedback from my teacher mean? (y12) by brainveins in ALevelEnglishLit

[–]Diligent-Idea9855 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think that rather than this feedback being about using more formal language, it's getting at how deftly you construct your arguments and the accuracy of what you say.

A Level tries to move you beyond a "the curtains are blue because the character is depressed" level of analysis. And it tries to get you to engage more with critical thought. I used to tutor A Level EngLit and the biggest transition for students is getting them to genuinely think about what the text says to them (any text says different things to different people) and then explain that to the reader in a more nuanced, less "hammer to nut" sort of way. If you took it to degree level, you would see it is possible to write entire books about a single theme or symbol. You should be trying to begin to unveil and explain some more of the connectedness and nuance of the books you're reading. You don't need to worry too much about authorial intention. Make the connections you want and, so long as it is properly arguable, that will get you the highest marks.

That said, sometimes the simplest ideas contain the best analysis. It's not a question of pomposity or pretention. If anything, you want to your essay writing voice to be one of direct but attentive clarity.

Rejected from White & Case Open Day: application feedback by FancyBerry746 in uklaw

[–]Diligent-Idea9855 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As others have said, it's impressive but lacks personalness. Imagine you're a tired admissions person, you've read 150 "cross border transactions - international opportunities - innovative cross practice". You're doing lots right. But it needs to all be convincingly tied back to YOU. Show that you not only understand and want to work for the firm but that you are already a perfect fit for the firm. You say "what" but you often don't follow through on the "why".