Gunakan Metode “STAR”

Metode STAR cukup populer digunakan dalam menulis essay maupun menjawa
b pertanyaan interview, namun metode ini juga kerap diabaikan. Poin penting d
alam menulis essay IISMA adalah jangan bertele-tele! Berdasarkan ketentuan es
say pada tahun-tahun sebelumnya, setiap nomor essay hanya dapat dijawab den
gan maksimal 350 kata. Jadi, menulis menggunakan metode STAR akan sangat
membantu ketika kalian harus menulis essay dengan kata terbatas. STAR adalah
kepanjangan dari Situation, Task, Action, and Result. Pada bagian Situation kali
an dapat menjelaskan secara singkat mengenai kondisi/masalah/isu/background
yang menjadi topik essay kalian. Pada bagian Task, kalian bisa menjabarkan ch
allenge/task dari tanggung jawab yang telah kalian jelaskan pada poin situation.
Pada bagian Action, jelaskan aksi/kegiatan yang kalian lakukan untuk mencapai
/merespon isu yang telah kalian bangun sebelumnya. Terakhir, Result, jabarkan
hasil dari usaha-usaha yang telah kalian lakukan tersebut.

Be True to Yourself

Salah satu hal yang membuat essay unik dan menarik adalah essay memiliki poi
n storyline yang berbeda dengan kandidat lain. Hal ini dapat dilakukan dengan
menulis essay-mu dengan sentuhan cerita personal. Saat menulis essay, penting
untuk jujur terhadap diri sendiri dan lakukan refleksi diri! Apa yang ingin kalian
ceritakan, apa yang ingin kalian tunjukkan, harus sesuai dengan apa yang ada da
lam diri kalian sendiri. Pada essay IISMA, kalian dapat memaksimalkan cerita p
ersonal pada essay yang membahas mengenai challenge/hurdle yang kalian ala
mi dan cara mengatasinya. Lakukan refleksi diri dan tulis cerita terbaik kalian b
eserta cerita perjuangan kalian saat menghadapi masalah dan bangkit dari masal
ah tersebut.

Meskipun terlihat sepele, namun sangat penting untuk mempersiapkan aplikasi I

ISMA lebih awal dengan matang termasuk mempersiapkan English Proficiency
Test dan Essay. Selamat berjuang dan semoga sukses!
Sample 1

https://medium.com/@nadiazzahra05/essay-that-got-me-into-iisma-7cdae850e81

Prompt 1: Discuss your academic and non-academic achievements, includin

g the process and skills involved in your previous or current degree progra
m!

Michelle Obama once said, “The benefits of studying abroad are almost endles
s,” — and I live up to that statement. Ever since my first year in college, I have d
reamt of studying abroad. It is the main reason I am always keen to evolve and b
ring out the best version of myself by exploring my skills and interests in various
fields.

I participated in the International Rounds of International Criminal Court Moot

Court Competition as a researcher for the defense counsel. During this process,
I developed my legal research skills and learned how to maneuver working in gr
oups and communicate effectively among my teammates. As a result, my team’s l
egal memorandum was able to get zero penalties from the jury. Besides, since I
am also interested in business, I did a virtual exchange program at Universiti Sa
ins Malaysia, studying international business strategy and international human
resource management, where I was lucky enough to get a full scholarship. It was
enchanting since this program taught me to adapt to a multicultural setting cons
idering several group assignments required working with people from various c
ountries.

Outside of the academic field, I participated in several international organizatio

ns, one of them being the International Law Students Association (ILSA) Chapte
r Unair, as the Head of Public Relations Affairs. My biggest accomplishment in
ILSA was when I turned our charity program, which used to be an underdog pro
gram, into ILSA’s trademark project. I pour my heart and soul into leading a tea
m of 29 people across four divisions. We started from brainstorming ideas to exe
cuting them together, which challenged my people and conflict management abil
ity. I also work tirelessly as a project manager and marketing team leader durin
g the process. As a result, we were able to collaborate with a Harvard alumnus,
partnered with 17 of Indonesia’s best youth organizations, raised more than 8 m
illion rupiahs in less than two months, and donated it to a foundation for childre
n with special needs. Leading this project has inspired me to create more social
impact projects in the future. So far, this journey has been such an eye-opening
experience.

Prompt 2: Please outline your plans to engage with local and international c
ommunities during the IISMA program using clear examples!

An exchange program might be temporary, but the friends we make during the p
rocess and the insights we gain from them are forever. Thus, I think it is essentia
l to be amiable and gregarious so we can engage with both the local and interna
tional communities. I would love to have a foreigner as my roommate so that I c
an enrich my experience. Having a foreign roommate provides an instant conne
ction to many friends and increases exposure to international networks and cult
ural activities. At the University of Pennsylvania, I specifically would love to liv
e in Harnwell college house, which is highly known for its diverse environment.

I also intend to join several student-run clubs. At the University of Pennsylvania,

I am intrigued to join the Penn Effective Altruism and the Penn Muslim Students
Association (MSA). Both of these clubs fit my interest, and they will help me mak
e a myriad of international friends. I have contacted the Penn MSA team, and I a
m glad to know that they are more than welcome to let me join their club. While
for my second option, at Padua University, I would love to engage with the Inter
national Students Council and Erasmus Students Network. These two organizati
ons are known for holding numerous social and cultural events, such as gatherin
g dinners and city tours. Therefore, participating in these organizations will enc
ourage me to socialize while learning to be culturally inclusive and receptive to
different perspectives.

In addition, I hope to collaborate with Penncasila, an Indonesian students assoc

iation at Penn, and Persatuan Mahasiswa Indonesia Amerika Serikat (PERMIA
S) Philadelphia to promote Indonesia to the international eyes through a cultura
l exhibition named Penn Indonesia Cultural Events. At Padua University, I plan
to team up with Perhimpunan Pelajar Indonesia Triveneto to conduct a simple y
et fun cultural event. I envision holding an Indonesian cinema night where we ca
n invite our local and international friends to watch some of Indonesia’s finest m
ovies while eating Indonesian foods and playing traditional games. I am confide
nt that engaging with local and global communities will help break the stereotyp
es and misconceptions that often divide us.

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SAMPLE 2