+

Writing The College Admissions Essay

+If you are a high school senior, now is the time to get started on those college essays.

+What are colleges looking for in essays? Interesting information about

the applicant that isn’t included on the application or isn’t obvious from the high school record.

Something of the “fabric” of the student– what the student believes is important, how he or she spends free time, the essence of his or her individuality.

Some idea of what the student is truly interested in and whether or not the college can further the student’s pursuit of that interest.

Is the school a good

match for the student?

Source: Vermont Student Assistance Corporation

+Is an essay going to get you in?

Probably not if other qualifications are not there… Curriculum Grades Extracurricular activities Test scores

However,

a poor essay definitely can keep you out, and if you’re on the bubble, a great essay can perhaps swing the decision your

way.Source: Vermont Student Assistance Corporation

+What topics should I avoid

writing about?

Comparing a sport

to the great game

of life

Death

My trip abroadMy favorite coach

How the community service

project I just invented made me realize how lucky I

am

Controversial political topics

Over discussed

social topicsSource: Vermont Student Assistance Corporation

+

Rit Fuller, Director of Admissions at Hamilton College, comments“The creative college application essay writer

will look beyond current popular culture for inspiration. There was a very popular Robin William’s movie in the ’80s entitled Dead Poets’ Society with an even more popular Latin expression used throughout: carpe

diem (‘seize the day’). That year it seemed there were a million application essay

writers whose missions were to ‘seize the day!’ Perhaps they did, but did it help them seize a spot in the college of their choice?

Probably not!”DO NOT WRITE YOUR ESSAY ABOUT

HOW “YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE” – YOLO

Source: Vermont Student Assistance Corporation

+ Do/ Don’t

Be concise; more is not always better.

Proofread

Write in your own words.

Let the college know what you value and how you think.

Write about something you like and care about.

Use spell-check.

Write, rewrite, and rewrite the essay. Put it away for a few days and look at it again.

Paint a picture of the real you, not who you think they want you to be.

Be truthful.

Be mindful that your application should be consistent with your future goals.

Try to be funny if you’re not.

Use words from a thesaurus (unless you know how to correctly define/use them).

Be cute.

Exceed the word or page limit.

Use the name of the wrong college in the essay.

Make silly mistakes.

Have someone else write your essay!

Do Don’t

Source: Vermont Student Assistance Corporation

+Writing Tips: Where do I start?

Subjects to Consider: What are your major accomplishments? Does any attribute distinguish you from anyone else? Have your struggled mightily for something and succeeded? What is your strongest, most unwavering personality trait? What have you done outside of the classroom that

demonstrates qualities sought after by universities? What are your most important extracurricular or community

activities? What are your dreams for the future? How does the university fit into your plans for the future?

Brainstorm…

+How to get inspired…

Ask for help fro

m

parents, frie

nds, and

teachers

Ask them to

list

your 5 best q

ualities

Consider your childhood How were your interests shaped by our upbringing?

Read sample essays

Consider your role models- consider their admirable traits

and how experiences from your life demonstrate these traits.

+Tips: Answer the question

Be original

Be yourself

Don’t use big words in your essay that you don’t usually use

Use imagery and clear, vivid prose

Spend more time on your introduction

+Leave a lasting impression… Admissions officers

read 50-100 essays a day… you will want yours to stand out!

Use vivid personal experiences.

Support your paragraphs with concrete examples.

Keep your reader’s interest from the first words.

Sound convincing.

+Give your draft to others…

What is the essay about?

Is the sentence structure varied? (not all long or short sentences)

What about the essay is memorable?

What’s the best part of the essay? What is the worst part of the essay?

Is there anything in the essay that is unclear? If so, what?

What does the essay reveal about the personality of the writer?

Is the essay impressive enough to accept the student into the college? Why?

College Admissions Checklist:

+

Revise, Revise, Revise!

!!

You are only allowed so many words, use them wisely.

Delete anything that doesn’t relate to your argument.

Do you use transition? (does your essay have a logical flow?)

Are your introduction and conclusion more than just summaries?

Did you find every single grammatical error?