ADVANCED COMPOSITION

Considerations for Writing your College Essays

What the Admission Committees Look For

A student with potential for growth.An individual who will contribute to the

quality of life for other students.A personality that will fit in on their

campus.Individuals who are sincere and are

themselves. They can spot a fake a mile away.

Colleges Use Different Essay Topics

Some colleges have 1 or 2 prescribed topics to write about.

Others allow you to choose among topics. (Common Application: choose 1 of 4)Still others have several categories in which

you must respond.

Sample College Essay Questions

1. Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.

2. Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to you.

3. Discuss an issue of personal, local, national or international concern & its importance to you.

4. Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you and describe that influence.

5. Topic of your choice.

Types of Questions

The “YOU” QuestionThe “WHY” Question

The Significant Experience QuestionThe Creative Question

The YOU Question

Essays about Personal Relationships and Influences

1. Your favorite teacher2. Your coach3. Distant relatives4. A neighbor5. Pen pals (or cyber friends)6. Member of a friend’s family

Do NOT write about your dog Spot or your cat Fluffy! No Pet essays!

The Why Question

Essays about your own personal qualities:Those little habits of yours that sometimes annoy

those around you.That time you really put your foot in your mouth.A personal possession to which you have grown

irrationally attached.Particular study habits that you would like to change.Your unusual awkwardness in certain social

situations.

Look inward at your quirky, seemingly less attractive, or downright negative traits – to highlight your positives!

The Significant Experience Question

A seemingly ordinary school field trip or outing with friends or family that turned into an unexpected adventure or self-defining event

A song, poem, novel, or other serious literary or artistic work that made a genuine and deep impact on the way you look at yourself, others, the world around you, and life in general.

The time you received an unexpected gift from an unexpected source, or the time you spontaneously gave of yourself to someone or something.

A white lie, an off-the-cuff insulting remark, or a discourtesy that helped you to grow and mature in your understanding of your self and others.

The Creative Question

Describe a character in fictionDescribe a historical figure

A creative work (art, music, science)…that has had an influence on YOU and explain

that influence

You pick a topic!

Topics to Help You Start

Write about a time when you:have been inspired.had fun.were intellectually connected in class.felt exceptionally alive.lost your sense of time because you were so

engrossed in learning something.

Other Thoughts to Consider

Write about things that interest you or about experiences you have had.

If you write about an important event make sure it is genuine and not a story others have told you.

Include things not already in your application or resume.

Write a snapshot of your life not your whole life story.

A personal statement can explain your academic record if it is not strong.

Essay Blueprint: Do This!

Find a topicWrite a draft

Revise and rewriteGet feedbackFinal editing

A Good Essay is …..

Description

Not good because of the topic but because of the voice.

Show vs. Tell: a good essay shows by using all of the senses, not just the visual and notices everything that is happening.

Topic: Death in the family (opening statement):

Poor example: From an early age we accept death as inevitable but do not comprehend its actual denotation.

Good example: The coughing came first then the hacking in the middle of the night.

Work on these points

Make your essays personal but stay within the guidelines.

Length: most colleges set limits. Don’t over write as admission counselors will not appreciate it - Make every word count.

Write an attention-getting lead; say something brief, direct and intriguing but not scary.

Word Choice: weigh each word and substitute more colorful ones that an 18 year old would use.

Tone: read your essay out loud. Does it sound passionate, humorous or reflective?

Revising

Can the reader connect with how you are thinking or feeling?

Watch out for vague language or inappropriate word choice i. e use of the word “stuff” “ or “like, whatever.”

Do not use IM language or shortcuts.Proofread not just spell check “I am

interested in attending your homely campus.”Watch out for over use of the pronoun “I.”

Check Your Essay

GrammarSpelling

PunctuationCorrect usage of words and phrases

Finally…..

Proofread and have someone else proofread.Often more is less so don’t go on and on…Be creative and confident; if you don’t believe

in yourself no one else will.Don’t let your parent write your essay; they

can tell if a 59 year old wrote it or if you wrote it at 11:59 pm.

Relax!

You do not have to prove anything.Don’t try to solve life’s mysteries. Don’t attempt to save the world in your

future.They realize you are 18 and assume you are

bright and motivated.

Questions an admissions counselor will consider after reading your

essay

What did I learn about you?What do I remember about you?Do I have confidence in your writing?Do I have any concerns about you?Did you come across as thoughtful or

interesting?

Take time to create a winning essay!

Common Application

www.commonapp.org