Considerations for Writing Considerations for Writing your College Essaysyour College Essays
Focus on the Common Focus on the Common ApplicationApplication
What the Admission What the Admission Committees Committees
Look ForLook For• A student with potential for growth.A student with potential for growth.
• An individual who will contribute to An individual who will contribute to the quality of life for other students.the quality of life for other students.
• A personality that will fit in on their A personality that will fit in on their campus.campus.
• Individuals who are sincere and are Individuals who are sincere and are themselves. They can spot a fake a themselves. They can spot a fake a mile away.mile away.
Colleges Use Different Essay Colleges Use Different Essay TopicsTopics
• Some colleges have 1 or 2 prescribed Some colleges have 1 or 2 prescribed topics to write about.topics to write about.
• Others allow you to choose among Others allow you to choose among topics.topics.
(Common Application: choose 1 of 6)(Common Application: choose 1 of 6)
• Still others have several categories in Still others have several categories in which you must respondwhich you must respond
Common Application Essay Common Application Essay QuestionsQuestions
3 (of 6) questions:3 (of 6) questions:1.1. Discuss an issue of personal, local, national Discuss an issue of personal, local, national
or international concern & its importance to or international concern & its importance to you.you.
2.2. Indicate a person who has had a significant Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you and describe that influence.influence on you and describe that influence.
3.3. Topic of your choice.Topic of your choice.
There is also one question every student must There is also one question every student must answer.answer.
Essay Blueprint: Do This!Essay Blueprint: Do This!
Find a topicFind a topic
Write a draftWrite a draft
Revise and rewriteRevise and rewrite
Get feedbackGet feedback
Final editingFinal editing
Topics to Help You StartTopics to Help You Start
Write about a time when you:Write about a time when you:
• have been inspired.have been inspired.
• had fun.had fun.
• were intellectually connected in class.were intellectually connected in class.
• felt exceptionally alive.felt exceptionally alive.
• lost your sense of time because you lost your sense of time because you were so engrossed in learning were so engrossed in learning something.something.
More Topic StartersMore Topic Starters
• What is the best piece of advice you ever What is the best piece of advice you ever received? received?
• Which one of your personal qualities would Which one of your personal qualities would you want someone to write about in a you want someone to write about in a recommendation?recommendation?
• What is your most important possession?What is your most important possession?• What one thing annoys you the most?What one thing annoys you the most?• Describe a time you used humor to get your Describe a time you used humor to get your
self out of an uncomfortable situation.self out of an uncomfortable situation.• What are your three biggest mistakes?What are your three biggest mistakes?
Other Thoughts to ConsiderOther Thoughts to Consider
• Write about things that interest you or Write about things that interest you or about experiences you have had.about experiences you have had.
• If you write about an important event If you write about an important event make sure it is genuine and not a story make sure it is genuine and not a story others have told you.others have told you.
• Include things not already in your Include things not already in your application or resume.application or resume.
• Write a snapshot of your life not your Write a snapshot of your life not your whole life story.whole life story.
• A personal statement can explain your A personal statement can explain your academic record if it is not strong.academic record if it is not strong.
A Good Essay is …..A Good Essay is …..
• Not good because of the topic but because of the Not good because of the topic but because of the voicevoice..
• ShowShow vs. Tell: a good essay shows by using all of vs. Tell: a good essay shows by using all of the senses, not just the visual and notices the senses, not just the visual and notices everything that is happening.everything that is happening.
Topic: Death in the family (opening statement):Topic: Death in the family (opening statement):
Poor example: From an early age we accept death Poor example: From an early age we accept death as inevitable but do not comprehend its actual as inevitable but do not comprehend its actual denotation.denotation.
Good example: The coughing came first then the Good example: The coughing came first then the hacking in the middle of the night.hacking in the middle of the night.
Work on these pointsWork on these points• Make your essays personal but stay within Make your essays personal but stay within
the guidelines.the guidelines.• Length: most colleges set limits. Don’t Length: most colleges set limits. Don’t
over write as admission counselors will over write as admission counselors will not appreciate it - Make every word count.not appreciate it - Make every word count.
• Write an attention-getting lead; say Write an attention-getting lead; say something brief, direct and intriguing but something brief, direct and intriguing but not scary.not scary.
• Word Choice: weigh each word and Word Choice: weigh each word and substitute more colorful ones that an 18 substitute more colorful ones that an 18 year old would use.year old would use.
• Tone: read your essay out loud. Does it Tone: read your essay out loud. Does it sound passionate, humorous or reflective?sound passionate, humorous or reflective?
RevisingRevising
• Can the reader connect with how you are Can the reader connect with how you are thinking or feeling?thinking or feeling?
• Watch out for vague language or Watch out for vague language or inappropriate word choice i. e use of the inappropriate word choice i. e use of the word “stuff” “ or “like, whatever.”word “stuff” “ or “like, whatever.”
• Do not use IM language or shortcuts.Do not use IM language or shortcuts.• Proofread not just spell check “I am Proofread not just spell check “I am
interested in attending your homely interested in attending your homely campus.”campus.”
• Watch out for over use of the pronoun “I.”Watch out for over use of the pronoun “I.”
Check Your Essay Check Your Essay
GrammarGrammar
Spelling Spelling
PunctuationPunctuation
Correct usage of words and phrasesCorrect usage of words and phrases
Finally…..Finally…..
• Proofread and have someone else Proofread and have someone else proofread.proofread.
• Often more is less so don’t go on and Often more is less so don’t go on and on…on…
• Be creative and confident; if you don’t Be creative and confident; if you don’t believe in yourself no one else will.believe in yourself no one else will.
• Don’t let your parent write your essay; Don’t let your parent write your essay; they can tell if a 59 year old wrote it they can tell if a 59 year old wrote it or if you wrote it at 11:59 pm.or if you wrote it at 11:59 pm.
Relax!Relax!
• You do not have to prove anything.You do not have to prove anything.
• Don’t try to solve life’s mysteries. Don’t try to solve life’s mysteries.
• Don’t attempt to save the world in Don’t attempt to save the world in your future.your future.
• They realize you are 18 and assume They realize you are 18 and assume you are bright and motivated.you are bright and motivated.
• What did I learn about you?What did I learn about you?• What do I remember about you?What do I remember about you?• Do I have confidence in your writing?Do I have confidence in your writing?• Do I have any concerns about you?Do I have any concerns about you?• Did you come across as thoughtful or Did you come across as thoughtful or
interesting?interesting?
Take time to create a winning essay!Take time to create a winning essay!
Questions an admissions Questions an admissions counselor will consider after counselor will consider after
reading your essayreading your essay
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