College Application Essay

College Application EssayWhat is it?

Application includes: Transcript

Grades, ACT/SAT scores, classes taken, etc.

Application: Filled out by you:

Extracurriculars, jobs, possible major, etc.

Essay Think of it as an interview Chance to show more

than just the numbers Show your intelligence

Can you put your ideas down on paper?

Readers ask themselves, “would I want to work with that person on a group project, room with that person, is he or she a good fit for the community?

10 tips

1. Be concise

2. Be honest

3. Be an individual

4. Be coherent

5. Be accurate

6. Be vivid

7. Be likable

8. Be cautious with humor

9. Be controversial (if you can)

10. Be smart

More tips

College admissions offices get flooded with applications. More and more students are applying for college each year.

Nationwide, more than 25% of prospective freshmen submitted more than five applications this past year. 2) Readers are on the prowl for cheaters. A prompt which read, “If you were a high school principal

and could add a new department in an important area of knowledge that presently receives insufficient attention, what would it be?” received this as a part of the essay:

“If my son had a chance to have such a course, he would have been better prepared.” This student was denied.

Don’t…

Write what you think the admissions committee wants to hear

Use empty, vague, over-used words like “meaningful,” “beautiful,” “challenging,” “invaluable…”

Overwrite a minor point about yourself

Repeat information directly from the application

Emphasize a negative

Try to be funny

Get too personal about religion, politics, or lack of education.

Include footnotes, quotations from dead people, or long-winded and slow introductions.

Use statements like, “I’ve always wanted to be a…”

Use gimmicks

Allow any superficial errors in spelling, mechanics, grammar, punctuation, format, or printing.

Do…

Be honest and confident in your statements

Write a coherent and interesting essay

Develop a thesis about yourself early in the essay and argue it throughout.

Pick one or two main topics

Use the statement as a form of introduction.

Do…

Ask yourself the following questions as you edit for content: Are my goals well articulated? Do I explain why I have selected this school and/or

program? Do I demonstrate knowledge of this school or program? Do I include interesting details that prove my claims about

myself? Is my tone confident?

College Application Essay

Look at the examples I have given you. Answer the following question for the essays your group is assigned: What qualities does this student posses that a

college would like? Give an example of the writer showing instead of

telling. Rewrite the example in a lame, telling way.

Why is the hook (the attention getter) effective? Why is the closing effective? Overall comments?

Works Cited

Cohen, Jodi S. “Playing the Field: Looking for a Perfect Match, High School Seniors are Courting More Colleges Then Ever Before.” Chicago Tribune Magazine. 12 Aug 2007. 12-23.

“Writing Tips: Personal Statements.” The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign The Writers’ Workshop. 25 Aug, 2007. <www.english.uiuc.edu>