The College Admissions EssayThe College Admissions Essay

PurposePurpose

Conveys your unique character.Conveys your unique character.Demonstrates your writing skills.Demonstrates your writing skills.Demonstrates your ability to organize Demonstrates your ability to organize thoughts clearly.thoughts clearly.

StepsStepsGive yourself plenty of time.Give yourself plenty of time.Get to know yourself.Get to know yourself.Brainstorm.Brainstorm.Pick your topic.Pick your topic.Choose the format that will best convey your Choose the format that will best convey your ideas.ideas.Write a rough draft.Write a rough draft.Evaluate your writing style and treatment of the Evaluate your writing style and treatment of the topic.topic.Edit, edit, edit.Edit, edit, edit.Finalize and send it in.Finalize and send it in.

TipsTips

Basic TipsBasic Tips

Proofread, proofread, proofread (and then Proofread, proofread, proofread (and then get someone else to proofread it for you)!get someone else to proofread it for you)!Submit your own work.Submit your own work.Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Answer the question.Answer the question.Follow the directions.Follow the directions.Keep your audience in mind.Keep your audience in mind.

More TipsMore Tips

Don’t be sentimental or self-pitying.Don’t be sentimental or self-pitying.Let the admissions counselors see the real Let the admissions counselors see the real you, not a list of your extracurricular you, not a list of your extracurricular activities.activities.Emphasize feelings and thoughts.Emphasize feelings and thoughts.Choose key points and narrow your topic.Choose key points and narrow your topic.Make your essay unique and memorable.Make your essay unique and memorable.Write in a friendly, semi-formal style.Write in a friendly, semi-formal style.

More TipsMore Tips

Get to know the college / universityGet to know the college / universityWrite a separate essay for each school. Write a separate essay for each school. Counselors can tell when essays are Counselors can tell when essays are canned!canned!Avoid super-sensitive and private subjectsAvoid super-sensitive and private subjectsShow, don’t tellShow, don’t tellBe humble, but not modest. Sell yourself!Be humble, but not modest. Sell yourself!Don’t try to write an earth-shattering essay. Don’t try to write an earth-shattering essay. Just tell about yourself. Just tell about yourself.

Types of EssaysTypes of Essays

The General Essay (No topic The General Essay (No topic restrictions)restrictions)

““Tell us about yourself.”Tell us about yourself.”Choose a topic you are familiar with.Choose a topic you are familiar with.Look at other schools’ more specific Look at other schools’ more specific questions to get ideas. questions to get ideas. Focus your essay—don’t try to cram Focus your essay—don’t try to cram everything about yourself into one paper.everything about yourself into one paper.Choose a topic that really excites you.Choose a topic that really excites you.

Specific TopicsSpecific Topics

Why did you choose _______ College / Why did you choose _______ College / University (or, why are you and ______ University (or, why are you and ______ College / University a good “fit”)?College / University a good “fit”)?Describe your most rewarding experience.Describe your most rewarding experience.What are your career aspirations?What are your career aspirations?Who is the most influential person in your Who is the most influential person in your life? Why?life? Why?Describe a successful student.Describe a successful student.What a college education means to me.What a college education means to me.

More Specific TopicsMore Specific TopicsEvaluate a significant experience, achievement, or risk Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, or risk you have taken or an ethical dilemma you have faced you have taken or an ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.and its impact on you.First experiences can be defining. Cite a first experience First experiences can be defining. Cite a first experience you have had and explain its impact on you. you have had and explain its impact on you. (Pennsylvania State University)(Pennsylvania State University)Tell us a story about yourself that will help us get to Tell us a story about yourself that will help us get to know you better. Illustrate one or more themes, events, know you better. Illustrate one or more themes, events, or individuals that have helped shape you. Be clear and or individuals that have helped shape you. Be clear and forceful. (University of Southern California)forceful. (University of Southern California)Attach a small photograph of something important to you Attach a small photograph of something important to you and explain its significance. (Stanford University)and explain its significance. (Stanford University)

Organize Your EssayOrganize Your Essay

OrganizationOrganization

IntroductionIntroduction– Include an attention-grabbing first sentence—Include an attention-grabbing first sentence—

an anecdote, a startling fact, a question, or a an anecdote, a startling fact, a question, or a line of dialogue. Make your reader want to line of dialogue. Make your reader want to read more.read more.

– Write a thesis statement—one sentence that Write a thesis statement—one sentence that summarizes your topic.summarizes your topic.

– BRIEFLY summarize the points that develop BRIEFLY summarize the points that develop your thesis.your thesis.

Organization (continued)Organization (continued)

BodyBody– 3-5 paragraphs that develop your thesis.3-5 paragraphs that develop your thesis.– Each paragraph has a topic sentence, supporting Each paragraph has a topic sentence, supporting

sentences, and a concluding sentence.sentences, and a concluding sentence.– All ideas should be connected and synchronized. All ideas should be connected and synchronized.

Make sure paragraphs flow into each other.Make sure paragraphs flow into each other.– Organize your points under one general topic. If a Organize your points under one general topic. If a

point doesn’t directly relate to your topic, leave it out.point doesn’t directly relate to your topic, leave it out.

Organization (continued)Organization (continued)

ConclusionConclusion– Reiterate your points in a positive, brief, and Reiterate your points in a positive, brief, and

forceful manner.forceful manner.– Avoid phrases like, “the end” or “to conclude.” Avoid phrases like, “the end” or “to conclude.” – End with a sentence that will stick with your End with a sentence that will stick with your

reader, but that doesn’t appear too contrived. reader, but that doesn’t appear too contrived.

What are colleges looking for?What are colleges looking for?

A passionA passionDedication to something for a long timeDedication to something for a long timeLeadership skillsLeadership skillsPersonalityPersonalityA good “fit” for the collegeA good “fit” for the collegeSomeone who will add something to the Someone who will add something to the classclassSomething unique to saySomething unique to say

What aren’t colleges looking What aren’t colleges looking for?for?

A straight-A studentA straight-A studentA list of activitiesA list of activitiesA description of that service project you did A description of that service project you did that one time*that one time*A narrative about that vacation you went on*A narrative about that vacation you went on*A really sad, dramatic story*A really sad, dramatic story*An essay about your dog, your grandma, or An essay about your dog, your grandma, or how your dad is your hero*how your dad is your hero**** You can write about any of these as long *** You can write about any of these as long as you do it in a unique and interesting way.as you do it in a unique and interesting way.

The EndThe End