Sample College Application Essays

Sample College Application Essays Her counselor also suggests the University of Mary Washington, another Virginia public school, because it’s close to D.C. Right now, halfway around the globe, an American high school junior is gearing up for the U.S. college admissions process. Let’s give her the way-too-peppy name of Rachel Resilient. These workshops will help them fine-tune their writing and come away with a strong personal essay. They will write the essay themselves, but the workshop will help them come closer to a finished product about which they will feel proud. My friend Alex, who’s about to enter her senior year in high school, has a second-degree black belt in judo. The essay is valuable to you and the colleges to which you are applying. If you think of the application as pieces of a puzzle or as independent voices coming together to tell your story, the essay is part of the puzzle over which you have complete control. Be clear about the theme of your essay from the first paragraph. Grab the reader’s attention with a compelling opening sentence. For example, instead of “it was really very important to me â€" and my parents too - that…” use “it was imperative that I…” Keep your essay around 500 words, unless otherwise specified in the application. Our counselors are accustomed to tutoring over the phone and reviewing drafts by email. They can work with students from anywhere in the world, at any time. The essay also provides you with an opportunity to say what hasn’t been said in your application and do so in your distinct voice. She has 14 years of high school teaching experience, both at private and public high schools. In addition to teaching teenagers, Sarah has run writing workshops for both adults and children. Before teaching, Sarah worked as a freelance writer, newspaper reporter, fact-checker, and an assistant to a literary agent. She was thinking about doing an essay on her beloved “Calvin & Hobbes.” Can you guess what my advice was? No generic essays come out of this process, because this is real essay writing, not essay shopping. When tailoring responses to individual college prompts, it’s important to use specific details you’ve learned through visiting and research. Not only does this show colleges that you’ve have done your homework, but it also demonstrates your interest in the college â€" and colleges want to admit students who are likely to enroll. Show your knowledge of the college by mentioning specific courses, professors, places of interest, and more. These are not amusing at 11 PM after ten hours of essay reading. Below are some tips for writing an essay that will enhance your application. ” Instead, ask, “What should I tell them about me? ” Have someone read your essay to see if your point comes across. Rachel decides to write about her local and global communities of Third Culture Kids. To be able to tweak this essay for several colleges, Rachel will write about her most meaningful community in the first half of the essay, and then gear the second half to each college. Because UVA and Michigan request similar word counts, she will not have to adjust these for length. Rachel has won numerous awards and intends to play at the intramural level in college. She decides that would make a better topic for Michigan’s “extracurricular activity” essay. Rachel takes a few days to relax after completing 11th grade before creating a spreadsheet listing her colleges. She then uses both the Common App and individual colleges’ websites to find guidelines, deadlines and essay prompts. If Rachel has established a relationship with a college admissions representative, she will ask if supplemental essay prompts for next season will change. If she hasn’t been in touch with a rep, she will use this year’s prompts as a guide. Show this draft to your college English teacher, your counselor, your Transfer Center director, or a relative who will be brutally honest. Ask this reader if your essay sounds like you, is interesting to read, wanders off the topic anywhere, and is vivid and coherent. Instead, write an essay that sounds like you are talking to a favorite aunt or uncle. After reading your essay, the committee member should know something about your personality, your style and your values. Every admissions office has a story about receiving an essay folded into origami, or embossed on a five pound chocolate bar.