College Admissions Essay

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College Admissions Essay

• Writing 12

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Insights on The Process

• Colleges look to see how you used your academic
  opportunities
• Admissions counselors are looking for a class of
  students rather than the perfect individual

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Your Essay Makes a Difference!

• Essays can tip the balance, giving students
  an extra edge, or it can work against
  them.-Jonathan Reider, Sr. Associate Director of
  Admissions at Stanford.

• Admissions will admit, wait-list, or deny
  applicants
• If your scores or grades are borderline with the
  colleges requirements, then the essay can make
  all the difference
• Uninspired essays written by stellar students can
  tarnish a sure thing admittance

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Your Essays Make A Difference!

• Most colleges guarantee that your essay will be
  read at least one timemore if a smaller college.
• Because teaching writing is more of a priority in
  HS than in the past, the essay has a greater
  significance in the admissions process.
• Good writing skills are the mark of an educated
  person. It is not necessarily what you write,
  but how you write that counts.

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Insights on Essays

• The Common Application is a good place to start
• You must learn about yourself from many points of
  view
• Investigate the colleges own resources for essay
  ideas
• Avoid overused ideas

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Advice from the Experts

• The essay provides applicants with the
  opportunity to become real and fully dimensional
  to the readers. It also provides a forum for the
  applicant to come forward about lifes
  priorities we look at the essay as a culmination
  of how a student thinks about what is important
  to him or her.-Lee Stetson, Dean of Admissions,
  University of Pennsylvania

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Writers Notebook

• What Do You Write About WS
• If It Didnt Matter
• I, Me (Immediate, Important, Issues)
• Interviews

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Interviews

• Interview one parent and two friends.
• It is helpful to interview males and females.
• The questions are to the point expect your
  answers to be the same.
• You need to write down what the person shared
  with you.
• Turn in your interview notes next class.

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Interview Questions

1. How have you described me to people who havent
   met me?
2. What is the best thing anyone has ever told you
   about me?
3. Whats the worst thing anyone has ever told you
   about me?
4. What do you think is my most unusual or unique
   character trait?
5. What was your initial impression of me when you
   first met me? How has that changed?