Posts Tagged College App
Write Your College Application Essay This Summer
The summer before the senior year of High School is a time to unwind after a tough junior year. The summer is also a great time to get a head start into the college application process. It is a time to gather information about potential schools, a time to visit some actual campuses and to prepare for all the paperwork to come. It is a perfect time to make a list of “reach schools” as well as schools which are perfect fits.
One significant piece to the application puzzle is the admissions essay. The essay affords the applicant a chance to promote his or her candidacy by writing about something personal. Do not write about all of your academic accomplishments and extracurricular activities. Do not use the essay to brag about how great you are. That’s what teacher’s recommendations are for. Instead, tell a story which gives the reader insight into who you are-your passions, your outlook on life, your personality, your maturity and your character.
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The Application Essay
Whether you’re submitting a personal statement, a statement of purpose, or a diversity essay, make sure to follow these rules:
Rule #1: Edit and Proofread, Then Proofread Again Your grammar, spelling, and punctuation must be flawless. When in doubt, pullout those old standbys The Chicago Manual of Style and Strunk & White. If grammar, spelling, and punctuation aren’t your strong points, enlist a friend to help (and give you a tutorial, while you’re at it). There’s no excuse for a college graduate to mess this up. And beware the spell-check trap — it won’t catch “right” when you should have written “write,” and it won’t catch your “commitment to pubic service.” (You laugh, but I saw that typo as a law review editor.) Always have a second pair of eyes proofread your essays before you send them off.
Rule #2: Nothing Cutesy Anything cutesy or gimmicky will make admissions officers groan. Stay away from the following:
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A Big Mistake Made by College Applicants When Writing Their College Admission Essay
There are some common mistakes made by college applicants when writing their college admission essays. As a former recruiter for Yale University, I remember the reactions from admissions officers as they read one essay versus another college admission essay. I would say that there are six mistakes that are the most common and potentially the most deadly to college applicants submitting their college admission essays. One mistake I witnessed in some college admission essays is: not writing from the heart.
A little sincerity goes a long way- a lot goes even further. I realize that sometimes putting yourself out there can be scary and that saying what you want people to say can seem like a safer route to go. However, I have found that even though fewer people may appreciate what you have to say, the ones who do, will truly appreciate, and more importantly, identify with your candor and sincerity. In fact, sometimes I am surprised at the things that people remember about me from presentations or articles I have written, but it usually is something I just stated as an aside.
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