College Admissions Essay

College Admissions Essay One brainstorming technique is to identify several tangible objects that have special significance for you. If you dig deep enough there is almost always a great and revealing story in one of them. Considering which prompt aligns best with your overall story, brainstorm by asking yourself what are the strengths, personal qualities or values you want to highlight in the essay. The goal is for your essay to illustrate the development of them by showing you both in action and in reflection. One student I know loved maps and also had somehow memorized the flag of every country in the world. What personality traits do you value most in yourself? Choose a few and jot down examples of how each has helped you. Think of things that other people often say about you. Write about whether or not you agree with their assessments and how they make you feel. Read through your essay and look for opportunities to explore how your experience may be connected to historical, literary or philosophical ideas you care about. Breaks keep the mind fresh and allow us to be more productive over a longer duration of time. It didn’t occur to him that this was particularly unique until he talked with a teacher who pointed it out to him. It turned into a great essay topic for a student interested in studying diplomacy. Stephen is always looking out for the best interests of his students and colleagues. Consider this your hook to grab the admission officer's attention. Starting with an anecdote that puts the reader in to the action right away often works best. This can be a scene at the beginning of your story or you can jump right to a crucial point in the middle. This just means the one you are going to explore first. Remember, while you want your essay to make an impact, your topic does not need to be earth shattering or include the biggest hardship. The best essays are often built on seemingly ordinary experiences like shopping at Costco or baking a cheesecake. Don’t let the prompts constrict your thinking on what is appropriate for a college essay, however. Once you lay out the challenge you faced and built suspense, you can flashback to provide the necessary background and context. After you have narrowed down your topics, decide which is best for you. Now that you have completed your edits, revisions, and rewrites, conduct your final review. For the final review, focus on formatting, spelling and grammar, and punctuation. A mixed metaphor, the use of multiples metaphors at a single time, detracts from the narrative. Likewise, dissimilar metaphors used in rapid succession confuse the reader. One of the most important qualities/values selective colleges look for in an applicant is curiosity. Hearing your essay emphasizes any mistakes that may have crept through. There is a strange distinction between reading on your computer and reading on paper. You have gone through theâ€"often gruelingâ€"process of crafting a competitive admission essay. Submit your essay via our application portal (after you've applied). If you choose to apply via Common App, we will accept the Common App essay for all programs listed above -- with the exception of Physician Assistant Studies. Be persuasive in showing the reader you are deserving of admission. Think of one or two sayings that you've heard again and again around your house since childhood. Structure your breaks into your work schedule and be deliberate about how you spend them. Move around, stretch, go for a walk, or anything else that gets your mind off your writing. Immerse yourself in a comfortable workspace, free from distraction.Some students work well at home or in a library, others love to work in cafes. Be honest with yourself and where you will work best. Set a writing schedule.Allocate a specific and significant amount of time each week for writing.