COLLEGE ESSAY
The following are the directions for writing the College Research Essay. Please
follow the directions closely.
1. Choose three “like” schools (four-year, two-year, technical schools)
2. Identify three criteria with which to compare the schools
3. Research the schools/criteria
4. Write the essay
Essay Outline
I. Introduction
A. General Statement about education beyond high school
B. What your thoughts are regarding your future education
C. “Lead-in” statement to introduction of schools
D. Introduction of schools with abbreviations (must appear in this order
throughout the essay)
E. Introduction of criteria (must appear in this order throughout the
essay)
F. Concluding Statement (may be combined with previous sentence – E.)
II. Body Paragraph #1
A. Introduce Criteria – General statement
B. Define Criteria
C. Examine criteria with ALL THREE schools (1-3 sentences)
D. Conclusion: Determine which school best fits criteria according to
definition (identify and show how it is best)
III. Body Paragraph #2
A. See Roman Numeral II
IV. Body Paragraph #3
A. See Roman Numeral III
V. Conclusion
A. Summarize findings/review criteria and definitions
B. Select which school BEST fits criteria overall