College Admission Essay Writing Class of 2010
Loyola Academy Guidance Department
“Take Out Your
Notebooks…
“Your assignment: Impress a college
admissions panel with a compelling personal essay. It’s your main chance to stand out from the crowd. No pressure. Just be yourself.”
Chicago Magazine, August 2007
Think Positively!
• The essay is often the highlight of the application.
• Readers want it to be good.
• Your words have power!
Who Reads Your Essays?
• Human Process • Subjective • Circumstances beyond your control: Who they are Life/work experience How many essays they’ve read today
What is Their Job?
• Review applications and essays 810 hours/day • Read thousands of essays each year
• Rate/Vote/Present applicants to Admission Committee
What Do They Want to Know?
• Who you are – beyond statistics
• Voice
• Writing ability
Voice
• Know and expect that you are 17 or 18 years old • Be true to yourself – don’t write what you think they want to hear
• Don’t work too hard to impress; not too formal, not too informal • Don’t try to be funny if that’s not your personality
Writing Ability
• Different styles and abilities • Spelling and grammar • Proofreading
• Energy and effort
• Nobody’s perfect
Perspective
• Know that this takes time – it is a process • Let it be as good as it can be • Beware of perfectionism
• First person: “I” vs. “You”
Getting Started
• Write what you care about • What do you want to say about yourself?
• Brainstorm ideas
• Great opportunity to give your application more depth/dimension
Brainstorming
• Friends/Family
• What are important aspects of my personality? • What are my values? • What do I aspire to?
• Write each in a notebook/index card
Essay Questions from the Common Application
• Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.
• Discuss some issue of personal, local, national or international concern and its importance to you.
Sample Essay Questions
• Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence • Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence.
Sample Essay Questions
• A range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your personal background, describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community, or an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you. • Topic of your choice.
Things to Avoid
The Résumé Essay The Third Person Essay The Silly Essay
The Generic Essay
The Hot Topic of the Year Essay
Start Writing
• This is not a class assignment • Don’t start with an outline
• Answer the question – even “topic of your choice” must address a specific topic • Don’t worry about spelling, grammar, structure • Write now and revise later • Be flexible and willing to rewrite
Human Interest Story
• Write something only you can write • Good material in your daily life – pay attention • Provide details • Show that you see the world beyond high school
• Depression/Drugs/Divorce: Reflect vs. Relay
A Good Beginning
• Be clear • Get to the point • Don’t make reader decode your topic/metaphor • Create curiosity • Take best part of brainstorming and put it in the beginning
A Good Ending
• Don’t end with “In conclusion…” • Doesn’t have to be predictable or too neatly tied up
• Don’t end with “…and that’s why I want to attend your university.”
Practical Suggestions
• Put your name, date of birth and Loyola Academy at the top of each page • Spell check and check spelling • Don’t obsess about word count, but follow guidelines • Make every word count
Final Thoughts
• Put it away for a day or two • Revise • Read it aloud • Does it ring true? • Do you like it?