HOW TO WRITE A COLLEGE ADMISSION ESSAY

How to Write a College Admission Essay In 10 Easy Steps Jay Rehak* * A High School Advanced Placement English teacher who knows this stuff backwards and forwards. By Step 1 Brainstorm who you are and what you’ve done. Use the handy grids I am providing you on the next two pages to brainstorm who you are and what you have done. List everything that is legal and not selfdestructive.* *Avoid noting drug and alcohol use, arrests, excessive television and video viewing, emotional breakdowns, etc. (We’ll talk about those later.) Your Personal Inventory Your Strengths and Interests Passions Club Activities Work Record Academic Record Family Situation Economic Situation Future Goals Interesting things you’ve done Compare where you live to where you’d like to go to school (urban/rural/suburban) I live in an __________ area. I’d like to go to school in a _________ area. List all ideas in shorthand notes Your Personal Inventory Part 2 Your Strengths, Warts and Interests Family educational history: first to go to college; mother an alum of X university, etc. Warts –Dumb things you’ve done that don’t help you get in. Concerns: social, environmental, cultural My ideal college/university size My ideal college/university location My tentative intended college major List all ideas in shorthand notes It’s okay if you’re not sure, but put something down here _____________ Major personal accomplishments Adversity you have overcome or had to deal with in your life. Other ideas you may have not on this Personal inventory: Step 2 Consider the Question Is the essay question asking about:  Your background  An experience you’ve had  An original idea you have  Why you want to go to their school?  Other Step 3 Consider what parts of Step 1 work well with Step 2 Step 1 answers: Go back and put an X next to Personal Inventory strengths and weaknesses that match the essay college question that you are answering. NOTE: Not everything will be appropriate for the question. Step 2 answers: Analyze the question the college is asking. Is the question about: You, your interests, something outside of you, Why you want to attend their school, other? Step 4 Begin writing any place you want You don’t need to start at the beginning.  If you can’t think of an introduction, start from the middle and write. Trust me, your beginning will emerge later.  Also consider starting at the end. Do you know how the essay ends? If you do, it’s easy to go back and write an essay that leads to an ending.  Step 5 Consider the Magic Number 3, parallel structure and other literary devices that help clarify and polish your essay; revise as necessary  The rule of 3 is simply this: examples, ideas, and structure can be easily digested by people in groups of 3. Some examples: Beginning, middle and end Introduction, body, conclusion Good, better, best Easy as 1, 2, 3 Now I know my A, B, C’s. Old, older, oldest Breakfast, lunch and dinner Morning, noon and night Ready, set, go Past, present, future Yesterday, today, tomorrow Small, medium, large Aggravated, more aggravated, most aggravated              Examples of Parallel Structure Use Parallel Structure whenever possible and appropriate. Note that the underlined phrases in each sentence below parallel each other in parts of speech.  He was an old man with a young heart.  Her blue eyes did not match her red shirt.  She loved working and hated resting.  He loved not “too wisely but too well.”  “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”  The University of X is comprised of brilliant students, dynamic teachers, and superior administrators. Examples of literary devices and figurative language Use varied literary devices and figurative language to enhance your writing by moving it beyond the literal. Some examples:       Metaphor- “Her hair was wildfire in the afternoon sun.” Simile – “Unable to leave the classroom without him noticing, I felt like a trapped rabbit.” Hyperbole- I felt an ocean of relief as I crossed the finish line.” Synecdoche - (using a part of something to represent the whole thing.) “Please lend me a hand.” (You actually want the person to lend you more than their hand. Paradox – “Even though I had lost the race, I felt a deep sense of personal victory.” Understatement – “Our proximity to the hurricane suggested we all might get a bit wet.” Step 6 Consider the “warts” Only include “major mistakes” you have made if it is such a part of you that it must be addressed.  Criminal records,  Nasty, bad habits,  School failures  Suicide attempts Should only be included “in passing” in your essay, if at all. They should not be the focus of your essay unless you secretly don’t want to go to college and are afraid to tell your parental figure(s). Step 7 After writing anything resembling a First Draft, hand it over to someone you trust to review it for you and give you additional ideas. Your first reader/editor should consider:     Have you answered the question that was asked? Were you honest with your answer? Were you assertive without being aggressive? Did you take off, fly, and land your essay? Step 8 Take a day off and don’t think about a Second Draft  My favorite step. Relax. Get away from your essay for a day. Be happy that you have captured your ideas onto paper. If an idea floats into your mind, write it down, but don’t work on the essay for a day. You need to put some time between a first and second draft. Step 9 Write A Second Draft and show it to someone you trust      This is the hard part if your first draft did not: Answer the question Was not specific Painted you in an unfavorable light This is the easy part if your first draft did all of the above. All it made need is grammar review and point by point review of the issues you raised. Is the essay in the order you would like it to be in. REMEMBER: Lead Strong and End Strong. Step 10 Write a Final Draft and show it to someone you trust to make sure you have no mistakes. Review your essay. See that it: Answers the question being asked Expresses a clear beginning, middle and an end. Uses appropriate, varied syntax, including parallel structure, good grammar, and a confident tone. Is an honest expression of who you are.      Additional Steps now that you’re done.       Get a stamp and mail it off to the college of your choice Tell your friends you’re done so they can be jealous Tell your parental figure(s) that you’re done so they can get off your back Consider writing another college essay for a different college. No, the essay you just finished is not perfect for a different college* Recognize that if the questions are different, the answers must be different. Realize that the next essay you write will be easier because you finished your first essay and mailed it already. (The act of sending in one application should ease your mind a bit, and paradoxically, writing relaxed is more effective than writing while tense. * One size fits all essay is generally a disaster. It implies a laziness you don’t want to showcase.