13 years of school and finally… The next step…

Making the leap I Am Done!

I am just getting started… Another way to see it… I am just getting started…

Be mindful of the mechanics of the process Colleges need (in this order) Students Who will graduate And make a difference in the world

The process Admissions vs Scholarship

Admissions Do you belong at this university?

Scholarship Will you make good use of these funds?

Understood PROTOCOL *do your research *read & follow the directions *type everything (unless the directions specifically say otherwise) *take deadlines seriously! (plan ahead…especially on recommendation requests) *keep all responses appropriate to the prompt & situation

Scholarship & Admissions Writing Most is NARRATIVE & DESCRIPTIVE

Common Topics 1. Describe someone who has had a significant influence on you. 2. Describe the most difficult lesson you have learned. 3. Describe a moment in your life where you felt tremendous pride. 4. How have you prepared for the future you hope to pursue? 5. What do you feel is today’s most serious problem/crisis? 6. If you could meet someone from the past, whom would you choose and what would you discuss? 7. Describe an object or possession that has significance to you.

Tips for Success Do a serious, reflective, HONEST self-inventory. assess your strengths & weaknesses strength = a trait or skill that helps you to be successful weakness = attitude, habit, or deficiency that impedes your success Include a list of your activities, both in and out of school Get into the “nitty-gritty” of your character

Choose to write about your dominant traits, whether those are strengths or weaknesses—this is the essence of who you are right now. Write about traits that have some connection to your plans for the future Follow the guidelines of the application EXACTLY: follow EVERY direction precisely Show how your experiences have impacted you and prepared you for the future.

YOUR GOAL IS TO MAKE A MEMORABLE IMPRESSION. Keep it to the point, but personable. You want strong VOICE in this essay. Follow traditional conventions of writing and essay structure. Remember, the reader will be making judgments about you solely on your application and essay, which may lead to the next step, an interview. All informed & strong writers are aware of “the game,” so make sure you write the essay no one else on the planet could write. YOUR GOAL IS TO MAKE A MEMORABLE IMPRESSION.

Apply for as many scholarships as possible! Adapt your essay for each application. You do not have to write a brand new essay for each scholarship, but modify your basic essay to reflect what each application emphasizes. Use strong word choice, but do not be overly poetic--be descriptive, but not fru-fru

Common Application Personal Essay: 650 max 2017-2018 Common Application Essay Prompts 1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. [No change] 2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? [Revised] 3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome? [Revised] 4. Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma - anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution. [No change] 5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. [Revised] 6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more? [New] 7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design. [New]

Final tips Seriously consider WHO will read the essay and what they will be looking for Seek multiple readers who will proof your work and give HONEST feedback Respect the conventions of composition—use caution when going too far “outside the box” in crafting your essay Do not try to hide your negatives; turn them into positives

It is all a point of view… procrastinators (a bad thing) also usually Work well under pressure Are personable Are creative Never rush ahead (may appear prudent and cautious) loners (a bad thing) also usually Work well without supervision Have high personal standards Are strong problem solvers Have no desire to be the center of attention

Peterson’s Tips As you begin drafting either essay…

DO *write an essay that only YOU could write * convey an overall POSITIVE message *write about what you know and have observed *write about something you feel strongly about *reject your first idea or angle. It has probably been used a million times.

*be experiential & descriptive, but avoid too much imagery *decide for yourself (within the parameters of the prompt) what you want to write *remember that most of you have more life ahead of you than behind…you still have much to learn, so use caution in sounding too authoritative about any topic

DO NOT *include specific information that appears elsewhere on the application *write an essay that reads like a newspaper article or research paper or prose fiction (unless the prompt requires it…) *even think about mentioning popular celebrities (unless the prompt specifically requests it) * be so forceful or opinionated that you risk insulting or offending *whine, complain, blame, or be too sarcastic, boastful, or aggressive *come across as overly humble

*begin your essay with any of the following: “Hello, my name is…” “Please permit me to discuss…” A rehash of the prompt *end your essay with the following: -by addressing the reader directly and asking them to admit you or give you the money -use words like finally, in sum, or in conclusion -repeat or sum up in any way -end with a quotation

An urgent reminder… Admissions officers DO talk to each other. If they have concerns or questions about the content of an essay or application, they will call the school for verification. & , Do not mention other schools in your writing, and above all, make sure you…. put ALL application materials in the correct envelope!

An urgent reminder…pt 2 Anticipate common problems with technology Word limits Deadlines Menu slips (clicking the wrong button) Make a paper copy of everything that includes date/time stamps Talk to a human when in doubt