Essay Writing Gloria Mueller

Why the Essay? Your Voice, Your Story, Your Skills

What’s Most Important? Courses, Grades, Transcript Talent, Recommendations, Activities Testing, Special Circumstances Portfolio, Supplemental Materials Audition, Interview

Do Colleges Look At Essays the Same Way?

What Are Colleges Looking For?

Don’t Sweat Over Things You Can’t Change Transcript is what it is Work on what you can change - the essay Colleges want the essay to show: a) your writing ability and thought process b) a sense of who you are c) your values, preferences and style

Can You Write? Tell your own story Get feedback Polish, spell check and proofread

Can You Think? Application can be flat without essay Can help judge a student’s understanding of social/intellectual issues Did he take it seriously or did the essay look predictable? Did he take risks? Did he buy it off the Internet?

Personalizes your self-presentation Shows your personality and writing ability Conveys your personal style under less pressure Should convey information not found elsewhere in the application What Can the Essay Do for You?

No need to panic! You’ve done this before: It’s familiar (introduction, body, and conclusion) It’s about YOU! And…there is no wrong answer

The Process Brainstorm |Organize | Write | Rewrite | Edit

Defined by Our Choices How you write - reveals your ability What you write about - reveals you Look at the list of questions required

The “You” Question The “Why Us” Question The “Creative” Question Three Kinds of Questions

The “You” Question Advantages: It is direct Open opportunity to speak for yourself Disadvantages: Extremely open-ended Temptation to tell everything instead of focus Try to hard to sound academic and scholarly

The “Why Us” Question Advantages It is directly about you and your choices Disadvantages Might not know your subject Tone can be a problem

The “Creative” Question Advantages Form is provided It can be fun! Disadvantages Essay without substance Essay without sense

Other Essay Problems Only two inches of space Sending writing samples Start strong Start fast

DEAD. ON. ARRIVAL. “In college I plan to continue to live a well-rounded life, meeting and working with people from a variety of backgrounds. I expect to prepare for a profession that permits me to be closely related to children as well as adults. I want to help people. I have gotten so much out of life through the love and guidance of my family, I feel that many individuals have not been as fortunate; therefore, I would like to expand the lives of others.”

Why Do Essays Fail? Too comprehensive Too general

Start By Brainstorming Make a list | Ask questions | Focus | Prove

Editing is Your Friend Focus and prove | Reread | Support | Reread | Rewrite/Revise

Making the Essay Yours All writers get help No live-in editors Don’t misrepresent yourself Believe in yourself and tell your story

Last Minute Tips for Procrastinators Pick 3 things in your room Family photo album Talk to parents, coaches, teachers Think about something you used to believe in but don’t anymore

Tips to Remember “Tell us about yourself” Familiar format with “you” as subject Chance to add to application

Five Myths Must write about something no one has ever written about There’s a right answer to every question Be funny, clever or wacky You have to write this essay alone Your essay can get you in 5 Myths:

Common Mistakes Thinking of admissions committee as stuffy old people you need to impress Trying too hard to be memorable Writing a predictable or generic essay Forgetting that counselors/teachers/parents are your allies in this process

Parent “Can’t Do” List Make guidance office your own personal support system Write essays Shield him from rejection Let inertia teach its lesson here

Parent “Can Do” List Frame conversation about college selection Talk about essay, but not about essay questions Be there to lend a sympathetic ear Stay on the sidelines once the writing begins