The College Admissions Essay

Purposes of the Essay  Community construction  Personal insight (paper interview)  Sophistication with language  Community construction  Personal insight (paper interview)  Sophistication with language

Common Difficulties  Choosing a focus  Finding a voice  Getting started  Getting finished  Choosing a focus  Finding a voice  Getting started  Getting finished

Models  Common Questions --personal statement --program match --community match  Common Questions --personal statement --program match --community match

Successful answers  Respond to audience  Arrest the reader  Respond to audience  Arrest the reader

Five Suggestions for Crafting the College Application Essay

1. Be Yourself

Five Suggestions for Crafting the College Application Essay 1.Be Yourself  Tell about the person behind the transcript. 1.Be Yourself  Tell about the person behind the transcript.

Five Suggestions for Crafting the College Application Essay 2. Be Creative

Five Suggestions for Crafting the College Application Essay 2.Be Creative  Personal Essay Format  Find a singular focus – belief defining truth important relationship important event 2.Be Creative  Personal Essay Format  Find a singular focus – belief defining truth important relationship important event

Five Suggestions for Crafting the College Application Essay 2. Be Creative  Personal Essay Format  Find a singular focus – belief defining truth important relationship important event  Explore that focus in depth-- anecdotes examples clarifications 2. Be Creative  Personal Essay Format  Find a singular focus – belief defining truth important relationship important event  Explore that focus in depth-- anecdotes examples clarifications

Five Suggestions for Crafting the College Application Essay 2. Be Creative  Personal Essay Format  Find a singular focus – belief defining truth important relationship important event  Explore that focus in depth-- anecdotes examples clarifications  --Develop a conversation tone.  --Consider letter technique.  --Read aloud to yourself and others. 2. Be Creative  Personal Essay Format  Find a singular focus – belief defining truth important relationship important event  Explore that focus in depth-- anecdotes examples clarifications  --Develop a conversation tone.  --Consider letter technique.  --Read aloud to yourself and others.

Five Suggestions for Crafting the College Application Essay 3. Be Positive

Five Suggestions for Crafting the College Application Essay 3. Be Positive  Reflect learning.  Demonstrate maturity.  Speak to your strengths. 3. Be Positive  Reflect learning.  Demonstrate maturity.  Speak to your strengths.

Five Suggestions for Crafting the College Application Essay 4. Follow Instructions

Five Suggestions for Crafting the College Application Essay 4.Follow Instructions  Respond to the task.  Adhere to the assigned parameters.  Speak to the school. 4.Follow Instructions  Respond to the task.  Adhere to the assigned parameters.  Speak to the school.

Five Suggestions for Crafting the College Application Essay 5. Use the Language

Five Suggestions for Crafting the College Application Essay 5.Use the Language  Proofread carefully for correct and sophisticated use of Standard Written English. 5.Use the Language  Proofread carefully for correct and sophisticated use of Standard Written English.

Get Started

 Complete brainstorming activities.

Get Started  Complete brainstorming activities.  Read models.  Complete brainstorming activities.  Read models.

Get Started  Complete brainstorming activities.  Read models.  Choose a focus.  Complete brainstorming activities.  Read models.  Choose a focus.

Get Started  Complete brainstorming activities.  Read models.  Choose a focus.  Write a draft!  Complete brainstorming activities.  Read models.  Choose a focus.  Write a draft!

Get Started  Complete brainstorming activities.  Read models.  Choose a focus.  Write a draft!  Set deadlines.  Complete brainstorming activities.  Read models.  Choose a focus.  Write a draft!  Set deadlines.

Get Started  Complete brainstorming activities.  Read models.  Choose a focus.  Write a draft!  Set deadlines.  Share with others.  Complete brainstorming activities.  Read models.  Choose a focus.  Write a draft!  Set deadlines.  Share with others.

 Presenting Yourself Successfully to Colleges by Howard R. Greene, M.A. M.Ed. and Matthew Greene, Ph.D.  100 Successful College Application Essays by Harvard Independent  Presenting Yourself Successfully to Colleges by Howard R. Greene, M.A. M.Ed. and Matthew Greene, Ph.D.  100 Successful College Application Essays by Harvard Independent