Writing the College Essay All admissions essays are really just asking “Who are you?” Copyright 2008 PresentationFx.com | Redistribution Prohibited | Image © 2008 Thomas Brian | This text section may be deleted for presentation.PresentationFx.com

Independent Reading:. Wednesday’s log: What’s the title of your book? What is the significance of this title? Example: The title The Goldfinch represents the name of a famous painting the main character has stolen from an art museum when the museum is bombed during a terrorist attack. It’s significant because Theo spends twenty years of his life feeling guilty but not knowing how to return the painting without getting arrested. I think the tiny yellow goldfinch, the subject of the painting, may also be symbolic, but I’m not sure yet how. Thursday’s log: You may add this week’s logs to the ones you have not turned in yet: –What’s an emerging symbol or motif in your book? Form a hypothesis about its significance. –What’s something surprising your character has done? To what gain or loss? When has your character done something for which he/she feels guilty? Describe the situation and explain how this guilt affected them. If your character carries no guilt, think of another character in literature you can write about today. A foil character is one who opposes the main character and keeps him/her from achieving a goal. Make a t-chart and on 1 side list dominant character traits of the main character and on the other side list traits of a foil character in your novel Are you on track to finish your book in 2 weeks?

Announcements Homecoming days next week Monday: PJ Day Tuesday: Zombie Day Wednesday: Princess/superhero day Thursday: Toga Day Friday: Black out Day Powder Puff game Friday, Oct. 16 3:30 $3 Halloween in the Halls: Monday, Oct. 26

How Important is the Essay? What is the average amount of time a college admissions officer spends reading and evaluating the essay part of your application? 33% Copyright 2008 PresentationFx.com | Redistribution Prohibited | Image © 2008 Thomas Brian | This text section may be deleted for presentation.PresentationFx.com

What the Admissions Officers Say Copyright 2008 PresentationFx.com | Redistribution Prohibited | Image © 2008 Thomas Brian | This text section may be deleted for presentation.PresentationFx.com “Sometimes we let students write themselves in.” - Dean of admissions, Sarah Lawrence College “The essay gives us something the numbers don’t reveal.” -Director of admissions, Gordon College “The essay can be a powerful tipper in close cases.” -Director of admissions, Bates College

Some Common Essay Prompts Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity that they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn? Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again? Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content. What do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you? Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.

Essay is not a 4-Letter Word! Topic is personal – can you talk about yourself in words? Tone is reflective – how good are you at examining your own life experiences? Voice is important – what can the reader learn about your personality through your writing? Are you humorous? Are you proud? Are you resilient?

4 TYPES OF COLLEGE ESSAYS 1.The Personal Statement 2.Your Favorite Activity 3.Why Do You Want to Go to ______________? 4.Intellectual Curiosity

The Personal Statement The Gist: These range from “Tell us about yourself” to “Tell us about an experience that defines who you are.” Example: “Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity that they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.” The point of college essays in general is to show a side of you that the admissions committee can’t see just by looking at your transcript, letters of rec, resume. The point of personal statement essays in particular is to communicate something you do or did in the past that defines who you are.

Personal Statement (cont.) Approach: When choosing a topic for this kind of essay, you should select an experience or activity that played an important—even central— role in your life, but one that isn’t covered by the rest of your application. Colleges want multi-dimensional students, so show them something unique about yourself.

Remember when you rescued those 37 cats from a burning animal hospital? Now is the time to brag about what a hero you are!

Your Favorite Activity Gist: The answer to this prompt can range from competitive math to basketball to debate to a collection of vintage Superman comics. The point of this essay is to demonstrate your passion, have a deep intellectual understanding of something, and notice the details that 99.9% of others wouldn’t notice—anything that makes you stand out from the crowd.

Your Favorite Activity (cont.) Approach: Think about what your interests are. What do you do in your free time? If you could spend a day doing something, what would you do? Maybe answering watching TV or playing video games isn’t the best idea, unless you happen to run a TV station or have released your own iPhone apps. Think about why it’s your favorite activity and what about it gets you excited and just write. Just remember what you’re trying to get across to the people reading your essay: that you truly feel passionate about that activity, and that it brings something out of you that most people can’t match up to.

Can you overhaul an engine? Not everyone has those skills!!

Why Do You Want to Go to _______________________? The Gist: This prompt will ask you why you want to spend the next four years of your life at one particular college. This essay accomplishes two things: – it shows your interest in the school (which is important, because schools want to maintain high graduation rates) –it shows that you are a good fit for the school.

Why Do You Want to Go to _______________________? Approach: To approach this essay, think about how the admissions officers will see you: a potential math major with an interest in Shakespeare, a politics nerd with a photographic memory, an artist with a knack for biology. Then, do some research. – If you’re applying as a math major, check out the math department’s website. –Look up clubs and organizations that you’d like to join at the school. – In short, you want to communicate to the admissions committee that if you’re admitted, you’d contribute positively to the school one way or another.

Intellectual Curiosity Gist: College = freedom at last. True, but let's not forget; you're also in school to study. You'll have to choose something to major in, and most schools will want to know what you like to learn while in college. Example: Stanford students possess an intellectual vitality. Reflect on an idea or experience that has been important to your intellectual development.

Intellectual Curiosity (cont.) Approach: What are some of your favorite subjects in school? Similar to the other three previous essays, think about what characteristics are not yet portrayed through other essays or parts of your application. The admissions committee wants to know that you have a mind that's always hungry for more knowledge.

Is a little intellectual curiosity too much to ask for here?

Individual Work Read the sample college essays. Use the note-taking sheet to record some observations as you read.

Things We Noticed All in first person point of view Introduction can use a memory or event or use the prompt to build the intro. Descriptive, precise language. Tone is more casual than formal Reflection is woven throughout and restated in the conclusion

Before Leaving Today Put your observations in the basket by the door.