1. Inside the College Essay
Dr. Beverly Woodson Day
The University of Texas at San Antonio, Director of Admissions
Texas Association for College Admission Counseling (TACAC) – Past President

2. How many of you have read essays that are mind boggling?
How many of you have thought, “what were they thinking” or “what point were they trying to get across?”

3. What Admissions Offices Look For

4. Ability to write and express/expound on an ideas
Uniqueness and special circumstances
Learn more about the student

5. The Role the Essay Plays in the Process

6. Essay allows student to become alive – who they are and how they think
Something that set students apart
Acts as a portal into the students world

7. Give the student that extra push if going thru holistic review
Provide information that may explain issues on their academic transcript

8. Essay Optional or Required

9. Most institutions weight is on grades/courses & scores
Selective colleges or majors/programs use to set apart (in addition to recommendation letters and activities)

10. What the Student May Not Realize

11. Extravagant is not better – Keep it Simple!
Student has complete CONTROL
Should ask someone who knows them to read the essay for understanding, not editing (but don’t neglect – editing)

12. They can Experiment
Admission offices look at content and what they are saying
Be themselves but be their best self
Use their voice

13. Myths and Observations

14. Myths Essay has to sound scholarly and sophisticated
Admission offices do not read the essay
Admission officers don’t know when a student did not write the essay

15. Observations Pay attention to detail
Don’t complain about low scores, school, etc.
Writing like they text or talk

16. Observations Reiterating the Resume
Not to show off, but share how experiences have effected them/changed them
Thesaurus-itis

17. Trick to Writing an Amazing Essay

18. There really is no Trickor
Top-Secret Formula

19. Make the reader laugh
Surprise the reader
Write a simple heartfelt essay
Hone in on one experience or one extracurricular
A good writer not only tells but shows

20. Most Common Topics

21. Most Common Topics Death, Moving, Divorce, Mission Trip, Athletic Injury, Personal Traumatic Experience

22. That Student Said What?!

23. Get Seen. Get Connected.

25. Barriers to Writing/Starting an Essay

26. Not sure where to start/brainstorming ideas
Look for samples and try to copy the format
What they learned in English class
Not understanding the prompt
Its hard to write about yourself

27. How to Help Students

28. Engage them in meaningful conversations
Help them understand the question/prompt
Ask them the question and listen to what they are saying

29. Help them with reflection – how they felt, what they saw, did it make them see things differently…
How those things impact them and how that shaped them

30. Group Activity: Review Essays

31. What stood out about the essay you read?
Did you find something unique about the student?
Did you read to understand the content or to edit the content?

32. Individual Activity

33. Prompt Write a word essay of what one experience or event led you to becoming an educator/counselor and what you have learned thus far.

34. Brainstorm Words – Thoughts – Events – Experiences – Time – Reflection

35. Questions