1. The College Essay
“I do want to express myself. And I don’t need 37 pieces of flair to do it!”

2. Fundamentals of the Essay
What is not already expressed in your college application?
Narrative structure: imagery, feeling, thoughts, dialogue
Usually one anecdote or activity (creativity of subject is encouraged)
Story works as a symbol for larger point.
Specificity is of prime importance.
Personal (i.e. experience-based) essay

3. General Advice
All essay topics want students to show the maturity to have self-insight. All want individuality and genuineness.
Not therapy or cliché.
Like a job interview, the best version of yourself, but not polished past the point of recognition.
If grades aren’t great, essay is a good place to highlight other aspects.

4. Example Essay Questions
Key: What is the question behind the question? Having a specific, personal answer to a seemingly general prompt.
Can you live with ambiguity?
Do you know your own strengths and weaknesses?
Do you have a sense of humor and a sense of humility?
Do you formulate your own thoughts and views of the world?
650 word max. on the Common App

5. Who are you?
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.
Background? STORY!
Incomplete—What has been left out?

6. How to Fail
The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
Positive experience—take-away
Immediate response or delayed learning?
Humility, self-awareness, resilience

7. Get up, Stand Up
Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?
Beliefs
ACTION
What was the outcome?
Were you right or wrong?

8. Process and Problem
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.
What’s interesting?
Wrestling with the problem
Your thought process

9. That rite of passage question
Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.
Maturity
Celebration, hardship, test…?
Recognized by those around you.

10. ApplyTexas Questions
Essay A: Describe a setting in which you have collaborated or interacted with people whose experiences and/or beliefs differ from yours. Address your initial feelings, and how those feelings were or were not changed by this experience.
Diversity vs. convictions
Can you change your mind?

11. ApplyTexas
Essay B: Describe a circumstance, obstacle or conflict in your life, and the skills and resources you used to resolve it. Did it change you? If so, how?
Probably obstacle
Before and after—growth
Your inner resources

12. Apply Texas
Essay C: Considering your lifetime goals, discuss how your current and future academic and extra- curricular activities might help you achieve your goals.
Do you HAVE goals? Goal-oriented.
Not a resume.
What gets left out of your application?