1. Junior College Prep
5/10/18

2. College Essay: What Does it Reveal?
Who you are - This is your chance to show admission counselors your personality and what makes you, you Your writing ability – The essay should be well-thought-out, organized, engaging, and free of errors

3. College Essay Do’s
1. Answer the question 2. Follow the instructions 3. Use proper grammar 4. Make it about you 5. Highlight your strengths 6. Be creative (tell a story) 7. Grab the reader’s attention 8. Be genuine 9. Be specific 10. Have someone proof read it

4. College Essay Don’ts
1. Be boring 2. Force words that are not natural 3. Highlight your weaknesses/mistakes 4. Reiterate your resume/application 5. Talk about your personal beliefs (political/social) 6. Put college name in it (if Common App Personal Statement)

5. Bad College Essay Example
Link

6. Why is it Bad?

7. Answer It mentions a specific college
It reiterates what is already on the transcript
It’s not specific
It’s boring/It doesn’t tell a story
It doesn’t reveal the student’s personality or voice

8. Good College Essay Example 1
Link

9. Why is it Good?

10. Answer
It grabs the reader’s attention right away and keeps it throughout
It tells a story
It highlights his strengths
It is creative
It is genuine
It is concise – every sentence has a purpose

11. Good College Essay Example 2
Link

12. Why is it Good?

13. Answer
It grabs the reader’s attention right away and keeps it throughout
It is creative
It demonstrates her writing ability
It tells a story
It highlights her strengths

14. Essay Writing Activity
Link

15. 2018-2019 Common App Essay Prompts
Link

16. Other Essays
You will most likely have to write more than just the Common Application essay. Many colleges have additional essay prompts that may be more specific. For example:
Why do you want to attend ______ University?
Our motto is Ut Prosim (That I May Serve). How is service to others important in your life?
If you could have any superhero power, what would it be and why?
What is the hardest part of being a teenager now? What’s the best part? What advice would you give a younger sibling or friend (assuming they would listen to you)?

17. Starting Your Common Application
We will create Common Application accounts next week. I will show you how to add colleges so that you can begin reviewing specific essay prompts (if any).

18. Extenuating Circumstances
If something happened during your high school career that affected your grades (family crisis, learning disability, medical issue, etc.) there is a separate place on the Common Application to disclose this information. You do not need to use your essay to explain, unless you want to. If you want to disclose something, talk to Mrs. Ruark before doing so and she will help you craft a statement.

19. Summer
Work on your Common Application essay over the summer. Mrs. Ruark is available to work with you.
Try to finish your Common Application essay before senior year. There will be other essays to write, so finishing this big one will alleviate stress.