1. College Essay Writing 101 (for procrastinators) Mr. John Eugene Director, Janice B. Parker Writing Center

2. Why an Essay??? :-( Your writing conveys your voice, or identity as a student The essay is your chance to provide a close- up of yourself that the rest of your application can’t offer You are asking a college to take a risk on you...so they get to make the rules.

3. How to Get Started Choose the colleges you are applying to Find out which ones accept the Common Application Choose an essay topic for each application Get started writing!

4. Choosing a topic Choose a topic that you connect with Choose a topic that will be accepted by as many colleges as possible -- no need to do more work than necessary! Make the topic your own by relating it to a personal experience

5. What About Writer’s Block? Start with a blank sheet of paper and just start writing about yourself Show the sheet to a couple of people and get their reactions Select your topic and supporting details based on those reactions

6. Drafting Take a storytelling approach Begin with a moment, not an idea Use vivid details throughout your essay Avoid clichés Focus on information that makes you unique

7. Organizing your essay Try to tell your story using an into-through- beyond structure Bring your audience INTO your story by narrating a specific moment Take your audience THROUGH your experience by continuing to tell your story Take your audience BEYOND your experience by discussing you it will continue to shape you as a person

8. Final Tips When in doubt, KEEP IT SIMPLE! Don’t hesitate to get help Be confident and focus on the things that make you a great candidate for college acceptance Stay on task

9. Thank You! Please complete a brief survey before you leave! Go to www.bpi.edu, thenwww.bpi.edu The Parker Writing Center Forms, Surveys, and Applications Workshop Survey Please fill out the survey so that we can better serve you and other Poly students in the future!