Transcript Writing Your Way Into College

August 23, 2013
Dr. Meredith A. Miller
Mr. Trey Broussard
The College Application Essay
So what makes it so important?
•
The ONE part of a college application completely within your control
•
The living, breathing part of your application to college
•
Authentic self-revelation
•
Fundamentally different from academic essays; it is about risk-taking rather than conforming
to a predetermined structure.
•
It is about writing from one’s personal voice about one’s own, often intimate, experiences
while expressing one’s values and philosophy
•
For a student on the admissions margin, it can be a deciding factor in the admissions equation
•
One of the keys of writing a successful essay is that you must write the essay that ONLY YOU
COULD WRITE
Tips
Consider it a WORK IN PROGRESS!
– Plan and allow time for multiple revisions
– Use humor carefully
– Beware in writing a poem or song unless you’re applying to a specialized school that
encourages such a submission
– Honor code rules are in effect – do your own work and don’t make things up
– Students often have the mistaken notion that they must take on an “important”
topic or recall an experience “worthy” of an admissions essay. Yet sometimes the
most idiosyncratic and unconventional topics often result in the most compelling
essays. Rather than trying to be dramatic, be interesting. STAND OUT BY BEING
YOU.
Before You Begin
Brainstorm: BE REFLECTIVE
 how do you view the world?
 what do you care about deeply?
 what experiences and people have been important in
shaping you as a person?
 what are your aspirations in life?
 Free write! Try a stream of consciousness
Choosing a Topic
• Hobbies, non-school pursuits that excite you and engage your heart
•
•
•
•
and mind
Social cause about which you feel passionate
An event that has touched you in a personal way
Academic subject that sparks your interest: why does the subject
engage you? Has it led to experiences or study outside of school?
Experience or person that has had a significant impact on you
For all of these, GO BEYOND THE
WHAT AND DIG INTO THE HOW AND
WHY
DO’s
• Answer the question directly
• Use your own personal voice & style; let the true YOU come through
• Beware of the 3 D’s: death, divorce, disaster. If you do use one, focus less on the
event and more on how it affected you
• Use a hook for an opening sentence and paragraph: grab your reader!
• Follow all instructions given
• Make a point and stick to it: develop your argument or narrative
• Check all your facts: do you mention a date, place, or event? Make sure it is
correct!
• Be as specific and illustrative as possible; show rather than tell -- details, details,
details!
• Use figurative language when possible and appropriate
• Strong essays focus on the use of nouns and verbs; weak ones overuse adjectives
• Proofread carefully! The wrong name of the school is the kiss of death!
• Use correct grammar, punctuation, & spelling
DON’Ts
• Choose topics that you think the admissions office wants to
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
hear
Use clichés
Use an essay for another school that is inappropriate
Waste words by repeating info somewhere else in the essay
Generalize
Submit a glorified listing of awards and honors
Blame others for your circumstances
Exaggerate or write to impress
Use a flowery, inflated, or pretentious style
Ramble
A great essay is…
 About YOU
 Show your sense of humor, values, initiative, etc.
 Interesting
 Detailed
 Use anecdotes and observations
 Reflective
 Show your ability to see the “big” picture
 About nothing (think Seinfeld)
 Focus on the small things
On writing the essay:
 The opening paragraph NEEDS to hook the reader.
 Anecdotes, Zingers, Straightforward statements
 The body paragraphs need to display a balance between
the experience and reflecting on the experience.
 Dialogue
 Kickers are equally important.
 Your last thoughts should stick with the reader
 Edit, Edit, Edit!!!!!
Edit for:








Lack of a main idea
Weak verbs– avoid “to be” verbs
Passive voice
Overused and ordinary adjectives
Sentence variety
Wordiness
Tenses – avoid past tense when possible
Spelling – don’t rely on spell check
Additional note: Use “I”– First Person, this is a personal essay