June 2010 College Admission Essay: The “You,” the “Us,” and the “Creative”
If you are heading into your senior year of high
school, now might be a good time to start thinking about college
applications.The college application
process becomes more and more competitive as increasingly more applicants apply
for a limited amount of spaces. Because of the competition, applicants often
get labeled by their numbers (GPA and SATS).
How
can I stand out?
It may only be one part of the application, but
because of the potential, the college admission essay can make the difference
between acceptance and rejection.Therefore, it is important to view the essay not as a mandatory labor,
but as a chance to express yourself and stand out in the eyes of the college.How you write your essay shows the admissions
board why you are different from everybody else.You can utilize the essay to describe a
favorite activity, tell a story that has impacted your life, or explain how an
individual has influenced you.
What
kinds of questions do colleges ask?
College essay questions can ask just about
anything.The range from “Submit a
one-page personal statement” to “What kind of human being are you?” to “Do you
believe there is a generation gap?”Although
the possible questions are nearly limitless, there is a pattern to the
questions they ask.Generally, they ask
a question regarding one of the three following topics:
1.“Tell
us about yourself.” – This question is more open-ended.You should focus on one or two things that
will reveal your most defining qualities.Avoid the impulse to write everything about yourself.
2.“Why us?” – This type of question is more
focused.Why this particular school? Why
this particular path? Be decisive and informed when addressing the question.It requires careful knowledge about the
university, so be prepared.Don’t say
you want to pursue nursing at school that doesn’t offer it.
3.“Creativity”
– Here is an opportunity to write about your views and display yourself in the
eyes of the admissions committee.Be
clear and concise, but also have fun with it.If you enjoy writing the essay, chances are, they will enjoy reading it.
How
should I approach the college essay?
By brainstorming.List some ideas that you would like to write about.They could be events, people, places, things,
etc. Write down topics that you feel would help convey to the reader why you
are different and what you have to offer.If you get stuck and can’t come up with any ideas, ask yourself these
questions. They will help focus your writing and provide you with a substantial
topic to discuss.
• Who
do you admire? What do you admire about them? How have they impacted your life?
• Discuss
a risk that has led to a profound change (either positive or negative) in your life.
• What
setback have you faced? How did you resolve it? How did the outcome affect
you?If something similar happened in
the future, how would you react to it?
When addressing the college essay, keep in mind the
fundamental issues that colleges look for in an answer:
• What
kind of person are you?
• What are your interests?
• What
experience has affected you?
• How
did you react to that experience?
• What
are you aspirations?
• How
do you pursue your aspirations?
• How
do you handle adversity?
• Which
quality do you like best about yourself?
• Which
quality do you like least about yourself?
Remember to also convey positivity and confidence
when writing your essay.The admission
committee employs the essay to get a feel for who you are.A positive, confident tone in your paper will
make it much more appealing and, thus, increase your chances for admission. Lastly, it is never too early to get a head
start on the college application process so start thinking about it today.
For more resources on college admission essays check
out these links:
