College Essay Tip: WRITE BEYOND THE PROMPT
Outstanding SAT & ACT scores are simply one step towards admission to your dream school. Craft an application essay that takes you all the way by applying our 7 Steps to an Amazing College Essay. Step 7 is to WRITE BEYOND THE PROMPT: Your Common Application essay, while certainly important, is just a part of your larger admissions package. Your high school transcript reveals important data points about you, as do your SAT & ACT scores. Extracurricular activities, recommendations, and the rest fill out a complete application. But think about any extra information you need to convey that doesn’t come through those channels and address them in the supplements. Students should review the writing prompts and supplements (i.e. the Short Answer and Personal Essay on the Common Application and Supplements, if required) for each specific college and choose different topics for each essay to provide a more complete picture.…
College Essay Tip: WRITE FROM THE HEART
Outstanding SAT & ACT scores are simply one step towards admission to your dream school. Craft an application essay that takes you all the way by applying our 7 Steps to an Amazing College Essay. Step 6 is to WRITE FROM THE HEART: At least half of the challenge of writing your college essay will be deciding what you are going to write about. When contemplating that all-important decision, don’t just think about what a college can do for you. Instead, look within, then look beyond yourself to the community you seek to be a part of. 1. Look within. Get in touch with what really inspires and defines you. 2. Look without. Don’t just explain what a college can do for you, but also describe what you will bring to the school lucky enough to have you as a student. How will you contribute to your community?…
College Essay Tip: WRITE FOR YOUR READER
Outstanding SAT & ACT scores are simply one step towards admission to your dream school. Craft an application essay that takes you all the way by applying our 7 Steps to an Amazing College Essay. Step 5 is to WRITE FOR YOUR READER: Your essay may be one of the most powerful and personal pieces of writing you’ve ever produced. It may, after hours upon hours of agonizing soul searching, encapsulate everything you have to offer to the school of your dreams. However, to your audience–an overworked member of the admissions committee–yours is just one essay out of stacks of thousands! One of the most important rules, perhaps the most important one of all, is to BE INTERESTING!! No matter how well-written or sincere, your essay cannot help your admissions cause if it’s forgotten or never even finished. Ralph A. Ellis, Ph.D., Educational Consultant at College Career Consulting, paints…
College Essay Tip: WRITE WELL
Outstanding SAT & ACT scores are simply one step towards admission to your dream school. Craft an application essay that takes you all the way by applying our 7 Steps to an Amazing College Essay. Step 4 is to WRITE WELL: When we teach students how to write outstanding SAT & ACT essays, we make the point that excellent grammar is necessary but not sufficient for an effective essay. Your college essay needs to be written about you in a way that connects with your readers, but if you don’t also write well, your message will be lost. Effective written English is clear, concise, and consistent. Make sure your grammar and punctuation are impeccable or at least strong enough to allow the strength of your ideas to shine through. Write with action verbs in the active voice. Also, spelling counts. Beyond these essentials of effective communication, consider the sage…
College Essay Tip: WRITE THE RIGHT PROMPT
Outstanding SAT & ACT scores are simply one step towards admission to your dream school. Craft an application essay that takes you all the way by applying our 7 Steps to an Amazing College Essay. Step 3 is to WRITE THE RIGHT PROMPT: Some students begin this process under the impression that every applicant either writes the primary essay on the same topic or can choose basically any topic. On the contrary, applicants have specific questions they may address, which may change from year to year. Your best essay begins with the right prompt. Holly M. Asposto, author of Distinguish Yourself On the Common App, feels very strongly about the importance of the right prompt: Many books and articles tell students that it doesn’t matter which of the Common Application writing prompts they choose to address as long as their response is thoughtful and well-written. I disagree. I believe…
College Essay Tip: WRITE AS YOURSELF
Outstanding SAT & ACT scores are simply one step towards admission to your dream school. Craft an application essay that takes you all the way by applying our 7 Steps to an Amazing College Essay. Step 2 is to WRITE AS YOURSELF: Too many applicants write their essays the way they think they should, not the way they actually write. Adopting a formal or unfamiliar style is a MISTAKE. Obviously, your tone should be appropriate to this somewhat formal task, as opposed to the style you might adopt when texting or talking to your friends. At the same time, make sure your distinct style shines through. Be yourself, but remember your setting. Be genuine: write in your own voice. Be honest. Don’t lie or embellish the truth. In your essay as in all other things, honesty is the best policy! Be cautious in your efforts to be funny. Humor,…