The College Application Essay

Are you one of the crowd or one who stands out?

Purpose of the Essay

• Get an idea of YOUR writing skills• Learn something more about YOU, what makes

YOU unique, and a sense of YOUR personality• Show something about YOU that is not revealed

by your SAT, transcript or activities resumé• What theme do you see here?• YOU!!

Getting Started

• Think about. . .– One accomplishment– One goal– One passion– One thing you want the admissions committee to

know about you that’s not on your activities resumé, transcript, or SAT

• What theme do you see here?• ONE thing!!

Do. . .• Carefully read the question and answer it.• Focus on ONE moment that reveals your strength or

character trait.• Tell a story of the ONE moment.• Grab the reader’s attention with your opening statement.• Evaluate your experience, not simply tell the experience

(Ex. How did you change as a result of your experience?)• Be positive.• Proofread carefully!

Don’t. . .• Tell the college how great it is.• Repeat the prompt.• Repeat what is on your activities resumé.• Use clichés.• Use a gimmick (such as writing in a circle, or

using rhyming couplets)• Write a generic essay for all colleges.

Be careful with these topics. . .

•Person you admire: Remember to focus on YOU; write about how this person influenced you.•The Sports Essay: Focus on one moment that reveals something about YOU. Do more than write about how winning was a team effort or how losing built character.•The Travel Essay: Focus on one moment that you learned something that had a lasting impact on YOU.

Final Thought

You ARE unique. Write the essay only YOU can write.

References"Application Essay." Essay Info. Essayinfo.com. 13 Jul 2009

<http://essayinfo.com/essays/admission_essay.php>. "Essay Skills." Apply to College. College Board. 13 Jul 2009

<http://www.collegeboard.com/student/apply/essay-skills/index.html>.

"Writing the Personal Statement." The OWL at Purdue. Purdue University. 13 Jul 2009 <http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/642/01/>.

"Writing the Successful College Application Essay: Tips for Success." Quintessential Careers. 13 Jul 2009 <http://www.quintcareers.com/ college_application_essay.html>.