Writing the College Essay

Purpose of the Essay

To see you as a person, not just statistics

To distinguish you from all other applicants

To demonstrate your ability to write and express yourself at a high academic level

Three Main Types of Essays

Why you?Why this college?Creative

Why you? Essay

What sets you apart?

What do you think about a certain issue?

What defines you as a person, student, etc.

Why you? Essay

Examples:Evaluate a significant experience,

achievement or risk that you have taken and its impact on you.

Discuss some issue of personal, local, national or international concern and its importance to you.

Indicate a person, character in fiction, an historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, etc.) who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence.

Why this university? Essay

Example:

Why do you want to spend two to six years of your life at a particular college, graduate school or professional school? How is the degree necessary to the fulfillment of your goals?

Why this university? Essay

Avoid mentioning the history of the school“University of Virginia was founded by

my personal hero, Thomas Jefferson.”

UVA was founded in 1819, the same year my great great great great great great grandfather bought his house, the same house we live in today.

Avoid platitudesUVA is a really great school.

Creative

You pick the format

Short story

Poem

Stream of consciousness

You pick the content

You still need to demonstrate your ability to write and express yourself at a high academic level

Getting Started

Step 1: Choose a TopicOne central experience (disaster, miracle,

family incident, etc.)

One theme (what you believe is the purpose of life, the vastness of the universe, working hard is the way to dreams, etc.)

Choose a fresh topic, one that millions won’t already have written aboutSay no to: death, divorce, disease, disorders,

sports injuries, trips, heartbreak

Getting Started

Step 2: Brainstorm supporting details, experiences, stories, images

Concrete

Meaningful

Relevant

Writing the Essay

Step 3: Follow the prompt

If they say 1000 words, don’t go over

If they say double-spaced, double space

Make sure you answer the question

Writing the Essay

STEP 4: Follow good writing rules Have a powerful opening sentence

“I am a changed person. Three years ago, I realized that people are important.”

“Three years ago, my mind was reborn.”

Use concrete examples to support your statements “Every day, I get up early to help my grandmother.” “ When the sun reaches the horizon, I am already

carrying my grandmother’s tamales to the neighbors.”

Avoid clichés, contractions, and big words Powerful essays are original, formal, and don’t need a

dictionary Write your own essay, and use your own words

Writing the Essay

Avoid unnecessarily long sentencesWrite clearlyHave a variety of sentence lengths

Have a strong conclusionDon’t just repeat your essayIf you used a story or image in the opening

part of the essay, mention it in the ending, with a new meaning or twist.

Writing the Essay

Choose a verb tense, and stick with itWrite in the active voice

“That summer was very educational.”“That summer taught me a valuable lesson.”

Show, don’t tell“My family is very traditional.”“Each March, we place sprigs of rosemary and

thyme outside our front door to commemorate the end of winter.”

Write about what you knowBe sincereDon’t try to impress the admissions board

Writing the Essay

Edit

Don’t be in love with the sound of your own writing

Cut out anything that doesn’t need to be there

If you can say it in 4 paragraphs, get rid of that 5th paragraph

Self-edit

Get others to edit your essay

Final Thoughts

Essays take time and a lot of work.

Start early, and abandon an essay if it not working for you.

Use resources and people to help you, but don’t use other people’s words.

Requirements of the Essay For This Class

You essay must be approximately 650 words in length. You may not go over, so you need to get as close to that number as possible.

The final copy must be typed and double spaced.

Questions…