5 Things Colleges Look For In A College Essay

5 Things Colleges Look For In A College Essay So have parents, English teachers, family friends and others. Students -- many of whom are also paying for private counselors, sometimes at hefty rates -- are also paying thousands in fees for help on their essays. Sometimes, as in the example at the beginning of this article, they don't tell the others who are advising them about the practice. Develop the arc of your essay with an introduction, body and conclusion. Provide some details to help the reader see the setting and understand you better as a person. From the perspective that you have gained in life, discover the message or story line that is unique to you. She works directly with students, and trains school counselors, English teachers and independent educational consultants. A college application essay is all about reflection; it’s an opportunity for applicants to share something meaningful about themselves. It’s an odd, vibrant place with odd, vibrant people. They were the most popular people in school, in direct contrast to all that was socially acceptable in New Haven. Our peers recognized them as being unique, but instead of ostracizing them or pitying them, the students in Berkeley celebrated them. I’ve read for several institutions, two testing agencies, and various scholarship competitions. Conservatively, I’d say I’ve looked at more than 10,000 essays by now. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s more, and I know plenty of people on my staff and around the country who put that number to shame. My experience with Antigone reminds me why I get excited each time I use calculus in physics or art in cooking, and I look forward to a lifetime of making these connections. “The essay is a space for us to see that come to life. The committee isn’t looking for any one thing in particular because part of what is so telling is what the student felt was important to share about themselves in that space,” Kim says. Remember that your research will be more effective if you do early research into ALL your schools at once, or at least all the ones that have Why School essays. Don’t they already know what is great about their school? Antigone has become my favorite book because it wraps political and legal theory around complex characters and a compelling narrative. Prior to reading Antigone , I assumed that if I hadn’t read every book that pertained to the architecture of US government, I had at least heard of them. They’re asking because of something called demonstrated interest. Demonstrated interest is a fancy way of saying, how much do you really want to go to OUR school? Did you pick us just because we’ve got a good ranking, or do you actually know something about how we work? Cultural reputation, IE, what the students behave like and what they value? DI correllates to yield, and yield boosts rankings â€" and everybody likes high rankings. Start by posting any ideas, themes or reflections on sticky notes on your wall â€" don’t be afraid to be far-fetched. Examine each one individually then discard or amplify as you go. Revisit the wall a few times before you begin writing your essay. The essay is the only place on The Common App to tell admissions officers how you stand out beyond your GPA, activities and classes. But that shouldn’t be taken as a cue to try and write about an impossibly unique topic, said Sue Corner, senior associate director of admission. Antigone proved this assumption wrong because Antigone itself was a case study in the actual consequences of ideas discussed by political philosophers. In other words, Antigonehumanized the esoteric and function-driven debates I’d studied last year. Finishing the play, I was ashamed that I’d harbored such skepticism at the outset of my reading. A licensed counselor and published researcher, Andrew’s experience in the field of college admissions and transition spans more than one decade. He has previously served as a high school counselor, consultant and author for Kaplan Test Prep, and advisor to U.S. Congress, reporting on issues related to college admissions and financial aid. Originality is celebrated there â€" not in the half-hearted “good for you” way, but in the full-throated “GOOD FOR YOU! One of the first of my fellow students to befriend me wore corset tops and tutus and carried a parasol with which she punctuated her every utterance. Her best friend was a boy with purple hair who once wore a shirt with built in LED lights for Christmas. Last week I talked to a high school senior as a favor to a friend. The student is not applying to Georgia Tech, so I was giving him general application advice. They’re an important representation of a student’s academic preparation, and in some cases, a pivotal piece of the admission decision. For students choosing a test optional route to admission, the essay can be the tipping point that determines admissibility. At Willamette and other universities, “essays in many cases have become even more valuable than test scores,” Corner said.