College Essay and Teacher

RecommendationsMrs. Allie McDonaldSchool Counselor

College NightMarch 2012

Overview of Presentation College Essay

Overview Sample Prompts Tips

Teacher Recommendations What schools are looking for Who to ask How to ask

Question presented to Columbia, Cornell, Rice, Brown, and U of Chicago

Q: We all know that you want rigorous courses, high GPA and SAT

scores… so what is it that truly separates the students that will get into your highly selective schools?

A: THE ESSAY!

The College Essay The College Essay should be thought of as

an interview

This is a school’s chance to get to know THE STUDENT

Be yourself. This is not the opportunity to impress by using big words and complicated literary devices.

Choosing a Topic Choose a topic about which you are an

expert! Don’t make it more complicated than it needs to

be. Admissions officers will read plenty of essays about Egypt, the war in Iraq and global warming. Tell them about YOU.

Tell the reader why an issue is important to you, why you have made choices in life, why you care

Common Application Essay Questions Evaluate a significant experience, achievement,

risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.

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

Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence.

Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence.

Common Application Essay Questions A range of academic interests, personal

perspectives, and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your personal background, describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community or an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you.

Topic of your choice

College Essay Tips Give yourself time to do a good job

Invest in the drafting process (even if it means starting over and trying again)

Focus on one specific event

Be careful about pet stories, accounts of a dear, departed relative, or your efforts in delivering the big play in the big game

College Essay Tips Don’t be redundant. Don’t repeat information

about yourself that can be found elsewhere on your application.

Eliminate distractions such as spelling and punctuation errors

When you think you are finished with your essay, read it again

Be careful using the same essay to answer different questions

College Essay Tips Be careful about becoming involved with essay

editing services Be original Do NOT let your parent write your college essay Think of your audience. Admission committees

will not read your entire essay unless it catches their attention from the beginning.

Stick to the word count limit!

Resources College Essay Free Writing

“Dos and don’ts on writing the college application essay”

“Nine Horrible College Essay Topics”

“10 Great Opening Lines from Stanford Admissions Essays”

Books in Student Services

Teacher Recommendations

“Please write whatever you think is important about this student, including a description of academic and personal characteristics, as demonstrated in your classroom. We welcome information that will help us to differentiate this student from others."

-- 2009-2010 Common Application Teacher Evaluation

Questions to Consider about Teacher Recommendations

Which of your teachers will answer this question for your college applications?

What insights will they share about you with college admissions officers?

How convincing will their words be?

Teacher Recommendation Tips In choosing who to ask to write your

recommendations, it pays to choose wisely.

One common misconception students have about teacher recommendations is that they should focus on the student's extracurricular accomplishments.

Teacher Recommendations What they're really hoping to uncover in teacher

recommendations is who you are inside the classroom.

How strong are your writing and analytical skills? Do you make valuable contributions to classroom discussions?

Are you a creative thinker or someone who just dutifully parrots back information?

Teacher Recommendations How do you react when a subject is particularly

challenging to you?

Do you work just for the grade, or out of the sheer joy of learning for learning's sake? What is your intellectual potential?

Will you be able to handle college level work?

Choosing a Teacher to Write a Recommendation

Don't automatically assume that your recommendations must come from the teacher who gave you the best grades

Choose a teacher who knows your academic performance and has taken time to get to know you as a student

Ask early!

Asking a Teacher to Write a Recommendation

Ask teacher (in person) if they will consider writing a recommendation for you. Request your recommendation early. Some teachers allot a certain amount of letters per year

Politely arrange a time (at least 10 minutes) that you can meet with the teacher to discuss the recommendation. DON’T SEND AN EMAIL!

Asking a Teacher to Write a Recommendation

Provide the teacher with the following: List of selected colleges/universities and the

application deadlines. Include stamped envelopes (including the university’s address) for each recommendation requested.

Updated resume including all of your activities

Recommendation forms provided with the college application; your portion MUST be completed

Asking a Teacher for a Recommendation

MOST IMPORTANTLY

Typed answers to the following questions

Why do you feel like this teacher can write you a meaningful recommendation?

What was your most meaningful experience in this teacher’s class?

Teacher Recommendation Follow-Up Allow a minimum of 20 school days for the

teacher to complete the letter.

Check back with the teacher before due date to make sure they have everything.

Write a thank you note to each teacher that takes time to recommend you!

Teacher Recommendation Resources “How to Request a Teacher

Recommendation Letter”

Counselor Recommendation By the end of the junior year, students will

submit Autobiographical Sketch Packet Parent Brag Sheet

Get to know your counselor NOW

Say hi in the hallways!

Questions?

Allison_mcdonald@hcpss.org410-313-5535

Counselor Breakdown by Last Name

A-De: Allison McDonaldDh-I: Mindy HirschJ-Mc: Rodney WilliamsMe-R: Kareef OvertonS-Z: Moira Baylog