Writing the College Application Essay

Ms. CalhounAP English Literature/English 4La Cañada High School

What is the purpose of the college application essay?To show you as a unique

person, not just a set of 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

1.Why you?2.Why this

college?3.Creative

1. Why you?

• What sets you apart from other applicants?

• What do you think about a certain issue?

• What defines you as a person, student, a sibling, an athlete, a worker?

Example “Why you?” prompts:

“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.”

2. Why this university?• Avoid mentioning the history of the

school.– My personal hero, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar,

attended UCLA. – USC was founded in 1880, the same year

my great great great grandfather bought his house--the same house we live in today.

• Avoid platitudes– Stanford is a really great school.

• Focus on demonstrating your knowledge of specialized programs and majors offered that match your interests.

Example “Why X university?” prompt:

“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?”

3. Creative• You pick the format and/or the content

– Short story, poem, comic strip

– Stream of consciousness, satire

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

• Writing a creative piece is EXTREMELY RISKY unless you are applying to a creative writing program or your are SIMPLY AWESOME at creative pieces

Getting StartedStep 1: Choose a Topic

– One 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 about

**AVOID THESE TOPICS: death, divorce, disease, disorders, sports injuries, trips, heartbreak, parents, grandparents

Getting Started

Step 2: Brainstorm supporting details,

experiences, stories, images– Concrete (sensory details!)– Meaningful– Relevant

Writing the EssayStep 3: Follow the prompt!

– If it says “1000 words,” don't go over (or significantly under)!

– If it says “double-spaced,” double space (and use a normal font)!

– Answer the question fully!

– This is not a time to take risks or be careless!

Writing the EssayStep 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– “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.”

Writing the Essay

• Avoid clichés, contractions, “big” words, and flowery diction

– 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 sentences– Write clearly– Have a variety of sentence

lengths• Have a strong conclusion

– Don't just repeat your essay– If 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; stick with it• Write 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 know– Be sincere– Don't try to impress the admissions board

Writing the Essay

Step 5: 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 and get others to edit your essay

Final Thoughts

• Essays take time and a lot of work

• Start early, and abandon an essay if it’s not working for you

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