Writing A College Essay

Writing A College Essay Because she was enthusiastic about the topic and created a structure before starting to write, it wasn’t as difficult as she’d anticipated. She will start the essay with a snapshot of a children’s Halloween party that she and other embassy teens organized, then discuss being a volunteer monitor for an online local TCK community. She’ll end with her plan to forge new bonds with other international kids, mentioning specific clubs or houses at each university. Barnard wants 250 words, and she’ll expand the essay for Michigan. I have never been so sad and terrified in my entire life, and I was so angry that this had happened. As it turned out, Beth came through the surgery well and the tumor was benign, but the horror of the experience has stayed with me. And don't go overboard with the thesaurus â€" a good story in your own voice is worth way more than a fancy word. When you're choosing which essay prompt to respond to, consider the stories you can share in response to each. The one you choose to answer should be the one that gives you a chance to share the most interesting, revealing story. Elyse Krantz is a member of College Coach’s team of college admissions experts. Elyse received her BA in linguistics from Dartmouth College and her MA from Teachers College, Columbia University. Likewise, she was 10 years old when Maroon Five came to the Dominican Republic, where her dad was the cultural attaché. The story’s tone feels too “privileged,” with no real lesson learned; and colleges prefer more recent experiences anyway. Prior to joining College Coach, Elyse worked as an admissions officer at Barnard College and Bennington College. Visit our website to learn more about Elyse Krantz. Think about what you are going to write about as much as you actually spend writing. College admission officers are usually able to detect an essaynot written by the student. In choosing a proofreader, find someone who knows you well, but who will also help you to preserve your voice within the essay. Admissions counselors develop a sixth sense about essay writers who are authentic. The first time I saw my sister in seven months, she was in the hospital on a stretcher with IVs in her arm. The night before her operation, the doctor told us what could happen during brain surgery. Beth could become paralyzed, lose memory, and she could die. Because Rachel is still undecided about her major, she will also mention a few classes she’s excited about in subjects other than history. But first, she needs to brainstorm topics for the supplemental essays to make sure no topics overlap. She decides against the “getting lost” story, as it happened when she was 8; although if she could find a metaphoric connection with feeling lost and found when moving to different countries, it could work. Some essays may need only proofreading while others need to be coaxed from a blank pageâ€"your Senior Counselor will help with both and everything in between to create compelling essays. As a writer, you can become very close to your work. A proofreader will review your essay with fresh eyes and may even catch mistakes that you have routinely missed. Get a jump start on a critical part of the college application process. Contact us for your free 15-minute phone consultation with Dr. Kristen Willmott to discuss your graduate school plans and our graduate admissions consulting programs. You’ll score points for being earnest and faithful to yourself. Now congratulate yourself on getting over the hardest part of the college application process. By following these steps, you've done your best to help colleges see the real you, and decide whether you're a good fit for their institution.